Apparatus and method for removing pollutants from wastewater
AssigneeSwift & Company
InventorsErnest R. Ramirez, Dennis L. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow of polluted raw wastewater may first be treated with a coagulant, then it is rapidly mixed with very fine bubbles supplied beneath the wastewater flow and may then be treated with a flocculant, after which the pollutants are separated from the water by skimming off the surface of the wastewater.
Claims33
A method for removing pollutants from raw wastewater comprising steps of:
- introducing a flow of wastewater into a compact and dense zone of fine bubbles originating from a bubble supply below said zone, substantially all of the pollutants within the wastewater remaining above said bubble supply at all times;
- churning said pollutants with said bubbles while said wastewater remains within said zone whereby said fine bubbles are rapidly contacted with said pollutants to form aggregates of bubbles and pollutants, said aggregates remaining unseparated from said wastewater flow;
- flowing substantially all of said wastewater flow, together with said unseparated aggregates, out of said zone;
- introducing said aggregates and wastewater into a flotation basin to permit the aggregates to rise to the surface of the wastewater;
- and separating the aggregates from the remainder of the wastewater, which has thus been substantially clarified of pollutants.
A method for removing pollutants from raw wastewater comprising steps of:
- flowing a wastewater into a compact and dense zone of fine bubbles originating from a bubble supply below said zone, substantially all of the pollutants within the wastewater remaining above said bubble supply at all times, said bubble supply being provided by electrolytically decomposing an aqueous fluid that is introduced below said bubble supply;
- churning said pollutants with said bubbles while said wastewater remains within said zone whereby said fine bubbles are rapidly contacted with said pollutants to form aggregates of bubbles and pollutants;
- flowing said aggregates and wastewater out of said zone;
- introducing said aggregates and wastewater into a flotation basin to permit the aggregates to rise to the surface of the wastewater;
- and separating the aggregates from the remainder of the wastewater, which has thus been substantially clarified of pollutants.
An apparatus for removing pollutants from raw wastewater comprising:
- a tank for confining an initially horizontal flow of wastewater, said tank being substantially free of obstructions, a cell having therein a bubble introduction means for providing fine bubbles, said cell being located below and in communcation with said tank, whereby pollutants within said wastewater combine with said bubbles within said tank to form aggregates of pollutants and bubbles, said aggregates remaining unseparated from said wastewater flow;
- a wastewater influx conduit;
- a treated wastewater transfer conduit for removing substantially all of said treated wastewater flow and said unseparated aggregates together from said tank, each conduit being in communication with said tank;
- and a flotation basin in communication with said transfer conduit, said flotation basin being for separating said aggregates of pollutants and bubbles from the thus clarified wastewater.
An apparatus for rapidly mixing very fine bubbles with a flow of raw wastewater, comprising a tank for confining an initially horizontal flow of wastewater, said tank being substantially free of obstructions, said tank being positioned above and in communication with a cell containing a plurality of electrodes for connection to a source of power, said cell being supplied with an aqueous fluid whereby current flowing through said electrodes decomposes said aqueous fluid to produce a dense, initially vertical stream of fine bubbles, whereby said initially horizontal flow of wastewater rapidly and moderately turbulently contacts said initial vertical stream of fine bubbles to form aggregates of pollutants and bubbles, said aggregates remaining unseparated from said wastewater flow, and a treated wastewater fransfer conduit in communication with said tank for removing substantially all of said treated wastewater flow and said unseparated aggregates together from said tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.