Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I claim:
1. A method for treating waste waters comprising mixing the content of a single
reaction tank by single aerating means in three substantially different reac-
tion zones, the first reaction zone being substantially without dissolved
oxygen, the second reaction zone being substantially saturated with dis-
solved oxygen, the third reaction zone being substantially saturated with
dissolved oxygen and with a fluidized bed of sludge therein,
feeding the waste water into said first reaction zone, continuously rotating
by said aerating means the content therein and contacting the waste water
with activated sludge solids in the absence of dissolved oxygen therein,
continuously pumping the anoxic reactor mixed liquor by said aerating means
from said first reaction zone into said second reaction zone and from said
second reaction zone into said third reaction zone,
continuously recirculating the aerobic reactor liquor by said aerating means
from the top of said third reaction zone downward through said second reac-
tion zone, maintaining a fluidized bed of sludge solids in said third reac-
tion zone and contacting the waste water with the fluidized activated sludge
solids in said third reaction zone in presence of dissolved oxygen therein,
continuously flowing by gravity and by said aerating means sludge solids and
the aerobic reactor liquor from said third reaction zone into said first
reaction zone,
continuously pumping air by said aerating means into said second reaction
zone and continuously dispersing the air by said aerating means into the
reactor liquor therein,
continuously flowing the aerobic reactor liquor from said third reaction zone
into a clarifier for separating the sludge solids from the treated waste water,
continuously returning the separated sludge solids from said clarifier back
into said single reaction tank and the clarified waste water flowing out of
said clarifier for further treatment or disposal, and
continuously withdrawing the excess sludge out of the system.
14
2. A method for treating waste waters comprising mixing the content of a bio-
chemical reactor by single aerating means in three substantially different
reaction zones, the first reaction zone being substantially without dis-
solved oxygen, the second reaction zone being substantially saturated with
dissolved oxygen, the third reaction zone being substantially saturated with
dissolved oxygen and having a fluidized bed of sludge solids therein,
feeding the waste water into said third reaction zone, continuously recircu-
lating the aerobic reactor liquor by said aerating means from the top of said
third reaction zone downward through said second aeration zone then upward
through said third reaction zone, maintaining a fluidized bed of sludge
solids in said third reaction zone and contacting the waste water with the
fluidized activated sludge solids in said third reaction zone in presence of
dissolved oxygen therein,
continuously flowing by gravity and by said aerating means sludge solids and
aerobic reactor liquor from said third reaction zone into said first reaction
zone,
continuously rotating by said aerating means the content in said first reac-
tion zone and contacting the reactor liquor with activated sludge solids in
the absence of dissolved oxygen therein,
continuously pumping by said aerating means anoxic reactor mixed liquor from
said first reaction zone into said second reaction zone and from said second
reaction zone into said third reaction zone,
continuously pumping air by said aerating means into said second reaction
zone and continuously dispersing the air by said aerating means into the
reactor liquor therein,
continuously flowing the anoxic reactor mixed liquor from said first reaction
zone into a clarifier for separating the sludge solids from the treated waste
water,
continuously returning the separated sludge solids from said clarifier back
into said biochemical reactor and flowing the clarified waste water out of
said clarifier for further treatment or disposal, and
withdrawing the excess sludge out of the system.
3. A method for treatment of waste waters comprising mixing the content of a
biochemical reactor by single aerating means in two substantially different
reaction zones, the first reaction zone being substantially without dissolved
oxygen, the second reaction zone being substantially saturated with dissolved
oxygen,
feeding the waste water into said first reaction zone, continuously rotating
by said aerating means the content in said first reaction zone and contacting
the waste water with activated sludge solids therein in the absence of dis-
solved oxygen therein,
continuously pumping by said aerating means the anoxic reactor mixed liquor
from said first reaction zone into said second reaction zone and mixing the
content in said second reaction zone and aerating the reactor mixed liquor
by said aerating means therein,
continuously flowing by gravity and by said aerating means the aerobic reactor
mixed liquor from said second reaction zone into said first reaction zone,
continuously flowing the aerobic reactor mixed liquor from said second reac-
tion zone into a clarifier for separating the sludge solids from the treated
waste water,
continuously returning the separated sludge solids from said clarifier back
into said biochemical reactor and the clarified waste water flowing out of
said clarifier for further treatment or disposal, and
withdrawing the excess sludge out of the system.
16
4. A method for treatment of waste waters comprising mixing the content of a
biochemical reactor by single aerating means in two substantially different
reaction zones, the first reaction zone being substantially without dis-
solved oxygen, the secondreaction zone being substantially saturated with
dissolved oxygen,
feeding the waste water into said second reaction zone, mixing and aerating
the content in said second reaction zone by said aerating means and contact-
ing the waste water with activated sludge solids therein in the presence of
dissolved oxygen,
continuously flowing by gravity and by said aerating means the aerobic reactor
mixed liquor from said second reaction zone into said first reaction zone,
continuously rotating by said aerating means the content in said first reac-
tion zone and contacting the reactor liquor with activated sludge solids
therein in the absence of dissolved oxygen,
continuously pumping by said aerating means the anoxic reactor mixed liquor
from said first reaction zone into said second reaction zone,
continuously flowing the anoxic reactor mixed liquor from said first reaction
zone into a clarifier for separating the sludge solids from the treated waste
water,
continuously returning the separated sludge solids from said clarifier back
into said biochemical reactor, and flowing the clarified waste water out of
said clarifier for further treatment, and
withdrawing the excess sludge out of the system.
5. A method for treating waste water comprising mixing the content of a bio-
chemical reactor by single aerating means in two substantially different
reaction zones, the first reaction zone being substantially saturated with
dissolved oxygen, the second reaction zone being substantially without dis-
solved oxygen and having a fluidized bed of sludge solids therein,
17
feeding the waste water into said second reaction zone, recirculating the
reactor liquor by said aerating means from top of said second reaction zone
to the bottom and then upward through said second reaction zone, maintaining
a fluidized bed of sludge solids in said second reaction zone and contacting
the waste water with fluidized sludge solids in the absence of dissolved
oxygen therein,
continuously flowing by gravity and by said aerating means the anoxic reactor
liquor and sludge solids from said second reaction zone into said first reac-
tion zone,
continuously rotating the content in said first reaction zone by said aerating
means and contacting the reactor liquor with activated sludge solids in the
presence of dissolved oxygen therein,
continuously pumping by said aerating means the aerobic reactor mixed liquor
from said first reaction zone into said second reaction zone,
continuously pumping air by said aerating means into said first reaction
zone and continuously dispersing the air by said aerating means into the
reactor liquor therein,
continuously flowing the aerobic reactor mixed liquor from said first reac-
tion zone into a clarifier for separating the sludge solids from the treated
waste water,
continuously returning the separated sludge solids from said clarifier back
into said biochemical reactor and flowing the clarified waste water out of
said clarifier for further treatment or disposal, and
withdrawing the excess sludge out of the system.
6. A method for treating waste waters comprising mixing the content of a bio-
chemical reactor by single aerating means in two substantially different
reaction zones, the first reaction zone being substantially saturated with
dissolved oxygen, the second reaction zone being substantially without dis-
solved oxygen and having a fluidized bed of sludge solids therein,
18
feeding the waste water into said first reaction zone, continuously rotating
by said aerating means the content of said first reaction zone and contacting
the waste water with activated sludge solids in the presence of dissolved
oxygen therein,
continuously pumping by said aerating means the aerobic reactor mixed liquor
from said first reaction zone into said second reaction zone,
continuously recirculating by said aerating means the anoxic reactor liquor
from top of said second reaction zone to the bottom and then upward through
said second reaction zone, maintaining a fluidized bed of sludge solids in
said second reaction zone and contacting the reactor liquor with fluidized
sludge solids in the absence of dissolved oxygen therein,
continuously flowing by gravity and by said aerating means sludge solids and
the anoxic reactor liquor from said second reaction zone into said first
reaction zone,
continuously pumping air by said aerating means into said first reaction zone
and continuously dispersing the air by said aerating means into the reactor
liquor therein,
continuously flowing the anoxic reactor liquor from said second reaction zone
into a clarifier for separating the sludge solids from the treated waste
water,
continuously returning the separated sludge solids from said clarifier into
said biochemical reactor and flowing the clarified waste water out of said
clarifier for further treatment or disposal, and
withdrawing the excess sludge out of the system.
7. A method according to claim 1 with said aerating means operating in a cyclic
"on-off" mode.
8. A method according to claim 2 with said aerating means operating in a cyclic
"on-off" mode.
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9. A method according to claim 3 with said aerating means operating in a cyclic
"on-off" mode.
10. A method according to claim 4 with said aerating means operating in a cyclic
"on-off" mode.
11. A method according to claim 5 with said aerating means operating in a cyclic
"on-off" mode.
12. A method according to claim 6 with said aerating means operating in a cyclic
"on-off" mode.
13. (amended) Apparatus for biological treatment of waste waters including
means defining a reaction tank, waste water inlet means, aerating means, said
aerating means comprising an endless vertical belt means, said belt means being
positioned within said reaction tank with the top portion of said belt means lo-
cated above the liquid level and with the bottom portion of said belt means sub-
merged in the liquid retained within said reaction tank, said belt means having
horizontal chambers equipped with openings for entering of the air into said
chambers and with openings for flowing the air out of said chambers, said belt
means being held in position by belt support means, said belt means and said belt
support means being rotated by motor means and said reaction tank being equipped
with means for discharging of the reactor liquid.
14. (amended) Apparatus according to claim 13 and comprising in addition
clarification means for separating the suspended solids from the reactor mixed
liquor and for clarifying the treated waste water and said clarification means
being equipped with means for returning the separated sludge solids back into said
reaction tank, means for withdrawing the excess sludge and means for flowing the
clarified effluent out of the apparatus.
15. (amended) Apparatus according to claim 13 with said aerating means com-
prising in addition a solid wall partition, said partition being positioned inside
said belt means and being attached to two side walls of said reaction tank, said
partition separating said reaction tank into first and second reaction zones, said
first and second reaction zones being in communication with each other via an open-
ing formed by the bottom of said partition, two side walls and the bottom of said
reaction tank, said belt means moving around said partition dowwardly in said
second reaction zone and upwardly in said first reaction zone, said belt means
pumping and dispersing air into said second reaction zone and mixing the content
therein and rotating the content in said first reaction zone and said belt means
pumping the reactor mixed liquor from said first reaction zone into said second
reaction zone.
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16. (amended) Apparatus according to claim 13 with said aerating means com-
prising in addition a solid wall partition, said partition being positioned inside
said belt menas and being attached to two side walls of said reaction tank, said
partition separating said reaction tank into first and second reaction zones, said
first and second reaction zones being in communication with each other via an open-
ing formed by the bottom of said partition, two side walls and the bottom of said
reaction tank, said belt means moving around said partition downwardly in said
second reaction zone and upwardly in said first reaction zone, said belt means
pumping and dispersing air into said first reaction zone and rotating the content
therein and mixing the content in said second reaction zone and said belt means
pumping the reactor mixed liquor from said first reaction zone into said second
reaction zone.
17. (amended) Apparatus according to claim 13 with said aerating means com-
prising in addition first solid wall partition and second solid wall partition, said `
first partition being positioned inside said belt means and being attached to two
side walls of said reaction tank separating said reaction tank into first and
second reaction zones, said second partition being positioned in parallel with said
first partition alongside said belt means in said second reaction zone, said second
partition being attached to two side walls of said reaction tank and being submerged
in the liquid held in said second reaction zone, said first and second reaction
zones being in communication with each other via openings formed by the bottoms of
said first and second partitions, two side walls and the bottom of said reaction
tank, said belt means moving around said first partition and downwardly in the space
between said first and second partitions and upwardly in said first reaction zone,
said belt means recirculating the liquid from the top of said second reaction zone
downwardly in the space between said first and second partitions to the bottom of
said reaction tank and then upwardly through said second reaction zone and maintain-
ing a fluidized bed of sludge solids therein and said belt means pumping and dis-
persing air into said first and second reaction zones and rotating the content in
said first reaction zone and pumping the reactor mixed liquor from said first
reaction zone into said second reaction zone.
22
18. (amended) Apparatus according to claim 13 with said aerating means com-
prising in addition first solid wall partition and second solid wall partition, said
first partition being positioned inside said belt means and being attached to two
side walls of said reaction tank separating said reaction tank into first and sec-
ond reaction zones, said second partition being positioned in parallel with said
first partition alongside said belt means in said second reaction zone, said second
partition in its lower portion being bent outwardly to form a funnel shaped aeration
zone between said first partition and said second partition for aerating the reactor
liquor, said second partition being attached to two side walls of said reaction tank
and being submerged in the liquid held in said second reaction zone, said first and
second reaction zones being in communication with each other under said funnel shaped
aeration zone via openings formed by the bottoms of said first and second partitions,
two side walls and the bottom of said reaction tank, said belt means moving around
said first partition and downwardly in the space between said first and second
partitions and upwardly in said first reaction zone, said belt means recirculating
the liquid from the top of said second reaction zone downwardly in the space between
said first and second partitions to the bottom of said reaction tank and then upward-
ly through said second reaction zone and maintaining a fluidized bed of sludge solids
therein and said belt means pumping and dispersing air into the reactor liquor in
said funnel shaped aeration zone and rotating the content in said first reaction
zone and pumping the reactor mixed liquor from said first reaction zone into said
second reaction zone.
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19. Apparatus according to claim 14 with said clarification means being inte-
greated with said reaction tank, said clarification means including means
defining flocculating chamber; means for flowing the reactor liquor into
said flocculating chamber, means for flowing the floating solids back into
said reaction tank, flocculated solids recycling menas, means defining
clear well and clarified effluent discharging means.
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20. Apparatus according to claim 14 and comprising in addition means for further
treatment of the biologically treated and clarified waste water.
21. Apparatus according to claim 19 and comprising in addition means for further
treatment of the biologically treated and clarified waste water.
22. Apparatus according to claim 14 and comprising in addition a timer switch
means operating said aerating means in a cyclic "on-off" mode.
23. Apparatus according to claim 19 and comprising in addition a timer switch
means operating said aerating means in a cyclic "on-off" mode.