Current and aeration system for wastewater plant

Abstract

A defined current and aeration system for the aeration chamber of an aerobic wastewater treatment plant is disclosed. It includes the release of oxygenation gas or air into the aeration chamber through a diffuser or the like at a position such that the air injected into the tank provides the necessary amount of oxygen for aerobic bacterial digestion of the waste while creating a current or circulation pattern in the chamber that forces every portion of the fluid within the aeration chamber into circulation thus preventing the accumulation of solids as sludge in the wastewater treatment plant.

1. In an aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
 a vessel defining an aeration chamber and having a substantially flat bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side wall,  
   said  aeration chamber containing aerobic bacteria into which wastewater containing organic solids flows to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to convertaerobically digest the organic solids in the wastewater to water and CO 2 , said aeration chamber having a bottom and side walls ,  
 means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater 
 an aeration system in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria, and  
 a clarifier chamber formed in said vessel and into which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber,  
 the improvement comprising a diffuser for releasing the oxygenation gas as bubbles into the wherein said aeration chamber of the wastewater treatment plant, said diffuser providing system forms an aeration area adjacent the intersection of the bottom and side wall of the vessel and provides sufficient flow such that all solids suspended within the plant are forced into circulation, said diffuser being placed close to the bottom of the aeration chamber of the wastewater treatment plant and close to the side wall of the aeration chamber, said diffuser aeration system providing sufficient oxygenation gas to allow the aerobic bacteria to convert digest the organic solids in the wastewater into CO 2  and water and a current pattern having at least one first component flowing upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the vessel and adjacent to the side wall of the vessel, second and third components that flow in opposite directions around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, a fourth component that flows along said side wall opposite said first component to the bottom, a fifth component that flows across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber, and sixth and seventh components that flow in opposite directions adjacent the bottom wall of the vessel, said current pattern being such that wastewater in said clarifier chamber remains largely undisturbed.  
 
     
     
       2. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 1 , wherein the wastewater treatment plant has a substantially flat bottom. 
     
     
       3. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 2 , wherein the released oxygenation gas produces a current in the aeration chamber, the current flowing upwardly from a position of the diffuser in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, then around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, then downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber and around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber. 
     
     
       4. The wastewater treatment plant of claim  3   3  wherein said oxygenation gas injecting means aeration system further comprises: 
 a drop line having a first end attached to an external oxygenation source and a second end open to dispense oxygenation gas received from the an external oxygenation gas source, said second end being attached to said diffuser into said aeration area.  
 
     
     
       5. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 4  wherein said oxygenation gas injecting means aeration system further comprises
 a rigid conduit mounted to the inside of the wastewater treatment plant vessel for receiving and firmly securing the drop line such that the drop line extends from the external oxygenation gas source towards the bottom wall of the plant vessel.  
 
     
     
       6. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 5  wherein said rigid conduit extends generally parallel to the partition and from there generally to the bottom wall of the wastewater treatment plant vessel such that the rigid conduit is intimately connected to the partition. 
     
     
       7. In an aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
   vessel having a substantially flat, bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side wall and defining  an aeration chamber into which the wastewater flows to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to convertaerobically digest the organic solids in the wastewater to water and CO 2 , said aeration chamber having a bottom and side walls,  
 means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria , and  
 a clarifier chamber in which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition disposed in said vessel, said partition being in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber,  
 the improvement comprising means for injecting an oxygenation gas and generating a wastewater current pattern in the aeration chamber, the current flowing upwardly from a position from an aeration area close to the bottom and the side wall of the aeration chamber vessel, the current pattern having at least one first component flowing upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the aeration chamber vessel and parallel to adjacent the side wall of the aeration chamber vessel, then second and third components that flow in opposite directions around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, then downwardly a fourth component that flows along the said side wall opposite side wall said first component to the bottom and then of the aeration chamber, a fifth component that flows across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber and and sixth and seventh components that flow in opposite directions around the side wall of the aeration chamber vessel adjacent the bottom wall of the chamber vessel to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber.  
 
     
     
       8. The method of creating a current pattern inside an aeration chamber of a wastewater treatment plant, said aeration chamber having a bottom and side walls, comprising the step of
 injecting an oxygenation gas such that a current pattern is produced in the aeration chamber, the current pattern having a first component flowing upwardly from a position close to the bottom and side wall of the aeration chamber in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, then first and second components flowing in opposite directions around the partition which defines a clarifier chamber, then a third component flowing downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then , a fourth component flowing across the bottom under an opening to the clarifier chamber, and fifth and sixth components flowing in opposite directions around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the aeration chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber.  
 
     
     
       9. An aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
 an aeration chamber containing aerobic bacteria into which wastewater containing organic solids flows to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to convert digest the organic solids in the wastewater to water and CO 2  , said aeration chamber having a substantially flat, bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side walls wall,  
 means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria, 
 a clarifier chamber into which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber, said bottom wall providing a substantially planar surface under said partition,  
 a diffuseran aeration system for releasing thean oxygenation gas as bubbles into the aeration chamber of the wastewater treatment plant, said diffuseraeration system providing an aeration area and sufficient flow such that all solids suspended within the plant are forced into circulationa circulation pattern, said diffuseraeration system being placed close to the bottom of the aeration chamber of the wastewater treatment plant and close to the side wall of the aeration chamber, said diffuseraeration system providing sufficient oxygenation gas to allow the aerobic bacteria to convertdigest the solids in the wastewater into CO 2  and waterand a current pattern having at least one first component flowing upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the vessel and adjacent the side wall of the vessel, second and third components that flow in opposite directions around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, a fourth component that flows along said side wall opposite said first component to the bottom, a fifth component that flows across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber, and sixth and seventh components that flow in opposite directions adjacent the bottom wall of the vessel.  
 
     
     
       10. An aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
 an aeration chamber into which the wastewater flows to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to convert aerobically digest the organic solids in the wastewater to water and CO 2  , said aeration chamber having a substantially flat, bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side walls wall,  
 means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria, 
 a clarifier chamber in which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber, and  
 a current in the aeration chamber, the current flowing upwardly from a position close to the bottom and the side wall of the aeration chamber in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, then around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, then downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber and around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber 
 means for injecting an oxygenation gas and generating a wastewater current pattern in the aeration chamber, the current pattern having at least one first component flowing upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and adjacent the side wall of the aeration chamber, second and third components that flow in opposite directions around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, a fourth component that flows downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom, a fifth component that flows across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber, and sixth and seventh components that flow in opposite directions around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber.  
 
     
     
       11. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 1  wherein said aeration system comprises multiple diffusers.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8  wherein injection of said oxygenation gas is through a diffuser system.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein injection of said oxygenation gas is through multiple diffusers.  
     
     
       14. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 9  wherein said aeration system comprises multiple diffusers.  
     
     
       15. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 10  wherein said means for generating said current pattern comprises a diffuser system.  
     
     
       16. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 15  wherein said diffuser system comprises multiple diffusers.  
     
     
       17. In an aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
   an aeration chamber containing aerobic bacteria into which wastewater containing organic solids flow to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to digest the organic solids in the wastewater, said aeration chamber having a substantially flat bottom and side walls,        means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria, and        a clarifier chamber into which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber,        the improvement comprising a diffuser for releasing the oxygenation gas as bubbles into the aeration chamber of the wastewater treatment plant, said diffuser providing sufficient flow such that all solids suspended within the plant are forced into circulation, said diffuser being placed close to the bottom of the aeration chamber of the wastewater treatment plant and close to the side wall of the aeration chamber, said diffuser providing sufficient oxygenation gas to aerobically digest the organic solids in the wastewater, the released oxygenation gas producing a current pattern in the aeration chamber, the current pattern flowing upwardly from a position of the diffuser in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, then around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, then downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber and around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber.      
     
     
       18. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 17  wherein said oxygenation gas injecting means further comprises
   a drop line having a first end attached to an external oxygenation source and a second end open to dispense oxygenation gas received from the external oxygenation gas source, said second end being attached to said diffuser.      
     
     
       19. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 18  wherein said oxygenation gas injecting means further comprises
   a rigid conduit mounted to the inside of the wastewater treatment plant for receiving and firmly securing the drop line such that the drop line extends from the oxygenation source towards the bottom of the plant.      
     
     
       20. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 19  wherein said rigid conduit extends generally parallel to the partition and from there generally to the bottom of the wastewater treatment plant such that the rigid conduit is intimately connected to the partition.  
     
     
       21. In an aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
   an aeration chamber into which the wastewater flows to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to digest the organic solids in the wastewater, said aeration chamber having a bottom and side walls,        means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria, and        a clarifier chamber in which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber,        the improvement comprising a current pattern produced in the aeration chamber, the current pattern flowing upwardly from a position close to the bottom and the side wall of the aeration chamber in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, the around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, then downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber and around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber.      
     
     
       22. The method of creating a current inside an aeration chamber of a wastewater treatment plant, said aeration chamber having a bottom and side walls, comprising
   injecting an oxygenation gas such that a current pattern is produced in the aeration chamber, the current pattern flowing upwardly from a position close to the bottom and side wall of the aeration chamber in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, then around the partition which defines a clarifier chamber, then downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then across the bottom under an opening to the clarifier chamber and around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the aeration chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber.      
     
     
       23. An aerobic wastewater treatment plant comprising:
   an aeration chamber into which the wastewater flows to be exposed to aerobic bacteria to digest the organic solids in the wastewater, said aeration chamber having a bottom and side walls,        means for injecting an oxygenation gas into the wastewater in the aeration chamber to support growth of the aerobic bacteria,        a clarifier chamber in which wastewater from the aeration chamber flows upwardly toward an outlet pipe through which the wastewater flows from the wastewater treatment plant, said clarifier chamber being defined by a partition in the form of an inverted, truncated cone into the bottom of which the wastewater flows from the aeration chamber, and        a current pattern in the aeration chamber, the current pattern flowing upwardly from a position close to the bottom and the side wall of the aeration chamber in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the aeration chamber and parallel to the side wall of the aeration chamber, then around the partition which defines the clarifier chamber, then downwardly along the opposite side wall to the bottom and then across the bottom under the opening to the clarifier chamber and around the side wall of the aeration chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber to keep solids from settling on the bottom of the aeration chamber .    
     
     
       24. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 7  wherein said means for injecting comprises an injection system for creating an injection area adjacent to the intersection of said side wall and said bottom wall.  
     
     
       25. The wastewater treatment plant of  claim 24  wherein said injection system comprises multiple diffusers.