Abstract: Device for purification of liquids, especially waste water from industrial processes, and including a flocculation chamber having means for supply of a flocculant, a precipitation or sedimentation chamber for separation of the precipitate and a filter unit for further purification of the liquid from the precipitation or sedimentation chamber. In the device the filter unit is arranged as an annular filter array having substantially radially arranged, inclined lamellas, said filter array being slidably and rotatably arranged on a vertical outlet tube in the precipitation or sedimentation chamber and being provided with a float member, which keeps the filter array in predetermined height relative to the surface of the liquid in the precipitation or sedimentation chamber. The flocculation chamber comprises an annular, upwardly open channel, which is arranged around the filter array in the precipitation or sedimentation chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a compact apparatus for treating heterogeneous waste comprising a substantial proportion of biologically degradable solid matters and liquid constituents.

Abstract: Liquid to be treated flows into a combined sedimentation and thickening tank. The upper part of this tank is a sedimentation zone in which the liquid passes through parallel flow paths between downwardly inclined separator plates below which the solids fall to the bottom of the tank into the thickening zone whereat the solids are stirred and removed by a suitable stirring and scraping device. The liquids flowing with the solids through the parallel paths are removed at the end of said paths and delivered directly to the top of the sedimentation zone thus leaving the thickening zone essentially flow-free. Flocculants may be added to the water to be treated in a separate flocculation compartment arranged upstream from the sedimentation compartment. A separate destabilization compartment may be provided upstream from the flocculation compartment. A square sedimentation zone may merge smoothly into a circular thickening zone. The thickening zone may extend beneath the flocculation compartment for compactness.

Abstract: An improved technique for reprocessing, through a reaction zone, a portion of an agitated flow of waste water that is coupled into a wedge-shaped or frusto-conical separating zone via such reaction zone is described. A recirculation conduit, independent of an inlet aperture at the bottom of the separating zone for admitting an upward flow of water from the separating zone, has an inlet end communicating with the separating zone at an upper region thereof, the outlet of the recirculation zone emptying into the agitated water stream in the reaction zone. The inlet aperture at the bottom of the separating zone has a cross-sectional area which is small relative to the cross-sectional area of the separating zone and small relative to the cross-sectional area of the reaction zone.

Abstract: A single, integrally formed tank has an upper portion of a rectangular configuration and a lower portion of downwardly decreasing volume and defined by a plurality of exterior walls, at least two of which are inclined downwardly and inwardly toward each other. The interior of the tank is divided into three serially connected compartments by means of interior walls which are inclined in directions substantially parallel to one of the inclined exterior walls. The compartments thus formed are a first, neutralization and coagulation compartment, a second, flocculation compartment, and a third, lamellar decanting and sludge settling compartment. Within the flocculation compartment are arranged a plurality of spaced inclined plates defining upwardly inclined flow passages into which extend deflectors to create eddy currents in the water passing upwardly through the flocculation compartment.

Abstract: Waste containing liquor is treated in a device containing a plurality of submerged, slowly rotating bacterial growth surfaces which are spaced apart from each other, extend in a horizontal plane and are mounted on a vertical, rotating shaft. The bacterial growth surfaces, which may be in the configuration of a substantially flat disk, are maintained submerged in a waste water treatment tank as the waste-containing liquor is passed over, through and around them. The tank may be provided with several sets of growth areas and shafts which are interleafed and separated from each other.

Abstract: A single enclosure includes a reaction zone and a decanting zone. Water to be treated is introduced into the bottom of the reaction zone. A pump turbulently mixes the water and sludge within a turbulent area of the reaction zone and passes the resultant mixture through a central passage at a rate several times higher than the rate at which the water is introduced into the reaction zone. A first portion of the mixture is recycled back into the turbulent area. A second portion of the mixture, including a relatively high concentration of sludge, is distributed to the bottom of the decanting zone, at a flow rate and at a pressure sufficient to ensure that the mixture of sludge and water will be distributed uniformly throughout the entire area of the lower portion of the decanting zone. The purified water passes upwardly through the decanting zone and is collected. The sludge settles downwardly to the bottom of the decanting zone and is returned to the turbulent area of the reaction zone.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for separating solids from feed liquor by gravity settling to form thickened subnatant. The machine includes a liquid-holding tank having an upstanding tubular column mounted therein for receiving the feed liquor. An inlet is formed in the upper portion of the column to admit clarified supernatant into the column for mixing with, and dilution of, the feed liquor. A plurality of subadjacent compartments include reagent introduction and mixing means to receive the feed liquor and to mix a chemical flocculating reagent thereinto. At the bottom of the column is an outlet to discharge the flocculated liquor directly into a pulp blanket stratum established within the tank.

Abstract: A cylindrical reaction chamber for purifying waste water has a separating zone extending substantially along its entire length and bounded transversely by first and second downwardly converging partition walls. The space in the vessel between the vessel wall and the first and second walls form separate waste water activation zones, in at least one of which an aerating device is disposed. Such zones are so configured that separate, oppositely directed transverse swirls of the waste water are established in the respective activating zones. A portion of the agitated water, after suitable treatment by baffle plates to remove the transverse swirling component, is introduced into the bottom of the separating zone for purification via fluid filtration.

Abstract: Apparatus designed to be interposed between the discharge of a marine toilet and the overboard discharge line of a vessel comprising a treating chamber provided with inlet and discharge openings through which the effluent is delivered to the chamber for treatment and pumped therefrom following treatment, an impeller supported in the chamber for rotation therein which, in conjunction with the hemi-toroidal formation of the chamber, produces vortexlike movement of the effluent which reduces the particle size by hydraulic attrition and mixes it with chemicals deposited therein, a dispenser for depositing the chemicals in the chamber, a pump for introducing flush water to the chamber, a pump for discharging the treated effluent and the flush water and controls for timing the cycle of operation from the time it is initiated by flushing the toilet until it is timed out by a timer in the control circuit, together with suitable indicators for indicating the condition of the apparatus at any given time, and to prevent

Abstract: Sedimentation apparatus which employs an agitator-equipped mixing tank for a feed suspension and a flocculating agent or flocculant, which mixing tank is located within the central feed well of a continuously operating sedimentation tank, and wherein the flocculant-treated feed suspension overflows the top end of the mixing tank, then to continue along a downward path in the surrounding feed well of the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for the solidification of sludges comprising an apparatus proper which can be moved in the vertical direction by lifting means and a casing surrounding the kneading zone of said apparatus proper and being capable of shifting in the vertical direction with respect to said apparatus proper. The apparatus proper includes agitating shafts driven and rotated by driving means and agitating blades attached to each agitating shaft to form the kneading zone. A hardener supply device is disposed in the kneading zone to feed a hardener to the kneading zone. The casing is arranged so that the sludge being treated is separated and partitioned from other sludge, and the vertical position of the casing can be changed so that a desirable treating condition is maintained in the sludge being treated.

Abstract: A method of treating liquid sewage, including solids, includes(a) collecting the solids in a horizontally elongated narrow zone at the bottom of a sewage pond,(b) generating a stream of gas bubbles, and(c) successively subjecting said solids lengthwise of said zone to impingement of said stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of liquid sewage, the sewage to be treated being aerated and mixed prior to being directed sequentially through primary and secondary settling circuits wherein primarily settleable solids and secondarily settleable solids are removed respectively. Such removed solids are then directed to a digester compartment, the secondarily nonsettleable sewage being discharged from the sewage treatment apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the primarily and secondarily settleable solids are recirculated to the aerating and mixing area thus allowing for the floculation of the liquid sewage. In a further preferred embodiment an overflow weir is provided upstream of the sewage treatment apparatus outlet thereby providing a surge capacity for the sewage treatment apparatus.The apparatus uses a hollow propeller having a plurality of holes therein on the backface thereof; the propeller is mounted on a hollow shaft.

Abstract: A reactor, comprising a homogenizing, separating and thickening space has at the bottom a homogenizing space narrowing toward the top and passing over a narrowed opening at the top into a separating space, widening toward the top, with a thickening space connected to the separating space, situated around both these spaces.

Abstract: Floating device to remove refuse situated on and under a water surface, comprising a first and a second floating body and a hose-type duct with which the two floating bodies can be connected together via connecting openings, a water inlet feature and a mixing feature to mix the polluted water with a flocculation agent being installed on the first floating body and the hose-type duct forming a resting zone to calm the water and flocculate the refuse in the water and a feature to remove the flocculated sludge from the water being arranged on the second floating body.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding the raw influent water into a center post clarifier including an uptake zone defined around the center post forming an eductor tube having an upper and lower end respectively in communication with an upper and lower portion of the mixing and recirculation chamber. A first set of openings is provided intermediate the center post for directing the flow of raw water upwardly into an intermediate portion of the uptake zone. A second set of openings positioned above the first set of openings is provided for directing the remaining flow of raw water from the center post into an upper portion of the uptake zone. The relative flow rates of raw water through the first and second openings being such as to cause sludge which has accumulated adjacent the lower end of the uptake zone to be lifted therein to and recirculated with the raw water. Means are provided to selectively control the flow rates of raw water through the first and second openings to adjust the sludge recirculation rate.

Abstract: A system for cleanup of waste waters of the type characteristically produced in food-processing operations. Such waste waters typically contain significant amounts of fat and grease materials of animal and plant origin together with other contaminants. Such a starting waste water is charged to the system at a non-uniform rate as generated and is continuously first chemically treated in two successive zones, then is passed into a quiescent holding zone wherein settling can occur and wherein variations in waste water input volume or output volume can be smoothed out. Fluid from the bottom regions of such holding zone is continuously charged at a uniform rate to an operating rotary vacuum filter assembly to accomplish separation of solids. The product water is highly purified.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for treating industrial waste water wherein suspended material and cyanides which are ordinarily dissolved in the water are treated simultaneously to reduce the time of treatment and provide a more economical and effective treatment.

Abstract: A grit selector having an upper settling chamber and a lower grit storage chamber. The settling chamber communicates with the storage chamber through a relatively small opening in a flat transition surface therebetween. Rotating paddles critically positioned within the settling chamber cause the flow of liquid entering the settling chamber adjacent the outer periphery to rotate about the chamber in a forced vortex having upward spiral flow. Settled grit attaches to the transition surface at the settling chamber perimeter before one revolution. The spiral flow urges the grit across the transition surface towards the opening while the organics are lifted upward and back into the flow. The grit drops through the opening into the grit storage chamber and the organics are carried out of the settling chamber through an outlet passageway.

Abstract: A flocculator for use in water treatment plants which comprises a paddle wheel disposed in a sedimentation basin. The wheel is defined by a plurality of equally spaced semicylindrical paddles which at all times are fully submerged in the water and which are constructed of a relatively thin sheet material that is undulated in a direction perpendicular to the length of the paddles. The paddles extend across the full width of the basin and they are secured to rotatably mounted hubs. The water flow in the basin provides the sole source of motive power for rotating the wheel.