Equalization tank assemblies for wastewater systems
AssigneeTrane International Inc.
InventorsMichael Sean Day, Casey Borst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment of a system includes a pipeline of a wastewater system, an equalization tank that is configured to receive wastewater from the pipeline, and a return line extending from the equalization tank to the pipeline. In addition, the system includes an electricity generation assembly in fluid communication with the return line that is configured to generate electrical power using a flow of wastewater through the return line. The electricity generation assembly includes a flow channel, a water wheel that is partially inserted into the flow channel such that a portion of the water wheel is extended outside of the flow channel, and an electrical generator connected to the water wheel.
Claims20
A system including:
- a pipeline of a wastewater system;
- an equalization tank that is configured to receive wastewater from the pipeline;
- a return line extending from the equalization tank to the pipeline;
- an adjustable valving member positioned on a sidewall of the pipeline and is in fluid communication with the pipeline, the adjustable valving member being actuatable to adjust a flow of wastewater to the equalization tank;
- and
- an electricity generation assembly in fluid communication with the return line that is configured to generate electrical power using a flow of wastewater through the return line, wherein the electricity generation assembly includes:
- a flow channel;
- a water wheel that is partially inserted into the flow channel such that a portion of the water wheel is extended outside of the flow channel;
- and
- an electrical generator connected to the water wheel, and
- wherein the adjustable valving member includes an actuatable weir, the actuatable weir includes one or more actuatable gates moveable in a vertical direction relative to and along a base or fixed weir plate to adjust an overall vertical height of the weir.
A method comprising:
- (a) diverting wastewater out of a pipeline of a wastewater system to an equalization tank;
- (b) actuating a weir in the pipeline to adjust a liquid height in the pipeline that will result in flow out of the pipeline and into the equalization tank;
- (c) flowing the wastewater out of the equalization tank and through an electricity generation assembly to generate electrical power, the electricity generation assembly comprising:
- a flow channel;
- a water wheel that is partially inserted into the flow channel such that a portion of the water wheel is extended outside of the flow channel;
- and
- an electrical generator connected to the water wheel;
- and
- (d) flowing the wastewater back to the pipeline after (c), and
- adjusting a flowrate of the wastewater out of the equalization tank using an adjustable valving member, wherein the adjustable valving member is positioned on a sidewall of the pipeline and includes an actuatable weir that includes one or more actuatable gate and the one or more actuatable gate is moveable in a vertical direction relative to and along a base or fixed weir plate to adjust an overall vertical height of the weir.
A system including:
- a pipeline of a wastewater system;
- an equalization tank configured to receive wastewater from the pipeline;
- an actuatable weir positioned at a sidewall of the pipeline that is actuatable to adjust a liquid height in the pipeline that is configured to flow past the weir and toward the equalization tank;
- a return line extending from the equalization tank to the pipeline;
- and
- an electricity generation assembly in fluid communication with the return line that is configured to generate electrical power using a flow of wastewater, wherein the electricity generation assembly includes:
- a flow channel;
- a Poncelet wheel that is inserted into the flow channel;
- and an electrical generator connected to the Poncelet wheel,
- wherein the actuatable weir includes one or more actuatable gate that is moveable in a vertical direction relative to and along base or fixed weir plate to adjust an overall vertical height of the weir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.