Intrachannel clarifier

Claim 2

In combination with an orbital ditch comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls spacedly separated by an upstanding partition and forming a pair of parallel channels each having a channel bottom for circuitous flow and oxidation of mixed liquor; means for forming an elongated top-facing notch in said partition; and a clarifier vessel positioned in said notch, said vessel having upstanding sidewalls spaced from said ditch sidewalls and a bottom forming a vessel interior and separating said vessel interior from said channels, said vessel bottom extending above each of said channel bottoms.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said clarifier vessel straddles said partition and wherein one of said vessel sidewalls extends into one of said orbital channels and another of said vessel sidewalls extends into the other of said channels, said parallel channels and said vessel having the same mixed liquor level therein.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said clarifier vessel includes a bow section extending into one of said channels, said bow section having inlet means for receiving a portion of mixed liquor flowing toward said inlet; and wherein said portion flows through said vessel interior co-currently with remaining portions of mixed liquor flowing in said one of said channels past said inlet.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said clarifier vessel includes a stern section, said stern section including a clarifier effluent removal trough and bottom sludge ports to return settled sludge in said mixed liquor portion to at least one of said channels.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 further comprising means for adjusting said inlet to adjust the amount of said mixed liquor portion entering said vessel so as to control the flow rate of sludge from said sludge ports.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 in which said inlet is at least one gate extending across said bow below the surface level of said mixed liquor in said one of said channels.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 in which said gate is adjustable to control the outflow of settled sludge in said vessel.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vessel and said partition notch extends from about 30% to 90% of the longitudinal length of said partition.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vessel and said partition notch extends along about 50% of said partition length.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vessel has a top width from about 40% to 60% of the total width of said pair of channels.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vessel has a top width about 50% of the total width of said channels.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 1 wherein said clarifier vessel sidewalls are tapered inwardly from adjacent a top edge to said vessel bottom and wherein said vessel bottom includes sludge ports in a downstream section of said vessel to return sludge settled in said clarifier vessel to said orbital channels.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 12 wherein one of said tapered vessel sidewalls extends longitudinally in one of said orbital channels and the other of said tapered vessel sidewalls extends longitudinally in the other of said orbital channels.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12 wherein said vessel bottom comprises longitudinal rows of pairs of inclined sideplates, said sludge ports extending in longitudinal rows between said pairs of inclined sideplates.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12 wherein said sludge ports are positioned at a bottom extension of said tapered sidewalls.

Claim 17

In combination an orbital ditch comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls spacedly separated by an upstanding first partition forming a pair of channels each having a channel bottom; means in said ditch for propelling a mixed liquor circuitously through said orbital ditch; means for forming an elongated top-facing notch in said first partition; a clarifier vessel for separation of sludge and effluent in said mixed liquor and positioned in said notch, said clarifier vessel having a bottom and at least a pair of vessel sidewalls forming a vessel interior; wherein said vessel sidewalls form a second partition offset from said first partition, said second partition and said bottom separating said vessel interior from said pair of channels, said vessel bottom extending above each of said channel bottoms; inlet means in said vessel for introduction of a portion of the mixed liquor into said vessel; means adjacent to said vessel bottom for returning settled sludge in said vessel to at least one of said channels; and means adjacent a top of said vessel to remove clarified liquid from said vessel.

Claim 18

In combination an orbital ditch comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls spacedly separated by an upstanding first partition forming a pair of channels each having a channel bottom; means in said ditch for propelling a mixed liquor circuitously through said orbital ditch; means for forming an elongated top-facing notch in said first partition; a clarifier vessel for separation of sludge and effluent in said mixed liquor and positioned in said notch, said clarifier vessel having a bottom and at least a pair of vessel sidewalls forming a vessel interior; wherein said vessel sidewalls form a second partition offset from said first partition, said second partition and said bottom separating said vessel interior from said pair of channels, said vessel bottom extending above each of said channel bottoms; inlet means in said vessel for introduction of a portion of the mixed liquor into said vessel; means adjacent to said vessel bottom for returning settled sludge in said vessel to at least one of said channels; and means adjacent a top of said vessel to remove clarified liquid from said vessel.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 16 wherein said inlet means is positioned in one of said channels facing into the propelled flow in said one channel.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 17 in which said inlet means comprises at least one gate positioned in a bow of said vessel and positioned below a top level of mixed liquor flowing in said one channel past said bow.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 18 in which said inlet means comprises a pair of horizontally aligned inlet gates, and further comprising means in said bow for distributing a portion of mixed liquor flowing from said one channel into said inlet means across an interior width of said vessel and for arresting the flow velocity of said portion of mixed liquor in said vessel.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 19 wherein said means for distributing and arresting comprises a pair of apertured spaced baffle plates extending laterally across said vessel downstream of said inlet gates and wall means extending between an outer wall of said bow and one of said baffles for forming a pair of feed chambers, one of said chambers directing flow from one of said gates along one downstream side of said vessel on one side of said first partition and the other chamber directing flow from the other of said gates along the other downstream side of said vessel on the other side of said first partition.

Claim 23

A combined orbital ditch and intraclarifier wherein said ditch comprises a pair of parallel vertical side walls; a ditch floor; a spaced vertical central partition between said sidewalls; and end walls; said partition having ends spaced from said end walls and forming a circuitous channel pathway between the partition and said sidewalls and end walls, including a pair of parallel flow channels; means for propelling a mixed liquor around said channel pathway and through said flow channels; and a longitudinally extending clarifier vessel of finite width positioned on a notch in a longitudinal length of said partition and spaced from said partition ends; wherein said clarifier vessel extends laterally from said partition into each of said flow channels to a position spaced from said parallel vertical sidewalls and wherein said clarifier vessel has a bottom located above the ditch floor; and wherein said clarifier vessel includes inlet means at one end for introduction of a portion of said mixed liquor in said flow channels into said clarifier vessel; a longitudinally extending settling zone; means for removing clarified liquid from said clarifier vessel; and means for removing settled sludge from said clarifier vessel and for flowing said settled sludge into said flow channels under said clarifier vessel.

Claim 24

A combined orbital ditch and intraclarifier wherein said ditch comprises a pair of parallel vertical side walls; a ditch floor; a spaced vertical central partition between said sidewalls; and end walls; said partition having ends spaced from said end walls and forming a circuitous channel pathway between the partition and said sidewalls and end walls, including a pair of parallel flow channels; means for propelling a mixed liquor around said channel pathway and through said flow channels; and a longitudinally extending clarifier vessel of finite width positioned on a notch in a longitudinal length of said partition and spaced from said partition ends; wherein said clarifier vessel extends laterally from said partition into each of said flow channels to a position spaced from said parallel vertical sidewalls and wherein said clarifier vessel has a bottom located above the ditch floor; and wherein said clarifier vessel includes inlet means at one end for introduction of a portion of said mixed liquor in said flow channels into said clarifier vessel; a longitudinally extending settling zone; means for removing clarified liquid from said clarifier vessel; and means for removing settled sludge from said clarifier vessel and for flowing said settled sludge into said flow channels under said clarifier vessel.

Claim 25

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 21 wherein said inlet means is positioned in one of said channels facing into the propelled flow in said one channel.

Claim 26

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 22 in which said inlet means comprises at least one gate positioned in a bow of said clarifier vessel and positioned below a top level of mixed liquor flowing in said one channel past said bow.

Claim 27

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 23 in which said inlet means comprises a pair of horizontally aligned inlet gates, and further comprising means in said bow for distributing a portion of mixed liquor flowing from said one channel into said inlet means across an interior width of said clarifier vessel and for arresting the flow rate of said portion of mixed liquor in said clarifier vessel.

Claim 28

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 24 wherein said means for distributing and arresting comprises a pair of apertured spaced baffle plates extending laterally across said clarifier vessel downstream of said inlet gates and wall means extending between an outer wall of said bow and one of said baffles forming a pair of feed chambers, one of said chambers directing flow from one of said gates along one downstream longitudinal side of said clarifier vessel on one side of said partition and the other chamber directing flow from the other one of said gates along the other downstream side of said clarifier vessel on the other side of said partition.

Claim 29

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 21 where said clarifier vessel includes a bow section extending into one of said channels, said bow section having an inlet for receiving a portion of mixed liquor flowing toward said inlet; and wherein said portion flows through said clarifier vessel interior co-currently with remaining portions of mixed liquor flowing in said one of said channels past said inlet.

Claim 30

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 26 in which said inlet comprises at least one gate extending across said bow below the surface level of said mixed liquor in said one of said channels.

Claim 31

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 21 in which said clarifier vessel extends from about 30% to 90% of the longitudinal length of said partition.

Claim 32

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 21 wherein said clarifier vessel extends cantilevered from said partition into each of said channels and said clarifier vessel has a top width from about 40% to 60% of the total width of said pair of channels.

Claim 33

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 21 wherein said clarifier vessel includes inwardly-inclined longitudinal sidewalls extending downwardly from adjacent a top longitudinal edge of said clarifier vessel to a bottom of said clarifier vessel, and said means for removing settled sludge being positioned adjacent an intersection of said inclined walls and said clarifier vessel bottom.

Claim 34

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 21 wherein said clarifier vessel includes a truss means extending from said partition to opposed outside longitudinal walls forming sides of said clarifier vessel for supporting said clarifier vessel.

Claim 35

The orbital ditch and intraclarifier of claim 31 in which said partition is notched to form a series of vertical spaced pylons, said truss means being connected to said pylons and wherein a transverse passage is formed between said pylons to permit freedom of flow between longitudinal halves of said clarifier vessel.

Claim 36

In combination an orbital ditch comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls spacedly separated by an upstanding first partition forming a pair of channels; means in said ditch for propelling a mixed liquor circuitously through said orbital ditch; means for forming an elongated top-facing notch in said first partition; a clarifier vessel for separation of sludge and effluent in said mixed liquor and positioned in said notch, said clarifier vessel having a bottom and at least a pair of vessel sidewalls forming a vessel interior; wherein said vessel sidewalls form a second partition offset from said first partition, said second partition and said bottom separating said vessel interior from said pair of channels; inlet means in said vessel for introduction of a portion of the mixed liquor into said vessel; means adjacent to said vessel bottom for returning settled sludge in said vessel to at least one of said channels; means adjacent a top of said vessel to remove clarified liquid from said vessel; wherein said inlet means is positioned in one of said channels facing into the propelled flow in said one channel; said inlet means comprising a pair of horizontally aligned inlet gates positioned in a bow of said vessel and positioned below a top level of mixed liquor flowing in said one channel past said bow; and wherein said inlet means further comprises means in said bow for distributing a portion of mixed liquor flowing from said one channel into said inlet means across an interior width of said vessel and for arresting the flow velocity of said portion of mixed liquor in said vessel.

Claim 37

In combination an orbital ditch comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls spacedly separated by an upstanding first partition forming a pair of channels; means in said ditch for propelling a mixed liquor circuitously through said orbital ditch; means for forming an elongated top-facing notch in said first partition; a clarifier vessel for separation of sludge and effluent in said mixed liquor and positioned in said notch, said clarifier vessel having a bottom and at least a pair of vessel sidewalls forming a vessel interior; wherein said vessel sidewalls form a second partition offset from said first partition, said second partition and said bottom separating said vessel interior from said pair of channels; inlet means in said vessel for introduction of a portion of the mixed liquor into said vessel; means adjacent to said vessel bottom for returning settled sludge in said vessel to at least one of said channels; means adjacent a top of said vessel to remove clarified liquid from said vessel; wherein said inlet means is positioned in one of said channels facing into the propelled flow in said one channel; said inlet means comprising a pair of horizontally aligned inlet gates positioned in a bow of said vessel and positioned below a top level of mixed liquor flowing in said one channel past said bow; and wherein said inlet means further comprises means in said bow for distributing a portion of mixed liquor flowing from said one channel into said inlet means across an interior width of said vessel and for arresting the flow velocity of said portion of mixed liquor in said vessel.

Claim 38

The combination of claim 33 wherein said means for distributing and arresting comprises a pair of apertured spaced baffle plates extending laterally across said vessel downstream of said inlet gates and wall means extending between an outer wall of said bow and one of said baffles for forming a pair of feed chambers, one of said chambers directing flow from one of said gates along one downstream side of said vessel on one side of said first partition and the other chamber directing flow from the other of said gates along the other downstream side of said vessel on the other side of said first partition.

Claim 39

A combined orbital ditch and intraclarifier wherein said ditch comprises a pair of parallel vertical side walls; a ditch floor; a spaced vertical central partition between said sidewalls; and end walls; said partition having ends spaced from said end walls and forming a circuitous channel pathway between the partition and said sidewalls and end walls, including a pair of parallel flow channels; means for propelling a mixed liquor around said channel pathway and through said flow channels; and a longitudinally extending clarifier vessel of finite width positioned on a longitudinal length of said partition and spaced from said partition ends; wherein said clarifier vessel extends laterally from said partition into each of said flow channels to a position spaced from said parallel vertical sidewalls and above the ditch floor; wherein said clarifier vessel includes inlet means at one end for introduction of a portion of said mixed liquor in said flow channels into said clarifier vessel; a longitudinally extending settling zone; means for removing clarified liquid from said clarifier vessel; and means for removing settled sludge from said clarifier vessel and for flowing said settled sludge into said flow channels under said clarifier vessel; wherein said inlet means is positioned in one of said channels facing into the propelled flow in said one channel; in which said inlet means comprises a pair of horizontally aligned inlet gates positioned in a bow of said clarifier vessel and positioned below a top level of mixed liquor flowing in said one channel past said bow; and in which said inlet means further comprises means in said bow for distributing a portion of mixed liquor flowing from said one channel into said inlet means across an interior width of said clarifier vessel and for arresting the flow rate of said portion of mixed liquor in said clarifier vessel.

Claim 40

A combined orbital ditch and intraclarifier wherein said ditch comprises a pair of parallel vertical side walls; a ditch floor; a spaced vertical central partition between said sidewalls; and end walls; said partition having ends spaced from said end walls and forming a circuitous channel pathway between the partition and said sidewalls and end walls, including a pair of parallel flow channels; means for propelling a mixed liquor around said channel pathway and through said flow channels; and a longitudinally extending clarifier vessel of finite width positioned on a longitudinal length of said partition and spaced from said partition ends; wherein said clarifier vessel extends laterally from said partition into each of said flow channels to a position spaced from said parallel vertical sidewalls and above the ditch floor; wherein said clarifier vessel includes inlet means at one end for introduction of a portion of said mixed liquor in said flow channels into said clarifier vessel; a longitudinally extending settling zone; means for removing clarified liquid from said clarifier vessel; and means for removing settled sludge from said clarifier vessel and for flowing said settled sludge into said flow channels under said clarifier vessel; wherein said inlet means is positioned in one of said channels facing into the propelled flow in said one channel; in which said inlet means comprises a pair of horizontally aligned inlet gates positioned in a bow of said clarifier vessel and positioned below a top level of mixed liquor flowing in said one channel past said bow; and in which said inlet means further comprises means in said bow for distributing a portion of mixed liquor flowing from said one channel into said inlet means across an interior width of said clarifier vessel and for arresting the flow rate of said portion of mixed liquor in said clarifier vessel.

Claim 41

The orbital ditch of claim 35 wherein said means for distributing and arresting comprises a pair of apertured spaced baffle plates extending laterally across said clarifier vessel downstream of said inlet gates and wall means extending between an outer wall of said bow and one of said baffles forming a pair of feed chambers, one of said chambers directing flow from one of said gates along one downstream longitudinal side of said clarifier vessel on one side of said partition and the other chamber directing flow from the other one of said gates along the other downstream side of said clarifier vessel on the other side of said partition.