Modular liquid waste treatment system and method

Abstract

A modular liquid waste treatment system is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the system includes a central distribution unit and one or more treatment fins in flow communication therewith. The distribution unit may be configured to receive liquid waste from a given source and distribute that waste, at least in part, to one or more treatment fins. In turn, bacteria present in a given treatment fin treat the liquid waste, and the resultant treated liquid may drain from the fin to the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, a given treatment fin may include porous media providing a large surface area on which bacteria may grow to facilitate treatment. The system may be installed in and/or above the ground, and in some cases may be surrounded, at least in part, with treatment sand and/or other treatment media. The system may be used in aerobic and/or anaerobic processing of liquid waste.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid waste treatment system comprising:
 a distribution unit having an interior and an exterior and comprising a sidewall portion defining one or more passageways; and   a plurality of treatment fins external to the distribution unit and in flow communication with its interior via the one or more passageways, the plurality of treatment fins comprising:   a porous medium; and   at least one pipe disposed within the porous medium, the pipe providing flow communication between the porous medium and the atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of treatment fins extend in different directions from the distribution unit and are in flow communication therewith via at least one opening in the distribution unit. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of treatment fins has a profile selected from a list including a tapered profile, a flared profile, a rounded profile, a bullet-like profile, a loop-shaped profile, a branched profile, and a radial grid-shaped profile. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pipe includes a wall and a portion of the wall is perforated. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the distribution unit is at least one or more of cylindrical, prismatic, polygonal, circular, elliptical, triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, and octagonal. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution unit further comprises at least one of:
 one or more skimmer tabs disposed within its interior over its sidewall portion; and   one or more ridges disposed along its exterior over its sidewall portion.   
     
     
         7 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the porous medium comprises at least one of randomly distributed coarse fibers, coarse sand, stone, gravel, polymeric beads, glass, carbon blocks, natural aggregate, synthetic aggregate, polypropylene, polyethylene, and/or polystyrene. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein an outer fabric layer surrounds each of the plurality of treatment fins, the outer fabric layer comprising at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene, and/or polyester fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of treatment fins further comprises a semi-permeable or impermeable barrier layer disposed within the porous medium; and   there is space between the outer fabric layer and the barrier layer, the space filled at least partially with the porous medium.   
     
     
         10 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 9 , wherein the barrier layer is a partial layer that surrounds less than the total volume of the porous medium. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 9 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pipe is configured to be coupled with at least one of a source of liquid waste and a vent stack. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pipe is configured to permit air flow within the plurality of treatment fins. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a bacterial layer and/or a filtration layer. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of treatment fins have a cross-sectional shape that changes in at least one of size and geometry from a first end to a second end thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to provide for at least one or more of aerobic processing, anaerobic processing, recirculation, nitrification, denitrification, chlorination, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), and disinfection processing of liquid waste. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating liquid waste, the method comprising:
 passing liquid waste through a sidewall of a distribution unit into a plurality of treatment fins in flow communication with the distribution unit, the plurality of treatment fins comprising a porous medium;   treating the liquid waste via bacterial digestion by passing the liquid waste through the porous medium of the plurality of treatment fins; and   passing resultant treated liquid from the plurality of treatment fins.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one or more of:
 drawing air from a surrounding environment into the distribution unit via a vent stack coupled with the distribution unit;   venting gas from the distribution unit into a surrounding environment via a vent stack coupled with the distribution unit; and   treating the liquid waste via at least one or more of aerobic processing, anaerobic processing, recirculation, nitrification, denitrification, chlorination, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), and disinfection processing.   
     
     
         19 . A liquid waste treatment apparatus comprising:
 a porous medium;   a fabric layer at least partially surrounding the porous medium; and   a semi-permeable or impermeable barrier layer disposed within the porous medium, wherein there is space between the fabric layer and the barrier layer, the space filled at least partially with the porous medium,   wherein a first portion of the apparatus is configured to be in flow communication with a source of liquid waste,   wherein the porous medium facilitates bacterial growth.   
     
     
         20 . The liquid waste treatment apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one pipe disposed within the porous medium, the pipe providing flow communication between the porous medium and the atmosphere.