U.S. patent application number 12/900012 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-21 for wastewater treatment process basins.
Invention is credited to Victoria Ann Jelderks, James P. Reilly.
Application Number | 20110089171 12/900012 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43878513 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110089171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reilly; James P. ; et
al. |
April 21, 2011 |
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS BASINS
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention describe wastewater treatment
process basins included in containers consistent with an
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specification
for intermodal containers. Said basin may further include a
corrosion resistant liner coupled to interior portions of each of
the base and side walls of the basin and an inlet/outlet to
receive/output wastewater treatment process material. It is to be
understood that embodiments of the invention may function as
various components and sub-components of a wastewater treatment
processing plant including, but not limited to, equalization tanks,
anoxic basins, aeration basins, anaerobic basins, emergency
overflow basins, aerobic digester basins, membrane bioreactor (MBR)
basins and waste activated sludge storage. Embodiments of the
invention may also be used in military emergency wastewater
management, water storage, satellite treatment facilities, FEMA
emergency water and wastewater management as well as other reusable
water management applications.
Inventors: |
Reilly; James P.; (Portland,
OR) ; Jelderks; Victoria Ann; (Portland, OR) |
Family ID: |
43878513 |
Appl. No.: |
12/900012 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61253586 |
Oct 21, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/62.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 2201/004 20130101;
C02F 3/2866 20130101; Y02W 10/10 20150501; C02F 2203/008 20130101;
C02F 3/02 20130101; C02F 2201/008 20130101; Y02W 10/15 20150501;
C02F 2201/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/62.11 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/40 20060101
B65D001/40 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a container consistent with an
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specification
for intermodal containers; a basin included in the container, the
basin to include a base and a plurality of side walls; a corrosion
resistant liner coupled to interior portions of each of the base
and side walls of the basin; an inlet to receive wastewater
treatment process material into the basin; and an outlet to output
wastewater treatment process material from the basin.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, the basin further comprising a top
opposite the base, the corrosion resistant liner further coupled to
an interior portion of top of the basin.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, the top to include: a first and a
second sidewall extension unit, each side wall extension unit to
increase interior volume of the basin.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, the corrosion resistant liner to
comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet comprises an inflow
pipe.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the inflow pipe comprises a
high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE) pipe extending into the interior
of the basin and from the exterior of the basin and through the
corrosion resistant liner of at least one of the base and side
walls of the basin.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises an
outflow pipe.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the outflow pipe comprises an
HDPE pipe extending from the interior of the basin and to the
exterior of the basin and through the corrosion resistant liner of
at least one of the base and side walls of the basin.
9. A system comprising: a basin including a base and a plurality of
side walls, the basin included in a container consistent with an
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specification
for intermodal containers; a corrosion resistant liner coupled to
interior portions of each of the base and side walls of the basin;
an inlet to receive wastewater treatment process material into the
basin; and an outlet to output wastewater treatment process
material from the basin.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an additional basin
included in an additional container, consistent with the ISO
specification for intermodal containers, to receive the wastewater
treatment process material from the basin of the container.
11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an additional basin
included in an additional container, consistent with the ISO
specification for intermodal containers, to output the wastewater
treatment process material to the basin of the container.
12. The system of claim 9, the basin further comprising a top
opposite the base, the corrosion resistant liner further coupled to
an interior portion of top of the basin.
13. The system of claim 12, the top to include a first and a second
sidewall extension unit, each side wall extension unit to increase
interior volume of the basin.
14. The system of claim 9, the corrosion resistant liner to
comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
15. The system of claim 9, wherein the inlet comprises an inflow
pipe.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the inflow pipe comprises a
high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE) pipe extending into the interior
of the basin and from the exterior of the basin and through the
corrosion resistant liner of at least one of the base and side
walls of the basin.
17. The system of claim 9, wherein the outlet comprises an outflow
pipe.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the outflow pipe comprises an
HDPE pipe extending from the interior of the basin to the exterior
of the basin and through the corrosion resistant liner of at least
one of the base and side walls of the basin.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application
No. 61/253,586 filed Oct. 21, 2009 and entitled WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PROCESS BASINS UTILIZING ISO STANDARD SHIPPING
CONTAINERS, HIGH DENSITY POLYURETHANE AND POLY-VINYL CHLORIDE BASED
LINING.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the invention pertain generally to wastewater
treatment and more particularly to apparatuses and systems
incorporating modular wastewater treatment process basins.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Basins used in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are
typically constructed out of concrete. Concrete based structures
are expensive in terms of the material used and the amount of labor
required for construction. Non-concrete WWTP basins are made of
similarly expensive material, such as stainless steel.
[0004] Current WWTP basins are custom made for their respective
WWTP, and their volume is not scalable. As a result, basins have to
be designed to not only accommodate the respective region's current
demand, but any foreseeable increased demand. This increases the
cost required to construct and maintain the basin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following description includes discussion of figures
having illustrations given by way of example of implementations of
embodiments of the invention. The drawings should be understood by
way of example, and not by way of limitation. As used herein,
references to one or more "embodiments" are to be understood as
describing a particular feature, structure, or characteristic
included in at least one implementation of the invention. Thus,
phrases such as "in one embodiment" or "in an alternate embodiment"
appearing herein describe various embodiments and implementations
of the invention, and do not necessarily all refer to the same
embodiment. However, they are also not necessarily mutually
exclusive.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top-view illustration of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side-view illustration of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is side-view illustration of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a sub-system of a wastewater processing
system utilizing an embodiment of the invention.
[0010] Descriptions of certain details and implementations follow,
including a description of the figures, which may depict some or
all of the embodiments described below, as well as discussing other
potential embodiments or implementations of the inventive concepts
presented herein. An overview of embodiments of the invention is
provided below, followed by a more detailed description with
reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention relate to basins for
wastewater treatment processes. According to embodiments of the
invention, said basins are included in containers consistent with
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications
for intermodal containers (e.g., Technical Specification for Steel
Dry Cargo Container, Spec. No. ITRU-40'-SA, Jun. 12, 2001). Lining
portions of the interior of an ISO container with a corrosion
resistant liner may form a basin to hold wastewater process
material.
[0012] It will be understood, in view of the example embodiments
described below, that embodiments of the invention provide an
inexpensive solution for wastewater treatment basins due to the
reduced costs of materials, ease of transport, and modular
functions of said basins. The portable nature of the steel cargo
container and the thickness of the steel ensure that embodiments of
the invention may withstand extreme weather conditions (hot and
cold) and may be transported without damage.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top-view illustration of an embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment, intermodal container 100 is
consistent with any ISO specification--e.g., container 100 may be a
steel dry cargo container ISO 1 AA type 40'.times.8'.times.8'6'' or
20'.times.8'.times.8'6''. In this embodiment, the interior of
container 100 forms basin 110. In other embodiments, a wastewater
treatment basin may be included in container 100, but said basin's
shape and volume may be independent of the dimensions of container
100.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates container 100 from a "top view," thus
illustrating side walls 120-123 and gravitational bottom (i.e.,
base) 130. It is to be understood that references to "side walls"
and "gravitational bottom" are used simply to distinguish the sides
of the containers of the example embodiment. In other embodiments
of the invention, the orientation of a container including a
wastewater treatment basin may be such that a different side of the
container will be the "gravitational bottom."
[0015] In this embodiment, basin 110 is formed by lining the
interior of container 100 with corrosive resistant liner 150. In
one embodiment, liner 150 is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) liner. It
is to be understood that utilizing an ISO container and PVC
material to construct a wastewater treatment basin significantly
reduces the costs of said basin compared to materials used in the
prior art (e.g., concrete and stainless steel). In one embodiment,
liner 150 may be coupled to steel grommets (such as grommet 151),
which are further fastened to the steel hooks (such as hook 152) on
the inside of container 100. The steel hooks may be welded to the
inside of sidewalls 120-123 at the gravitational top of container
100.
[0016] Container 100 further includes inlet 160 and outlet 170. In
this embodiment, inlet 160 and outlet 170 are two circular holes
cut into container sidewalls 121 and 122, respectively, and the
corresponding portions of liner 150 to accommodate inlet and outlet
pipes 161 and 171. Thus, wastewater will flow in and out of the
basin 100 via pipes 161 and 171. The inlet and outlet pipes may be
secured to sidewalls 121 and 122 of container 100 by welding
flanged L shaped pipe rings (e.g., pipe ring 173) to the interior
and exterior of said container sidewalls.
[0017] It is to be understood that in other embodiments, an inlet
and an outlet for the basin may be any opening that allows
wastewater treatment process material to enter and exit the basin.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that the inlet/outlet of a
basin may be a single access point of the basin (e.g., an exposed
portion of a gravitational top of a basin may function as both an
inlet and an outlet).
[0018] Inlet pipe 161 and outlet pipe 171 may each be a
high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE) pipe. The HDPE pipes may be
inserted into pipe rings and held in place in the pipe rings by
attaching the HDPE flanges (e.g., flange 172) to the HDPE pipe
using socket fusion welding. HDPE flanges may be attached to a
flanged pipe ring (e.g., pipe ring 173) with screws which may be
collectively underneath liner 150. The perimeter of inlet 160 and
outlet 170 may be secured to their respective HDPE pipes using a
rubber gasket and an aluminum fastener (e.g., fastener 164) on the
interior side of liner 150.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side-view illustration of an embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment, gravitational top of steel cargo
container 200 may be articulated to create not only an additional
height of said container, but also an additional volume for basin
210. Such articulation may be made possible by cutting the top of
container 200 to function as sidewall extension units 240 and 245.
In this embodiment, said sidewall extension units are be held in
place by steel support beams 230 to extend side walls 221 and
222.
[0020] These combined components create sealed basin 210 that may
be water tight, structurally sound and that may withstand both the
water pressure and the abrasive materials found in wastewater
material flows. As described above, embodiments of the invention
may utilize HDPE and PVC materials to provide robust connections
between inflow and outflow pipes and use rubber gaskets in order to
provide tight fitting seals with little or no leakage. It is to be
understood that the use of the gravitational top of container 200
as sidewall extension material eliminates substantial costs of
production for increasing wastewater processing capabilities of
basin 210.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention.
In this embodiment, the orientation of container 300 is such that
the gravitational top of said container includes loading doors 310
and 315, which may function as sidewall extension units for
sidewalls 321 and 322, respectively.
[0022] It is to be understood that, in view of the examples above,
embodiments of the invention may function as various components and
sub-components of a WWTP including, but not limited to,
equalization tanks, anoxic basins, aeration basins, anaerobic
basins, emergency overflow basins, aerobic digester basins,
membrane bioreactor (MBR) basins and waste activated sludge
storage. In addition, embodiments of the invention may also be used
in military emergency wastewater management, water storage,
satellite treatment facilities, FEMA emergency water and wastewater
management as well as other reusable water management applications.
It is to be further understood that embodiments of the invention
may function as a standalone container or may include an integrated
multi-function WWTP system.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a sub-system of a WWTP system utilizing
an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, sub-system 400
includes containers 410 and 420 operatively coupled via
inlet/outlet pipes 432. Said containers may be further coupled to
other wastewater system components via inlet/outlet pipes 431 and
433.
[0024] Containers 410 and 420 may be any basins included in ISO
containers as described above. Said containers may act in concert
to perform the same wastewater management function (e.g.,
containers 410 and 420 may function together as equalization
basins), may each perform a separate function (e.g., container 410
may function as an aeration tank and container 420 may function as
a membrane basin), or may each perform a plurality of
functions.
[0025] Thus, it is to be understood that embodiments of the
invention enable a modular design approach for WWTP systems by
subdividing said systems into smaller parts which may be easily
manufactured and transported. For example, in the event increased
basin capacity is desired, additional containers may be
inexpensively added to meet the demand. Furthermore, WWTP
components according to embodiments of the invention may be
independently created and replaced, thereby reducing the labor and
costs associated with lifetime maintenance of a WWTP.
[0026] Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous
modifications and changes may be made to the example embodiments
above without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. It
will, of course, be understood that modifications of the invention,
in its various aspects, will be apparent to those skilled in the
art, some being apparent only after study, others being matters of
routine mechanical, chemical and electronic design. Other
embodiments are possible, their specific designs depending upon the
particular application. As such, the scope of the invention should
not be limited by the particular embodiments herein described but
should be defined only by the appended claims and equivalents
thereof.
[0027] Methods and processes, although shown in a particular
sequence or order, unless otherwise specified, the order of the
actions may be modified. Thus, the methods and processes described
above should be understood only as examples, and may be performed
in a different order, and some actions may be performed in
parallel. Additionally, one or more actions may be omitted in
various embodiments of the invention; thus, not all actions are
required in every implementation. Other process flows are
possible.
* * * * *