Dual-Train Wastewater Reclamation and Treatment System

Abstract

A wastewater treatment system for use on marine vessels or land-based applications where wastewater is separated into two separate sources as graywater and raw sewage (blackwater). For blackwater, the treatment system incorporates five general phases (or zones): ( 1 ) screening, ( 2 ) clarifying, ( 3 ) filtering, ( 4 ) advanced oxidation, and ( 5 ) sludge reducing. For graywater, the treatment system incorporates three general phases (or zones): ( 1 ) screening ( 2 ) filtering, and ( 3 ) advanced oxidation. Each train of the treatment system (blackwater and graywater) can operate as a stand-alone system or can be assimilated into an integrated treatment train for both graywater and blackwater. This system is particularly useful in today's restrictive regulatory environment.

1 . A method for treating wastewater comprising the acts (steps) of:
 treating a first influent in a blackwater treatment train, the blackwater treatment train comprising the acts (steps) of:
 screening the first influent in a blackwater screening zone, 
 clarifying a blackwater screening zone effluent in a clarifying zone, 
 reducing sludge from the clarifying zone in a sludge reduction zone, 
 filtering clarification zone effluent in a blackwater filtration zone, 
 advanced oxidation of a blackwater filtration zone effluent (permeate) in a blackwater advanced oxidation zone, and 
 discharging a blackwater advanced oxidation zone effluent. 
   treating a second influent in a graywater treatment train, the graywater treatment train comprising the acts (steps) of:
 screening the second influent in a graywater screening zone, 
 treating screened solids from the graywater screening zone in the sludge reduction zone, 
 filtering a graywater screening zone effluent in a graywater filtration zone, treating filtered solids (retentate) from the graywater filtration zone in the sludge reduction zone, 
 advanced oxidation of a graywater filtration zone effluent (permeate) in a graywater advanced oxidation zone, and 
 reusing an advanced oxidation zone effluent. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , wherein the blackwater advanced oxidation zone comprises a blackwater stirred reactor. 
     
     
         3 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 2 , the blackwater advanced oxidation zone further comprising the acts (steps) of:
 infusing a clarification zone effluent with ozone prior to entering the blackwater stirred reactor, and   oxidizing the ozonated clarification zone effluent in the blackwater stirred reactor.   
     
     
         4 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , wherein the blackwater advanced oxidation zone comprises the act (step) of disinfecting with ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the sludge reduction zone comprising the acts (steps) of:
 adding a graywater filtration zone effluent (retentate),   oxidizing the sludge with ozone,   removing an oxidized sludge for disposal, and   sending a sludge reduction zone effluent to the blackwater clarifying zone.   
     
     
         6 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1  wherein the graywater treatment train does not comingle with the blackwater treatment train. 
     
     
         7 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1  wherein the first influent comprises graywater from kitchen operations. 
     
     
         8 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , further comprising the act (step) of directing a second graywater filtration zone effluent (permeate) to the blackwater treatment train. 
     
     
         9 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , the graywater filtration zone comprises the act (step) of ultrafiltration. 
     
     
         10 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , the graywater advanced oxidation zone comprises a graywater stirred reactor. 
     
     
         11 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 10 , the graywater advanced oxidation zone comprising the acts (steps) of:
 infusing the graywater filtration zone effluent (permeate) with ozone prior to entering the graywater stirred reactor,   oxidizing the graywater filtration zone effluent permeate) in the graywater stirred reactor.   
     
     
         12 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , the graywater advanced oxidation zone comprising the act (step) of disinfecting with ultraviolet light in a disinfection zone. 
     
     
         13 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , further comprising the act (step) of directing a second graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent to the clarifying zone. 
     
     
         14 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 1 , further comprising the act (step) of discharging a third graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent. 
     
     
         15 . A dual-train wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a blackwater treatment train, the blackwater treatment train comprising a blackwater advanced oxidation zone, and   a graywater treatment train, the graywater treatment train comprising a graywater advanced oxidation zone.   
     
     
         16 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 15  further comprising a sludge reduction zone. 
     
     
         17 . A dual-train wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a blackwater treatment train, a graywater treatment train and a sludge reduction zone.   
     
     
         18 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 15 , the blackwater treatment train further comprising:
 a blackwater screening zone in fluid communication with a blackwater clarifying zone,   the blackwater clarifying zone in fluid communication with a blackwater filtration zone, and   the blackwater filtration in fluid communication with a blackwater advanced oxidation zone.   
     
     
         19 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 16 , the graywater treatment train further comprising:
 a graywater screening zone in fluid communication with a graywater filtration zone,   the graywater filtration zone in fluid communication with a graywater advanced oxidation zone,   wherein effluent from the graywater advanced oxidation zone is available for reuse as technical water.   
     
     
         20 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 15  wherein the blackwater treatment train and the graywater treatment train are modular in design. 
     
     
         21 . A dual train wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a blackwater treatment train, the blackwater treatment train comprising,   a blackwater screening zone in fluid communication with a clarifying zone,
 the clarifying zone in fluid communication with a sludge reduction zone, 
 the clarifying zone in fluid communication with a blackwater filtration zone, and 
 the blackwater filtration zone in fluid communication with a blackwater advanced oxidation zone, 
   a graywater treatment train, the graywater treatment train comprising,
 a graywater screening zone in fluid communication with a graywater filtration zone 
 the graywater filtration zone in fluid communication with a graywater advanced oxidation zone, and 
 a conduit for sending filtered solids from the graywater filtration zone to the sludge reduction zone. 
   
     
     
         22 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , wherein the blackwater advanced oxidation zone comprises a blackwater stirred reactor. 
     
     
         23 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 22 , the blackwater advanced oxidation zone further comprises
 infusing the clarification zone effluent with ozone prior to entering the blackwater stirred reactor, and   oxidizing the clarified mixed liquor in the blackwater stirred reactor.   
     
     
         24 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , wherein the blackwater advanced oxidation zone comprises an ultraviolet unit. 
     
     
         25 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , the sludge reduction zone comprising:
 a sludge reduction tank, the sludge reduction tank having a baffle that separates the interior of the sludge reduction tank into a sludge reduction region and an uptake region, wherein ozonated liquid enters the bottom of the sludge reduction region and sludge enters the top of the sludge reduction region, and wherein liquid in the uptake region can exit an outfall, the outfall located near the top of the uptake region.   
     
     
         26 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the graywater treatment train does not commingle with the blackwater treatment train. 
     
     
         27 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the first influent comprises graywater from kitchen operations. 
     
     
         28 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , further comprising the act (step) of directing a second graywater filtration zone effluent to the blackwater treatment train. 
     
     
         29 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , the graywater filtration zone comprises the act (step) of ultrafiltration. 
     
     
         30 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , the graywater advanced oxidation zone comprises a graywater stirred reactor. 
     
     
         31 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , the graywater advanced oxidation zone comprising the acts (steps) of:
 infusing the graywater filtration zone effluent (permeate) with ozone prior to entering the graywater stirred reactor,   oxidizing the graywater filtration zone effluent (permeate) in the graywater stirred reactor.   
     
     
         32 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , the graywater advanced oxidation zone comprising the act (step) of disinfecting with ultraviolet light in a disinfection zone. 
     
     
         33 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , further comprising the act (step) of directing a second graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent to the clarifying zone. 
     
     
         34 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21 , further comprising the act (step) of discharging a third graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent. 
     
     
         35 . The dual train wastewater treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the blackwater treatment train and the graywater treatment train are modular in design 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus to enhance oxidation of treated wastewater, the apparatus comprising:
 an interior treatment chamber, the interior treatment chamber further comprising a fluidized media chamber, wherein the fluidized media chamber is located within the interior treatment chamber, the fluidized media chamber houses fluidized media, and the fluidized media chamber is in fluid communication with the interior treatment chamber.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus to enhance oxidation of treated wastewater of  claim 35 , fluidized media chamber further comprising a pair of perforated plates that permit fluid communication between the interior treatment chamber and the fluidized media chamber while keeping the fluidized media inside the fluidized media chamber. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus to enhance oxidation of treated wastewater of  claim 35 , the interior chamber further comprising a blade for increasing circulation within the interior treatment chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus to enhance oxidation of treated wastewater of  claim 35 , wherein the treated wastewater contains dissolved ozone. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus to enhance oxidation of treated wastewater of  claim 35 , further comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, the inlet port and outlet port being in fluid communication with the interior treatment chamber, wherein the treated waste water enters the apparatus through the inlet port, circulates through the fluidized media chamber and exits the vessel through the outlet port. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus to enhance oxidation of treated wastewater of  claim 35 , wherein the interior treatment chamber further comprises a cylindrical acceleration chamber. 
     
     
         42 . A method of reducing sludge for use in a wastewater treatment system comprising a clarifying zone and a filtration zone, the method of reducing sludge comprising the acts (steps) of:
 reducing sludge from the clarifying zone in a sludge reduction zone,   treating filtered solids from the filtration zone in the sludge reduction zone,   adding ozone-infused liquid to the sludge reduction zone,   removing reacted sludge from the sludge reduction zone, and   directing clarified mixed liquor from the sludge reduction zone back to the clarifying zone.   
     
     
         43 . A sludge reduction zone for reducing wastewater sludge, the sludge reduction zone comprising
 a sludge reduction tank, the sludge reduction tank having a baffle that separates the interior of the sludge reduction tank into a sludge reduction region and an uptake region, wherein ozonated liquid enters the bottom of the sludge reduction region and sludge enters the top of the sludge reduction region, and wherein liquid in the uptake region can exit an outfall, the outfall located near the top of the uptake region.   
     
     
         44 . A method of graywater reclamation and re-use comprising the acts (steps) of:
 first, screening graywater to remove solids,   second, filtering screened effluent by ultrafiltration,   third, treating filtered effluent (permeate) by advanced oxidation, and   fourth, selecting from the group consisting of re-using the effluent and discharging the effluent.   
     
     
         45 . The method of graywater reclamation and re-use of  claim 44 , the advanced oxidation step further comprising the acts (steps) of:
 clarifying ultrafiltration effluent by gravity   infusing clarified effluent with ozone   oxidizing ozonated effluent by closed loop circulation through fluidized media, and,   treating oxidized effluent with ultraviolet light.   
     
     
         46 . A method of graywater reclamation and re-use comprising the acts (steps) of:
 screening a graywater influent in a graywater screening zone,   treating screened solids from the graywater screening zone in a sludge reduction zone,   filtering a graywater screening zone effluent in a graywater filtration zone,   treating filtered solids (retentate) from the graywater filtration zone in the sludge reduction zone,   treating a graywater filtration zone effluent (permeate) in a graywater advanced oxidation zone,   reusing a first graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent,   directing a second graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent to the clarifying zone, and   discharging a third graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent.   
     
     
         47 . A graywater system for reclamation and re-use of graywater comprising:
 a screening zone,   the screening zone in fluid communication with a filtration zone,   the filtration zone in fluid communication with an advanced oxidation zone,   wherein effluent from the advanced oxidation zone is re-used.   
     
     
         48 . The graywater system for reclamation and re-use of  claim 46 , the filtration zone further comprising ultrafiltration. 
     
     
         49 . The graywater system for reclamation and re-use of  claim 46 , the advanced oxidation zone further comprising ozone-infused clarified effluent oxidized in closed loop circulation through fluidized media, and, and wherein oxidized effluent passes though ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         50 . A graywater system for reclamation and re-use of graywater comprising:
 graywater influent in fluid communication with a graywater screening zone,   screened solids from the graywater screening zone in fluid communication with a sludge reduction zone,   a first graywater screening zone effluent in fluid communication with a graywater filtration zone,   filtered solids (retentate) from the graywater filtration zone in fluid communication with the sludge reduction zone,   graywater filtration zone effluent permeate) in fluid communication with a graywater advanced oxidation zone,   a first graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent is in fluid communication with the clarifying zone, and   wherein a second graywater advanced oxidation zone effluent is reused.   
     
     
         51 . A method of treating blackwater having total suspended solids less than 500 parts per million (milligrams per liter), the method comprising the acts (steps) of:
 first screening blackwater to remove solids,   second clarifying screened effluent,   third treating clarified effluent by advanced oxidation, and   fourth filtering screened effluent by ultrafiltration.   
     
     
         52 . A method of treating blackwater having total suspended solids greater than 500 parts per million (milligrams per liter), the method comprising the acts (steps) of:
 first screening blackwater to remove solids,   second clarifying screened effluent,   third filtering clarified effluent by ultrafiltration, and   fourth treating permeate by advanced oxidation.   
     
     
         53 . A method for reducing uncertainty of treatment compliance time for wastewater comprising the following acts (steps):
 obtaining an effluent sample from a wastewater treatment train,   measuring turbidity,   measuring oxidation reduction potential (ORP),   Redirecting sampled effluent back into the wastewater treatment train if measured ORP and measured turbidity fail to satisfy pre-defined limits.   
     
     
         54 . The method for reducing uncertainty of treatment compliance time for wastewater of  claim 53 , wherein the redirecting step is triggered when measured ORP is less than 200 mV and measured turbidity is greater when 3 NTU. 
     
     
         55 . A sludge separating apparatus comprising:
 a holding chamber, the holding chamber comprising an inlet, a bottom outlet, and   a top outlet, the bottom outlet further comprising a bottom outlet valve, wherein   the bottom outlet can be closed so that wastewater flowing into the holding tank through the inlet will ultimately fill the holding chamber and be forced through the top outlet.   
     
     
         56 . The sludge separating apparatus of  claim 55 , the holding tank further comprising:
 a pipe diffuser having a first end connected to an air dissolving pump and a second end located inside the holding chamber.   
     
     
         57 . The sludge separating apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the wastewater flowing into the holding tank is effluent from a flocculator. 
     
     
         58 . The sludge separating apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the wastewater flowing out of the top outlet flows without mechanical assistance into a sludge reduction tank.