Method and system for enhancing mass transfer in aeration/oxygenation systems
OwnerMalcolm Fabiyiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A means for obtaining high mass transfer efficiencies in surfactant laden wastewater treatment or process systems is disclosed. The present system employs ultrafine bubbles delivered into a high shear region such as in the draft tube or other containment volume of a mechanically agitated contacting system within which an impeller is placed, or in the venturi or divergent-convergent of a pumped loop within which gas-liquid contacting is carried out.
Claims12
A wastewater treatment system for treating surfactant laden wastewater comprising:
- an aeration basin;
- a source of oxygen;
- a mechanical agitating contactor disposed in the aeration basin, the mechanical agitating contactor comprising a draft tube having at least one inlet opening and at least one discharge opening and with an agitator or impeller disposed therein to create a flow of the surfactant laden wastewater by drawing the wastewater into the draft tube from the at least one inlet opening and discharging the liquid flow from the at least one discharge opening;
- an oxygen injection system disposed below the surface of the surfactant laden wastewater and proximate to the mechanical agitating contactor and operatively coupled to the source of oxygen, the oxygen injection system adapted to produce oxygen bubbles proximate the impeller, the oxygen bubbles having an average diameter of less than or equal to 100 microns.
A wastewater treatment system for treating surfactant laden wastewater comprising:
- a sidestream loop fluidically coupled to a basin in a wastewater treatment facility;
- a mechanical agitating contactor disposed in the sidestream loop, the mechanical agitating contactor comprising an agitator or impeller configured to create a flow of the surfactant laden wastewater in the sidestream loop;
- a source of oxygen;
- an oxygen injection system disposed below the surface of the surfactant laden wastewater and proximate to the mechanical agitating contactor and operatively coupled to the source of oxygen, the oxygen injection system adapted to produce oxygen bubbles proximate the agitator or impeller, the oxygen bubbles having an average diameter of less than or equal to 100 microns.
A method of treating surfactant laden wastewater in a basin or vessel, the basin or vessel having a mechanical agitating contactor submerged therein, the mechanical agitating contactor comprising a draft tube having at least one inlet opening and at least one discharge opening and an agitator or impeller disposed within the draft tube, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating the agitator or impeller disposed within the draft tube to create a flow of the surfactant laden wastewater by drawing the wastewater into the draft tube from the at least one inlet opening and discharging the wastewater from the at least one discharge opening;
- injecting oxygen bubbles into the surfactant laden wastewater within the draft tube at a location proximate the agitator or impeller;
- wherein the surfactant laden wastewater drawn into the draft tube has a minimum superficial velocity greater than a terminal ascent velocity of the oxygen bubbles to enable the entrainment of the oxygen bubbles into the surfactant laden wastewater discharged from the draft tube;
- and
- wherein the oxygen bubbles entrained in the surfactant laden wastewater discharged from the draft tube have an average diameter of less than or equal to 100 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.