Integrated filtration and gas floatation water treatment system and process

Abstract

A wastewater treatment system comprises a fluid conveyance, one or more filtration vessels, one-way valves, and a backwash collection conduits. The filtration vessels each have a vessel inlet and a vessel outlet. Filtration media is positioned between the respective vessel inlet and the respective vessel outlet. Each respective vessel inlet communicates with the fluid conveyance. Each one-way valve is located at the inlet of the respective filtration vessel to regulate a flow of fluid from the fluid conveyance into the respective filtration vessel and to prevent the fluid from exiting the respective filtration vessels through the one-way valves. Each backwash collection conduit communicates with each filtration vessel by a drain conduit, the drain conduit having an outlet that is above a top of a fluid volume in the backwash collection conduit so as to provide an air gap.

1 . A wastewater treatment system, comprising:
 a) A fluid conveyance;   b) One or more filtration vessels, with each filtration vessel having a vessel inlet and a vessel outlet, with filtration media inside the respective filtration vessel between the respective vessel inlet and the respective vessel outlet, the respective vessel inlet communicating with the fluid conveyance;   c) A one-way valve at the inlet of each filtration vessel to regulate a flow of fluid from the fluid conveyance into the respective filtration vessel.   d) A backwash collection conduit, the backwash collection conduit communicating with each filtration vessel by a drain conduit, the drain conduit having an outlet that is above a top of a fluid volume in the backwash collection conduit so as to provide an air gap.   
     
     
         2 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the respective one-way valves each move in a vertical orientation and prevent the fluid from exiting each of the respective filtration vessels through the respective one-way valves. 
     
     
         3 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a distributor located in the fluid conveyance, which distributor flows water in the fluid conveyance proportionately into the respective filtration vessels. 
     
     
         4 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the drain conduit is located at an elevation superior to an elevation of the one-way valve of each of the filtration vessels. 
     
     
         5 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump associated with the outlets of the filtration vessels, which pump provides a motive force of the fluid through the respective filtration media. 
     
     
         6 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 5 , wherein the pump provides a motive force of backwash fluid through the respective filtration media and the backwash collection conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The wastewater treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the drain conduit outlet is above the fluid conveyance. 
     
     
         8 . A process of treating wastewater, comprising the steps of:
 a) Distributing wastewater into one or more filtration vessels through a respective one-way valve for each filtration vessel;   b) Backwashing a first one of the filtration vessels with water taken from any one of the filtration vessels;   c) Allowing the one-way valve for the first filtration vessel to close during backwashing of the first filtration vessel;   d) Flowing backwash water from the first filtration vessel into a backwash collection conduit, the backwash collection conduit communicating with the first filtration vessel by a drain conduit, the drain conduit having an outlet that is above a top of a fluid volume in the backwash collection conduit so as to provide an air gap.   
     
     
         9 . The process of treating wastewater of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 a) Monitoring each filtration vessel for filter capability;   b) Determining when one of the filtration vessels has diminished filtering capability and backwashing the one filtration vessel.   
     
     
         10 . The process of treating wastewater of  claim 8 , wherein the step of flowing the backwash water from the first filtration vessel into the backwash collection conduit further comprises the step of flowing the backwash water across the air gap into the backwash collection conduit and above the fluid conveyance.