1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to waste treatment systems and especially those waste treatment systems which are packaged or containerized units. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an air diffuser apparatus in which an air inlet would be provided to convey air into an air container envelope within an aerator body and further allowing air to discharge from the body through tear-shaped openings, and allowing solid particles to be discharged through discharge means on the lower portion of the aerator body.
2. General Background and Prior Art
In the treatment of waste, there is often utilized a containerized or packaged unit treatment plant which treats received waste product on a continuous basis. In the marine industry, for example, there is utilized a package sewage treatment plant which can be used on ships, oil rigs, and like installations. Such sewage treatment devices usually receive flow intermittantly and must treat the flow in order to meet ecological and other marine standards. It is desirable that waste be treated such as sewage in an economical way utilizing as little energy as possible and as few moving parts as possible. Note also it is desirable that a minimum of sludge removal would be required since the sludge disposal presents an extra problem. Further, the accumulation of sludge within the unit would produce an undesirable possibly corrosive attack on the unit itself. An accumulation of sludge within the unit further results in a deterioration of the treatment process.
It would be desirable that a sludge treatment apparatus produce a total homogenation of the fluids received from the waste stream in order that they be properly bio-degraded. Waste entering the unit would normally be heterogeneous in nature, containing solid waste material as well as some liquid material. A breakup of this material is necessary in order that it be treated properly.
In aerated treatment systems, a problem is faced in that a clogging of the aeration assembly which provides bubbles to the unit will cause a degeneration of the treatment process or in fact a total stoppage of air flow to the vessel, transferring the process from aerobic thus removing any treatment capability. It would be desirable that the aeration unit or air diffuser be of a nature which would reduce or prevent clogging by solid material which may enter the unit.
3. General Discussion of the Present Invention
The present invention would solve prior art problems and shortcomings by providing a waste treatment apparatus having no moving parts in a basic hydraulic system which would consist of an air diffuser assembly having an aerator body with a plurality of side walls connected to form an enclosure and at least a pair of intersecting angularly oriented side walls, forming an air container envelope for retaining an air volume therewithin. There would also be adapted an air inlet which would convey air into said air body at the air container envelope, and a plurality of tear-shaped openings being provided in the body below the air container envelope for allowing air to discharge from the body through tear-shaped openings, with each of the tear-shaped openings providing an upper pointed portion which would minimize the bubble-size of air discharged through the openings. Also, there would be provided a baffle plate mounted within the enclosure at the air inlet, the baffle plate would be used for preventing a short circuit travel of air received by the enclosure to the tear-shaped openings placed on the body adjacent the air inlet. There would also be included an attachment means associated with the air inlet for attaching the aerator body to an air conveying conduit.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air diffuser assembly which produces a bubble stream having a high surface area.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an aeration diffuser adapted for disallowing the accumulation of sludge or other undesirable deposits within the diffuser assembly, and to disallow the clogging of bubble generating orifices by waste solid material.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a waste treatment apparatus which eliminates the need for sludge removal and further sludge treatment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waste treatment system which is gravity operated, utilizing no other energy dependent driving force.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waste treatment apparatus having distinct liquid operating levels which are maintained without the use of pumps or valves.