US4042494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure pipe treatment for sewage
Assignee: Irvine Ranch Water District
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Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A sewage treatment simultaneously treats raw sewage and transports the effluent to a location where the treated effluent can be economically reused. The system converts raw sewage to primary effluent, and the solids in the primary effluent are transported to an aerobic sludge activator which converts the solids to activated sludge. The remaining primary effluent is mixed with the activated sludge and pumped up a pressure pipe treatment line which is preferably an upwardly inclined conduit at least 1000 feet long. Air or oxygen is injected into the treatment line downstream of the pump so that oxygen is dissolved at a relatively high pressure and in a sufficient amount to meet the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the organic matter in the sewage. By the time the sewage reaches the outlet end of the line it contains substantially completely treated water and activated sludge. Trunk sewers collect raw sewage and transport it by gravity to a headworks facility. Some of the waste water in the raw sewage is intercepted in the trunk sewer system, and is pumped into the pressure pipe treatment line. The remaining portion of the solids and waste water in the trunk sewer system are sent to the headworks. This reduces considerably the required hydraulic capacity of the trunk sewers, the primary treatment facility, and the pressure pipe treatment line, and eliminates almost completely the conventional secondary treatment facility. Activated sludge is removed from the pressure pipe treatment line and returned through the trunk sewers to the downstream sewage treatment facility to insure an adequate supply of activated sludge for continued treatment and for meeting the varying conditions in the raw sewage. After substantial reduction of the sewage BOD, the treated sewage or effluent is maintained under anaerobic conditions to encourage bacteria to denitrify the effluent.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray L. Stoyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:26
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F9/00; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/26; C02F3/30; C02F3/302; C02F2307/00; C02F2307/08; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for simultaneously treating and transporting raw liquid waste material from a point of collection to a location where treated effluent from the raw waste material can be economically used, the system comprising an elongated pressure pipe treatment line having an inlet end and an outlet end, the pressure pipe treatment line being inclined upwardly toward its outlet end so the static head of the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line due to the difference in elevation between the inlet and outlet of the pressure pipe treatment line is at least several atmospheres; a pump having an inlet to receive raw waste and an outlet connected to the pressure pipe treatment line inlet for delivering the raw waste material under a pressure of at least several times atmospheric to the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line and producing a sufficiently high pressure at the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line to force the raw waste material toward the outlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line; means for injecting oxygen under a pressure of at least several atmospheres into the raw waste material at the high pressure end of the pressure pipe treatment line so the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the raw waste material; and means at the outlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line for withdrawing the treated waste material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for simultaneously treating and transporting raw liquid waste material from a point of collection to a location where treated effluent from the raw waste material can be economically used, the system comprising an elongated pressure pipe treatment line having an inlet end and an outlet end, the pressure pipe treatment line being inclined upwardly toward its outlet end so the static head of the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line due to the difference in elevation between the inlet and outlet of the pressure pipe treatment line is at least several atmospheres; a pump having an inlet to receive raw waste and an outlet connected to the pressure pipe treatment line inlet for delivering the raw waste material under a pressure of at least several times atmospheric to the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line and producing a sufficiently high pressure at the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line to force the raw waste material toward the outlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line; means for injecting oxygen under a pressure of at least several atmospheres into the raw waste material at the high pressure end of the pressure pipe treatment line so the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the raw waste material; and means at the outlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line for withdrawing the treated waste material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 1 which includes means for mixing activated sludge with the raw waste material, and means for delivering the mixture to the pump inlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
The system according to claim 1 which includes an effluent headworks connected to the inlet side of the pump, a downwardly inclined trunk sewer pipe connected for collecting and delivering a stream of waste water and sewage solids to the headworks, the trunk sewer pipe having an inlet and an outlet, separator means in the trunk sewer pipe between its inlet and outlet for separating a portion of the waste water from the stream, and means for delivering the separated portion of the waste water to the interior of the pressure pipe treatment line at a point downstream from the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line, and permitting the remainder of the waste water to flow from the said means toward the outlet of the trunk sewer pipe.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of treating raw waste material in an elongated pressure pipe treatment line having an inlet end and an outlet end, the method comprising the steps of delivering the raw waste material to the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line under at least several times atmospheric pressure and producing a sufficiently high pressure at the inlet end to force the waste material toward the outlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line; injecting sufficient oxygen into the raw waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line where the pressure is at least several atmospheres to reduce substantially the biological oxygen demand of the raw waste material; creating an anaerobic condition in the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line where there has been a substantial biological oxygen demand reduction and nitrification of the waste material; thereafter maintaining the anaerobic condition of the waste material to cause nitrogen to be removed from the waste material and released as nitrogen gas; and withdrawing the treated waste material from the pressure pipe treatment line outlet.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of treating raw waste material in an elongated pressure pipe treatment line having an inlet end and an outlet end, the method comprising the steps of delivering the raw waste material to the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line under at least several times atmospheric pressure and producing a sufficiently high pressure at the inlet end to force the waste material toward the outlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line; injecting sufficient oxygen into the raw waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line where the pressure is at least several atmospheres to reduce substantially the biological oxygen demand of the raw waste material; creating an anaerobic condition in the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line where there has been a substantial biological oxygen demand reduction and nitrification of the waste material; thereafter maintaining the anaerobic condition of the waste material to cause nitrogen to be removed from the waste material and released as nitrogen gas; and withdrawing the treated waste material from the pressure pipe treatment line outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 4 which includes adding to the waste material a nutrient for bacteria which consume oxygen and release nitrogen from nitrified waste material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 4 which includes adding to the waste material bacteria which consume oxygen and release nitrogen from nitrified waste material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of delivering raw waste material from a downwardly extending trunk sewer pipe to a sewage treatment plant at the lower end of an upwardly inclined elongated pressure pipe treatment line for treatment of the raw waste material, the raw waste material including waste water and raw sewage solids, the method comprising the steps of removing a portion of the waste water from the raw waste material at a point upstream of the lower end of the trunk sewer pipe; delivering the remaining waste water and the raw sewage solids via the trunk sewer to the headworks; converting at least a portion of the raw sewage solids to activated sludge; delivering the activated sludge and the remaining waste water to the lower end of the pressure pipe treatment line at a sufficiently high pressure to force the activated sludge and waste water up the pressure pipe treatment line; injecting the removed portion of the waste water into the activated sludge and waste water flowing up the pressure pipe treatment line at a point spaced from the lower end of the pressure pipe treatment line; injecting a sufficient amount of oxygen under pressure into the activated sludge and waste water in the pressure pipe treatment line such that the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line; and withdrawing the treated waste material from the upper end of the pressure pipe treatment line.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of delivering raw waste material from a downwardly extending trunk sewer pipe to a sewage treatment plant at the lower end of an upwardly inclined elongated pressure pipe treatment line for treatment of the raw waste material, the raw waste material including waste water and raw sewage solids, the method comprising the steps of removing a portion of the waste water from the raw waste material at a point upstream of the lower end of the trunk sewer pipe; delivering the remaining waste water and the raw sewage solids via the trunk sewer to the headworks; converting at least a portion of the raw sewage solids to activated sludge; delivering the activated sludge and the remaining waste water to the lower end of the pressure pipe treatment line at a sufficiently high pressure to force the activated sludge and waste water up the pressure pipe treatment line; injecting the removed portion of the waste water into the activated sludge and waste water flowing up the pressure pipe treatment line at a point spaced from the lower end of the pressure pipe treatment line; injecting a sufficient amount of oxygen under pressure into the activated sludge and waste water in the pressure pipe treatment line such that the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line; and withdrawing the treated waste material from the upper end of the pressure pipe treatment line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 7 which includes the steps of maintaining a pressure of at least several atmospheres at the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line, supplying a mixture of waste material and activated sludge to the inlet of the pressure pipe treatment system, and injecting oxygen into the pressure pipe treatment line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 7 including removing a portion of the waste water from the raw waste material in the trunk sewer pipe at several spaced apart locations; and delivering the removed portions of the waste water from each point of separation to a separate point in the pressure pipe treatment line downstream of the lower end of the pressure pipe treatment line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 9 including injecting oxygen into the pressure pipe treatment line at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the pressure pipe treatment line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 7 which includes removing some activated sludge from the pressure pipe treatment line, and introducing the removed sludge into the trunk sewer pipe for return to the inlet end of the pressure pipe treatment line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 7 which includes creating an anaerobic condition in the waste material in the pressure pipe treatment line where there has been a substantial biological oxygen demand reduction and nitrification of the waste material, and thereafter maintaining the anaerobic condition of the waste material to cause nitrogen to be removed from the waste material and released as nitrogen gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for collecting, treating, and transporting a raw sewage mixture of water and organic waste to a reservoir, the apparatus including a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a trunk sewer collection pipe extending from sewage collection areas to the pump, means for delivering raw sewage from the trunk sewer pipe to the pump inlet, a pressure pipe treatment line having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet to the pressure pipe treatment line inlet, means for injecting oxygen into the pressure pipe treatment line at a pressure of at least several times atmospheric so the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the raw sewage and produces a mixture of water and activated sludge in the pressure pipe treatment line, means for removing at least some of the activated sludge from the pressure pipe treatment line, means for delivering at least part of the removed activated sludge to the trunk sewer pipe for return to the pump, and means for delivering water from the pressure pipe treatment line outlet to the reservoir.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for collecting, treating, and transporting a raw sewage mixture of water and organic waste to a reservoir, the apparatus including a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a trunk sewer collection pipe extending from sewage collection areas to the pump, means for delivering raw sewage from the trunk sewer pipe to the pump inlet, a pressure pipe treatment line having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet to the pressure pipe treatment line inlet, means for injecting oxygen into the pressure pipe treatment line at a pressure of at least several times atmospheric so the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the raw sewage and produces a mixture of water and activated sludge in the pressure pipe treatment line, means for removing at least some of the activated sludge from the pressure pipe treatment line, means for delivering at least part of the removed activated sludge to the trunk sewer pipe for return to the pump, and means for delivering water from the pressure pipe treatment line outlet to the reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
183 words
Apparatus for collecting, treating, and transporting a raw sewage mixture of water and organic waste to a reservoir, the apparatus including a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a trunk sewer collection pipe extending downwardly from sewage collection areas to the pump, means for delivering raw sewage from the trunk sewer pipe to the pump inlet, a pressure pipe treatment line extending upwardly from an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet to the pressure pipe treatment line inlet, means for injecting oxygen into the pressure pipe treatment line so the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the raw sewage and produces a mixture of water and activated sludge in the pressure pipe treatment line, means for removing a substantial portion of the water from the sewage mixture in the trunk sewer pipe at a location spaced from the pump, means for delivering water removed from the trunk sewer pipe to the pressure pipe treatment line at a location spaced from the pump, and means for delivering water from the pressure pipe treatment line outlet to the reservoir.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
183 words
Apparatus for collecting, treating, and transporting a raw sewage mixture of water and organic waste to a reservoir, the apparatus including a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a trunk sewer collection pipe extending downwardly from sewage collection areas to the pump, means for delivering raw sewage from the trunk sewer pipe to the pump inlet, a pressure pipe treatment line extending upwardly from an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet to the pressure pipe treatment line inlet, means for injecting oxygen into the pressure pipe treatment line so the oxygen substantially reduces the biological oxygen demand of the raw sewage and produces a mixture of water and activated sludge in the pressure pipe treatment line, means for removing a substantial portion of the water from the sewage mixture in the trunk sewer pipe at a location spaced from the pump, means for delivering water removed from the trunk sewer pipe to the pressure pipe treatment line at a location spaced from the pump, and means for delivering water from the pressure pipe treatment line outlet to the reservoir.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 which includes a plurality of means at longitudinally spaced locations along the trunk sewer pipe for removing water from the sewage mixture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 which includes a plurality of means for delivering water removed from the trunk sewer pipe to the pressure pipe treatment line at a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations along the line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the hydraulic capacity of the pressure pipe treatment line increases in the direction of liquid flow through the line.
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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) | 1980-08-15 | 1981-02-14 | 1981-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-15 | 1985-02-14 | 1985-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-15 | 1989-02-14 | 1989-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |