Nutrient and particle removal: method and apparatus for treatment of existing lakes, ponds and water bodies

A method of treating a body of liquid to remove particle matter, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing and positioning a plurality of collection chambers connected side-by-side in a two dimensional array supported upon a horizontally movable raft in the body of liquid such that an unconfined region of the liquid above or below the collection chambers can be treated,
• b) capturing particle matter in said region as it moves toward the collection chambers while said collection chambers are communicated to a receiving conduit, and
• c) periodically removing the captured particle matter from the collection chambers by establishing a pressure on the receiving conduit 1) to cause liquid flow therethrough that is effective to carry the captured particle matter through the receiving conduit for discharge therefrom to a disposal location and 2) to actuate a flow control valve between each collection chamber and the receiving conduit to restrict communication therebetween so as to increase liquid flow velocity in said receiving conduit and thereby assist in carrying the particle matter therethrough to the disposal location.

A method of treating a body of liquid to remove buoyant matter, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing and positioning a plurality of collection chambers connected side-by-side in a two dimensional array supported upon a horizontally movable raft in the body of liquid such that the collection chambers face downwardly for treating an unconfined region of the liquid below the collection chambers,
• b) capturing buoyant matter in said region as it ascends toward the collection chambers while said collection chambers are communicated to a receiving conduit, and
• c) periodically removing the captured particle matter from the collection chambers by establishing a pressure on the receiving conduit to cause liquid flow therethrough that is effective to carry the captured buoyant matter through the receiving conduit for discharge therefrom to a disposal location.

Apparatus for treating a body of water to decrease suspended particle matter and nutrient load thereof, comprising:

• a) a plurality of collection chambers interconnected side-by-side in a two dimensional array supported on a horizontally movable raft and communicated to a receiving conduit, said collection chambers being positionable in a horizontal orientation in the body of water such that particle matter and precipitate in an unconfined region of the liquid above or below the array is captured by said collection chambers as the particle matter and precipitate move toward said collection chambers and means for horizontally positioning said raft at selective locations on said body of water,
• b) means cooperably associated with the array for introducing a chemical precipitating agent to said region to form a precipitate that reduces nutrient load, and
• c) means for periodically establishing a pressure on the receiving conduit to cause liquid flow therethrough that is effective to carry the captured particle matter and precipitate through the receiving conduit for discharge therefrom to a disposal location.

Apparatus for treating a body of liquid to remove particle matter, comprising:

• a) a plurality of collection chambers interconnected side-by-side in a two dimensional array supported on a horizontally movable raft with each collection chamber communicated to a receiving conduit by a flow control valve, said collection chambers being positionable in a horizontal orientation in the body of liquid such that particle matter in an unconfined region of the liquid above or below the array is captured by said collection chambers as the particle matter moves toward said collection chambers and means for horizontally positioning said raft at selective locations on said body of water,
• b) means for periodically establishing a pressure on the receiving conduit to cause liquid flow therethrough that is effective to carry the collected particle matter through the receiving conduit for discharge therefrom to a disposal location, and
• c) each flow control valve being open in the absence of liquid flow in the receiving conduit and being actuable by said liquid flow to restrict communication between the collection chamber and the receiving conduit so as to increase liquid flow velocity in said receiving conduit and thereby assist in carrying the particle matter therethrough for discharge to the disposal location.

Apparatus for treating a body of liquid to remove buoyant matter, comprising:

• a) a plurality of collection chambers interconnected side-by-side in a two dimensional array supported on a horizontally movable raft and communicated to a receiving conduit, said collection chambers being positionable in a horizontal orientation in the body of liquid such that the collection chambers face downwardly for treating an unconfined region of the liquid below the array by capturing ascending buoyant matter therein and means for horizontally positioning said raft at selective locations on said body of water, and
• b) means for periodically establishing a pressure on the receiving conduit to cause liquid flow therethrough that is effective to carry the captured buoyant matter through the receiving conduit for discharge therefrom to a disposal location.