US3986955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Effluent waste treatment process and apparatus
Assignee: SPHERE Inc
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Filing: 1975-01-28
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Granted: 1976-10-19
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Expires: 1995-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained process for the treatment of liquid waste from a unit source which involves a flow of liquid waste purified in a heating zone, preferably an electrode boiler, by direct passage of an electric current through the raw waste, the water content thereof being converted to a water vapor and the total body of the waste becoming sterilized, the produced steam is condensed to water and returned to the water system of the unit for re-use, residual purified solid content of the stored waste is dried if to be used for fertilizer, the latent heat of the steam is utilized for either heating or cooling the unit and a portion of the sensible heat of the condensed vapor is utilized to preheat the effluent waste prior to the heating zone. The process is preferably continuous and may use automatic circulating means. It may be staged in one or more stages and pressurized for more efficient utilization of heat. Off peak periods of electrical energy utilization with heat and water storage means is a feature of the invention. Specifically raw sewage from a unified dwelling unit is contemplated as is the total water system of a ship or the industrial waste from a manufacturing unit. The term liquid waste, therefore, is meant to include, raw sewage, industrial wastes, and a closed loop fresh water sanitary system aboard ship.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Plicque
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:26
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D1/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/01; Y10S159/905; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A process for the treatment of effluent liquid waste from a self-contained unit containing an internal water system which comprises the steps of: Collecting the waste effluent in a collection zone; Passing said collected waste to a first heating zone; Passing electric current through said waste in said heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof to one above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor while sterilizing said waste; Passing said water vapor through a first heat exchanging zone to utilize the latent heat thereof in said unit and to condense said water vapor; Passing said condensed water vapor through a second heat exchanging zone in heat exchange relation with at least a portion of said collected waste to pre-heat said portion of collected waste; Passing said condensed vapor to a collection zone; Withdrawing concentrated solids from the bottom of said first heating zone; Drying and storing said concentrated solids; Passing said condensed water vapor through a second heating zone; Passing electric current through said condensed water vapor in said second heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor; Passing said water vapor through a third heat exchanging zone and collecting and utilizing the latent heat thereof and to condense said water vapor; Passing said condensed water vapor through a fourth heat exchanging zone in heat exchange relation with an exchange liquid; and Passing said condensed vapor to the water supply system of said unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
A process for the treatment of effluent liquid waste from a self-contained unit containing an internal water system which comprises the steps of: Collecting the waste effluent in a collection zone; Passing said collected waste to a first heating zone; Passing electric current through said waste in said heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof to one above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor while sterilizing said waste; Passing said water vapor through a first heat exchanging zone to utilize the latent heat thereof in said unit and to condense said water vapor; Passing said condensed water vapor through a second heat exchanging zone in heat exchange relation with at least a portion of said collected waste to pre-heat said portion of collected waste; Passing said condensed vapor to a collection zone; Withdrawing concentrated solids from the bottom of said first heating zone; Drying and storing said concentrated solids; Passing said condensed water vapor through a second heating zone; Passing electric current through said condensed water vapor in said second heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor; Passing said water vapor through a third heat exchanging zone and collecting and utilizing the latent heat thereof and to condense said water vapor; Passing said condensed water vapor through a fourth heat exchanging zone in heat exchange relation with an exchange liquid; and Passing said condensed vapor to the water supply system of said unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said first and second heating zones are maintained at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said latent heat from said condensed water vapor is passed to a radiation zone for supplying heat to said self-contained unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said latent heat from said water vapor is utilized in a refrigeration zone to cool the ambient temperature in said unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the electric current supplied to said first and second heating zones varies inversely with the amount of electric current being utilized in said unit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
307 words
An apparatus for the treatment of effluent waste from a self-contained unit containing an internal water system which comprises: Means for collecting waste effluent from said unit; Means for passing said collected waste to a first heating zone; Means for passing an electric current through said waste in said first heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof to one above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor while sterilizing said waste; Means for passing said water vapor through a first heat exchanging zone to utilize the latent heat thereof in said unit and to condense said water vapor; Means for passing said condensed water vapor through a second heat exchanging zone in heat exchanged relation with at least a portion of said collected waste to pre-heat said portion of collected waste; Means for passing said condensed vapor to a collection zone; Means for withdrawing concentrated solids from the bottom of said first heating zone; Means for drying and storing said concentrated solids; A second heating zone; Means for passing condensed water vapor through said second heating zone; Means for passing an electric current through said condensed water vapor in said second heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof to one above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor; A third heat exchanging zone; Means for passing said water vapor through said third heat exchanging zone and for collecting and utilizing the latent heat thereof and to condense said water vapor; A fourth heat exchanging zone; Means for passing said condensed water vapor through said fourth heat exchanging zone in heat exchange relation with a heat exchange liquid; and Means for passing said condensed water vapor from said fourth heat exchanging zone to the water supply system of said unit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
307 words
An apparatus for the treatment of effluent waste from a self-contained unit containing an internal water system which comprises: Means for collecting waste effluent from said unit; Means for passing said collected waste to a first heating zone; Means for passing an electric current through said waste in said first heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof to one above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor while sterilizing said waste; Means for passing said water vapor through a first heat exchanging zone to utilize the latent heat thereof in said unit and to condense said water vapor; Means for passing said condensed water vapor through a second heat exchanging zone in heat exchanged relation with at least a portion of said collected waste to pre-heat said portion of collected waste; Means for passing said condensed vapor to a collection zone; Means for withdrawing concentrated solids from the bottom of said first heating zone; Means for drying and storing said concentrated solids; A second heating zone; Means for passing condensed water vapor through said second heating zone; Means for passing an electric current through said condensed water vapor in said second heating zone to raise the temperature of the liquid content thereof to one above its boiling point and to convert said liquid content to water vapor; A third heat exchanging zone; Means for passing said water vapor through said third heat exchanging zone and for collecting and utilizing the latent heat thereof and to condense said water vapor; A fourth heat exchanging zone; Means for passing said condensed water vapor through said fourth heat exchanging zone in heat exchange relation with a heat exchange liquid; and Means for passing said condensed water vapor from said fourth heat exchanging zone to the water supply system of said unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second heating zones is heated to a temperature above the saturation temperature of a liquid contained therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 including a radiation zone and means for supplying said radiation zone with latent heat from said water vapor in order to supply heat to said self-contained unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 which includes a refrigeration zone and means to supply latent heat from said water vapor to said refrigeration zone in order to cool the ambient temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-19 | 1980-04-19 | 1980-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-19 | 1984-04-19 | 1984-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-19 | 1988-04-19 | 1988-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |