Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
AssigneeDharma Living Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Austin, David J. Maciolek, Eric Lohan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The wastewater treatment systems have a plurality of treatment modules between the inlet and the outlet, each for treating water with a selected process. Influent is directed to a fixed-film reactor. Water then flows to a hydroponic reactor, in which aquatic plants are suspended atop the liquid for achieving aquatic-root-zone treatment. A filtration device removes any remaining suspended solids following the hydroponic reactor. Recycling may occur to the fixed-film reactor to enhance nitrogen removal from one or both of the hydroponic reactor and the filtration device.
Claims46
A wastewater treatment system comprising:
- a fixed-film reactor having an inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and an outlet, the fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth;
- a hydroponic reactor having an inlet and an outlet;
- a filtration device for removing suspended solids;
- means for transferring water exiting the fixed-film reactor outlet to the hydroponic reactor inlet;
- means for channeling water from the hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device;
- and
- means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
A wastewater treatment system comprising:
- a fixed-film reactor having an inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and an outlet, the fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth;
- a first and a second hydroponic reactor, each having an inlet and an outlet;
- a filtration device for removing suspended solids;
- means for transferring water exiting the fixed-film reactor outlet to the first hydroponic reactor inlet;
- first means for channeling water from the first hydroponic reactor outlet to the second hydroponic reactor inlet;
- second means for channeling water from the second hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device;
- and
- means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
A wastewater treatment system comprising:
- a first and a second fixed-film reactor, each having an inlet and an outlet, each fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth;
- a hydroponic reactor having an inlet and an outlet;
- a filtration device for removing suspended solids;
- first means for transferring water to be treated into the first fixed-film reactor inlet;
- second means for transferring water exiting the first fixed-film reactor outlet to the second fixed-film reactor inlet;
- third means for transferring water exiting the second fixed-film reactor outlet to the hydroponic reactor inlet;
- means for channeling water from the hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device;
- and
- means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of:
- treating wastewater with a fixed-film treatment in an anoxic/aerobic environment;
- treating water containing biofilms sloughed off in the anoxic/aerobic environment with an aerobic aquatic-root-zone treatment sufficient to substantially eliminate yield;
- filtering water emerging from the aerobic treatment to remove any remaining suspended solids;
- and
- recycling a portion of the filtered water to the anoxic/aerobic environment.
A method of designing a site-specific wastewater treatment system, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining parameters of wastewater at a site, the parameters including measured levels of wastewater characteristics and temporal ranges thereof;
- configuring a wastewater treatment system specific to the determined wastewater parameters, the system including:
- at least one fixed-film reactor having an inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and an outlet, the fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth;
- at least one hydroponic reactor having an inlet and an outlet;
- a filtration device for removing suspended solids;
- means for transferring water exiting the fixed-film reactor outlet to the hydroponic reactor inlet;
- means for channeling water from the hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device;
- and
- means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.