Systems and methods for formation of biologically active granules and biologically active granules

A method for formation of biologically active granules that digest sludge in a lagoon containing water, the lagoon including a bottom thereof, the lagoon being bounded on at least a first side by a first berm and a second side by a second berm, the lagoon having an influent input side, the water of the lagoon having a surface layer, the water of the lagoon having an initial pH of at least 7.5, after which the pH may range from 6.2 to 10, the method comprising:

• placing in the lagoon a baffle, the baffle being disposed across the lagoon between the first berm and the second berm, the baffle dividing the lagoon into at least a first cell and a second cell, the first cell being on a first side of the baffle, the first cell being adjacent to the influent input side of the lagoon, the second cell being on a second side of the baffle, the second cell being adjacent to the first cell, the baffle extending from the surface layer of the lagoon water toward the bottom of the lagoon, the baffle being of a vertical height such that the baffle does not reach the bottom of the lagoon;
• and
• placing at least 3 water circulators in the lagoon, each water circulator being disposed in the first cell of the lagoon, each water circulator being configured to (a) take in water from the lagoon travelling along a substantially vertical path, essentially perpendicular to the surface layer of the lagoon water, leading up to the water circulator from below the water circulator;
• and (b) expel the water taken in, wherein the water is expelled such that at least some of the expelled water travels away from the water circulator toward the baffle in a path essentially parallel to the surface layer of the lagoon water, and at least some of the expelled water travels downward as a pulsed liquid flow towards the bottom of the lagoon;
• wherein at least some of the water expelled from a given one of the 3 water circulators forms a respective hydraulic wall between the given water circulator and a respective one of the other water circulators;
• wherein each of the hydraulic walls intersects essentially at a center point relative to the 3 water circulators;
• wherein each of a given pair of adjacent hydraulic walls forms a respective hydraulic corner where the given pair of hydraulic walls intersect essentially at the center point;
• wherein the hydraulic walls direct water expelled from each of the plurality of water circulators into the hydraulic corners;
• wherein the hydraulic corners force at least some of the water directed therein by the hydraulic walls downward, towards the bottom of the lagoon, and thereafter towards an inlet of the water circulator, thereby creating the conditions for the formation of the biologically active granules;
• wherein at least some of the expelled water impinges on the baffle and is redirected downward toward the bottom of the lagoon;
• and
• wherein a path for effluent to travel from the first cell to the second cell is formed below the baffle, between a bottom edge of the baffle and the bottom of the lagoon.