Sludge separation device and method for its use
OwnerJames Pennerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for dewatering sewage sludge and a method for its use is provided. The device affords separation by causing a sludge concentrate to flow at sufficiently slow rates to cause the gel-like concentrate to fracture and release trapped water. Sewage sludge dewatered according to the method and utilizing the device can be directly burned or directly introduced into a landfill. Certain embodiments of the device can be transported to a site where the dewatering process is carried out and certain embodiments of the device can be further utilized to transport dewatered sludge from the dewatering site to a further disposal site.
Claims27
A method for dewatering sewage sludge comprising:
- (a) providing a colloidal mixture of sludge in water;
- (b) adding the colloidal mixture and a flocculant, with mixing, to a vessel having a horizontal axis of rotation and a porous surface about the horizontal axis of rotation;
- and
- (c) rotating the vessel about the horizontal axis of rotation at a rate of ≦about 4 revolutions per hour, wherein the rotating causes the water to pass through the porous surface to initially produce a moist solid that tumbles and crumbles inside the vessel producing a dewatered solid suitable for disposal without further treatment.
A method for dewatering sludge comprising:
- (a) providing a colloidal mixture of sewage sludge and water;
- (b) adding the colloidal mixture and a flocculant to a vessel having a horizontal axis of rotation and a porous surface about the horizontal axis of rotation;
- and
- (c) concentrating the sludge to form a sludge concentrate;
- (d) rotating the vessel about the horizontal axis of rotation at a rate sufficiently slow to cause the sludge concentrate to fracture, to release water and to form a dewatered solid, suitable for immediate disposal.
A device for dewatering sludge comprising a vessel having:
- (a) a horizontal axis of rotation;
- (b) a porous region about the horizontal axis of rotation;
- (c) a nonporous region contiguous with the porous region;
- and
- (c) a first orifice associated with the nonporous region and adapted for the introduction of sludge and a flocculant and for the removal of dewatered sludge;
- wherein the vessel is adapted to:
- (i) receive a sludge containing water and solids, and
- (ii) rotate about the horizontal axis of rotation at a rate sufficiently slow to cause water to be released from the sludge and to pass through the porous region, to retain solids within the vessel, and to cause the retained solids to tumble forming a friable dewatered solid.
A device for dewatering sludge comprising a cylindrical vessel having:
- (a) two end pieces
- (b) a horizontal axis of rotation through the end pieces;
- (c) a cylindrical porous region about the horizontal axis of rotation;
- (d) a first orifice associated with an end piece and adapted for the introduction of sludge and a flocculant;
- (e) a second orifice associated with an end piece and equipped with a covering having an open position and a closed position and adapted to remain closed during rotation and to open for the removal of dewatered sludge;
- wherein the vessel is adapted to:
- (i) receive a sludge containing water and solids, and
- (ii) rotate about the horizontal axis of rotation at a rate sufficiently slow to cause water to be released and to pass through the porous region, to retain solids within the vessel, and to cause the retained solids to tumble forming a friable dewatered solid.
The device of claim 25, wherein the cylindrical porous region includes narrow rectangular slits having a width ranging from about 0.005 to about 0.090 of an inch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.