Fixed film bioreactor for purification of water and associated methods

A fixed film bioreactor for purification of water, the bioreactor configured to provide media cleaning, comprising:

• a tank comprising a convergence end and a remote end, wherein, when the bioreactor is in an installed configuration, the convergence end is disposed closer to an influencing gravitational source than the remote end, the tank comprising a convergence region disposed at the convergence end;
• media components disposed within the tank, each of the media components comprising at least one surface for receiving a biofilm for purification of the water;
• an eductor disposed at least partially within the convergence region, the eductor comprising an input opening, an output opening, an eductor flow pathway, one or more lateral openings, and a narrowed region disposed within the eductor flow pathway between the lateral openings and the output opening, the input opening and the output opening being disposed at opposite ends of the eductor flow pathway with the input opening, the output opening, the eductor flow pathway and the lateral openings in fluid communication with each other, the lateral openings being disposed intermediate the input opening and the narrowed region along the eductor flow pathway, wherein the one or more lateral openings, the narrowed region, and the output opening are of sufficient size to allow the water and the media components to pass therethrough;
• a pressurized water conduit positioned to provide pressurized water into the input opening of the eductor;
• a lift conduit having an entry opening, an exit opening and a lift conduit pathway placing the entry opening and exit opening in fluid communication with each other, the entry opening disposed to receive the pressurized water and media components exiting from the output opening of the eductor, wherein a media cleaning pathway extends from the one or more lateral openings, along the eductor flow pathway, through the output opening, into the entry opening, through the lift conduit pathway, and to the exit opening of the lift conduit;
• and
• a pressurized water mechanism configured to provide the pressurized water via the pressurized water conduit to the eductor at a flow rate sufficient to induce one or more of the media components through the media cleaning pathway and separate solids and gases from the media components disposed within the media cleaning pathway without fluidizing the media components outside of the media cleaning pathway during a media cleaning cycle of the bioreactor, wherein a water purification process of the bioreactor continues through at least a portion of the media cleaning cycle of the bioreactor.

A method of operating a fixed film bioreactor for purification of water, the bioreactor comprising a tank comprising a remote end and a convergence region, media components disposed within the tank, each media component comprising at least one surface for receiving a biofilm for purification of the water, an eductor disposed at least partially within the convergence region, a lift conduit configured to receive pressurized water and media components from the eductor, a media cleaning pathway extending through at least a portion of the eductor and through the lift conduit, a pressurized water mechanism configured to provide pressurized water to the eductor, the method comprising:

• commencing a water purification process of the bioreactor prior to a media cleaning cycle;
• conducting the media cleaning cycle of the bioreactor by providing pressurized water to the eductor using the pressurized water mechanism at a flow rate sufficient to induce one or more of the media components through the media cleaning pathway and to separate solids and gases from the media components disposed within the media cleaning pathway without fluidizing the media components outside of the media cleaning pathway, wherein pressurized air is not injected into the tank during the media cleaning cycle of the bioreactor;
• and
• continuing the water purification process of the bioreactor through at least a portion of the media cleaning cycle.