Packed bed reactor apparatus for wastewater treatment

Claim 2

Packed bed reactor apparatus for treatment of wastewater by aerobic bacterial action, including tank means containing a horizontally and vertically extending bed of particulate medium capable of supporting aerobic bacterial growth, and outlet means for removing the treated wastewater from the upper portion of said tank, wherein the improvement is characterized by providing the lower portion of said tank with combined water and air inlet means comprising: a. a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced water inlet pipes horizontally disposed in the lower portion of said tank beneath said bed, said pipes having a multiplicity of outlet orifices for substantially uniform introduction of the water to be treated over the horizontal extend of said bed; b. common water header means connected to said water pipes for supplying wastewater thereto; c. air inlet pipes extending inside each of said water inlet pipes along the length thereof, said air pipes being of relatively small exterior diameter compared to the internal diameter of said water pipes and providing a multiplicity of air outlet orifices for substantially uniform release of air along the lengths of said water pipes; d. common air header means connected to said air pipes for supplying air thereto; and e. releaseable connection means interposed between said air header means and the ends of said air inlet pipes to which said air header means is connected, said connection means being accessible from the outside of said tank means to permit said air pipes to be disconnected and removed from said water pipes for inspection, cleaning, and servicing without disturbing said bed.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said air header means extends within said water header means, and said water header means has an internal diameter sufficiently large to provide a manway for servicing, said water header means having an end extending to a sidewall of said tank means and being accessible through said sidewall from outside said tank means, and a removable cover for said accessible end of said water header means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in which said water header means comprises a plurality of interconnected header pipes extending outwardly from the center of the lower portion of said tank means, and being arranged to divide said tank means lower portion into substantially equal sections.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 in which said water inlet pipes comprise separate pipe sections extending between adjacent ones of said header pipes across said tank sections, and said air inlet pipes comprise separate pipe sections extending through said water inlet pipe sections.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 in which said air inlet pipe releasable connection means comprise releasable connections located within said water header pipes at each end of said air pipe sections.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 in which each of said interconnected water header pipes extends from the center of said tank to a sidewall of said tank means, and is accessible through said sidewall from outside said tank means, and a removable cover is provided for each of said accessible ends of said water header pipes.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 in which water inlet means extends into the lower central portion of said tank means and is connected to the inner ends of said water header pipes.

Claim 9

Packed bed reactor apparatus for treatment of wastewater by aerobic bacterial action, including a cylindrical tank containing a horizontally and vertically extending bed of particulate medium capable of supporting aerobic bacterial growth, and outlet means for removing the treated wastewater from the upper portion of said tank, wherein the improvement is characterized by providing the lower portion of said tank with combined water and air inlet means comprising: a. a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced water inlet pipes horizontally disposed in the lower portion of said tank beneath said bed, said pipes having a multiplicity of outlet orifices for substantially uniform introduction of the water to be treated over the horizontal extend of said bed, said water inlet pipes being arranged in concentric circles within said tank; b. common water header means extending diametrically across said tank and being connected to the said water pipes on each side thereof for supplying wastewater thereto; c. flexible air inlet pipes disposed inside of each of said water inlet pipes and extending along the length thereof, the ends of said air inlet pipes projecting into said water header means, said air pipes being of relatively small exterior diameter compared to the internal diameter of said water pipes and providing a multiplicity of air outlet orifices for substantially uniform release of air along the lengths of said water pipes; d. common air header means disposed within said water header means and being connected to the ends of said flexible air pipes extending into said water header means, thereby supplying air to said air pipes; and e. releaseable connection means interposed between said air header means and the ends of said air pipes within said water header means.

Claim 10

Packed bed reactor apparatus for treatment of wastewater by aerobic bacterial action, including a cylindrical tank containing a horizontally and vertically extending bed of particulate medium capable of supporting aerobic bacterial growth, and outlet means for removing the treated wastewater from the upper portion of said tank, wherein the improvement is characterized by providing the lower portion of said tank with combined water and air inlet means comprising: a. a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced water inlet pipes horizontally disposed in the lower portion of said tank beneath said bed, said pipes having a multiplicity of outlet orifices for substantially uniform introduction of the water to be treated over the horizontal extend of said bed, said water inlet pipes being arranged in concentric circles within said tank; b. common water header means extending diametrically across said tank and being connected to the said water pipes on each side thereof for supplying wastewater thereto; c. flexible air inlet pipes disposed inside of each of said water inlet pipes and extending along the length thereof, the ends of said air inlet pipes projecting into said water header means, said air pipes being of relatively small exterior diameter compared to the internal diameter of said water pipes and providing a multiplicity of air outlet orifices for substantially uniform release of air along the lengths of said water pipes; d. common air header means disposed within said water header means and being connected to the ends of said flexible air pipes extending into said water header means, thereby supplying air to said air pipes; and e. releaseable connection means interposed between said air header means and the ends of said air pipes within said water header means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 in which said water header means has an internal diameter sufficiently large to provide a manway for servicing, said water header means having at least one end extending to a sidewall of said tank and being accessible through said sidewall from outside said tank, and a removable cover for said accessible end of said water header means.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 in which said water header means comprises a plurality of interconnected header pipes extending radially outward from the center of the lower portion of said tank, and being arranged to divide said tank lower portion into substantially equal sections.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 in which water inlet means extends into the lower central portion of said tank means and is connected to the inner ends of said water header pipes.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 in which the outer ends of each of said water header pipes extends to an outer wall of said tank and is accessible therethrough, and removable cover means provided for each of said accessible ends of said water header pipes.