Rotating Spray Device for Water Distribution on Media Bed of a Biofilter

Abstract

A biofilter irrigation system comprises a cylindrical vessel having a central axis, a media bed positioned within the vessel, a spray head system positioned above the media bed, the spray head system comprising a central hub positioned at the central axis of the vessel, at least one arm extending distally from the central hub toward a wall of the vessel and configured to rotate about the central axis, and a plurality of nozzles connected to the at least one arm. The biofilter irrigation system further comprises a fluid outlet positioned below the media bed.

1 . A biofilter irrigation system, comprising:
 a cylindrical vessel having a central axis;   a media bed positioned within the vessel;   a spray head system positioned above the media bed, comprising:
 a central hub positioned at the central axis of the vessel; 
 at least one arm extending distally from the central hub toward a wall of the vessel and configured to rotate about the central axis; and 
 a plurality of nozzles connected to the at least one arm; and 
   a fluid outlet positioned below the media bed.   
     
     
         2 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel further comprises a contaminated gas inlet positioned below the media bed. 
     
     
         3 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 2 , configured to remove at least about 90% of contaminants introduced to the biofilter. 
     
     
         4 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the media bed comprises foamed glass media. 
     
     
         5 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a source of bio-nutrients is fluidly connectable to the spray head system. 
     
     
         6 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a source of water is fluidly connectable to the spray head system. 
     
     
         7 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 6 , wherein two arms extend distally in opposite directions from the central hub toward a wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 6 , wherein four arms extend distally from the central hub toward a wall of the vessel and are spaced 90° apart. 
     
     
         9 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of nozzles is connected to each of a plurality of arms. 
     
     
         10 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 9 , wherein each nozzle is spaced along each arm at varying lengths from the central hub. 
     
     
         11 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray angles of the plurality of nozzles are each adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 11 , wherein the flow rates of the nozzles are adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 12 , wherein the flow rate of each nozzle is different. 
     
     
         14 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow rates of the nozzles vary. 
     
     
         15 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 14 , wherein the flow rates of the nozzles increase with spacing from the central hub. 
     
     
         16 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system. 
     
     
         17 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 16 , wherein the control system comprises at least one sensor positioned in the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor provides an input signal to a controller, which provides an output signal to a source of water. 
     
     
         19 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further connected to a timer. 
     
     
         20 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is configured to identify at least one of pH, nutrient concentration, and hydrogen sulfide concentration. 
     
     
         21 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical vessel comprises a plurality of media beds. 
     
     
         22 . The biofilter irrigation system of  claim 21 , wherein the cylindrical vessel comprises a spray head system positioned above each of the plurality of media beds. 
     
     
         23 . A biofilter for the treatment of contaminated air, the biofilter comprising:
 a vessel having a contaminated air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a fluid outlet;   a media bed disposed within the vessel;   a rotating spray device mounted in the vessel above the media bed and fluidly connected to a source of water; and   a control system comprising:
 at least one sensor positioned in at least one of the contaminated air inlet, the clean air outlet, and the fluid outlet, the sensor configured to identify a predetermined parameter; and 
 a controller configured to receive an input signal from the at least one sensor, and provide an output signal to a pump or valve fluidly connected to the source of water. 
   
     
     
         24 . The biofilter of  claim 23 , wherein the rotating spray device comprises a central hub. 
     
     
         25 . The biofilter of  claim 24 , wherein the rotating spray device comprises at least one arm extending distally from the central hub toward a wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         26 . The biofilter of  claim 25 , wherein a plurality of nozzles is connected to the at least one arm. 
     
     
         27 . The biofilter of  claim 23 , wherein the spray angles of the plurality of nozzles are adjustable. 
     
     
         28 . The biofilter of  claim 27 , wherein the flow rates of the nozzles are adjustable. 
     
     
         29 . The biofilter of  claim 28 , wherein the flow rate of each nozzle is different. 
     
     
         30 . The biofilter of  claim 23 , wherein the flow rates of the nozzles vary. 
     
     
         31 . The biofilter of  claim 30 , wherein the flow rates of the nozzles increase with spacing from the central hub. 
     
     
         32 . The biofilter of  claim 23 , wherein a plurality of media beds are disposed within the vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The biofilter of  claim 32 , wherein a rotating spray device is mounted above each of the plurality of media beds. 
     
     
         34 . A method of facilitating irrigation in a biofilter, comprising:
 providing a rotating spray system comprising:
 a central hub; 
 at least one arm connected to the central hub, the at least one arm configured to rotate about; and 
 a plurality of nozzles connected to the at least one arm; 
   mounting the central hub above a media bed along concentrically about a central axis of a biofilter; and   connecting the rotating spray system to a source of water.   
     
     
         35 . The method of facilitating of  claim 34 , further comprising providing a control system. 
     
     
         36 . The method of facilitating of  claim 35 , wherein the control system comprises at least one sensor configured to transmit an input signal to a controller. 
     
     
         37 . The method of facilitating of  claim 35 , further comprising connecting the source of water to the control system. 
     
     
         38 . The method of facilitating of  claim 35 , further comprising connecting a source of bio-nutrients to the control system. 
     
     
         39 . The method of facilitating of  claim 34 , further comprising evaluating the operation of the rotating spray system. 
     
     
         40 . The method of facilitating of  claim 39 , further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the rotating spray system. 
     
     
         41 . The method of facilitating of  claim 40 , wherein adjusting at least one parameter of a rotating spray system comprises adjusting at least one of a nozzle angle, a nozzle flow rate, the number of arms, and the number of nozzles. 
     
     
         42 . A wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a wastewater treatment apparatus having a wastewater inlet, a treated water outlet, and a contaminated air outlet;   a biofilter fluidly connected to the contaminated air outlet, the biofilter comprising:
 a vessel having a clean air outlet and a fluid outlet; 
 a media bed disposed within the vessel; 
 a rotating spray device mounted in the vessel above the media bed and fluidly connected to a source of water; and 
 a control system comprising:
 at least one sensor positioned in at least one of the clean air outlet and the fluid outlet, the sensor configured to identify a predetermined parameter; and 
 a controller configured to receive an input signal from the at least one sensor, and provide an output signal to the source of water. 
 
   
     
     
         43 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 42 , wherein the rotating spray device comprises a central hub. 
     
     
         44 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 43 , wherein the rotating spray device comprises at least one arm extending distally from the central hub toward a wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         45 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 44 , wherein a plurality of nozzles is connected to the at least one arm.