Systems and methods for activating and dewatering sludge using acoustic pressure shock waves
A method of activating and dewatering sludge through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to wastewater.
1. A method comprising applying acoustic pressure shock waves that have a compressive phase producing high compressive pressure and a tensile phase producing cavitation bubbles that collapse with high speed jets to sludge in a liquid containment.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the acoustic pressure shock waves to the sludge in wastewater during a biological oxidation process.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising aerating the wastewater during the biological oxidation process.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising producing the acoustic pressure shock waves near a mixed liquor surface of the wastewater.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising producing the acoustic pressure shock waves near a mixed liquor surface of the wastewater.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the acoustic pressure shock waves are applied from an acoustic pressure shock wave activation device floating on the mixed liquor surface.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the acoustic pressure shock waves are applied from an acoustic pressure shock wave activation device floating on the mixed liquor surface.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising moving the acoustic pressure shock wave activation device on the mixed liquor surface with one or more driving motors.
9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising moving the acoustic pressure shock wave activation device on the mixed liquor surface with one or more driving motors.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sludge is liquid sludge in a filter basket having a filter lining within a dewatering tank and applying acoustic pressure shock waves to dewater the liquid sludge and collecting solid sludge from the basket.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising moving a floating acoustic pressure shock wave dewater device applying the acoustic pressure waves to dewater the liquid sludge.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sludge is frozen sludge and further comprising thawing the frozen sludge over a permeable media, applying acoustic pressure shock waves to dewater the frozen sludge during thawing, and collecting solid sludge from the media.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising moving an acoustic pressure shock wave dewater device applying the acoustic pressure shock waves to dewater the frozen sludge to push water in a certain zone of sludge sediment.
14. A sludge treatment system comprising a containment with wastewater and sludge that has a fluid surface and an acoustic pressure shock wave device movable across the fluid surface and having a generator that produces acoustic pressure shock waves into the sludge, wherein the acoustic pressure shock wave device floats at the fluid surface.
15. The treatment system of claim 14 , wherein the acoustic pressure shock wave device includes one or more driving motors.
16. The treatment system of claim 15 , further comprising one or more aerators in the wastewater.
17. A sludge treatment system comprising a containment with wastewater and sludge that has a fluid surface and an acoustic pressure shock wave device movable across the fluid surface and having a generator that produces acoustic pressure shock waves into the sludge, and further comprising one or more aerators in the wastewater.
18. A sludge treatment system comprising a containment with wastewater and sludge that has a fluid surface and an acoustic pressure shock wave device movable across the fluid surface and having a generator that produces acoustic pressure shock waves into the sludge, and further comprising at least one of a filter and filter media positioned in the in the containment beneath the fluid surface.
19. The treatment system of claim 15 , further comprising at least one of a filter and filter media positioned in in the containment beneath the fluid surface.