US 7,731,842 B2Granted

Submerged fixed film anoxic bioreactor

AssigneeBrentwood Industries, Inc.

InventorsFrank M Kulick, III, Curtis S McDowell

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Abstract

A constant velocity serpentine anoxic reactor incorporates a multiple cell vertical serpentine path, as well as a horizontal serpentine path, through the anoxic chamber. A fixed film media is mounted within each cell of the anoxic chamber to provide a structure on which the bacteria can grow to sustain the biological reaction, which convert nitrates into nitrogen gas. The fixed film media can be a cross-flow media and can optionally include a web of textile material integrated within the fixed film media to enhance bacterial growth within the fixed film media or optionally the anoxic vertical serpentine configuration could be applied to an activated sludge operation. A nitrate recycle pump recycles about 75% of the effluent from the aerobic chamber back into the anoxic chamber to provide a nitrate source for the digestion of the BOD within the influent wastewater.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A wastewater treatment apparatus including a tank having a floor and defining an inlet for the introduction of wastewater and a nitrate rich water into the tank, said wastewater containing BOD to be removed therefrom, and an outlet for the discharge of treated wastewater from said tank, said tank having a fluid level defining a top surface of said wastewater within said tank, comprising:

an anoxic chamber configured to have a vertical rise velocity of at least approximately 30 feet per hour, said anoxic chamber in flow communication with said inlet to receive said wastewater and said nitrate rich water, said anoxic chamber being divided into a plurality of reactor cells arranged in series to define alternating vertical flow paths through succeeding reactor cells from a first reactor cell in flow communication with said inlet, said wastewater and said nitrate rich water being mixed together within said first reactor cell, to a last reactor cell having a discharge of said treated wastewater therefrom, said alternating vertical flow paths defining a vertical serpentine flow path through said anoxic chamber.

A wastewater treatment facility including a vessel having a floor and defining an inlet for the introduction of an influent into the vessel, said influent containing BOD and ammonia to be removed therefrom, and an outlet for the discharge of treated effluent from said vessel, said vessel having a fluid level defining a top surface of said effluent within said vessel, comprising:

an anoxic de-nitrification chamber configured to have a vertical rise velocity of at least approximately 30 feet per hour, said anoxic de-nitrification chamber defining a flow path from said inlet to a discharge, said flow path having fixed film media suspended within said anoxic chamber such that said flow path passes through said fixed film media to provide structure for the growth of bacteria along said flow path, said anoxic chamber being divided into a plurality of reactor cells arranged in series to define alternating vertical flow paths through succeeding reactor cells from a first reactor cell in flow communication with said inlet to a last reactor cell including an outlet, said alternating vertical flow paths defining a vertical serpentine flow path through said anoxic chamber;
an aerobic chamber positioned to receive de-nitrified effluent from said outlet of said anoxic de-nitrification chamber, said aerobic chamber having a plurality of fixed film media towers spaced along a horizontal serpentine flow path through said aerobic chamber, each said tower having a stream of air flowing through said fixed film media to aerated said de-nitrified effluent, said aerobic chamber having said outlet located at a remote end of said horizontal serpentine flow path from said discharge of said aerobic chamber;
and
a recycle apparatus located at said remote end of said horizontal serpentine flow path to divert a portion of said aerated effluent into said anoxic chamber to be mixed with said influent.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.