Abstract: A dissolved gas flotation system for treatment of wastewater or contaminated water and having an improved flow pattern wherein the subnatant discharge outlet and the inlet distribution structures are located adjacent one another. Such a structural design takes advantage of the fluid flow patterns within the tank to maximize the effect of the air bubbles in separating solids from the fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid treatment apparatus including a fluid bed reactor. The fluid bed reactor includes a flow distribution system having a flow distributor for introducing untreated fluid into the reactor. The untreated fluid is introduced at a flow rate sufficient to generate an upflow velocity within the reactor that fluidizes the media bed within the reactor. The flow distribution system also includes a backflow prevention apparatus for supplying an auxiliary fluid to the flow distributer in the event flow of untreated fluid to the flow distributor is interrupted. The auxiliary fluid flushes the flow distributor while the media bed defluidizes to prevent the media bed from backing up into the flow distributor as it settles to the bottom of the reactor.

Abstract: A clarifier for separating suspended solids from waste water to provide clarified water, including a generally rectangular tank for containing waste water to be separated, the tank including generally parallel spaced apart first and second sidewalls, each sidewall having upper and lower sidewall portions, and the tank also including upper and lower regions; a first influent passage extending along at least a portion of the first sidewall and comprising an aperture for introducing waste water into the tank; a first effluent passage proximate the influent passage and including a weir over which clarified water flows for removing clarified water from the upper region of the tank. The clarifier preferably includes a baffle mounted to define a space between the first sidewall and the baffle, and a distribution baffle proximate the aperture.

Abstract: A reactor for treating a liquid containing evolvable and entrained gas has a vessel for containing a bed of particulate media, and a liquid flow distributor mounted in the vessel that includes a manifold connected to receive liquid and introduce it into the bed. The manifold includes a liquid conveying passage having an upper region where any gas that evolves from the liquid can collect and at least one discharging nozzle having an inlet in open communication with the upper region for receiving the liquid, evolved gas or a mixture thereof, and an outlet for uniformly discharging the liquid, gas or mixture thereof into the bed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a treatment facility comprising a fluid bed reactor including a reactor tank containing a bed of particles which function as a carrier for growth of biological material, the reactor tank having an inlet and an outlet, the reactor further including structure for conducting liquid to be treated, from the reactor tank inlet, upwardly through the bed of particles at a rate conducive to fluidization of the bed of particles; an equalization surge tank for housing liquid to be treated in the fluid bed reactor, the equalization surge tank having an inlet, and an outlet; conduit structure for supplying liquid from the outlet of the equalization surge tank to the inlet of the fluid bed reactor; and structure for supplying an oxidant into the equalization surge tank, in such a manner that stripping of volatile constituents is avoided, for oxidizing iron in the liquid in the equalization surge tank.

Abstract: A traveling water screen including a basket having an upper lip beam and a lower lip beam, the lower lip beam including an elongated upwardly opening channel upstream of the water screen, the lower lip beam including an upstream wall having a lower portion the lower portion including a lower forward surface facing in the upstream direction, at least a portion of the lower forward surface being convex, and the upper portion of the upstream wall having a spoiler shape for deflecting water upwardly and over the upwardly opening channel. The traveling water screen also includes seals between adjacent baskets to prevent unscreened water from flowing through spaces between the baskets.

Abstract: A water pressure relief apparatus in a traveling water screen adapted to be mounted in a channel such that the traveling water screen filters water flowing through the channel. The channel includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The traveling water screen includes a baffle directing water flowing through the traveling water screen and having an upstream surface communicating with the upstream portion of the channel and a downstream surface communicating with the downstream portion of the channel. The baffle has an opening connecting the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The water pressure relief apparatus includes a relief valve adapted to be connected to the baffle. The relief valve has a valve member mounted for movement between an opened position allowing fluid flow through the opening and a closed position engaging the valve seat and sealing the opening against flow therethrough.

Abstract: The invention provides a reactor apparatus including a fluid bed reactor containing a media bed composed of particulate solids and biomass adhered thereto. The reactor apparatus also includes a biomass monitoring system for measuring changes in the size of the media bed and for activating a biomass growth control system when conditions with the reactor call for removal of excess biomass. The biomass monitoring system includes a vertical tubular member that is supported in the reactor and that serves to isolate a parameter or condition indicative of the size of the media bed. The biomass monitoring system also includes a sensing device for measuring changes in the isolated parameter or condition, and a mechanism for activating the biomass growth control system when signaled by the sensing device.

Abstract: A media panel for a rotating biological treatment apparatus for treating waste water, the rotating biological treatment apparatus including a rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of media panel assemblies stacked on the shaft and each including a hub mounted on the shaft and a plurality of media panels mounted on the hub, the media panel comprising a planar member having a first side and a second side, and the planar member being mountable on the hub to extend normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft to form a portion of a generally disk-shaped media panel assembly extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; the first side of the planar member including at least one first set of alternating grooves and ridges, and the second side of the media panel including at least one second set of alternating grooves and ridges; the grooves and ridges of the first and second sets of alternating grooves and ridges each having a first radially inner portion, a second radially inner port

Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus comprising a generally circular tank having a wall; a rotatable driven bridge having one end positioned above the center of the tank and an opposite end supported above the tank wall; a sludge moving member supported by the bridge and movable in response to movement of the opposite end of the bridge along the tank wall; and a drive apparatus for moving the opposite end of the bridge along the tank wall. The drive apparatus includes a rail extending along the top of the wall, a frame supporting an end of the bridge, an idler wheel supporting the frame for movement along the top of the wall, a drive wheel rotatably supported on the frame, means for urging the drive wheel into frictional engagement with the surface of the rail, and a drive motor operably connected to the drive wheel for driving the drive wheel along the rail. Preferably, the means for urging the drive wheel is adjustable for controlling the frictional engagement of the drive wheel with the surface of the rail.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a traveling water screen in a channel, the channel having a sidewall and a vertically extending groove in the sidewall. The traveling water screen includes a frame positioned in the channel, a plurality of water screens supported by the frame for screening water flowing through the channel, and a support structure connected to the traveling water screen to position the traveling water screen in the channel. The support structure includes a guide member extending into the sidewall groove. The apparatus includes a guide lock fixed to the sidewall of the channel. The guide lock engages the guide member to hold the guide member in the vertically extending groove in the channel sidewall and thereby secure the traveling water screen in the channel.

Abstract: A traveling water screen for screening debris from water flowing in a downstream direction through a channel, the traveling water screen including a sealing flexible membrane between the train of baskets and the bottom of the channel for preventing water from flowing through the boot portion of the frame between the train of baskets and the bottom of the channel.

Abstract: A liquid treatment apparatus for removing potentially combustible substances from water includes a biological fluid bed reactor that is supplied by a first conduit with contaminated water and that treats this water, under aerobic conditions, before discharging it as treated effluent containing a significantly reduced concentration of contaminants. The liquid treatment apparatus also includes a gas dissolution apparatus for providing dissolved oxygen to the contaminated water flowing through the first conduit to sustain biological action in the reactor. The gas dissolution apparatus includes an oxygenator including a pressurized bubble contactor disposed in a recycle conduit connected between the outlet of the reactor and the first conduit.

Abstract: A reactor apparatus including a fluid bed reactor wherein liquid to be processed is conducted upwardly therein through a bed to fluidize the bed, the bed including particulate solids having biological material supported thereon, and the liquid forming an effluent head above the bed. The reactor apparatus also includes a control apparatus for removing excess biological material from the reactor. The control apparatus includes a tubular separator column which is emersed in the liquid effluent head, and a telescoping sludge valve that has a draw-off port communicating openly with the effluent head surface and that is adjustable to raise and lower the draw-off port relative to the effluent head surface to control the sludge withdrawal rate. The control apparatus also includes an agitator arrangement that withdraws bed particles from the separator column, shears excess biological material from those particles, and then returns the partially sheared particles and sheared biological material to the separator column.

Abstract: A vaporless liquid containment system for storing volatile and other liquids while preventing the formation and escape of vapors. The vessel includes a base and a first membrane, the first membrane defines a fluid containment space for containing stored liquid. A fluid-tight gas containment space is located above the first membrane. The gas containment space is adapted to house a gas under pressure. As liquid to be stored is supplied to and withdrawn from the fluid containment space, the gas housed in the gas containment space supplies fluid pressure to the first membrane so that the pressure on the first membrane is maintained above the vapor pressure of the stored liquid. This prevents the formation of vapor caused by the evaporation of the stored liquid.

Abstract: The invention includes a pretensioned mesh insert and method for providing a pretensioned mesh insert for a traveling water screen basket. First and second mated screen panels are secured together to place one of the screen panels under tension and the other of the screen panels under compression so that it bows outwardly from the screen under tension. The structure of the invention operates to reduce the fatigue experienced by the screen panels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wastewater treatment facility comprising a structure defining first and second tank portions; a shaft rotatably supported by the structure; a first biological reactor in the first tank portion and including a first rotatable biological contactor mounted to the shaft and having a diameter; and a second biological reactor in the second tank portion and including a second rotatable biological contactor mounted to the shaft and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first rotating biological contactor.

Abstract: A venting apparatus for bubble contactor employed in liquid treatment apparatus for removing fuel constituents from water. The liquid treatment apparatus includes an oxygenator for dissolving oxygen in the water prior to its introduction into a biological fluid bed reactor to support biological action in the reactor. The oxygenator includes a bubble contactor having a bubble contact chamber, and a venting apparatus for venting the bubble contactor when the bubble swarm in the contact chamber grows too large. The venting apparatus includes a lower valve assembly including a valve having a float mechanism for sensing unacceptable accumulations of gas bubbles in the lower part of the bubble contactor, below the desired lower level of the contact zone. The float also functions to open the valve to release the excess undissolved gas.

Abstract: A venting apparatus for a bubble contactor used to dissolve oxygen in water prior to introducing the water into a biological fluid bed reactor that, under aerobic conditions, removes potentially combustible contaminants from the water for removing fuel constituents from water. The venting apparatus includes a float-operated valve wherein the float senses the existence of a gas space in the upper part of the bubble contactor and is operable to open the valve to vent the gas space. Such a space is potentially capable of supporting a combustible mixture of oxygen and fuel constituents which could be ignited by a source, such as a static electric discharge. The valve remains closed under normal conditions when no significant gas space exists to prevent the needless waste of oxygen.

Abstract: A vaporless liquid containment system for storing volatile and other liquids while preventing the formation and escape of vapors. The vessel includes a base and a first membrane, the first membrane defines a fluid containment space for containing stored liquid. A fluid-tight gas containment space is located above the first membrane. The gas containment space is adapted to house a gas under pressure. As liquid to be stored is supplied to and withdrawn from the fluid containment space, the gas housed in the gas containment space supplies fluid pressure to the first membrane so that the pressure on the first membrane is maintained above the vapor pressure of the stored liquid. This prevents the formation of vapor caused by the evaporation of the stored liquid.