Systems and methods for formation of biologically active granules and biologically active granules

1. A method of removing carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous from a liquid, comprising:

a. inflowing the liquid into a first cell of a lagoon, wherein the first cell comprises at least one circulator forming a zone of cavitation flow,

b. inflowing the liquid from the first cell into a second cell of the lagoon, wherein the second cell comprises at least five circulators, wherein each of the at least five circulators is placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles, wherein a set of at least two circulators is arranged in a substantially straight line that is substantially perpendicular to net flow, wherein each of the circulators cause a hydraulic wall to form between each of the circulators, and wherein a distance between the at least five circulators is about 25 ft to about 70 feet; and

c. inflowing the liquid from the second cell into a third cell of the lagoon, wherein the third cell comprises at least one circulator forming a perimeter flow in at least a portion of the third cell, the perimeter flow causing a reduction in a number of living, floating algae in the third cell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zone of cavitation flow is formed by three or more circulators.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a partial depth baffle separates the first cell of the lagoon and the second cell of the lagoon.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a quiescent zone is formed in at least one of the second cell of the lagoon and the third cell of the lagoon.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the quiescent zone comprises a zone of gas flow that stratifies a portion of the at least one of the second cell of the lagoon and the third cell of the lagoon into a plurality of layers.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein granules are formed by the at least five circulators and are configured to rise and fall vertically in the lagoon between the plurality of layers and configured to form a gas bubble comprising methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the bubble comprising methane and carbon dioxide exits the lagoon through an upper surface of the lagoon.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of layers comprise

a first aerobic layer comprising microalgae;

a second layer of bubble cavitation vertically deeper than the first layer

a third facultative layer of facultative hydrolysis and anaerobic gas formation vertically deeper than the second layer; and

a fourth anaerobic layer vertically deeper than the third facultative layer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises inflowing the liquid from the lagoon to a second lagoon, wherein the second lagoon comprises two cells.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second lagoon further comprises a baffle upstream of a set of circulators.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises inflowing the liquid from the lagoon to a second lagoon, wherein the second lagoon comprises three cells and comprises two sets of at least two circulators each arranged in a substantially straight line that are substantially perpendicular to net flow.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second lagoon further comprises two baffles, each baffle upstream of each of the set of circulators in the second lagoon.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between each of the circulators of the second cell is about 40 ft to about 60 feet.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between each of the circulators of the second cell is about 44 ft to about 52 feet.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between each of the circulators of the second cell is about 48 feet.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the two sets in the second lagoon is between about 10 feet to about 400 feet.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the two sets in the second lagoon is between about 200 feet to about 300 feet.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the two sets in the second lagoon is between about 230 feet to about 270 feet.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the two sets is between about 250 feet.

20. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the circulators comprises a structure to support nitrifier bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitrate.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein a perimeter flow of the second lagoon increases the number of non-living microalgae in the second lagoon.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the non-living microalgae is a source of carbon to heterotrophic bacteria in the second lagoon.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the heterotrophic bacteria reduce nitrate to a gas comprising nitrogen.

24. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second lagoon comprises an alum circulator configured to receive a solution of alum.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the alum circulator comprises an annular space in the vicinity of a shaft of the alum circulator, wherein the solution of alum is received by a high pressure side of an impeller attached to the shaft.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second cell comprises at least seven circulators, wherein the at least seven circulators are arranged in two or more rows, wherein the circulators of a first row are offset from the circulators of an adjacent row such that one circulator of the first row and two circulators of the adjacent row are each placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary, adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles.

27. A method of reducing a concentration of phosphorous in a lagoon, the method comprising:

operating at least five circulators, wherein each of the at least five circulators is placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles, each of the circulators configured to receive a solution of alum, wherein operating the circulators forms a zone of cavitation flow, wherein the circulators cause a hydraulic wall to form between the circulators, and wherein a distance between each of the circulators is about 25 ft to about 70 feet.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein each of the at least five circulators comprises an annular space in the vicinity of a shaft of each of the at least five circulators, wherein the solution of alum is received by a high pressure side of an impeller attached to the shaft.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the solution of alum is directed by the impeller to contact water of the lagoon and form a solid comprising phosphorous.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the solid is denser than water.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the lagoon comprises at least seven circulators, wherein the at least seven circulators are arranged in two or more rows, wherein the circulators of a first row are offset from the circulators of an adjacent row such that one circulator of the first row and two circulators of the adjacent row are each placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary, adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles.

32. A method of removing nitrogen from a liquid in a lagoon, the lagoon comprising a cell, wherein the cell comprises at least five circulators, wherein each of the at least five circulators is placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles, wherein a set of at least two circulators, wherein the at least two circulators are arranged in a substantially straight line that is substantially perpendicular to a net flow, the method comprising:

operating each of the circulators, wherein operating each of the circulators forms a zone of cavitation flow, wherein the circulators cause a hydraulic wall to form between each of the circulators, and wherein a distance between each of the circulators is about 25 ft to about 70 feet.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the cell further comprises a baffle upstream of the set of circulators.

34. The method of claim 32 , wherein the lagoon comprises three cells and comprises two sets of at least two circulators, wherein the at least two circulators are arranged in a substantially straight line that are substantially perpendicular to net flow.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the lagoon further comprises two baffles, each baffle upstream of each of the set of circulators.

36. The method of claim 32 , wherein a distance between each of the circulators of the cell is about 40 ft to about 60 feet.

37. The method of claim 32 , wherein a distance between each of the circulators of the second cell is about 44 ft to about 52 feet.

38. The method of claim 32 , wherein a distance between each of the circulators of the second cell is about 48 feet.

39. The method of claim 34 , wherein a distance between the two sets is between about 10 feet to about 400 feet.

40. The method of claim 34 , wherein a distance between the two sets is between about 200 feet to about 300 feet.

41. The method of claim 34 , wherein a distance between the two sets is between about 230 feet to about 270 feet.

42. The method of claim 34 , wherein a distance between the two sets is between about 250 feet.

43. The method of claim 32 , wherein each of the circulators comprises a structure to support nitrifier bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitrate.

44. The method of claim 32 , wherein the cell comprises at least seven circulators, wherein the at least seven circulators are arranged in two or more rows, wherein the circulators of a first row are offset from the circulators of an adjacent row such that one circulator of the first row and two circulators of the adjacent row are each placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary, adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles.

45. A method of removing carbon from a liquid in a lagoon, comprising:

inflowing the liquid into a first cell of the lagoon, wherein the first cell comprises at least five circulators, wherein each of the at least five circulators is placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary adjacent triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent, substantially equilateral thereto in the series of imaginary triangles forming a zone of cavitation flow, wherein the circulators cause a hydraulic wall to form between each of the circulators, and wherein a distance between each of the circulators is about 25 ft to about 70 feet.

46. The method of claim 45 , wherein lagoon has at least 3 cells.

47. The method of claim 45 , wherein the cavitation flow is formed by three or more circulators.

48. The method of claim 46 , wherein a partial depth baffle separates the first cell of the lagoon and a second cell of the lagoon.

49. The method of claim 46 , wherein a quiescent zone is formed in at least one of a second cell of the lagoon and a third cell of the lagoon.

50. The method of claim 49 , wherein the quiescent zone comprises a zone of gas flow that stratifies a portion of the at least one of the second cell of the lagoon and the third cell of the lagoon into a plurality of layers.

51. The method of claim 50 , wherein granules formed by the at least five circulators are configured to rise and fall vertically in the lagoon between the plurality of layers and configured to form a gas bubble comprising methane and carbon dioxide.

52. The method of claim 51 , wherein the bubble comprising methane and carbon dioxide exits the lagoon through an upper surface of the lagoon.

53. The method of claim 50 , wherein the plurality of layers comprise

a first aerobic layer comprising microalgae

a second layer of bubble cavitation vertically deeper than the first layer

a third facultative layer of facultative hydrolysis and anaerobic gas formation vertically deeper than the second layer; and

a fourth anaerobic layer vertically deeper than the third facultative layer.

54. The method of claim 45 , wherein the cell comprises at least seven circulators, wherein the at least seven circulators are arranged in two or more rows, wherein the circulators of a first row are offset from the circulators of an adjacent row such that one circulator of the first row and two circulators of the adjacent row are each placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary, adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles.

55. A lagoon comprising a plurality of layers comprising:

a first aerobic layer comprising microalgae;

a second layer of bubble cavitation vertically deeper than the first layer;

a third facultative layer, wherein facultative hydrolysis and anaerobic gas formation occurs in the third facultative layer, wherein the third facultative layer is vertically deeper than the second layer; and

a fourth anaerobic layer vertically deeper than the third facultative layer, wherein the lagoon further comprises at least five circulators, wherein each of the at least five circulators is placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles, wherein the circulators cause a hydraulic wall to form between the circulators, and wherein a distance between each of the circulators is about 25 ft to about 70 feet.

56. The lagoon of claim 55 , wherein the lagoon comprises at least seven circulators, wherein the at least seven circulators are arranged in two or more rows, wherein the circulators of a first row are offset from the circulators of an adjacent row such that one circulator of the first row and two circulators of the adjacent row are each placed at a vertex of a series of imaginary, adjacent, substantially equilateral triangles, wherein each one of the adjacent triangles shares one side and two vertices with a triangle adjacent thereto in the series of imaginary triangles.