Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DECANTING APPARATUS WITH FLOAT SUPPORTED SUBMERGED P~MP
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present invention is a division of serial #07/753,860,
filed 09/03/91 by the same inventor and is incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD OF THE lNV~.. l lON
This invention relates to wastewater treatment systems and
more particularly to the decanting apparatus associated with
such systems.
BACRGROUND OF THE lNv~r.llON
The present invention relates to decanter systems and in
particular, to decanter systems for utilization with wastewater
treatment reactors.
Certain wastewater treatment processes, especially those
utilizing sequential batch reactor techniques or processes,
require that clarified fluid be periodically withdrawn from the
reactor or digester within which the process is occurring. Such
decanters must be functional throughout the year, even in
environments where the lower temperature extremes may form ice
upon the upper layer of the fluid within the reactor. It is
also important that the decanting system not entrain sludge
during mix cycles within the reactor or have sludge settle
within the decanting system such that when clarified liquid is
withdrawn, a certain amount of sludge is withdrawn with the
liquid, as such entrainment would discharge highly polluted
effluent.
One of the major problems with previous decanter systems
for use in batch reactors has been that a receiver for the
decanter has had the interior thereof open to the fluid within
the reactor during sludge mixing cycles. When the sludge is
being mixed with the incoming effluent and the entire reactor is
in a generally mixed state, sludge is near the top of the
reactor as well as the bottom. If the receiver is open at this
time, the sludge usually enters the receiver and settles therein
during settling cycles.
Thereafter, when the clarified fluid is withdrawn through
the receiver, the sludge that is within the receiver is
entrained with the clarified fluid to pollute the effluent. One
solution to this problem is to withdraw the clarified fluid with
a pump and have a cycle at the beginning of the withdrawal of
the clarified fluid in which a certain amount of this fluid is
directed back to the reactor so as to return the entrained
sludge. Such a solution requires a pump and control mechanism
or the like and close control of the recycle of the clarified
fluid to the reactor.
Other attempts to resolve the problem of the sludge
settling witllin tlle receiver, have been directed to physically
removing the receiver from the tan~ during mixing cycles. This
typically requires a cumbersome and e~pensive structure which is
suitably strong to hold a decanting system out of the reactor
fluid during the mix cycle. In addition, where freezing is
lilcely to occur, fluid wit}lin the decanting structure may
freeze if raised from the liquid in the reactor or, the fluid
level at the top of the reactor may freeze which may make it
difficult or impossible to raise and lower the decanting
structure and to raise or lower a decanter requires a mechanical
mechanism ~llat is aE~ected by wea-tl~er conditions and requires
regular maintenance.
Other problems associated with the decanting structure are
that the receiver should be sufficiently spaced from the sludge
layer to prevent accidental intake of sludge into the receiver.
In addition, the receiver should withdraw clarified fluid in
such a manner that the withdrawn fluid does not entrain sludge
due to high velocities of the withdrawn fluid coming from or
near the sludge layer or because the withdrawn fluid is taken
from directly above the sludge layer.
Also the support strllcture for the decanter system must
allow for vertical movement of tlle receiver, as the upper liquid
level in the reactor may vary substantially during the different
cycles therein. Preferably, the support structure allows the
receiver to be supported at a generally fixed height beneath the
upper liquid level so as to prevent entrainment of floating
debris or scum into the receiver and articulated sufficiently so
that the receiver may move freely and smoothly vertically while
the upper liquid level is varying. 3
~ ~ ~$~
Certain other devices are designed to draw clarified fluid
from near the bottom of the reactor so that a siphon can control
flow. This draws from precisely the region of heavy sludge
which should be avoided and should be drawn from the most
clarified supernatant which is just below the liquid surface.
It is also noted that certain prior art decanting systems
have incorporated extensive and expensive mechanical devices for
manipulating the fluid receiver, sometimes into and out of the
liquid layer within the reactor. The complex mechanical devices
required for this operation are subject to failure and do not
provide a simple and easy method of preventing sludge entry into
the receiver. These devices often do not function well, if at
all, where ice is floating on or forming upon the upper layer of
the reactor and they require very level weirs so as to receive
the liquid affluent evenly. These types of decanters in
practice have proven to have problems maintaining a level weir,
especially in the larger sizes.
Some of these problems have been addressed such as by
patent #4,711,716 which discloses a floating decanter which
includes flaps, nozzles, multiple ports, cover plate, etc. which
teaches the float devices as intricate parts of the decanter and
the decanter elements cannot be removed from a manway without
removing the entire assembly including the floats.
The present invention addresses the above problems and
teaches means to provide a simple floating decanter that is
removable from above, i.e. the manway, leaving the floating
device in the tan]~. 4
4 ~
OBJ~CTS OF TIIE INVENTION
It is t'.~erefore, a prinlary object of the present ~nver,tlon
to provide a floatin~ decanter which can be removed from a~ove
and i.s sepaA.able ~rom it's ~loatation device.
Another object is to provide a decanting apparatus for use
in conjunction wit~l a wastewater treatment ~acility which i5
highly effective in preventing sludge and prevents mlxed li~uor
~rom entering into t~le receiver durin~ aera~ion or mixing
cycles.
Still another object is to provide a decanting apparatu~
wh~ch is ~claptable for use in different climates, whereln l.ce
may form on top of the liquid level in the reactor.
Yet another o~ject i.s to provide a decanting apparatlls
which prevents ~loating sur~ace scum and debrls from ~eing
withdrawn with the clari~ied effluent from the reactor.
~ nother important object is to provide a decanting
apparatus -.~hich is articulated with respect to the reactor ~nd
freely moves vertica,ly to compensate for change in tlle llquid
level wit~lin th.e reactor.
Still another illlportant o~ject is to provi.de in tl~e
pre~erred emhodiment means to keep the decantin~ apparatu~ at
speci~ied location llori~ontally witl~ l;he ve~sel '~o ta~re
zdvan~a~ of tlle most ep~imum place to remove claxlEled
S .
affluent.
Yet another object is to provide a decanter that will load
uniformly and is self leveling with the water level so as to
prevent high flow velocities from occurring at one section of a
large version decanter.
Still another object is to provide a decanter which will
draw uniformly 360 degrees in an even flow pattern to each of
the receivers.
Yet another object is to provide a high head multistage
turbine for effluent discharge application requiring in excess
of 100 lbs. of pressure to transport the effluent to it's point
of discharge.
Another important object is to provide a check valve
receiver mechanism that is not of a material proved to require
periodic replacement.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent when
taken into consideration with the following drawings and
specifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing the full
disclosure of a wastewater treatment process as disclosed in the
parent application # 07/753,860 of the present invention and
also showing the preferred embodiment of the present decanting
apparatus.
FIG. 2 is substantially a section taken at 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a general schematic of the system.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the decanter.
FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation of a manifold of a second
embodiment showing dual inputs and a down draft siphon or pump
connection.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a floatation device and support frame
for the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a top view OL the floatation device of FIG. 7 with the
manifold of FIG. 5 in place.
FIG. 8 is a partially cut-a-way side view in elevation of a
third embodiment showing dual inputs in a manifold also housing
an inverted submersible pump.
FIG. 9 is a partially cut-a-way plan view of a second embodiment
of a discharge system.
FIG. 10 is a partially cut-a-way plan view of the embodiment of
FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now is detail to the drawings wherein like
characters refer to like elements througout the various
drawings, 10 is a general overview of the invention with 11
being a basin or tank made of a material such as fiberglass with
it's length being substantially longer than it's width or height
while 12 is an influent delivery system such as a pipe to
deliver influent through pipe tee 20 and pipe section 21 into
substantially the bottom section of chamber or collector 28.
Collector 28 is adjustable in relation to section 21 by guide
ring 24 and suspension chains 25 with 26 being a circular
partition adjustably suspended above the floor of basin 11 by
chains 22 and adjustable mounting bolts 18 with 16 being an
access cover and being secured by fasteners 17. Circular
partition 26, being larger in circumference than the collector
28, creates a pre-stratification zone 27 while 30 are multiple
air diffusers connected to drop pipe 31 with the upper end of
drop pipe 31 being suitably connected (not shown) to air
compressor 58 which is mounted within the manway 56.
32 are ropes or guide lines suitably anchored to the bottom
of the basin (not shown) with their upper ends terminating
within the manway, (not shown) and act as guides and locating
means for the floating decanter base section 35 and elbows 34,
with 36 being a submersible motor and suction pump with 38 being
a funnel shaped sleeve made of a suitable material such as
rubber with it's large open end cooperating with motor and
suction pump 36 to provide a seal and it's lower smaller end
having a smaller opening cooperating with a ball 40 which acts a
check valve. 42 is a mounting frame made of plastic pipe or
other non-corrosive material with 4-way tees 78 being suitably
bonded to sections forming a framework substantially in the
shape of crossing railroad trac]~s with 75 being an above ground
manway cover air-vent. Frame 42 is secure to pipe frame 35 by
means such as screws 74, through screw holes 76 with screws 74
being suitably sealed into pipe frame 35 to allow frame 35 to be
water tight.
44 is a flexible hose suitably connected to the output of
motor and pump 36, with 46 being a submersible power cable and
48 being a rope or cable suitably attached to handle 50 of motor
and pump 36. The flexible hose 44 is also suitably connected at
it's distal end tnot shown) to the effluent output pipe 14, and
the distal end of rope or cable 48 terminating inside the manway
56, ~not shown).
52 are multiple floats housing suitable switches, such as
mercury switches 66, 70 and 72 respectively, with the floats 52
being adjustably suspended (not shown) from inside the manway 56
by ropes or power cables 54. 60 is a programmable timer
suitably mounted on control panel 65 with 62 being a junction
box and 64 being a relay junction box.
Shown in FIG. 5 is a second embodiment with a manifold 80
which may be made of large plastic pipe fittings such as elbows
82, tee 84, and pipe sections 88, with screen 89, and supports
the funnel shaped sleeve 38 on it's downward facing pipe
sections 88 which are suitably affixed to pipe sections 88 by
means such as clamps 90. Pipe section 92 is suitably affixed to
reducer 94 which in turn is suitably affixed to pipe section 96
which is suitably affixed to an output pipe indicated by 112
(which also shows by an arrow the direction of flow) and which
may be flexible. The manifold section is also attached to
removable means which may be ropes 48 or cables, at tie points
98 with the complete manifold, when in place, being supported by
framework 100 as shown in FIG. 6 and 7 which is suitably affixed
to floatation device 102 such as by screws 110 which may be made
of large plastic pipe such as elbows 104 and pipe sections 106
and 108, respectively with the floatation device being made
water tight or filled with plastic foam to make it buoyant. In
this embodiment the clarified effluent as shown by arrow 112 is
pumped by an exterior pump and motor (not shown) with a solenoid
valve 114 suitably in phase with the control circuit as depicted
in FIG. 3. This second embodiment may also be attached to a
siphon system as shown in FIG. 9 with 116 being a through the
wall water tight fitting with 118 being flexible hoses and a
center section being a plastic pipe section 120.
In FIG. 8 is shown a third embodiment which is supported by
the same floatation device of FIG. 6 and 7 with it's manifold
122 having a ~-way tee section 124 which houses an inverted
submersible pump 126 having it's own motor drive (not shown)
with input slots 128. The submersible pump 126 of known prior
art is attached and supported to the bottom leg of the tee 124
by a boot or flexible connection 130 which is held in place on
the tee 124 and the submersible pump 126 by clamps 132 and 134
respectively, with 136 being a suitably affixed check valve
suitably affixed to output pip'e section 96 of FIG. 8 and 44 as
shown in ~IG. 10. Arrows 138 indicate the strata area from
which the decanting system removes the clarified effluent.
FIG. 10 shows the third embodiment in place in tank 11 with
floatation device 102 supporting the submersible pump 126 with
it's manifold (not shown in this view) being affixed to ropes
48, with power cord 46 and output pipe 44 in place.
It will now be seen that the present invention, with it's
parent application owned by the same inventor, being a part
hereof by reference, discloses a new and unusual decanting
system that is supported by a floatation means which can move
vertically with the rise and fall of the water level but is held
horizontally in a specified and optimum location within the tank
by guide means such as vertical ropes or cables and may be used
in a variety of different situations by it's versatility and
varied embodiments and which allows the working parts with it's
manifold to be removed separately from it's floatation device
through the manway if servicing is required. Also the unusual
design of the funnel and ball arrangement makes a simple and
uncomplicated means of removing the clarified effluent when
activated and keeping out solids during other cyclic activities.
The embodiments taught in this disclosure may be used in
typical applications which require mandatory effluent discharge
considerations involved with a wastewater treatment process or
system and is adaptable to varied conditions ranging from being
able to gravity flow out of an above ground basin, to having to
be transported to a point of discharge a considerable distance
away, or to a higher elevation.
11
Although the invention has been shown and described in what
is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,
it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within
the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be
limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded
the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all
equivalent devices and apparatus.
Having described our invention, what we claim as new and
desire to secure by letters patent is;
12.
