BIOFILTER WITH SHAPED UNDERDRAIN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

An improved biofilter design and related methods of utilizing shaped drain assemblies for directing fluid flow though a biofilter media to promote biological interaction. A shaped drain assembly can include a plurality of elongated drain structures having a permeable upper surface, a. lower surface and a drain interior defining a drain cross-section. When configured as a shaped underdrain assembly, each elongated drain structures can be in proximity to a biofilter tank floor such that the lower surface is in fluid communication with one or more flow channels below the floor and with the permeable upper surface supporting the biofilter media. The biofilter can include a shaped drain assembly positioned above the shaped underdrain assembly and located within or above the biofilter media. The shaped drain assemblies can control the flow and mixing of two or more flow species into the biofilter media.

Claims

1. A biofilter system, comprising: a tank defining a floor surface; a media bed; one or more flow channels defined below the floor surface; and a shaped underdrain assembly including a plurality of elongated underdrain structures positioned on the tank floor, each elongated underdrain structure being ire fluid communication with the one or more flow channels, each elongated underdrain structure having a permeable upper surface, a lower surface and an underdrain interior so as to define an underdrain cross-section, wherein the permeable upper surface supports the media bed.

2. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein each elongated underdrain structure includes one or more fluid connections for providing fluid flow into the underdrain interior.

3. The biofilter system of claim 2, wherein the one or more fluid connections are located in one or more of an underdrain end, the lower surface and/or the permeable upper surface.

4. The biofilter system of claim 3, wherein the one or more fluid connections include a flow control mechanism selected from one or more of a flow orifice and a flow control valve.

5. The biofilter system of claim 3, wherein the one or more fluid connections provides two or more flow species into the underdrain interior.

6. The biofilter system of claim 5, Wherein a flow interface is mounted within the underdrain interior, the flow interface allowing the two or more flow species to flow through the permeable upper surface.

7. The biofilter system of claim 6, wherein the flow interface includes one or more of a flow orifice or a flow valve.

8. The biofilter system of claim 2, wherein the one or more fluid connections allow for inflow and outflow of one or more fluid streams, wherein the one or more fluid steams include one or more of a process influent stream, a process effluent stream, an aeration inflow stream, an aeration outflow stream and/or a process additive inflow stream.

9. The biofilter system of claim 1, further comprising: an upper shaped drain assembly including a plurality of elongated upper drain structures positioned above the shaped underdrain assembly, the upper drain structures having a permeable upper drain surface, an upper drain lower surface and an upper drain terior defining an upper drain cross-section.

10. The biofilter system of claim 9, wherein the permeable upper drain surface is positioned to face the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

11. The biofilter system of claim 9, wherein the permeable upper drain surface is positioned to face away from the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

12. The biofilter system of claim 9, wherein the upper shaped drain assembly is positioned within the media bed.

13. The biofilter system of claim 9, wherein the upper shaped drain assembly is positioned above the media bed.

14. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein the permeable upper surface comprises a slotted screen.

15. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a semi-circular section.

16. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a rectangular or square cross-section.

17. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a triangular cross-section.

18. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a hexagonal cross-section.

19. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein the permeable upper surface comprises a surface coating selected to inhibit biological growth on the permeable upper surface.

20. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein a high flow species and a low flow species are directed through the permeable upper surface in a shared direction.

21. The biofilter system of claim 1, wherein a high flow species and a low flow species are directed through the permeable upper surface in opposed directions.

22. A biofilter system, comprising: a tank defining a floor surface; a media bed; and at least one shaped drain assembly including a plurality of elongated drain structures, each elongated drain structure having a permeable surface, an opposed surface and a drain interior so as to define a drain cross-section, and wherein each elongated drain structure includes a flow interface positioned within the drain interior, the flow interface including one or more flow control features to provide desirable flow requirements through each elongated drain structure.

23. The biofilter system of claim 22, further comprising: one or more flow channels defined below the floor surface, Wherein the at least one shaped drain assembly comprises an underdrain assembly upon which the media bed is supported, the underdrain assembly being in fluid communication with the one or more flow channels.

24. The biofilter system of claim 22, wherein the at least one shaped drain assembly is located above the floor surface and within the media bed.

25. The biofilter system of claim 22, wherein the at least one shaped drain assembly is located above the floor surface and above the media bed.

26. A method for promoting biological treatment in a biofilter, comprising: positioning a shaped underdrain assembly in a floor of a biofilter tank, the floor defining one or more flow channels and wherein the shaped underdrain assembly includes a plurality of elongated underdrain structures, each elongated underdrain structure having a permeable upper surface, a lower surface and an underdrain interior so as to define an underdrain cross-section, and wherein each lower surface is in fluid communication with at least one of the flow channels; supporting a media bed on the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure; and directing fluid flow through the permeable upper surface to promote biological interaction in the media bed.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of directing the fluid flow through the permeable upper surface comprises: directing a first flow species through the permeable upper surface; and directing a second flow species through the permeable upper surface.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first flow species and the second flow species flow in a shared direction through the permeable upper surface.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first flow species and the second flow species flow in an opposed direction through the permeable upper surface.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of directing the fluid flow through the permeable upper surface comprises: mixing a first flow species and a second flow species within the underdrain interior-prior to directing a mixed flow stream through the permeable upper surface and into the media bed.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising: positioning an upper shaped drain assembly in the biofilter tank, the upper shaped drain assembly located above the shaped underdrain assembly, the upper shaped drain assembly including a plurality of elongated upper drain structures, each elongated upper drain structure including an upper drain permeable surface, an upper drain lower surface and an upper drain interior defining an upper drain cross-section.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the upper drain permeable surface is positioned to face the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the upper drain permeable surface is positioned to face away from the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of positioning the upper shaped drain assembly further comprises: positioning the upper shaped drain assembly above the media bed.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of positioning the upper shaped drain assembly further comprises: positioning the upper shaped drain assembly within the media bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

[0011] FIG. 1A is a partially hidden, perspective view of a biofilter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1B is a partial section view of the biofilter system of FIG. 1A.

[0013] FIG. 1C is an enlarged section view taken at Detail A of FIG. 1B.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a section view of the biofilter system of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective, end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3A is an end view of the shaped underdrain of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective, section view of the shaped underdrain of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flume plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a side view of a slotted screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 7A is a section view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 7B is a section view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 7C is a section view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 71) is a section view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 7E is a section view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7F is a section view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3B is a schematic side view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 9A is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 9B is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 9C is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a biofilter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 11A is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 11B is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 11C is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a biofilter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 13A is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain and an upper shaped underdrain assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 13B is a schematic end view of a shaped underdrain an upper shaped underdrain assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 14A is a schematic view of a biofilter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 14B is a schematic view of a biofilter system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 15A is a schematic view of an underdrain assembly for mixing multiple flow species according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 15B is a schematic view of an underdrain assembly for mixing multiple flow species according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 15C is a schematic view of an underdrain assembly for mixing multiple flow species according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 15D is a schematic view of an underdrain assembly for mixing multiple flow species according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 15E is a schematic view of an underdrain assembly for mixing multiple flow species according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 15F is a schematic view of an underdrain assembly for mixing multiple flow species according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 2, a representative biofilter system 100 of the present invention can comprise a tank 102, a media bed 104 and a shaped underdrain assembly 106. Tank 102 can be a wide variety of sizes including smaller sizes appropriate for portable system as well as larger sizes for municipal or large process applications. Generally, tank 102 comprises a plurality of walls 108 and a floor 110. Floor 110 generally defines one or more channels 112. Media bed 104 generally comprises a treatment media 114 that is selected to promote biological growth. Treatment media 114 is generally selected to have a high surface area so as to encourage bacteria to interact with organic elements within an influent stream. Representative treatment media 114 can comprise granular media, floating media and/or structural fill. Representative examples of granular media include activated carbon, Biolite, Filtralite and sand. Representative examples of floating media include polystyrene and/or polyethylene beads. Typically, the size of the tank 102 and the depth of media bed 104 are selected to provide a desired residence time for the necessary biological interaction to occur.

[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 3A, 4 and 5, shaped underdrain assembly 106 generally comprises a plurality of individual shaped underdrains 120 that define elongated structures 121 that are each fluidly connected to a corresponding channel 112 within or below floor 110 such that the shaped underdrains 120 extend across the tank 102. Generally, each shaped underdrain 120 can comprise an upper drain portion 122 that sits above the floor 110. In some embodiments, a lower drain portion or flume plate 123 can physically reside within the channel 112. Upper drain portion 122 generally includes a fluid permeable upper support surface 124 that is in contact with and supports the media bed 104 and a lower support floor or surface 125, wherein a drain interior 127 is defined between the permeable upper support surface 124 and the lower support floor 125. In one presently preferred embodiment, permeable upper support surface 124 can comprise a slotted screen 126 formed by mounting shaped-wire elements 128 to support members 130 such that adjacent shaped-wire elements reside in parallel arrangement and define slots 132 there between as shown in FIG. 6. Representative examples of shaped-wire elements 128 can comprise wedge or Vee-wire® elements having a vee-shaped or triangular cross-section 130. Support floor 125 generally comprises a plurality of spaced apart floor apertures 132 that can be fluidly connected to the flume plate 123. Shaped underdrains 120 can be constructed and fabricated similar to those disclosed in US Patent Publication 2019/0218764, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0049] Depending upon the process characteristics, shaped underdrains 120 and the various components making up the shaped underdrains 120 can be metallic materials such as, for example, stainless steel and copper alloys, polymeric materials such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations of metallic and polymeric materials thereof. In addition, it may be advantage to utilize surface coatings or treatments on the upper support surface, for example, copper coatings that seek to prevent or reduce biological growth on the upper support surface 124 so as to reduce fouling of the slotted screen 126 that would require frequent maintenance and/or increased backwash cycles.

[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E and 7F, upper drain portion 122 can generally define a cross-sectional shape 140 that can be selected and optimized based on process characteristics of specific installations. For example, cross-sectional shape 140 can be selected based on variables including flow rates, residence times, organic loading and organic type in the influent process water, flow direction, number of distinct flow streams, desired flow mixing and the like. Representative cross-sectional shapes 140 can comprise a semi-circular or hemispherical section 140a, a quadrilateral, for example, a rectangular or square section 140b, a circular section 140c, a triangular section 140d, a trapezoidal section 140e, a hexagonal shape 140f and combinations thereof. As seen in FIGS. 7A-7F, each of the illustrated cross-sectional shapes 140 can include a flow interface 142 allowing for multiple flow species to flow through the upper drain portion 122. Flow interface 142 can define distinct flow channels within the upper drain portion 122 and can further comprise utilize flow orifices and similar flow control features to allow different flow species to mix within the upper drain portion 122 as desired by process requirements.

[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 813, the shaped underdrains 120 can include one or more fluid connections 150 at one or more ends 152a, 152b of the elongated structure 121, in the floor 110 and/or in the upper support surface 124. Fluid connections 120 can allow for inflow and outflow of various liquid and gas flow streams and species including, for example, a process influent stream, a process effluent stream, an aeration inflow stream, an aeration outflow stream, a process additive inflow stream and combinations thereof. The fluid connections 120 can include a flow control mechanism 154, for example, flow orifices, flow control valves and the like to control flow characteristics into and out of the shaped underdrains 120 to maintain desirable interface conditions within the shaped underdrains 120 and the tank 102.

[0052] As seen in FIGS. 9A, 913, 9C and 10, the shaped underdrain 120 can be configured with flow interfaces 142 such that the process flow streams, for example, two or more of the process influent streams, the process effluent stream, the aeration inflow stream, the aeration outflow stream, the process additive inflow stream and any other flow stream appropriate for encouraging biological treatment in the tank 102 can interact with the shaped underdrain 120 in a single flow direction. For example, shaped underdrain 120 can include single direction flow designs 160 in which a high flow species 162 and a low flow species 164 can be directed through the upper support surface 124 to optimize process conditions within tank 102. In addition, additional flow streams, for example, a third flow species 166 can be directed through the permeable upper support surface 124 through the use of internal flow controls, for example, orifices or flow control valves, to promote stratified flow through the shaped underdrain 120.

[0053] Alternatively, the shaped underdrain 120 can be configured with flow interfaces 142 such that process flow streams, for example, two or more of the process influent stream, the process effluent stream, the aeration inflow stream, the aeration outflow stream, the process additive inflow stream and any other flow stream appropriate for encouraging biological treatment in the tank 102 can interact with the shaped underdrain. 120 in dual flow directions as shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 12. For example, shaped underdrain 120 can include dual flow designs 170 in which the high flow species 162 and the low flow species 164 can be directed through the upper support surface 124 in opposite flow directions to optimize process conditions within tank 102. In addition, additional flow streams, for example, the third flow species 1166 can be directed through the upper support surface 124 in the same or different direction as high flow species 162 and low flow species 164.

[0054] In another alternative arrangement shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A and 14B, biofilter system 100 can comprise an upper shaped drain assembly ISO that can be mounted in tank 102 above floor 110. In some embodiments, the upper shaped drain assembly 180 can reside above the previously described underdrain assembly 106. In some embodiments, the upper shaped drain assembly 180 can be mounted above or within the media bed 104 in order to provide advantageous biological conditions for the treatment media 112. Generally, the upper shaped drain assembly 180 can comprise a plurality of upper shaped drains 182. Upper shaped drains 182 can substantially resemble the construction and arrangement of shaped underdrains 120 with the exception of their physical location relative to floor 110. As illustrated, upper shaped drains 182 can be configured such that process flow streams, for example, two or more of the process influent stream, the process effluent stream, the aeration inflow stream, the aeration outflow stream, the process additive inflow stream and any other flow stream appropriate for encouraging biological treatment in the tank 102 can interact with the upper shaped drain 182 in a single flow direction. For example, upper shaped underdrain 182 can include a single flow design 184 in which the high flow species 162 and the low flow species 164 can be directed in the same flow direction to optimize process conditions within tank 102. Alternatively, the shaped underdrain 120 and the upper shaped underdrain 182 can each include a single but opposite flow design 186 in which the high flow species 162 and the low flow species 164 flow in opposite directions between the shaped underdrain 120 and the upper shaped underdrain 182 to optimize process conditions within tank 102. Finally, some embodiments of biofilter system 100 can replace the underdrain assembly 106 with the upper shaped drain assembly 180 as shown in FIG. 14B.

[0055] Finally, the underdrain assembly 106 can be utilized to induce mixing of two or more flow stream species within the shaped underdrain 120 prior to said flow stream species being introduced to the media bed 104. With reference to FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E and 15F, mixing of a first flow species 190, a second flow species 192, a third flow species 194 and additional flow species can be accomplished internally within one or both of the upper drain portion 122 and flume plate 123 prior to directing a mixed flow stream through the permeable upper support surface 124 and into the treatment media 112. By mixing the various flow species prior to introduction to the media bed 104, the full depth of the media bed 104 is available for biological interaction.

[0056] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

[0057] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

[0058] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

[0059] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.