Liquid purification or separation – Structural installation – Geographic
Patent
1991-12-11
1993-06-29
Lithgow, Thomas M.
Liquid purification or separation
Structural installation
Geographic
210220, 2102212, 2102422, 210906, 261120, 2611221, 261124, 261123, C02F 700, B01F 304
Patent
active
052231305
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention concernes a device which is suited to achieve the neutralization and removal of phosphorus compounds present in the water of a basin, by acting biologically on the water, without adding further materials or substances, and without requiring subsequent treatments of chemical nature.
BACKGROUND ART
It is well known that the self-cleaning processes which take place in watercourses, thanks to the mobility of their waters, and when the organic loads present in them do not exceed given limits, also take place in water basins, but at insufficient levels and with poor or no results.
In particular, natural or artificial water basins, lakes or ponds, owing to the insufficent mobility of their waters, are not able to eliminate some so-called nutrient substances, i.e. substances which contribute to the development of forms of animal or vegetal life; such substances mainly consist of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds (phosphates and nitrates).
Since water retaining times in said water basins are very long, the nutrient substances accumulate, particularly in zones of the basin where the water turnover is rather slow and difficult, bringing about so-called eutrophication phenomena.
In substance, in a basin rich of nutrient substances such chain reactions are started, which cause, in warm seasons, the development of large amounts of algae and other aquatic plants, favoured by the high concentration of nutrients while in cold seasons most of the grown aquatic flora dies and falls to the bottom of the basin.
The organic matter at the bottom of the basin decomposes, absorbing large amounts of oxygen and bringing about anaerobic conditions, i.e. lack of oxygen, which originate in the bottom but progressively spread to the surrounding aquatic environment.
As a consequence, the complex biological equilibrium existing in the basin is seriously upset, and in particular toxic substances are released and consequent fish mortality occurs.
In brief, the eutrophication process, generated by an excessive supply of nutrient substances, consists in an excessive production of algae which brings about an excessive consumption of oxygen and the consequent degradation of the basin environment.
Known systems of intervention provide for the artificial aeration of basin waters. For instance, the aeration by air diffused at the bottom of the basin, carried out by means of perforated pipes, makes it possible to achieve a continuous turnover of water at the bottom, which is, therefore, sufficiently oxygenated.
However, such a system is suited to be used only as an emergency step, since it does not tackle the problem at its roots, i.e. by eliminating the nutrient substances, but simply preventing anaerobic conditions from originating at the bottom. Once aeration is stopped, the eutrophication situation is quickly re-established. In other cases, surface aerators, e.g. floating aerators, are resorted to, which bring about a stirring up of waters so increasing their oxygenation. Such mechanical means, operating at the surface, basically consist of a motor, fastened onto a floating platform, which drags a turbine into rotation. A diffuser is designed to diffuse the water column raised by the turbine in the surrounding area, so to cause an increase of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water.
The aeration carried out in this way brings about the oxidation of a part of phosphorus components and their trasnformation into products having a high degree of oxidation (orthophosphates).
However, some additional treatments, mainly of chemical nature, are later required, since the transformation of phosphorus compounds into compounds having a high oxidation degree, which are immediately assimilable by plants and organisms in general, may make the situation of eutrophication worse, instead of improving it.
Moreover, the turbine blades swallow up, together with water, also fishes which find themselves near the aerator, causing their death, and this negatively affects the yield of any fish-breeding activity carried on in the basin.
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patent: 4191479 (1980-03-01), Shuck
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patent: 4409107 (1983-10-01), Busch
patent: 4491518 (1985-01-01), Benaroya
patent: 4680148 (1987-07-01), Arbisi et al.
patent: 4741825 (1988-05-01), Schiller
patent: 4806251 (1989-02-01), Durda
Farm Fish, S.r.l.
Lithgow Thomas M.
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