Abstract: Method for purifying waste water, whereby the waste water is subjected to a biological treatment producing sludge, part of this sludge being recycled towards the biological treatment while being subjected to ozonation combined with mechanical stirring. A mechanical stirring energy is brought in to attack the walls of the microorganisms.

Abstract: Process for the biological treatment of effluents from wine cellars by transferring the yeasts contained in the effluents to a medium into which oxygen or air is continuously supplied so that these yeasts, placed under aerobic conditions, consume the carbon substrates of these effluents in which they develop, thus ensuring the treatment thereof.

Abstract: A device designed for being adapted to surround a duct formed with one or several orifices operable for feeding a fluid to an apparatus, such as a reactor, used for the treatment of liquids, notably water, and including a resiliently deformable membrane, also formed with one or several orifices communicating with that or those of the fluid feeding duct, characterized in that it is made of two half shells threaded and clamped onto the fluid inlet duct, one of which having a housing for the resiliently deformable membrane and an orifice for the distribution of the fluid to the apparatus.

Abstract: An ascending flux lamellar decantation apparatus for treating a liquid having a plurality of parallel lamellar modules which define a plurality of ducts disposed within an enclosure. The apparatus includes a channel aligned parallel to the lamellar modules for introducing liquids into the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a repartition device for maintaining hydraulic flux of liquids, which repartition device is positioned above at least one of the lamellar modules. The repartition device is made of a plurality of hydraulically independent sections of substantially equal size such that the treated liquid flow in each section is equal. The repartition device further includes a treated liquid recovery means for collecting treated liquid.

Abstract: A reactor for aerobically or non-aerobically treating a fluid flowing from the bottom to the top of the reactor through a fluidized bed of granular material. The reactor includes a base having an orifice therein, through which fluid flows into the reactor and in which gas is added to the fluid. A horizontally extending plate surrounded by a supple membrane faces the base and the orifice. The plate and the membrane form a valve for preventing fluid from the reactor from entering the orifice in the event fluid flow into the reactor ceases. The gas entrains the granular material so that when the gasified fluid passes upward through the granular material a three-phase liquid-gas-granular material mixture is produced. The upper portion of the reactor includes a device for disembedding the granular material from the fluid, a device for degasing the three-phase liquid-gas-granular material mixture, and a device for separating the granular material from the fluid to produce a fluid discharge.

Abstract: A horizontal-axis aerator for use in a waste water purification system includes a cylinder having a horizontal axis, a first series of parallel blades on the surface of the cylinder and extending in directions nonparallel to the axis, and a second series of parallel blades on the surface of the cylinder and extending in directions nonparallel to the axis. The directions of the first series of blades are opposite to the directions of the second series of blades, with respect to the axis. The first and second series of blades intersect each other, such that upon the aerator being partially immersed in a body of waste water to be treated and being rotated therein, at any rotational position of the aerator about the axis, a constant portion of the total blade length of all of the blades of the aerator will be immersed in the waste water.

Abstract: In a system for decantation treating of liquid containing therein suspended material, the liquid to be treated is pulsatingly introduced into the bottom of a sludge bed and pulsated therein. The liquid is passed upwardly through the sludge bed at a predetermined speed whereby the suspended material is agglomerated and removed from the liquid. The liquid is forced through the sludge bed from the bottom to the top thereof in paths which are inclined both to the horizontal and to the vertical. Specifically, the liquid passes generally upwardly through an assembly of inclined flow control devices which are positioned within the sludge bed throughout substantially the entire height thereof. Sludge settles within the inclined passageways between the flow control devices for a slight distance until the sludge contacts an inclined bottom wall. The sludge then slides downwardly in an inclined manner along the bottom wall in a concentrated path or current.

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 settling apparatus includes a decanter having a sludge bed therein. A raw water inlet leads raw water to be treated into the decanter, such that the raw water passes upwardly through the sludge bed, whereby impurities in the water are removed in the form of settling sludge, a portion of which collects in a concentrator. A vacuum source is connected to the decanter to allow for pulsating introduction of the raw water into the sludge bed. At least one siphon extends into the concentrator and is selectively connectable to the vacuum source to withdraw collected sludge from the concentrator and pass such sludge to a sludge removal station. The siphon is also selectively connectible to the vacuum source and the raw water inlet to cause raw water to be passed through the siphon and wash the concentrator and the interior of the decanter.

Abstract: Method for purifying waste water, whereby the waste water is subjected to a biological treatment producing sludge, part of this sludge being recycled towards the biological treatment while being subjected to ozonation combined with mechanical stirring. A mechanical stirring energy is brought in to attack the walls of the microorganisms.