US3760946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination sewage treatment and cooling system
Assignee: Cherne Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-31
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A combination system and plant includes a sewage treatment conduit in which liquid sewage to be treated is conveyed along an extended continuous loop or recirculating path, with means for introducing additional sewage at least at one point along the conduit, and with means for feeding at least a portion of the liquid from the conduit through the cooling condensers of an operating plant and back into the sewage treatment conduit. The system includes propulsion and treating means for maintaining at least a minimum rate of flow in the conduit to prevent settling of solids and for aerating the liquid. A plant cooling system pumping means preferably serves as one propulsion means for moving the liquid along through the conduit. The minimum rate can be maintained in case the flow of liquid through the cooling condensers of the power plant is shut down, and the conduit may include connecting means completely or partially bypassing the plant. Liquid in the conduit is aerated both for cooling it to the degree required for reuse in the cooling system and for oxygen enrichment to promote the desired sewage treatment. Liquid is removed from the sewage treatment conduit to settling tanks at a rate substantially equal to the rate of incoming flow of sewage less evaporation and other losses. Bacteria laden sewage solids in the settling tanks are returned to the treatment conduit near the entrance of the original raw sewage entrance. This returned sewage seeds the raw sewage with colonies of active bacteria. The sewage solids will eventually build up to an excess and this excess is later incinerated with the plant fuel, or burned in an individual incinerator, or used for other purposes, e.g., as fertilizer.
Inventors
- 👤 L Boler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:21
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1236; C02F3/1257; C02F3/14; C02F3/18; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y02W10/30; Y02W10/37; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, an open-topped liquid-carrying raw sewage treatment conduit extending horizontally and longitudinally over a substantial area adjacent to said outlet and intake for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said plant intake, a raw municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and a plurality of separate propulsion and treating means spaced from each other along the path and thereby providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, an open-topped liquid-carrying raw sewage treatment conduit extending horizontally and longitudinally over a substantial area adjacent to said outlet and intake for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said plant intake, a raw municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and a plurality of separate propulsion and treating means spaced from each other along the path and thereby providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling system according to claim 1 in which the propulsion and treating means comprises operating plant pumping means maintaining a volume rate of flow from the plant intake to the plant outlet at a level providing desired cooling temperatures in the cooling system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination sewage treatent and cooling system according to claim 1 in which the propulsion and treating means comprises a plurality of aeration units in the treatment conduit spaced along said path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling system according to claim 1 in which said propulsion and treating means comprises a plurality of combination propulsion and aeration units in the treatment conduit spaced along said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying raw sewage treatment conduit for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said plant intake, a raw municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and propulsion and treating means providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, the sewage treatment conduit including a selectively regulatable connecting section extending directly between first and second areas of the sewage treatment conduit at said plant intake and plant outlet respectively, for selectively recirculating at least part of the liquid from said intake area to said outlet area without passage of that part of the liquid through the plant cooling system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying raw sewage treatment conduit for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said plant intake, a raw municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and propulsion and treating means providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, the sewage treatment conduit including a selectively regulatable connecting section extending directly between first and second areas of the sewage treatment conduit at said plant intake and plant outlet respectively, for selectively recirculating at least part of the liquid from said intake area to said outlet area without passage of that part of the liquid through the plant cooling system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling system according to claim 5 in which the propulsion and treating means comprises a plurality of propulsion units in the raw sewage treatment conduit spaced along the said path and having a capacity maintaining a volume rate of flow preventing substantial settling out of suspended solids whenever all of the liquid is recirculated through the connecting section from said first area to said second area without passing through the plant cooling system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
243 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and power plant cooling unit comprising a power plant cooling system cold liquid intake, a power plant cooling system hot liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying activated sludge raw sewage treatment conduit extending over a substantial area adjacent to said outlet and intake for guiding a stream of liquid from said hot liquid outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to Said cold liquid intake, a municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage including suspended solids into said treatment conduit at a location close to said power plant hot liquid outlet and downstream therefrom, liquid removal means having a discharge conduit receiving liquid from said treatment channel, a sludge settling unit into which liquid is fed from the discharge conduit and in which clear effluent is separated from sludge for discharge, a connecting conduit section for recirculating at least part of the liquid from a first area of the treatment conduit at the plant cold liquid intake directly to a second area of the conduit at the plant hot liquid outlet without passage of that part of the liquid through the power plant, flow control means selectively controlling the flow of liquid through said connecting section and power plant cooling unit, and propulsion and treating means in the treatment conduit providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
243 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and power plant cooling unit comprising a power plant cooling system cold liquid intake, a power plant cooling system hot liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying activated sludge raw sewage treatment conduit extending over a substantial area adjacent to said outlet and intake for guiding a stream of liquid from said hot liquid outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to Said cold liquid intake, a municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage including suspended solids into said treatment conduit at a location close to said power plant hot liquid outlet and downstream therefrom, liquid removal means having a discharge conduit receiving liquid from said treatment channel, a sludge settling unit into which liquid is fed from the discharge conduit and in which clear effluent is separated from sludge for discharge, a connecting conduit section for recirculating at least part of the liquid from a first area of the treatment conduit at the plant cold liquid intake directly to a second area of the conduit at the plant hot liquid outlet without passage of that part of the liquid through the power plant, flow control means selectively controlling the flow of liquid through said connecting section and power plant cooling unit, and propulsion and treating means in the treatment conduit providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A combination unit according to claim 7 in which said propulsion and treating means includes a plurality of combination propulsion and aeration units spaced along said conduit, each such unit including at least one rotor member, bearing means supporting the rotor member for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of said treatment conduit with the lower portion of the rotor at least partly immersed in the liquid in said conduit, and motor means driving each rotor member in a direction in which said lower portion of each rotor is immersed in liquid material carried by said conduit and moves in a direction of rotation urging liquid along said conduit toward said cold water intake.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling unit according to claim 8 having control means for adjusting the speed of operation of said motor means and rotor members and thereby varying the effective propulsion and aeration of liquid in said conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling unit according to claim 8 in which each rotor member comprises a plurality of circular plates perpendicular to and concentric with said axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling unit according to claim 10 in which each circular plate has a smooth circumferential periphery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling unit according to claim 10 in which each circular plate has a plurality of liquid projecting surfaces around its circumferential periphery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling unit according to claim 7 having means for feeding sludge from said settling unit back to said treatment conduit for reintroduction of such sludge therein at a rate maintaining the suspended solids content at a desired sewage treatment level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
167 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying raw sewage treatment conduit for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extending longitudinal path to said plant intake, a raw municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and propulsion and treating means providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, said propulsion and treating means comprising a plurality of combination aerating and cooling units spaced along the treatment conduit, each such unit including aerating means for controlled exposure of the liquid to air while the liquid moves along said conduit toward said liquid intake, cooling means for projecting drops of liquid upwardly above the conduit, and means for varying the relative effectiveness of the respective aerating and cooling means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
167 words
A combination raw sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying raw sewage treatment conduit for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extending longitudinal path to said plant intake, a raw municipal sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and propulsion and treating means providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, said propulsion and treating means comprising a plurality of combination aerating and cooling units spaced along the treatment conduit, each such unit including aerating means for controlled exposure of the liquid to air while the liquid moves along said conduit toward said liquid intake, cooling means for projecting drops of liquid upwardly above the conduit, and means for varying the relative effectiveness of the respective aerating and cooling means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
181 words
A combination sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying treatment conduit for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said plant intake, a sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and propulsion and treating means providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, the sewage treatment conduit including a connecting section extending directly between first and second areas of the sewage treatment conduit at said plant intake and plant outlet respectively, for recirculating at least part of the liquid from said intake area to said outlet area without passage of that part of the liquid through the plant cooling system, and the connecting section of the treatment conduit including adjustable gate means selectively movable between open and closed positions respectively permitting and preventing the flow of liquid through the connecting section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
181 words
A combination sewage treatment and plant cooling system comprising an operating plant cooling system liquid intake, an operating plant cooling system liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying treatment conduit for guiding a stream of liquid from said plant outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said plant intake, a sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage into said treatment conduit, and propulsion and treating means providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, the sewage treatment conduit including a connecting section extending directly between first and second areas of the sewage treatment conduit at said plant intake and plant outlet respectively, for recirculating at least part of the liquid from said intake area to said outlet area without passage of that part of the liquid through the plant cooling system, and the connecting section of the treatment conduit including adjustable gate means selectively movable between open and closed positions respectively permitting and preventing the flow of liquid through the connecting section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
237 words
A combination sewage treatment and power plant cooling unit comprising a power plant cooling system cold liquid intake, a power plant cooling system hot liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying sewage treatment conduit extending over a substantial area adjacent to said outlet and intake for guiding a stream of liquid from said hot liquid outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said cold liquid intake, a sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage including suspended solids into said treatment conduit at a location close to said power plant hot liquid outlet and downstream therefrom, liquid removal means having a discharge conduit receiving liquid from said treatment channel, a sludge settling unit into which liquid is fed from the discharge conduit and in which clear effluent is separated from sludge for discharge, and propulsion and treating means in the treatment conduit providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, a connecting conduit section for recirculating at least part of the liquid from a first area of the treatment conduit at the plant cold liquid intake directly to a second area of the conduit at the plant hot liquid outlet without passage of that part of the liquid through the power plant, and flow control means including adjustable gate means controlling the flow of liquid through said connecting system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
237 words
A combination sewage treatment and power plant cooling unit comprising a power plant cooling system cold liquid intake, a power plant cooling system hot liquid outlet, a liquid-carrying sewage treatment conduit extending over a substantial area adjacent to said outlet and intake for guiding a stream of liquid from said hot liquid outlet along a relatively extended longitudinal path to said cold liquid intake, a sewage delivery line having a sewage outlet discharging raw sewage including suspended solids into said treatment conduit at a location close to said power plant hot liquid outlet and downstream therefrom, liquid removal means having a discharge conduit receiving liquid from said treatment channel, a sludge settling unit into which liquid is fed from the discharge conduit and in which clear effluent is separated from sludge for discharge, and propulsion and treating means in the treatment conduit providing propulsion of the liquid along said path and aeration of the liquid for cooling and oxygen enrichment thereof without substantial settling out of suspended solids, a connecting conduit section for recirculating at least part of the liquid from a first area of the treatment conduit at the plant cold liquid intake directly to a second area of the conduit at the plant hot liquid outlet without passage of that part of the liquid through the power plant, and flow control means including adjustable gate means controlling the flow of liquid through said connecting system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination sewage treatment and cooling unit according to claim 14 in which the means for feeding sludge maintains the suspended solids content in the treatment conduit at a level which is substantially higher than the suspended solids content of the original raw municipal sewage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |