Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Treatment by living organism
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-30
2001-04-03
Barry, Chester T. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Treatment by living organism
C210S623000, C210S221200, C210S744000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210580
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to waste water treatment apparatus comprising a working tank, waste water treatment means in the working tank by which organic waste in the waste water is treated, a discharge outlet from the working tank, a holding tank upstream of the working tank which serves to hold waste water, first transfer means between the working tank and the holding tank which serve to transfer waste water from the holding tank to the waste water tank, second transfer means which serve to discharge waste water from the working tank through the said discharge outlet, parameter level sensing means arranged to sense the value of a given parameter of the waste water in one or both of the tanks, and control means connected to one or both of the transfer means and the parameter level sensing means to operate the former in dependence upon a signal received from the latter.
Hitherto in such apparatus the parameter level sensing means has comprised a simple water level sensor in the holding tank which is capable merely of detecting whether or not the holding tank is full. Once it issues the holding tank full signal to the control means, the latter cause the transfer means to discharge waste water from the working tank and to transfer waste water from the holding tank to the working tank in accordance with a predetermined program.
A disadvantage of such a system is that it is unable to respond to a sizeable change in the rate of supply of waste water or biological loading to the holding tank, for example because of influx of rain water to the system during a period of very bad weather.
The present invention seeks to obviate this disadvantage, although it will be appreciated that the parameter concerned may instead be the amount of dissolved oxygen in the waste water, or the phosphorus content of the waste water, rather than the total amount of waste water being fed to the holding tank.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to waste water treatment apparatus having the construction set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, in which the parameter level sensing means are so constructed and arranged as to be capable of detecting at least two different non-zero values of the said parameter, and of issuing signals indicative of those two values, and in which the extent of operation of one or both transfer means by the said control means is dependent upon which of the two different values is indicated by the signal issued from the parameter level sensing means.
The said two values may be within an infinitely variable range of values, such that the said extent of operation varies in proportion to the value of the parameter.
Preferably, the said parameter is the depth of the waste water in the holding tank, but it may alternatively be the amount of dissolved oxygen in the waste water in the working tank, or it may be the phosphorus content of the waste water in the holding tank.
More than one sensor may be present to detect levels of more than one parameter of the waste water in one or both of the tanks, and the transfer means may be operated by the control means in dependence upon both or every one of the levels of those parameters.
If the said parameter is the depth of the waste water in the holding tank, it is desirable for the parameter level sensing means to comprise an ultra-sonic level detector in the holding tank. This may be positioned at or near the top of the holding tank, directed downwardly towards the surface of the waste water in the holding tank so as to receive a reflected ultra-sonic signal therefrom.
The waste water treatment means may comprise at least one aerator. An outlet of this may be located at or near the base of the working tank. It may be arranged to direct a stream of fine air bubbles upwardly into the waste water in the working tank.
Thus, it will be appreciated that apparatus in accordance with the present invention can react automatically to one or more parameters, so that it can be made to react to flow, strength and discharge quality.
The present invention extends to a method of treating waste water using apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.
Thus a second aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of treating waste water comprising feeding the waste water into a holding tank, transferring waste water from the holding tank to a working tank, treating the waste water in the working tank by waste water treatment means, and discharging the waste water from the working tank, the rate of discharge of waste water from the working tank and/or the rate of transfer of waste water from the holding tank to the working tank being dependent upon which of two non-zero values of the parameter of the waste water in one or both of the tanks is detected.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4966705 (1990-10-01), Jamieson
patent: 5076928 (1991-12-01), Ballnus
patent: 5304308 (1994-04-01), Tsumura
patent: 5626754 (1997-05-01), Ballnus
patent: 5647986 (1997-07-01), Nawathe
Barry Chester T.
Cook Alex McFarron Manzo Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.
Wickens Jeremy
LandOfFree
Waste water treatment apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Waste water treatment apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Waste water treatment apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2445351