Brentwood Industries, Inc.

Polybac Corporation

Tri-bio, Inc.

Cellu-craft Inc.

Curtis S McDowell

Frank M Kulick, Iii

Timothy E Krell

Chris Hannum

Robert Maurer

Palle Rye

Richard J Aull

Robert W Hartung

A structured sheet cross flow media is formed with a first corrugated sheet having corrugations defining flutes angled in a first direction, a second corrugated sheet defining flutes angled in a second direction, and an interstitial planar sheet disposed between the first and second corrugated sheets. The interstitial planar sheet traps the flow of fluid or gas, such as air, entering one end of the media block within opposing flutes until the end of the interstitial sheet is reached, whereupon the fluid or gas can disperse between the intersecting flutes of the first and second sheets to provide a controlled dispersal of the fluid or gas. In one embodiment, the interstitial sheet terminates at an intermediate height in the media block to define the width of dispersion of air bubbles entering at a single source point.

Structured sheet cross-flow distribution media

A constant velocity serpentine anoxic reactor incorporates a multiple cell vertical serpentine path, as well as a horizontal serpentine path, through the anoxic chamber. A fixed film media is mounted within each cell of the anoxic chamber to provide a structure on which the bacteria can grow to sustain the biological reaction, which convert nitrates into nitrogen gas. The fixed film media can be a cross-flow media and can optionally include a web of textile material integrated within the fixed film media to enhance bacterial growth within the fixed film media or optionally the anoxic vertical serpentine configuration could be applied to an activated sludge operation. A nitrate recycle pump recycles about 75% of the effluent from the aerobic chamber back into the anoxic chamber to provide a nitrate source for the digestion of the BOD within the influent wastewater.

Submerged fixed film anoxic bioreactor

An assembly for supporting biomass for treating sludge or wastewater includes a first corrugated sheet having crests and valleys, a second corrugated sheet having crests and valleys and an intermediate member mounted between the first and second corrugated sheets. The crests have peak surfaces and the valleys have trough surfaces. The first corrugated sheet has a first longitudinal axis and the second corrugated sheet has a second longitudinal axis. The corrugations of the first corrugated sheet define a first corrugation angle of about zero degrees (0&#xb0;) to about forty-five degrees (45&#xb0;) relative to the first longitudinal axis and the corrugations of the second corrugated sheet define a second corrugation angle of about zero degrees (0&#xb0;) to about forty-five degrees (45&#xb0;) relative to the second longitudinal axis. The second corrugated sheet is mounted to the first corrugated sheet and the intermediate member has openings therein.

Biological treatment system and assembly

The invention relates to a liquid clarifier useful for removing solids suspended in a wastewater stream. Settled biological solids are taken from the clarifier and combined in a mixing chamber with a wastewater stream. The combined liquid is provided to a settling region of the clarifier, and suspended solids settle in a biological solids collection region, from which the solids are taken. Clarified liquid can be withdrawn or permitted to overflow from an outlet region in the settling region of the clarifier. The clarifier can enhance the degree of solids removal from wastewater streams having relatively low total suspended solids values, such as outlet streams from fixed film-type digesters. The clarifier is suitable for use in combination with other components of wastewater treatment systems, and can be included as a module in many kinds of wastewater treatment systems.

Wastewater clarification methods and apparatus

The invention relates to an aerobic wastewater digestion unit useful for degrading organic material dissolved or suspended in a wastewater stream. The wastewater is fed to a vessel, wherein it is circulated by a liquid conveyor between the vessel and a downwardly-directed tube. Expulsion of fluid from the tube into the lower portion of the vessel agitates the liquid in the vessel and disperses into the liquid air that has been entrained in the liquid in the tube. The digester can be operated using varying liquid levels, and is amenable to batch, semi-batch, and continuous operation. The digester is suitable for use in combination with other components of wastewater treatment systems, and can be included as a module in modular wastewater treatment systems.

Sludge digestion methods and apparatus

A grid structure capable of withstanding a compressive force comprises a peripheral frame, a plurality of first grid members connected to and extending within the peripheral frame and a plurality of second grid members connected to and extending within the peripheral frame. The second grid members intersect the first grid members. The first and second grid members form a grid of small frames disposed within the peripheral frame. The grid has an upper surface and a lower surface wherein a first group of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second grid members have flanges on the upper surface, the flanges being generally perpendicular to the first and second grid members and a second group of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second grid members have flanges on the lower surface, the flanges being generally perpendicular to the first and second grid members. A process of making the grid structure is also disclosed, as is an assembly of such grid structures.

Grid structure

This invention relates to a process and reactor system suitable for biological treatment of wastewaters or for other applications wherein effective and intimate contact between biological populations attached to a fixed surface and liquid born chemicals and gaseous atmospheres is required. The reactor includes a sealed housing generally having a plurality of independent-vertical chambers, each open at the top and bottom and each filled with high surface-area packing and disposed annularly around a central-vertical chamber. The central vertical chamber is also open at the top and bottom, but free of packing. The bottom of the central chamber is in communication with the bottom of each of the independent-annular columns by means of a bottom-freeboard chamber. The top of the central-vertical chamber is also in communication with the top of each independent-vertical chamber by means of a top-freeboard chamber created by setting the liquid level in the reactor at a position above the top of all vertical chambers. Agitation within the reactor maintained by effecting downward flow of fluid and gases in said central-vertical chamber. A central-vertical chamber contains a pump which circulates fluid from the top freeboard chamber and/or the fluid and gases from the gaseous freeboard of the reactor, downward through the central-chamber, radially across the floor of the reactor and vertically up through the vertical chambers. The fluid then flows radially inward in the top-freeboard chamber and returns to the central chamber thus providing a continuous toroidal recirculation.

Submerged biological wastewater treatment system

This invention relates to a process and reactor system suitable for biological treatment of wastewaters or for other applications wherein effective and intimate contact between biological populations attached to a fixed surface and liquid born chemicals and gaseous atmospheres is required. The reactor includes a sealed housing generally having a plurality of independent-vertical chambers, each open at the top and bottom and each filled with high surface-area packing and disposed annularly around a central-vertical chamber. The central vertical chamber is also open at the top and bottom, but free of packing. The bottom of the central chamber is in communication with the bottom of each of the independent-annular columns by means of a bottom-freeboard chamber. The top of the central-vertical chamber is also in communication with the top of each independent-vertical chamber by means of a top-freeboard chamber created by setting the liquid level in the reactor at a position above the top of all vertical chambers. In an application of a process for biological treatment of wastewater, wherein a dissolved oxygen free environment is required during contact of biological populations with liquid born chemicals and gaseous atmospheres; such as for anaerobic treatment of wastewaters or anoxic dentrification of wastewater, the gaseous phase of the reactor is isolated from the atmosphere and starved of gaseous oxygen. In an aerobic biological process application wherein an oxygen rich environment is desired for biological processing of water borne chemicals or wastewater, the gaseous freeboard may be purged with fresh air at controlled rates and induce a flow of oxygen-rich gases within the down-flowing fluid in the central chamber. The combined effects of gas induction, toroidal dispersion of liquid and gases, maintenance of high liquid velocities through the packing and across the reactor floor, and gasing of the entire high surface-area packing provides unusually high rates of biological digestion and reactor efficiency.

This invention pertains to a method for analyzing the biochemical decomposibility of aqueous substrates by microorganisms and particularly to a method for analyzing the quality or biological toxicity of incoming sewage to a sewage disposal plant. The process comprises: placing a preselected amount of bacterial culture, in the form of a dried powder, in contact with a preselected amount of aqueous waste containing greater than 5 mg/l dissolved oxygen, the bacterial culture being capable of effecting aerobic biodegradation of organic waste; measuring the dissolved oxygen content of the aqueous waste during rehydration and respiration development of the microorganisms as a function of time; determining the rate of dissolved oxygen decline at a preselected time; and then comparing the rate of dissolved oxygen decline to the rate of dissolved oxygen for a preselected baseline standard substrate. By comparing the ratio of dissolved oxygen decline at a preselected time with respect to a test sample and a standard substrate one can calculate the relative toxicity or inhibition of the incoming sewage to aerobic respiration and growth.

Process for rapidly determining biological toxicity of wastewater

This invention pertains to a submerged fixed-film biological distribution system. It includes a plurality of vertical chambers adjacent each other having corrugated packings therein. Air or oxygenating gas is introduced at the bottom of select alternating chambers so that an upflowing liquor is generated in those chambers and a downflowing liquor generated in the adjacent chambers. Contaminated waste is biologically digested by microorganism retained on the corrugated packings, such digesting occurring in all chambers.

Submerged fixed film biological treatment system

A method and apparatus for continuously separating solids and liquid in a solids-liquid mixture are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, a separation zone for separating solids and liquids from a solids liquid mixture is provided in which the mixture is subjected to centrifugal force under low shear forces and low turbulence. In this zone, the flow rate is maintained to be less than the terminal settling velocity of the solids in the mixture. Further in accordance with the invention, the mixture is introduced into the separation zone from a zone of higher turbulence and higher flow rate than those of the separation zone, a minor part of the mixture in the other zone being removed to the separation zone. The major part of the mixture is removed from the other zone and discharged and returned to the mixture source in such a manner as to aerate the returned mixture. The separated solids are returned to the mixture source with the major part of the mixture. The separated solids and liquid are removed from the apparatus of the invention continuously. The invention is particularly useful in obtaining a highly clarified centrate from sewage sludge.

Growing community of inventors

Allentown, PA, United States of America

Curtis S McDowell