LAWACZ,Wlodzimierz (1 Zagloby Str, 05-092 Warsaw-Lomianki, PL)
LAZAREK, Stanislaw (Stralsundsvägen 35:205, Lund, SE-224 79, SE)
LAWACZ,Wlodzimierz (1 Zagloby Str, 05-092 Warsaw-Lomianki, PL)
Claims
1. A lamellar structure for treatment and aeration of water and wastewater, characterized by comprising: straps (10) having horizontal or slanting cuttings (12, 14, 16) allowing various spatial arrangements when assembled by attaching at least four straps (10) through the cuttings (12, 14, 16) in a predetermined space between said straps (10) to form a crate (30) making up said lamellar structure, in which at least two of said straps (10) are deflected from at least one of a horizontal direction, and a horizontal and a vertical direction, allowing deflection of water current (62) passing through nozzle openings made up by said straps (10) in the crate (30) when placed in water and wastewater to build up a bioactive surface area on said straps (10) area exposed to water to manifold natural processes that purify and aerate water.
2. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein a crate is adapted to connect to another crate to create a larger bioactive surface area. 3. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein said crate is equipped with a suspension and ballast floaters adapted to form a pendulum mechanism that continuously destabilizes the position of said crate when water flows through it, whereby the pendulum movement of the crate redirects excessive sediment and directs the water flow and said sediment towards the bottom of the water body. 4. A lamellar structure according to claim 3, wherein said crate is suspended perpendicularly to the direction of the water flow.
5. A lamellar structure according to claim 3, wherein two bands are placed around said crate for fastening suspensions and floaters.
6. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein a horizontal direction is deflected by 45 degrees, and horizontal and vertical directions are deflected by 33, or 90 degrees.
7. A lamellar structure according to claim 1, wherein tuffs of synthetic fibers with a large plain surface area are fastened in strap joints or on passage walls on said crate.
8. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein said crate is constructed with at least 30 straps/lamellas by applying vertical straps with cuttings on both sides.
9. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein crates are positioned in the outright position to flowing water, causing hydraulic resistance and accelerating the flow of water beneath the crates.
10. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein slurry transported by the water current along a channel bottom with applied crates ends in a sedimentation tank where it can be pumped out back into any part of a treatment plant.
11. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein said structures positioned in strong wave zones are permanently fastened on concrete quays, whereby wave energy presses water through nozzles into the space between a crate and a concrete wall, and whereby deflectors placed below a crate redirect the stream of aerated water towards the bottom of the water basin.
12. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein structures positioned in sailing canals are equipped with cuttings at 33 degrees (E + E), which are fastened permanently on concrete quays, whereby the energy of waves caused by vessels presses water forwards and downwards into the space between a crate and the quay wall, and whereby petrochemical spills and other type of pollutants can be gathered and transported into collecting wells.
13. A lamellar structure according to claim 1, wherein by combining at least thirty perforated (18) straps with cuttings at 90 degrees forming a crate positioned on the surface of tertiary treatment lagoons or basins, whereby a crate passages support growth of aquatic plants.
14. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein crates have perforated (18) lamellar walls and zippers to be combined into floating islands of any size and shape, whereby they can be used for restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems. 15. A lamellar structure according to claim 1 , wherein active sludge in aeration chambers floated by air bubbles becomes incorporated into a green blanket that eliminates odors and aerosols and enhances aggregation of excessive sludge particles, which in turn increases the content of organic matter in dewatered sludge. |
A lamellar structure for treatment and aeration of water and wastewater .
Technical field
The present invention pertains to lamellar structures for treatment and aeration of water and wastewater.
Background art
The intensity of biological treatment processes in water and wastewater correlates closely with the availability and spatial organization of a bioactive surface that is in continuous contact with the liquid. The biofilm, periphyton that develops fast on every submerged surface forms a functional base for treatment of wastewater. The total surface area of a biological bed that supports high microbial activity can be enormous. The key limiting factors in microbial production are: flow rate of liquid through the bed, supply of oxygen and nutrients, and continuous removal of metabolites and excessive biomass.
Apart from natural attached microbial communities on rocks and stones, also artificial objects such as sank vessels, pipes, tires, nets and other solid wastes of human activity make substrate for development of rich biocenoses of plants and animals in waters.
This fact has been purposely utilized in sea waters by introducing solid structures for enhancing development of reefs as biological beds which are able to remove aquatic pollutants. First geometric plastic structures were introduced by the authors of the present invention in 1980-ties. These spatial arrangements in water were in form of barriers supporting growth of attached communities (periphyton). Structures constructed with nets or polyethylene straps extended the total surface area in the range of hundreds square meters in a cubic meter. Appropriate arrangement of structures in flowing water or sewage led to hundredfold higher concentration of attached organisms than those in suspended biomass. Structures placed in sewage became immediately covered by biofilm consisting of heterotrophic organisms. The structures thus can be utilized as biological beds for wastewater treatment. In lakes and rivers, the dominating components of the periphyton are algae, filamentous green algae in particular. Availability of light determines whether the periphyton will become autotrophic - dominated by algae, or heterotrophic - in form of a bacterial biofilm. In shifting light conditions, fast evolution of attached communities was observed towards either auto- or heterotrophy. This self-regulating process in periphyton enables practical application of artificial structures in any environmental conditions, in natural waters as well as in industrial and municipal sewage systems.
Applications described above are particularly effective as tertiary treatment ("polishing") of effluents from large municipal wastewater treatment plants.
Summary of the invention The present invention provides a system of lamellar structures allowing
deflection of water current passing through nozzle openings made up by straps in a crate when placed in water and wastewater to build up a bioactive surface area on the straps area exposed to water to magnify natural processes that purify and aerate water.
Hence the present invention sets forth a lamellar structure for treatment and aeration of water and wastewater. The present invention comprises straps having horizontal or slanting cuttings allowing various spatial arrangements. Straps are assembled by attaching at least four straps through the cuttings in a predetermined space between the straps to form a crate. The crate makes up the lamellar structure, in which at least two of the straps are deflected from at least one of a horizontal direction, and a horizontal and a vertical direction, allowing deflection of water current passing through nozzle openings made up by the straps in the crate when placed in water and wastewater. This is accomplished to build up a bioactive surface area on the straps area exposed to water to manifold/or magnify natural processes that purify and aerate water.
In one embodiment of the present invention a crate is adapted to connect to other crates to enlarge bioactive surface area.
One embodiment comprises that a crate is equipped with a suspension and/or ballast floaters adapted to form a pendulum mechanism that continuously destabilizes the position of the crate when water flows through it, whereby the pendulum movement of the crate redirects the water flow and the excessive sediment towards the bottom of the water stream.
Another embodiment comprises that the crate is suspended perpendicularly to the direction of the water flow.
Yet another embodiment comprises that two bands are placed around the crate for fastening suspensions and floaters. Still yet one embodiment comprises that a horizontal direction is deflected by 45 degrees, and horizontal and vertical directions are deflected by 33, or 90 degrees.
A further embodiment comprises that tuffs of polymeric fibers with a large plain surface area are fastened in strap joints or on passage walls on the crate.
A still further embodiment comprises that the crate is constructed with at least 30 straps/lamellas by applying vertical straps with cuttings on both sides.
In yet another embodiment crates are positioned in the outright position to flowing water, causing hydraulic resistance and accelerating the flow of water beneath the crates.
Further in one embodiment slurry is transported by the water current along a channel bottom with applied crates and gathered in a sedimentation tank where it can be pumped out back into any part of a treatment plant.
Another embodiment comprises that the structures positioned in strong wave zones are permanently fastened on concrete quays, whereby wave energy presses water through nozzles into the space between a crate and a concrete wall, and whereby deflectors placed below a crate redirect the stream of aerated water towards the bottom of the water basin.
In one further embodiment structures positioned in sailing canals are equipped with cuttings at 33 degrees, which are fastened permanently on concrete quays, whereby the energy of waves caused by vessels presses water forwards and downwards into the space between a crate and the quay wall, and whereby petrochemical spills and other type of pollutants can be gathered and transported into collecting wells.
Yet one embodiment is provided by combining at least thirty perforated straps with cuttings at 90 degrees forming a crate positioned on the surface of tertiary treatment lagoons or basins, whereby a crate passages support growth of aquatic plants.
One embodiment comprises that crates have perforated lamellar walls and zippers to be combined into floating islands of any size and shape, whereby they can be used for restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems.
In one embodiment in aeration chambers with active sludge floated by air bubbles a biological bed or green blanket is created that eliminates odors and aerosols and enhances aggregation of excessive sludge particles, which in turn increases the content of organic matter in dewatered excessive sludge.
Brief description of the drawings
Henceforth reference is had to the attached figures in the accompanying text of the description for a better understanding of the present invention with its embodiments and given examples, wherein: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of different types of a single lamella to be combined in construction of crates in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of how lamellas are enriched with polymeric fibers to enlarge bioactive surface area in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of how single lamellas are combined and put together to form a crate as a single module of lamellar structures in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 4 schematically illustrates an embodiment of lamellar structures applied as an energy-free tool for removal of liquid and solid surface pollutants in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of lamellar structures anchored and floating in the outflow channel of a large municipal wastewater treatment plant in accordance with the present invention; and
Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an example embodiment of lamellar structures anchored to the embankment of a harbor or a platform in a deep lake in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments
Due to various water conditions such as velocity, wave action, depth, etc., as well as various technical requirements for the planned implementation of the present invention, systems of lamellar structures differing in construction were elaborated and tested.
The basic material for the structures in one embodiment of the present invention consists of light PVC (density 0.70) with straps in dimensions: width - 10 cm, length - 100 cm, thickness 0.6 cm. The straps have horizontal or slanting cuttings allowing for their various spatial arrangements. To create repeatable modules of lamellar structures, six types of straps with differing cuttings are used, which is depicted in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates different types of single lamella straps (A, B, C, D, E, D, F) 10 to be combined in a construction of crates 30, Fig. 3. Crates 30 are assembled in modules to serve as tools for solving a variety of environmental problems in accordance with the present invention. Straps 10 are equipped with cuttings 12, 14, 16 in order to be able to superimpose with each other. Cutting 12 is made in a 45 degree angle, cutting 14 in a 90 degree angle and cutting 16 in a 33 degree angle. Also strap D is perforated 18 to zip together crates 30 with for instance strands to make up connected crates 30 to build larger structures.
1. Construction of lamellar structures. The single structure has dimensions 100 x 100 x 15 cm and consists of lamella straps (A + B) 10, as shown in Fig. 1 with attached tufts of polymeric fibers. Schematic example of fiber attachment and their positioning is illustrated in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 illustrates example embodiment in accordance with the present invention of how a lamella strap 10 is enriched with polymeric fibers 20 to enlarge a bioactive surface area. Structures with fibers 20 are located along the water current when emerged in water. Such arrangement adjusted to the specific hydraulics of the running water forms an effective "blanket" for tertiary treatment of effluents and any waterways with limited surface area for growth of attached communities (perifyton).
The structures, in one embodiment of the present invention, can be put together as modules and then combined in any size barriers placed upright to the direction of flowing water or placed in strong wave movement zones.
Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an example embodiment in accordance with the
present invention of how single lamella straps 10 are combined and put together to form a crate 30 as a single module of lamellar structures. A single crate 30 module is constructed from thirty plastic lamellas 30 (each lamella: 10 cm x 100 cm). They are joined in such a way that 20 horizontal straps 10 and vertical straps are superimposed on each other and joint by 5 cm deep cuttings in every 10 cm on each strap 10. The horizontal straps 10 are deflected from the horizontal level by 45 degrees. All cuttings 12, 14, 16 joining the straps are of the same width, equal to the thickness of the plastic plate from which the straps 10 are cut off. The vertical straps 10 are made with slanting cuttings on both sides at the angle of 45 degrees B. This allows for inserting 20 horizontal straps 10 with cuttings 14 at the angle of 90 degrees. A special type of water-resistant glue is used in construction of crate 30 modules.
The crate 30 is additionally encircled with two vertical bands. Pendulum ballast 50, Fig. 5 and 6 is loosely attached to the bottom part of the both bands. The weight of the ballast 50, Fig. 5 and 6, and the length of its suspension 52 are adjusted individually (the faster water velocity, the heavier ballast 50 should be applied). The upper part of the bands serves for mounting of floaters 54 or for attaching a crate so that it is vertically submerged and stays perpendicularly to the water flow, as seen in Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of the present invention of lamellar straps 10 structures, from an upper view, applied as an energy-free tool for removal of liquid and solid surface pollutants in waterways, harbors, channels. The structure crates 30 are mounted between the open waterway, white arrow, and the embankment 40. Arrows 42 indicates water being pressed or forced through crates 30 creating a flow of water or sludge between the crates 30 and the embankment 40.
A combined surface area of the lamella in a single crate 30 equals 6 square meters. The surface is substantially enlarged by attached tufts of 50 cm long synthetic fibers in every passage (nozzle) of the crate. Hence, the single crate can than provide biologically available surface area of several hundred square meters. 2. Function of lamellar structures
When the crate 30 is placed perpendicularly to the direction of the water flow, lamella/straps 10 tend to deflect from the vertical line by 45 degrees at the most. The ballast also deflects depending on the length of its suspension 52. In this way the effect of pendulum is created; return movement of pendulum brings the crate/floaters 54 back to a vertical position. Placing many lamellar structures in an effluent channel of a treatment plant causes continuous destabilization of the water current and velocity. Wastewater flowing through the crates 30 brings intensive growth of biofilm on the straps 10 and particularly on the fibers 20 placed in every passage of a crate 30. A system of multi-passage nozzles is created, directing surface 56 water downwards to the bottom 58 depicted with arrows in Fig. 4 at the range of angles up to 45 degrees. The effect of pendulum causes that the biofilm covering
the fibers 20 and lamellas 10 is continuously detached and directed by the water current towards the bottom 58 of the channel. As crates 30 placed perpendicularly to the direction of the water flow create shifting resistance to the water, than the velocity of the liquid above the canal bottom is considerably higher than in the upper parts of the channel. This dynamic state causes that excessive amount of biofilm particles is transported along the bottom 58 of the channel down steam to the sedimentation tank located at the end of the channel where the slurry can be recovered and recycled back to the beginning of the channel. The recycling is particularly important when the biofilm becomes dominated by algae. This domination is self-regulating and accelerates with increasing transparency of the treated sewage. 3. Examples of other practical applications for lamellar structures
A. Outflow canals from large municipal wastewater treatment plants. Variant A.
The municipal wastewater treatment plant with flow rate 200 000 square meters a day had concrete outflow canal, 4 m wide and 2.5 m deep. The length of the canal was 200 meters. The total, 800 lamellar structures were placed on suspensions at the distance of one meter from each other forming a kind of barrier. The total extended surface area of the structures was 8 hectares (80 000 square meters).
Within the first three weeks, biofilm developing on the structures was clearly of heterotrophic character. Continued increase of transparency in the water flowing through the barriers, led to appearance of algae at the final structures of the barrier. Algal growth gradually increased, especially after recirculation of the slurry from the final sedimentation tank. Algal succession significantly reduced burdensome odor of sewage.
The conventional biological treatment at the wastewater treatment plant reduced BOD 5 values from around 300 mg/l in the inflow, to 30 mg/l in the outflow canal where lamellar structures were placed. Three weeks of "polishing" by structures, further reduced BOD 5 in the water leaving the canal to the range 8 to 10 mg/l. A significant improvement was also observed in transparency and final concentration of nutrients (TSS 12 mg/l, P 10 , 2 mg/l, N tot 15 - 20 mg/l).
B. Quays and hydro-technical constructions exposed to wave action. Variant B.
Harbor basins, quays and piers are normally exposed to powerful waves. Wave energy becomes unproductively dissipated. Lamellar structures made out of type A + B straps 10 in Fig. 1 can be permanently fastened to concrete constructions exposed to waves. Such application slows down the erosion of construction materials, cleans up the water and transports considerable amount of dissolved oxygen into bottom sediments. Wave energy pushes water through the nozzles of the structures, directing it downwards along the concrete surface of the quay.
A deflector placed on a concrete wall below the structure creates back current of water along the bottom of the basin as depicted in Fig. 4. The well-aerated surface water
returns than to deeper parts of the basin where often anoxic conditions occur. In this way, applying lamellar strap 10 structures, water basins can be enriched with oxygen without external energy inputs. In a similar way, structures/barriers can be applied in lakes and dams to supply oxygen to bottom sediments, solely by appropriate use of energy in water currents and waves.
C. Self-perpetuating removal of petrochemical pollutants in harbor canals and other water basins. Variant C.
The lamellar structures of type E + E as depicted in Fig. 1 are fastened to the concrete quay walls as a several hundred meters long compacted wall. The structures stand out about 20 cm above the water level and at about 30 cm from the quay wall as illustrated in Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 schematically illustrates an example embodiment of lamellar strap 10 structures (variant A) anchored with ballast 50 and floating in the outflow channel of a large municipal wastewater treatment plant. The purpose of application: effective, energy-free "polishing" of effluent in order to receive higher degree of water purification. The modules of lamellar structures behave like a "pendulum" moving up and down in to the current.
The structures have horizontal plains deflected from horizontal line by 33 degrees and vertical plains deflected from vertical line also by 33 degrees. The function of such structures is to utilize the energy in flowing water or waves caused by vessels, in order to press surface water through nozzles forward and downwards to the bottom 58.
Petrochemical pollutants or fine plastic particles are pressed into the space between the crate 30 structures and the concrete quay wall and are transported slowly forward into collecting wells placed in every 100 meters. In such a way, also other types of liquid and solid wastes can be gathered and removed. 4. Technological characteristics of the lamellar structures
Structures in the form of barriers placed in outflows from wastewater treatment plants, harbors or sailing canals intensify manifold natural processes that purify and aerate water. The practical use of lamellar structures draws from integrated knowledge of microbial biochemical and physical processes to form a self-perpetuating and cost-effective system. Installation of lamellar structures does not require any additional constructions of costly concrete chambers, or any external energy supplies. Composition and quantities of developing periphyton and/or biofilm and the removal of excessive biomass are self- regulating processes that depend on physical and chemical parameters of the aquatic environment. Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an example of a lamellar crate 30 structure anchored with ballast 50 and attachments 60 to the embankment of a harbor 60 or a platform in a deep lake. The purpose is to deflect the surface 54 current or waves and redirect
oxygen-rich surface water 62 into deeper layers close to the bottom 58 of the particular water body. The same principle is used for (external) energy-free removal or displacement of sand banks or accumulated bottom sediments from a particular area of the bottom. This opens a potential application for a cleanup of silted harbors 60 quays as a tool for underwater archeology, for restoration of heavily polluted lakes.
The present invention is not limited to given examples and embodiments, but to what a person skilled in the art can derive from the attached set of claims.
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