Induced sludge bed anaerobic reactor

Abstract

An induced sludge bed anaerobic reactor includes a vessel in which a septum or other partition is positioned to maintain solids in wastewater being treated toward a lower zone in the reactor. A central aperture is formed in the septum into which a sludge blanket control mechanism, such as an auger, is positioned to force solids to the lower zone of the reactor or, alternatively, pull solids up above the septum so that they can be removed from the vessel, if desired. A mixer may be utilized in connection with the bioreactor to mix the contents and prevent a crust from forming at the top of the bioreactor. Still further, a wall may be positioned to extend above the septum around its perimeter to assist in separating solids from the wastewater. The various types of bacteria used in the anaerobic process may also be separated, according to the present invention, in either a single vessel or multiple vessels so that the conditions of each respective vessel can be altered as desired.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor, comprising: 
 a vessel;    an inlet coupled to the vessel, the inlet introducing wastewater into the vessel;    an outlet coupled to the vessel, the outlet directing wastewater to the outside of the vessel;    a septum positioned within the vessel to maintain solid particles below the septum.    
   
   
       31 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 30  wherein the septum is cone shaped.  
   
   
       32 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 an aperture formed in the septum;    an auger operatively coupled to the vessel and positioned within the aperture to move solid particles away from the aperture.    
   
   
       33 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 30  wherein the septum is positioned approximately ⅓ of the way down in the vessel.  
   
   
       34 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 an aperture formed in the septum;    an auger operatively coupled to the vessel and positioned within the aperture to move solid particles away from the aperture;    a mixer attached to the auger shaft to mix the wastewater within the reactor.    
   
   
       35 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 30 , further comprising a wall coupled to and extending upwardly from the septum, the wall separating solids and liquids from the bioreactor wastewater.  
   
   
       36 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor, comprising: 
 a vessel;    an inlet coupled to the vessel, the inlet introducing wastewater into the vessel;    an outlet coupled to the vessel, the outlet directing wastewater to the outside of the vessel;    a septum positioned within the vessel to maintain solid particles below the septum;    a sludge blanket control mechanism coupled to the vessel, the sludge control mechanism forcing solids down to a bottom zone of the vessel beneath the septum.    
   
   
       37 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 36  wherein the sludge blanket control mechanism comprises an auger.  
   
   
       38 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 36  wherein the septum is cone shaped and slopes from a vessel sidewall upward toward an apex.  
   
   
       39 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 an aperture formed in the septum;    wherein the sludge blanket control mechanism comprises an auger, the auger being operatively coupled to the vessel and positioned within the aperture to move solid particles relative to the aperture in the septum.    
   
   
       40 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 36  wherein the septum is positioned approximately ⅓ of the way down in the vessel.  
   
   
       41 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor, comprising: 
 a vessel;    an inlet coupled to the vessel, the inlet introducing wastewater into the vessel;    an outlet coupled to the vessel, the outlet directing wastewater to the outside of the vessel;    a septum submerged in a liquid disposed within the vessel;    wherein the septum comprises an apex and a surface sloping radially downward toward sidewalls of the closed vessel.    
   
   
       42 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 41  wherein the septum comprises an aperture allowing fluid flow but not solids movement therethrough.  
   
   
       43 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor, comprising: 
 a closed vessel;    an inlet coupled to the closed vessel, the inlet introducing wastewater into the closed vessel;    an outlet coupled to the closed vessel, the outlet directing wastewater to the outside of the closed vessel;    a septum dividing the vessel into two portions, the septum allowing fluid flow but not solid particle movement between the two portions.    
   
   
       44 . An induced sludge blanket anaerobic reactor according to  claim 43 , further comprising a weir wall extending from the septum and spaced from a sidewall of the closed vessel.