Biological scrubber odor control system and method
AssigneeUSFilter Corporation
InventorsRichard Parker, Eric Davis, Roop Jain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for the purification and biodeodorizing of a gas are disclosed. The system is highly adaptable and capable of operating in a variety of modes to tailor performance of the system to specific odor control applications. The scrubber stages of the system may each be maintained at different conditions to selectively promote bacterial activity that targets a variety of odorous constituents. The pH level of the irrigation fluid provided to each scrubber stage may be controlled.
Claims39
An odor treatment system, comprising:
- a biological scrubber disposed to receive process gas, the biological scrubber comprising a first scrubber stage, a second scrubber stage and a scrubber sump in fluid communication with the first scrubber stage;
- an irrigation source fluidly connected to the biological sc rubber;
- and
- a controller configured to generate a first control signal that establishes a first liquid circuit from the scrubber sump to the biological scrubber and further configured to generate a second control signal that establishes a second liquid circuit from the irrigation source to the biological scrubber.
A computer-readable medium including computer-readable signals stored thereon defining instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method of regulating operation of a biological scrubber system comprising acts of:
- irrigating a first biological scrubber stage of the biological scrubber system during a first irrigation mode of operation;
- and
- irrigating a second biological scrubber stage of the biological scrubber system during a second irrigation mode of operation;
- wherein the first irrigation mode is performed during a first predetermined time period and the second irrigation mode is performed during a second predetermined time period.
A method for controlling odor in a gas stream, comprising acts of:
- contacting the gas stream with a first biologically active surface;
- wetting the first biologically active surface with a first liquid stream;
- contacting the gas stream with a second biologically active surface;
- and
- wetting the second biologically active surface with a second liquid stream during a predetermined time interval;
- and
- wetting at least a portion of the first biologically active surface with a discharge from the second biologically active surface.
A method for treating odor in a fluid, comprising acts of:
- contacting the fluid with a first active surface;
- wetting the first active surface with a first liquid stream having an acidic pH;
- contacting the fluid with a second active surface;
- and
- wetting the second active surface with a second liquid stream having a pH greater than the pH of the first liquid stream.
A method for controlling odor in a gas stream, comprising acts of:
- providing a scrubber column;
- establishing a first liquid circuit for a predetermined period of time from a scrubber sump to a first biologically active stage of the scrubber column;
- establishing a second liquid circuit from an irrigation source to a second biologically active stage of the scrubber column after the predetermined period of time has elapsed;
- and
- contacting the gas stream with the first and second biologically active surfaces to reduce a concentration of odorous constituents therein.
A method for treating odor in a gas stream, comprising acts of:
- providing a scrubber column comprising a scrubber sump, a first biologically active stage and a second biologically active stage;
- contacting the gas stream with the first and second biologically active stages to reduce a concentration of target constituents;
- directing liquid from the scrubber sump to the first biologically active stage;
- maintaining a pH level of the liquid from the scrubber sump within a predetermined pH range;
- and
- directing liquid from an irrigation source to the second biologically active stage.
A method of facilitating controlling odor in a gas stream, comprising:
- providing a biological scrubber column comprising an inlet fluidly connected to a source of the gas stream;
- and
- providing a controller configured to generate a first control signal that establishes a first liquid circuit from a scrubber sump to the biological scrubber column and further configured to generate a second control signal that establishes a second liquid circuit from an irrigation source to the biological scrubber column.
A method of modifying an existing biological odor control system, comprising:
- providing a computer-readable medium including computer-readable signals stored thereon defining instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method of regulating operation of a biological scrubber system comprising acts of:
- irrigating a first biological scrubber stage of the biological scrubber system during a first irrigation mode of operation;
- and
- irrigating a second biological scrubber stage of the biological scrubber system during a second irrigation mode of operation;
- wherein the first irrigation mode is performed during a first predetermined time period and the second irrigation mode is performed during a second predetermined time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.