US5736047A — Hybrid biological nutrient removal system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A process for the removal of biological nutrients from wastewater, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing; (i) an activated sludge system comprising a single-sludge reactor and a clarifier unit, the clarifier unit comprising both a settling zone and a clarification zone, and (ii) an aquaculture pond, comprising floating aquatic plants, flowably connected with the activated sludge system; (b) treating wastewater in the single-sludge reactor to produce a mixed liquor, (c) transferring the mixed liquor to the clarifier unit and operating the clarifier unit to settle a sludge fraction in order to obtain a clarified supernatant fraction, (d) transferring clarified supernatant to the aquaculture pond, and (e) incubating the pond under conditions suitable to provide a further reduction in contaminants from the clarified supernatant, wherein flow within the clarifier unit can be interrupted in order to decant supernatant.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 139 words

A process for the removal of biological nutrients from wastewater, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing; (i) an activated sludge system comprising a single-sludge reactor and a clarifier unit, the clarifier unit comprising both a settling zone and a clarification zone, and (ii) an aquaculture pond, comprising floating aquatic plants, flowably connected with the activated sludge system; (b) treating wastewater in the single-sludge reactor to produce a mixed liquor, (c) transferring the mixed liquor to the clarifier unit and operating the clarifier unit to settle a sludge fraction in order to obtain a clarified supernatant fraction, (d) transferring clarified supernatant to the aquaculture pond, and (e) incubating the pond under conditions suitable to provide a further reduction in contaminants from the clarified supernatant, wherein flow within the clarifier unit can be interrupted in order to decant supernatant.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the single sludge reactor is selected from the group consisting of multistage, multiphase/cyclical aeration, oxidation ditches, and sequencing batch reactor systems.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the single sludge reactor comprises a multistage system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A process according to claim 3 wherein the multistage system is a pond-based system positioned in apposition to the aquaculture pond.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A process according to claim 4 wherein the activated sludge system and aquaculture pond are provided as an integral unit formed within a single overall pond geometry employing a continuous outer wall.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the floating aquatic plants comprise duckweed plants.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

A process according to claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (a) dividing the settled sludge into waste and return portions, (b) transferring the return portion of the sludge to one or more points in the single-sludge reactor, and (c) transferring the waste portion of the sludge to a sludge stabilization lagoon.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the activated sludge system and aquaculture pond are provided as an integral unit formed within a single overall pond geometry employing a continuous outer wall having a slope defined by an earthen contour.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A process according to claim 8 wherein the outer wall defines a circumference containing the activated sludge system and aquaculture pond.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the single-sludge reactor, clarifier unit, and aquaculture pond are each provided in discrete form, separated by impermeable walls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 68 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the activated sludge system is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a process in which an anoxic zone is interposed between an anaerobic zone and an aerobic zone; (b) a process employing a sequence of three zones and a recycle of mixed liquor to the anoxic cell; and (c) a process employing multiple, complete mix zones to enhance phosphorus uptake.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the clarifier unit comprises in sequence, an inlet chamber, a settling zone, and a clarification zone.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

A process according to claim 1 wherein the process comprises the further step of distributing waste activated sludge to a sludge stabilization lagoon in the form of a second aquaculture pond.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 117 words

A process for the removal of biological nutrients from wastewater, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pond-based activated sludge system comprising a single-sludge reactor and a clarifier unit, and an aquaculture pond, comprising floating aquatic plants, positioned in apposition to, and flowably connected with, the activated sludge system, (b) treating wastewater in the single-sludge factor to produce a mixed liquor, (c) transferring the mixed liquor to the clarifier unit and operating the clarifier unit to settle a sludge fraction in order to obtain a clarified supernatant fraction, (d) transferring clarified supernatant to the aquaculture pond, and (e) incubating the pond under conditions suitable to provide a further reduction in contaminants from the clarified supernatant.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 117 words

A process for the removal of biological nutrients from wastewater, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pond-based activated sludge system comprising a single-sludge reactor and a clarifier unit, and an aquaculture pond, comprising floating aquatic plants, positioned in apposition to, and flowably connected with, the activated sludge system, (b) treating wastewater in the single-sludge factor to produce a mixed liquor, (c) transferring the mixed liquor to the clarifier unit and operating the clarifier unit to settle a sludge fraction in order to obtain a clarified supernatant fraction, (d) transferring clarified supernatant to the aquaculture pond, and (e) incubating the pond under conditions suitable to provide a further reduction in contaminants from the clarified supernatant.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 52 words

A process according to claim 14 comprising the further steps of: (a) dividing the settled sludge into waste and return portions, (b) transferring the return portion of the sludge to one or more points in the single-sludge reactor, and (c) transferring the waste portion of the sludge to a sludge stabilization lagoon.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the activated sludge system and aquaculture pond are provided as an integral unit formed within a single overall pond geometry employing a continuous outer wall having a slope defined by an earthen contour.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

A process according to claim 16 wherein the outer wall defines a circumference containing the activated sludge and aquaculture components.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the single-sludge reactor, clarifier unit, and aquaculture pond are each provided in discrete form, separated by impermeable walls.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 68 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the activated sludge process is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a process in which an anoxic zone is interposed between an anaerobic zone and an aerobic zone; (b) a process employing a sequence of three zones and a recycle of mixed liquor to the anoxic cell; and (c) a process employing multiple, complete mix zones to enhance phosphorus uptake.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the clarifier unit comprises in sequence, an inlet chamber, a settling zone, and a clarification zone.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the process comprises the further step of distributing waste activated sludge to a sludge stabilization lagoon in the form of a second aquaculture pond.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the floating aquatic plants comprise duckweed plants.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

A process according to claim 14 wherein the single sludge reactor is selected from the group consisting of multistage, multiphase/cyclical aeration, oxidation ditches, and sequencing batch reactor systems.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

A process according to claim 23 wherein the single sludge reactor comprises a multistage system.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

A process according to claim 24 wherein the multistage system is a pond-based system positioned in apposition to the aquaculture pond.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 32 words

A process according to claim 25 wherein the activated sludge system and aquaculture pond are provided as an integral unit formed within a single overall pond geometry employing a continuous outer wall.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 108 words

A hybrid system for the removal of biological nutrients from wastewater, the hybrid system comprising: (a) a pond-based activated sludge system comprising; (i) an activated sludge reactor for initial biological oxidation of organic matter to produce a mixed liquor, and (ii) a clarifier unit flowably connected to the activated sludge reactor for the separation of clarified supernatant and settled sludge from the mixed liquor, and (b) an aquaculture pond, comprising floating aquatic plants, flowably connected to the clarifier unit for providing a further reduction in organic matter and suspended solids from the clarified supernatant, wherein flow within the clarifier unit can be interrupted in order to decant supernatant.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 108 words

A hybrid system for the removal of biological nutrients from wastewater, the hybrid system comprising: (a) a pond-based activated sludge system comprising; (i) an activated sludge reactor for initial biological oxidation of organic matter to produce a mixed liquor, and (ii) a clarifier unit flowably connected to the activated sludge reactor for the separation of clarified supernatant and settled sludge from the mixed liquor, and (b) an aquaculture pond, comprising floating aquatic plants, flowably connected to the clarifier unit for providing a further reduction in organic matter and suspended solids from the clarified supernatant, wherein flow within the clarifier unit can be interrupted in order to decant supernatant.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

A hybrid system according to claim 27 wherein the single-sludge reactor comprises a continuous flow, multistage activated sludge reactor, and the clarifier unit comprises an inlet chamber, settling zone, and final clarification zone.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 41 words

A hybrid system according to claim 27 wherein the activated sludge and aquaculture components are provided as an integral unit formed within a single overall pond geometry employing a continuous outer wall having a slope defined by the surrounding earthen contour.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

A process according to claim 29 wherein the outer wall defines a circumference containing the activated sludge and aquaculture components.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 26 words

A hybrid system according to claim 27 wherein the single-sludge reactor, clarifier unit, and aquaculture pond are each provided in discrete form, separated by impermeable walls.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

A hybrid system according to claim 27 further comprising a second aquaculture pond useful as a sludge stabilization lagoon for a waste portion of the settled sludge.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system according to claim 27 wherein the floating aquatic plants comprise duckweed plants.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system according to claim 33 wherein the aquaculture pond is positioned in apposition to the activated sludge system.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 25 words

A system according to claim 33 wherein the single-sludge reactor, clarifier unit, and aquaculture pond are each provided in discrete form, separated by impermeable walls.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 51 words

A system according to claim 27 further comprising means for: (a) dividing the settled sludge into waste and return portions, (b) transferring the return portion of the sludge to one or more points in the single-sludge reactor, and (c) transferring the waste portion of the sludge to a sludge stabilization lagoon.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system according to claim 27 wherein the activated sludge system and aquaculture pond are provided as an integral unit formed within a single overall pond geometry employing a continuous outer wall having a slope defined by an earthen contour.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system according to claim 37 wherein the outer wall defines a circumference containing the activated sludge and aquaculture components.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 68 words

A system according to claim 27 wherein the activated sludge system is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a process in which an anoxic zone is interposed between an anaerobic zone and an aerobic zone; (b) a process employing a sequence of three zones and a recycle of mixed liquor to the anoxic cell; and (c) a process employing multiple, complete mix zones to enhance phosphorus uptake.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system according to claim 27 wherein the clarifier unit comprises in sequence, an inlet chamber, a settling zone, and a clarification zone.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system according to claim 27 wherein the process comprises means for distributing waste activated sludge to a sludge stabilization lagoon in the form of a second aquaculture pond.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-06	2001-10-06	2002-04-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-06	2005-10-06	2006-04-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-06	2009-10-06	2010-04-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hybrid biological nutrient removal system

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