Floating water treatment apparatus
OwnerChristopher A. Limcacoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating biological contactor (RBC) is provided that includes a media wheel with a plurality of vanes configured for growth of algae thereon. The media wheel is configured for rotation by air directed from an air diffuser to impinge on the vanes such that when said media wheel is partly immersed in water rotation of the media wheel alternately exposes algae growing on the plurality of vanes to sunlight and to the water. A frame is connected to an axle of the media wheel. Only one of the media wheel and the frame is constructed with a buoyancy sufficient to support the media wheel partly immersed in water during rotation of the media wheel.
Claims18
A rotating biological contactor (RBC), comprising:
- a media wheel supported on an axle for rotation about a central axis defined by said axle, said media wheel including;
- a plurality of vanes configured for growth of algae thereon, said plurality of vanes oriented and configured to cause said media wheel to rotate when air impinges on said vanes such that when said media wheel is partly immersed in water rotation of the media wheel alternately exposes algae growing on the plurality of vanes to sunlight and to the water;
- and
- a biological filter media contained in one portion of the media wheel, the biological filter media configured to support bacterial growth, wherein rotation of the media wheel alternately immerses the filter media in the water and removes the filter media from the water;
- a frame connected to said axle, whereby said media wheel rotates about the central axis relative to said frame;
- and
- an air diffuser connected to a source of air, said air diffuser arranged in an operating position to direct air to impinge on said plurality of vanes when the media wheel is partly immersed in water,
- wherein an assembly of said media wheel and said frame connected to said axle is configured to float independently in water, and
- wherein one of said media wheel and said frame is constructed with a buoyancy sufficient to support the media wheel partly immersed in water during rotation of the media wheel.
A water treatment facility comprising:
- a tank containing water;
- a plurality of media wheels free floating in the tank, each of said media wheels including a plurality of vanes configured for growth of algae thereon, said plurality of vanes oriented and configured to cause said media wheel to rotate when air impinges on said vanes such that when said media wheel is partly immersed in the water rotation of the media wheel alternately exposes algae growing on the plurality of vanes to sunlight and to the water, wherein at least a portion of said media wheel is formed of a material with a buoyancy sufficient to support the media wheel partly immersed in the water during rotation of the media wheel;
- and
- an air diffuser associated with each of said plurality of media wheels and disposed in said tank to direct air toward each of said plurality of media wheels to impinge on said vanes, said air diffuser connected to an air supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.