Method and basin for sedimentation of sludge in waste water

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge containing waste water has a velocity of 30 to 50 meters per minute while forced to change direction, and has a velocity of between 0.25 and 10 meters per minute along the circular path in the basin.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the sludge containing waste water has a velocity of between 2 and 6 meters per minute along the circular path in the basin.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is forced to abruptly change direction at least three times.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 which further comprises providing the basin with a sloped bottom which terminates in a sludge pit which collects sludge flocs; and removing the sludge from the sludge pit.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the circular flow path of the waste water in the basin is along the sloped bottom and towards the sludge pit to assist in directing the sludge flocs toward the sludge pit.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the bottom is sloped upwardly from the inlet to the outlet.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein the waste-water is forced to change direction at least three times before entering the basin and the sludge depleted water moves along towards an outlet after entering the basin such that the surface current flows in an opposite direction to that of the sludge flocs along the sloped bottom of the basin.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein the water velocity decreases with each subsequent abrupt change in direction.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6 which further comprises scraping the sludge flocs along the bottom of the basin toward the sludge pit.

Claim 12

A sedimentation tank for removing sludge from waste water by flocculation, which comprises: a) an inlet containing a plurality of baffles for forcing a flow of sludge containing waste water to abruptly change direction a number of times in succession to form whirls that create an optimum velocity for formation of sludge flocs; b) a basin for receiving waste water flow from the inlet at a decreased flow rate which is sufficient to form whirls and to form sludge flocs along a circular flow path in the basin to facilitate sedimentation of the sludge flocs for collection and removal at a lower portion of the basin and movement of sludge depleted water away from the sludge flocs toward an upper portion of the basin for removal; c) an outlet in the upper portion of the basin for removing sludge-depleted water; and d) a sludge pit in the lower portion of the basin for removing sludge flocs.

Claim 13

A sedimentation tank for removing sludge from waste water by flocculation, which comprises: a) an inlet containing a plurality of baffles for forcing a flow of sludge containing waste water to abruptly change direction a number of times in succession to form whirls that create an optimum velocity for formation of sludge flocs; b) a basin for receiving waste water flow from the inlet at a decreased flow rate which is sufficient to form whirls and to form sludge flocs along a circular flow path in the basin to facilitate sedimentation of the sludge flocs for collection and removal at a lower portion of the basin and movement of sludge depleted water away from the sludge flocs toward an upper portion of the basin for removal; c) an outlet in the upper portion of the basin for removing sludge-depleted water; and d) a sludge pit in the lower portion of the basin for removing sludge flocs.

Claim 14

The tank of claim 11 wherein the inlet includes at least three baffles arranged in spaced relation with each baffle having a free edge overlapping the free edge of an adjacent baffle, with the inlet having a cross-section which is relatively smaller where the waste-water enters and is relatively larger where the waste-water enters the basin.

Claim 15

The tank of claim 11 having a sloped bottom which terminates in the sludge pit.

Claim 16

The tank of claim 13 adapted so that the circular flow path of the waste water in the basin is along the sloped bottom and towards the sludge pit to assist in directing the sludge flocs toward the sludge pit.

Claim 17

The tank of claim 14 wherein the bottom is sloped upwardly from the inlet to the outlet.

Claim 18

The tank of claim 13 which further comprises a scraper for scraping the sludge flocs along the bottom of the basin toward the sludge pit.

Claim 19

The tank of claim 11 wherein the cross section of the inlet is adapted so that the sludge containing waste-water has a velocity of 30 to 50 meters per minute while forced to change direction, and wherein the cross section of the basin is adapted so that waste-water has a velocity of between 0.25 and 10 meters per minute along the circular path in the basin.

Claim 20

The tank of claim 11 wherein the number of baffles is sufficient so that waste-water is forced to abruptly change direction at least three times.

Claim 21

The tank of claim 11 adapted so that waste-water is forced to change direction at least three times before entering the basin and the sludge depleted water moves along towards an outlet after entering the basin such that the surface current flows in an opposite direction to that of the sludge flocs along the sloped bottom of the basin.