Abstract: In general, the present invention is directed to systems for treating water or wastewater. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the system may utilize a vessel with a plurality of filter beds, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet, and the system may include: a first filtration bed comprising a first granular and/or angular media, the first media having a high surface area and configured for biological and physical treatment of the water or wastewater; a second filtration bed including a second granular and/or angular media, the second media having a lower surface area than the first media; wherein the water or wastewater enters the vessel via the at least one inlet, flows through the first filtration bed and the second filtration bed, and exits the vessel through the at least one outlet.

Abstract: A method controls mass and heat loading of sludge feed into a fluidized bed combustor (FBC) controlled via regulation of a polymer dosage or a sludge feed rate including: continuously monitoring at least one performance characteristic of the FBC; producing an input signal characteristic; analyzing the input signal and determining a first rate of change of the characteristic; generating an output signal based on the first rate of change to control addition of polymer to the FBC; generating a second output signal to control addition of sludge feed to the FBC; and determining a transition point between the addition of polymer and addition of sludge, which transition point is an upper limit of a first rate change to maintain flow so that the value of the characteristic is maintained proximate at the upper limit.

Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods of biological and chemical treatment of wastewater comprising organic nitrogen compounds. Systems may include: an aerobic reactor, a first separation module for separating liquid and solid components of the wastewater; an oxidation module for removing organic materials from the wastewater; and a post-anoxic reactor for denitrifying at least a portion of the wastewater. Systems may include a second separation module and various feedback recycle lines between the components. Methods may include: degrading by the aerobic reactor more than 95% of organic compounds to ammonia, oxidizing by the oxidation module at least a portion of the ammonia to nitrates, and degrading by the post-anoxic reactor at least a portion of the nitrates to nitrogen gas and water. Systems and methods may reduce total organic carbon of the wastewater by more than 90%, and total nitrogen of the wastewater by more than 90%.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a versatile fluid treatment system which includes: a mobile device; a track system connected to the mobile device; one or more treatment vessels removably attached to the track system, each treatment vessel comprising a treatment material disposed inside the treatment vessel, at least one fluid inlet, and at least one fluid outlet; an input conduit that receives a fluid to be treated, the input conduit in fluid communication with the fluid inlet on the treatment vessel; and an output conduit in fluid communication with the fluid outlet on the treatment vessel, the output conduit receives treated fluid from the treatment vessels via the fluid outlet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods of treating wastewater. The present invention may include a method of treating such wastewater comprising selenium in the form of water soluble selenates, selenites, and/or selenides, the method including: a chemical/biological treatment process, causing the water soluble selenates, selenites, and/or selenides in the wastewater to be converted into insoluble elemental selenium; and a physical treatment process, trapping the insoluble elemental selenium in a filtration device.

Abstract: A process removes boron from ion exchange system regeneration solution including introducing a borate precipitator into the regeneration solution in a precipitation zone to generate borate precipitate; introducing a coagulator into the regeneration solution that coagulates solids and/or borate precipitate generated by the borate precipitator and absorbs boron into the solids; introducing the regeneration solution, solids and borate precipitate into a separation zone; introducing anionic polymer into the regeneration solution adjacent to or in the separation zone to increase the propensity of borate precipitate and solids to separate from the regeneration solution; and filtering the regeneration solution to remove residual suspended solids from the regeneration solution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods of biological and chemical treatment of wastewater comprising organic nitrogen compounds. Systems may include: an aerobic reactor, a first separation module for separating liquid and solid components of the wastewater; an oxidation module for removing organic materials from the wastewater; and a post-anoxic reactor for denitrifying at least a portion of the wastewater. Systems may include a second separation module and various feedback recycle lines between the components. Methods may include: degrading by the aerobic reactor more than 95% of organic compounds to ammonia, oxidizing by the oxidation module at least a portion of the ammonia to nitrates, and degrading by the post-anoxic reactor at least a portion of the nitrates to nitrogen gas and water. Systems and methods may reduce total organic carbon of the wastewater by more than 90%, and total nitrogen of the wastewater by more than 90%.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a versatile fluid treatment system which includes: a mobile device; a track system connected to the mobile device; one or more treatment vessels removably attached to the track system, each treatment vessel comprising a treatment material disposed inside the treatment vessel, at least one fluid inlet, and at least one fluid outlet; an input conduit that receives a fluid to be treated, the input conduit in fluid communication with the fluid inlet on the treatment vessel; and an output conduit in fluid communication with the fluid outlet on the treatment vessel, the output conduit receives treated fluid from the treatment vessels via the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A method controls mass and heat loading of sludge feed into a fluidized bed combustor (FBC) controlled via regulation of a polymer dosage or a sludge feed rate including: continuously monitoring at least one performance characteristic of the FBC; producing an input signal characteristic; analyzing the input signal and determining a first rate of change of the characteristic; generating an output signal based on the first rate of change to control addition of polymer to the FBC; generating a second output signal to control addition of sludge feed to the FBC; and determining a transition point between the addition of polymer and addition of sludge, which transition point is an upper limit of a first rate change to maintain flow so that the value of the characteristic is maintained proximate at the upper limit.

Abstract: Systems and methods of treating flue gas and wastewater generated by treating the flue gas are disclosed and include introducing the flue gas, a flue gas treatment fluid that removes sulfur dioxide from the flue gas; and an organic acid conditioning agent into a wet-oxidation scrubber/absorber; introducing FGD scrubber wastewater generated by the wet-oxidation scrubber/absorber into an anoxic biological reactor to substantially denitrify the FGD scrubber wastewater; and introducing resulting substantially denitrified FGD scrubber wastewater into an anaerobic biological reactor to substantially reduce the amount of sulfate and/or selected heavy metals in the FGD scrubber wastewater.

Abstract: A process removes boron from ion exchange system regeneration solution including introducing a borate precipitator into the regeneration solution in a precipitation zone to generate borate precipitate; introducing a coagulator into the regeneration solution that coagulates solids and/or borate precipitate generated by the borate precipitator and absorbs boron into the solids; introducing the regeneration solution, solids and borate precipitate into a separation zone; introducing anionic polymer into the regeneration solution adjacent to or in the separation zone to increase the propensity of borate precipitate and solids to separate from the regeneration solution; and filtering the regeneration solution to remove residual suspended solids from the regeneration solution.

Abstract: A method controls mass and heat loading of sludge feed into a fluidized bed combustor (FBC) controlled via regulation of a polymer dosage or a sludge feed rate including: continuously monitoring at least one performance characteristic of the FBC; producing an input signal characteristic; analyzing the input signal and determining a first rate of change of the characteristic; generating an output signal based on the first rate of change to control addition of polymer to the FBC; generating a second output signal to control addition of sludge feed to the FBC; and determining a transition point between the addition of polymer and addition of sludge, which transition point is an upper limit of a first rate change to maintain flow so that the value of the characteristic is maintained proximate at the upper limit.

Abstract: A method of incinerating sludge in a combustor is disclosed including establishing at least one target performance characteristic of the combustor; introducing the sludge into the combustor as primary fuel; monitoring at least one performance parameter of the combustor; calculating an actual performance characteristic based on the performance parameter; and adjusting the quantity and/or quality of fuel introduced into the combustor in response to a monitored performance characteristic to substantially maintain the target performance characteristic.

Abstract: Systems and methods of treating flue gas and wastewater generated by treating the flue gas are disclosed and include introducing the flue gas, a flue gas treatment fluid that removes sulfur dioxide from the flue gas; and an organic acid conditioning agent into a wet-oxidation scrubber/absorber; introducing FGD scrubber wastewater generated by the wet-oxidation scrubber/absorber into an anoxic biological reactor to substantially denitrify the FGD scrubber wastewater; and introducing resulting substantially denitrified FGD scrubber wastewater into an anaerobic biological reactor to substantially reduce the amount of sulfate and/or selected heavy metals in the FGD scrubber wastewater.

Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating fluids with UV including a reactor vessel (10) having a fluid inleT (12), a fluid outlet (14) and a reaction chamber (16); a plurality of UV lamps (18a–d) extending across the reaction chamber (16) and substantially perpendicularly to an axis (A) extending between the fluid inlet (12) and the fluid outlet (14); an upper fluid diverter (22) and a lower fluid diverter (24) extending across the reaction chamber (16) substantially parallel to the lamps (19a–d) and positioned downstream of at least one upstream UV lamp (18a, b), wherein the upper and lower fluid diverters (22, 24) are positioned to direct fluids toward at least one UV lamp (18c, d) downstream of the upstream UV lamp (18a, b).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a filter underdrain for supporting a filter media between at least two dividers forming at least one cell, which includes at least one porous plate for supporting the filter media for filtering a fluid, the porous plate spanning across at least one of the dividers; and a plurality of support members beneath the porous plate, the support members containing at least one port for draining the fluid after the fluid passes through the porous plate. The porous plates may be bound together by a lap joint and an end section may be included between at least two of the support members, the end section containing at least one pocket for holding the porous plate.

Abstract: A method of treating liquid including mixing coagulant with the liquid, introducing mixed coagulant and liquid into a primary reaction zone, containing an agitator, of a reactor which is substantially concentrically positioned with respect to a secondary reaction zone of the reactor, introducing flocculant into the primary reaction zone at a location between the agitator and where the mixed coagulant and liquid are introduced into the primary reaction zone, mixing the mixed coagulant and liquid with the flocculant and causing the resulting mixture to flow into the secondary reaction zone, introducing an encapsulating agent into the secondary reaction zone, recirculating the liquid and encapsulated flocs through the primary and secondary reaction zone, and passing the liquid and encapsulated flocs outwardly of the reactor, and an apparatus for treating liquids including a reactor, a draft tube substantially concentrically positioned within the reactor and being positioned such that the liquids may flow inwardl

Abstract: A modular ballast enclosure for use in a fluid disinfection system. The enclosure has an enclosure wall, preferably comprising a thermally conductive material, and at least one ballast within the enclosure wall for powering a lamp module. At least one portion of the enclosure wall is adjacent to a lamp module in a fluid channel. The enclosure also has a receptacle on the modular ballast unit adapted to receive a connection from the lamp module.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating wastewater including a physical-chemical reactor; a chemical supply operably connected to the physical-chemical reactor; a clarifier operably connected to and located downstream of the physical-chemical reactor; a ballast recirculation line operably connected between the clarifier and the high rate physical-chemical reactor; and a control system that directs a) influent into 1) the clarifier but not the physical-chemical reactor when flow or pollutants of the influent is within a selected low range and 2) the physical-chemical reactor and then into the clarifier when the flow/pollutants of influent is within a selected higher range and b) internally generated ballast into the physical-chemical reactor through the ballast recirculation line when the pollutants and/or flow is within the selected higher range.

Abstract: The process is by injection of calcium chloride into the combustor and lowering the flue gas temperature in sufficient time to enhance oxidation of mercury and nitrogen oxides into more soluble products prior to their absorption in a wet scrubber. The additive also increases the alkalinity and the pH of the scrubber water, therefore, favorably increasing the absorption of the pollutants. The flue gas is then cooled to ambient temperature or less to enhance the removal of mercury.