Method and apparatus for treatment of wastewater employing membrane bioreactors
AssigneeHydrotreat, Inc.
InventorJohnny Arnaud
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus employing membrane filtration in biodegradation processes for treatment of wastewater are described. A bioreactor system is described having an equalization system, a membrane bioreactor system, and a controller. Aeration systems for a membrane bioreactor, such as a mixer, and an ultrafilter subsystem are also described, as is a rotary membrane ultrafilter.
Claims28
A fluid treatment system for removing contaminants from wastewater, comprising:
- a controller adapted to control the flow of biomass into the system;
- and
- a bioreactor system, the bioreactor system having
- a vessel having an upper and lower portion for containing biomass;
- a cyclone filter to separate the biomass into bulk liquid and bulk slurry;
- at least one membrane filter having a membrane;
- and
- a dissolved gas generator having an oxygen supply,
- wherein biomass exits the lower portion of the vessel into the cyclone filter, the cyclone filter separating the biomass into bulk liquid and bulk slurry, the bulk liquid passing through the membrane filter and into the dissolved gas generator,
- the dissolved gas generator saturating the bulk liquid with oxygen from the oxygen supply, the bulk liquid saturated with oxygen being returned to the upper portion of the vessel.
The fluid treatment system of 8 further comprising a first oxygen sensor between the vessel and the pump and a second oxygen sensor between the dissolved gas generator and the mixer, each oxygen sensor in communication with the controller, the controller adjusting the flow of biomass into the vessel and oxygen supplied to the dissolved gas generator in response to said sensors.
The fluid treatment system of 16 in which the inlet of the cyclone filter is radially disposed on the cylinder.
A method of removing contaminants from wastewater, comprising:
- controlling the flow of biomass into the system with a controller;
- containing biomass in a vessel having an upper and lower portion;
- separating the biomass into bulk liquid and bulk slurry with a cyclone filter;
- providing at least one membrane filter having a membrane;
- and
- providing a dissolved gas generator having an oxygen supply, wherein biomass exits the lower portion of the vessel into the cyclone filter, the cyclone filter separating the biomass into bulk liquid and bulk slurry, the bulk liquid passing through the membrane filter and into the dissolved gas generator, the dissolved gas generator saturating the bulk liquid with oxygen from the oxygen supply, the bulk liquid saturated with oxygen being returned to the upper portion of the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.