Biological fluidized bed apparatus

A biological fluidized bed apparatus for the treatment of wastewater comprising:

• a reactor tank having a 60 degree conical bottom;
• a media bed within said tank;
• a recirculation pipe within said tank having an upper inlet, and a lower conformed outlet fitting within said media;
• a solids collection trough located above said media bed, said trough having a solids thickening means and a sloped bottom for deflecting gas bubbles to the center of the tank;
• a conical solids/gas/liquid separation means disposed above the said solids trough, said conical separation means having an upper and a lower cone creating a down-flow compartment to direct suspended solids into said solids trough;
• a quiescent zone forming a sludge blanket clarification means within said tank external to said conical separation means, said quiescent zone having a treated effluent weir, a rotating surface skimmer and a scum collection means;
• a recirculation outflow port within said solids trough, in the mid-upper part of the said tank;
• a pump for withdrawing water from the said recirculation outflow port;
• said pump having a discharge pipe connected to said recirculation pipe inlet, forming a means for fluidizing the said media bed;
• and
• a means for introducing untreated wastewater into said pump discharge pipe.