Energy-efficient duct, head cell with duct and methods
OwnerGeorge E. Wilsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A duct for conveying influent to a head cell having multiple, vertically aligned trays has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end can be connected to an influent channel positioned at a level above the head cell apparatus. The outlet end is positioned downstream of the inlet end and can be connected to the head cell. The outlet end has multiple, discrete nozzles that are spaced apart in a vertical direction and correspond in number to the multiple trays. Influent that enters the inlet end of the duct travels downwardly and exits the duct through orifices in the nozzles, entering each of the respective trays.
Claims30
In a head cell apparatus having plural vertically aligned trays that each receive and treat wastewater, a duct for conveying influent to be treated to the apparatus, the duct comprising:
- an inlet end connectible to an influent channel positioned at a level above the head cell apparatus;
- and
- an outlet end positioned downstream of the inlet end and connectible to the head cell apparatus, the outlet end comprising a plurality of discrete nozzles corresponding in number to the plurality of trays, the nozzles being spaced in a vertical direction and each having at least one orifice, the orifices being positionable relative to the trays such that influent entering the inlet end of the duct travels downwardly and exits the outlet end through the orifices into the respective trays.
A head cell entry duct for conveying influent to be treated to a head cell having a plurality of vertically spaced trays, the duct comprising:
- an inlet end connectible to an influent source positioned at a level above the head cell apparatus;
- a first section extending from the inlet end downstream in a flow direction to a first junction, the first section defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area that decreases in the flow direction, the passageway having a top surface that is open over at least a portion of a distance between the inlet end and the first junction;
- a second section adjacent and downstream of the first section, the second section defining an interior chamber and terminating at a level below the first section;
- and
- a third section adjacent and downstream of the second section, the third section having a respective plurality of nozzles that each define a chamber terminating at an orifice at the outlet end of the duct, the nozzles being connectible to the plurality of trays of the head cell apparatus.
A method of conveying influent to a head cell having multiple trays aligned in a vertical direction, the method comprising:
- providing an influent source at a level above the head cell;
- channeling influent from the influent source into the duct;
- changing a velocity of the influent by channeling the influent through a portion of the duct having a changing cross-sectional area;
- and
- separating the influent into multiple flows and conveying the multiple flows to the respective multiple trays.
A method of conveying influent to a treatment apparatus, comprising:
- providing an influent source at a level above the treatment apparatus;
- conveying the influent with a duct along a flow path from the influent source to the treatment apparatus;
- and
- along the flow path, distributing the influent into multiple independent flows at different levels below the source.
A downward feed head cell assembly for removing grit from wastewater, comprising:
- a plurality of vertically-spaced trays, each of the trays having an upper periphery, a downwardly directed conical portion with a terminal end defining an exit opening, and an inlet opening formed in a side of the tray adjacent the upper periphery;
- a passageway through which influent is conveyed from a source at a level above a topmost one of the trays to each of the trays, the passageway having an inlet end that receives influent from the source and an outlet end lower than the inlet end, the outlet end having a corresponding plurality of nozzles, each of the nozzles being attached to a respective tray at the inlet opening,
- whereby influent in the passageway is distributed into multiple flows through the nozzles and into the trays, the influent entering each tray through the inlet opening and establishing a flow that follows the conical surface, the grit in the influent settling toward the exit opening in the tray while the grit-reduced influent is discharged as effluent through the space between the tray and any overlying tray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.