Apparatus and method for denitrification of treated water from aerobic wastewater treatment systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method for denitrification of treated wastewater from an aerobic wastewater treatment system in which oxygen levels in the aeration chamber of an aerobic digestion vessel are cycled between an anoxic environment, i.e., when the treated wastewater in the aeration vessel contains from just above 0 to just less than 1 ppm dissolved oxygen to an aerobic environment wherein the treated wastewater in the aeration vessel has a dissolved oxygen content of about 1 ppm or higher.

1 . A method of reducing nitrogen nutrients in treated wastewater present in the aeration chamber of an aerobic wastewater treatment system comprising; 
 selectively introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber for a predetermined period of time sufficient to create an aerobic environment in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber;    selectively discontinuing said introduction of said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber for a predetermined period of time sufficient to create an anoxic environment in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber; and    cycling said introduction of said oxygen-containing gas and said discontinuance of introduction of said oxygen-containing gas so as to alternately create an aerobic environment and an anoxic environment in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber for respective, predetermined periods of time.    
   
   
       2 . In an aerobic wastewater treatment system comprising an aerobic digestion tank, said aerobic digestion tank defining an aeration chamber and a clarifier chamber, and a pump for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into treated wastewater in said aeration chamber, the improvement comprising a timer/controller operatively connected to said pump, said timer/controller being operative to selectively turn said pump on and off for predetermined periods of time to alternately introduce said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber and discontinue introduction of said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber, to alternatively create an aerobic environment and an aerobic environment in said treated wastewater in said aerobic chamber for respective, predetermined periods of time.  
   
   
       3 . The aerobic wastewater treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein there is a feedline operatively connected to said pump for introducing said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber.  
   
   
       4 . In an aerobic wastewater treatment system comprising an aerobic digestion tank, said aerobic digestion tank defining an aeration chamber and a clarifier chamber, and a pump for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into treated wastewater in said aeration chamber, the improvement comprising: 
 a feedline operatively connected to said pump for introducing said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater and said aeration chamber;    a by-pass circuit, said by-pass circuit having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said feedline, said inlet being connected to said pump, said by-pass circuit including a first branch line and a second branch line, said first and second branch lines being in open communication with said pump and said feedline;    a solenoid valve disposed in said first branch line;    a flow restrictor disposed in said second branch line;    a timer/controller connected to said solenoid valve and being operative to open and close said solenoid valve for predetermined periods of time whereby when said solenoid valve is closed, flow from said pump passes through said second branch line and said flow restrictor, said pump running continuously during periods when said solenoid valve is open and when said solenoid valve is closed.    
   
   
       5 . In an aerobic wastewater treatment system comprising an aerobic digestion tank, said aerobic digestion tank defining an aeration chamber and a clarifier chamber and a pump for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into treated wastewater in said aeration chamber, the improvement comprising: 
 a dissolved oxygen probe disposed in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber;    a dissolved oxygen controller connected to said dissolved oxygen probe;    a pump for introducing said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber;    a timer/controller connected to said dissolved oxygen controller, said timer/controller serving to determine macro operation of said pump for predetermined periods of time, said dissolved oxygen probe being operative to effect micro control of said pump during said predetermined periods of time depending upon the dissolved oxygen in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber as determined by said dissolved oxygen probe.    
   
   
       6 . In an aerobic wastewater treatment system comprising an aerobic digestion tank, said aerobic digestion tank defining an aeration chamber and a clarifier chamber and a pump for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into treated wastewater in said aeration chamber, the improvement comprising: 
 a dissolved oxygen probe disposed in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber;    a dissolved oxygen controller connected to said dissolved oxygen probe;    a pump for introducing said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber;    a feedline operatively connected to said pump for introducing said oxygen-containing gas into said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber;    a by-pass circuit having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said feedline, said inlet being connected to said pump, said by-pass circuit including a first branch line and a second branch line, said first and second branch lines being in open communication with said pump and said feedline;    a solenoid valve disposed in said first branch line, said dissolved oxygen controller being connected to said solenoid valve;    a flow restrictor disposed in said second branch line;    said dissolved oxygen controller being operative to effect opening and closing of said solenoid valve depending upon the dissolved oxygen in said treated wastewater in said aeration chamber as determined by said dissolved oxygen probe, said pump running continuously regardless of whether said solenoid valve is in said open or closed position.