Sewage treatment process

Claim 2

The method according to claim 1 wherein the comminuting of waste suspended in the aqueous medium is to an average particle size of about 60 microns.

Claim 3

The method accordinG to claim 1 wherein pasteurization raises the temperature of the aerated and comminuted sewage to a temperature in the range between about 70* C. and 100* C.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1 wherein that part of the pasteurized aqueous waste which enters the radiant heating zone is subjected to a temperature in the range between 150* C. and 750* C.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1 wherein that part of the pasteurized aqueous waste is subjected to a subatmospheric pressure in the range between about 5 and 14 pounds per square inch absolute.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1 wherein a supply of air to supplement that introduced with the oxygen-containing treated liquor is vented into the vacuum chamber.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 1 wherein aerated aqueous waste is preheated and then is introduced into the bottom of said radiant heating zone, as small particle size droplets, and vapors and gases formed in said radiant heating zone are moved upwardly through said zone in response to gas exhaustion at rates which permit inert ash solids to settle to the bottom of said radiant heat zone.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1 wherein the waste is domestic sewage of 150 mg./l. of B.O.D., 50 percent of the aerated aqueous waste withdrawn from the zone of simultaneous oxidizing and comminuting and pasteurized is subjected to treatment in the radiant heating zone, vapors are condensed in the bottom of the radiant heating zone by heat exchange and the condensate withdrawn from the heating zone is blended with the 50 percent remainder of the pasteurized aqueous waste to produce a dischargeable liquid of less than 150 p.p.m. of suspended solids and less than 50 mg./l. of B.O.D.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 10 wherein quantities of oxygen-containing gas are introduced into the waste held under flow equalizing and B.O.D. equalizing conditions establishing an excess of oxygen over that required to satisfy B.O.D. requirements, said radiant heating zone is in a zone maintained under subatmospheric pressure and aqueous waste raised to an elevated temperature by heat exchange flashes as it is introduced into said radiant heating zone, to produce a mixture of water vapor and small liquid particles.

Claim 11

Apparatus for treating sewage comprising an aeration tank for accumulation of aqueous sewage, air-dispersing means mounted within said tank, rotary-agitating means positioned in said tank, conduit means for transferring aerated aqueous suspension from said aeration tank to a separate chamber, means for preheating said suspension being transferred, an inlet spray nozzle positioned adjacent one end of said chamber, pump means for delivering preheated suspension to said spray nozzle, radiant heating elements extending longitudinally of said chamber adjacent the walls thereof, exhaust means fOr withdrawing gases and vapors from an area of said chamber opposite from said spray nozzle, and means for withdrawing ash solids accumulated in the bottom of said chamber.

Claim 12

A waste disposal system comprising a water closet for receiving human waste material, an aeration tank connected to said water closet for accumulation of aqueous sewage from said closet, a wall member having ports therein disposed in said aeration tank, said wall member defining first and second compartments in said tank, said first compartment being in position to receive said aqueous sewage, rotary-agitating means mounted in said first compartment, gas-dispersing means mounted in said second compartment for introducing air into the suspension received from said first compartment, conduit means communicating at one end with said aeration tank and at the other end with an area in the interior of and adjacent to one end of a separate chamber, said conduit terminating at said other end in a spray nozzle, means associated with said conduit means for inducing liquid flow therethrough, preheating means associated with said conduit means at a point intermediate of said flow inducing means and said chamber, a branch pipe having an outlet communicating with the atmosphere communicating with said conduit means at a point intermediate of said preheating means and said chamber, flow splitting means in said conduit means adapted to discharge a portion of the liquid flow through said branch pipe, radiant heating elements mounted along the longitudinal walls of said chamber, exhaust means for vapor and gases communicating with an area of said chamber separated from the end of the chamber in communication with said conduit means by the zone bounded by said radiant heating elements, and outlet means for withdrawing inert ash solids accumulated in the bottom of said chamber.