IP Library Granted Patent US 11,518,700
Granted Patent B2
US 11,518,700 · App. 16/597,093 · Granted Dec 6, 2022

Feedback loop for sludge filtering

Inventors: Jess Ornum (Easton, PA); Colin Dray (Hackettstown, NJ); Christopher Komline (Gladstone, NJ)
Assignee: KOMLINE-SANDERSON CORPORATION
C02F11/123C02F11/143C02F11/147B01D21/01B01D33/04C02F11/125
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,518,700
App. No.
16/597,093
Granted
Dec 6, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a filtration system and process that enhances mineral removal from sludge through a novel recirculation and mixing apparatus. In one example, the system may include a filter configured to remove minerals from sludge, a pump configured to move the sludge towards the filter, a pre-filtering system configured to add an agent into the sludge prior to the sludge making contact with the filter, a drainage collection system including one ore more reservoirs configured to collect water drained during and/or after the filtering and feedback the drained water to the pump, and valving configured configured to mix the drained water with the sludge to generate a mixture which is moved by the pump towards the filter.

Claims (25)

1. A filtration system comprising:

an entry point where sludge is entered into a channel of the filtration system;

a gravity belt thickener configured to remove minerals and water from the sludge based on gravitational force;

a pump configured to move the sludge in the channel towards the gravity belt thickener;

a pre-filtering system configured to add an agent into the sludge prior to the sludge making contact with the gravity belt thickener;

a screw press configured to receive the sludge after the gravity belt thickener and apply pressure to the sludge to further dewater the sludge;

a drainage collection system comprising a first reservoir configured to collect tea water drained from the sludge during the filtering by the gravity belt thickener and a second reservoir configured to collect dirty water drained by the screw press after the gravity belt thickener, a runoff that transfers tea water from the first reservoir to the dirty water in the second reservoir, and a feedback channel comprising a second pump configured to feedback the tea water and the dirty water in the second reservoir to a location within the channel where new sludge is being pumped to the gravity belt thickener thereby lowering a viscosity of the new sludge prior to the new sludge reaching the gravity belt thickener; and

a valve configured to mix the tea water and the dirty water with the sludge to generate a mixture which is moved by the pump towards the gravity belt thickener.

2. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the first reservoir is configured to pump overflow to the second reservoir via the runoff.

3. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the first reservoir is configured to pump the water drained by the filter to an irrigation system.

4. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-filtering system is configured to add a polymer-flocculant agent to the sludge.

5. The filtration system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system that is electrically connected to the pre-filtering system and the gravity belt thickener.

6. A filtration process comprising:

entering sludge into a channel of a filtration system at an entry point;

pumping the sludge in the channel towards a gravity belt thickener;

adding a pre-filtering agent to the sludge while the sludge is moving towards the gravity belt thickener and prior to making contact with the gravity belt thickener;

filtering the sludge to remove minerals and tea water from the sludge via the gravity belt thickener;

receiving the filtered sludge from the gravity belt thickener and dewatering the sludge based on pressure from a screw press to remove dirty water from the sludge to generate dewatered sludge;

collecting the tea water removed from the sludge by the gravity belt thickener via a first reservoir disposed under the gravity belt thickener;

collecting the dirty water removed from the sludge by the screw press with a second reservoir that is separate from the first reservoir and that is disposed under the screw press;

transferring tea water from the first reservoir to the dirty water in the second reservoir via a runoff between the first and second reservoirs; and

feeding back the tea water and the dirty water from the second reservoir to a location within the channel where new sludge is being pumped to the gravity belt thickener thereby lowering a viscosity of the new sludge prior to the new sludge reaching the gravity belt thickener.

7. The filtration process of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises pumping overflow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir via the runoff.

8. The filtration process of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises pumping the collected tea water drained by the gravity belt thickener from the first reservoir to an irrigation system.

9. The filtration process of claim 6 , wherein the adding comprises adding a polymer-flocculant agent to the sludge.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2024
From: KOMLINE-SANDERSON CORPORATION; AQUASHIELD, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 068513/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2022
From: ORNUM, JESS M.; DRAY, COLIN; KOMLINE, CHRISTOPHER
To: KOMLINE-SANDERSON
Reel/Frame 059332/0149 →