Baker Hughes Corporation

David T Berry

David DiGregorio

A wastewater orbital treatment system includes an elongated racetrack-like tank containing a central partition wall. A surface aerator is mounted adjacent to at least one end of the partition wall to both aerate and propel the mixed liquor including biomass around the orbital tank. An aerobic zone for BOD and ammonia oxidation is provided in an upper layer of the moving volume of mixed liquor and an anoxic zone for reduction of NO.sub.x from the aerobic zone, by anoxic respiration by the biomass, is provided in a lower layer of the moving volume of mixed liquor. An imperforate horizontal baffle is provided under the surface aerator so as to prevent dissolved oxygen in the aerobic zone from entering the anoxic zone. The NO.sub.x from the aerobic zone is introduced through a free interface of the two vertically displaced zones downstream of the baffle. In a preferred embodiment a radial impeller connected by a common drive shaft to the surface aerator is positioned below the baffle and aids in propelling the anoxic zone layer around the circuit.

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

David T Berry