Apparatus for treating water or wastewater
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for treating water or wastewater for drinking and/or industrial use. The method and apparatus comprises of a plurality of vertically positioned electrodes, which are placed in a treating chamber and wherein the electrodes are interconnected to one another. The positive and negative electrodes are insulated there-between. The polarity of the direct current supply is changeable at regular intervals in order to prevent passivation of the electrodes when reaching an even abrasion. The current can preferably be pulsatory. In order to be able to keep the current density between the electrodes at a desired value, the most efficient possible electrolysis is achieved by means of a minimum total current and wherein the spacing between the electrodes are adjustable.
1. An apparatus comprising an electrode unit for treating water or wastewater for drinking and/or industrial use the apparatus comprising: a plurality of positive and negative electrodes supplied with direct current placed vertically placed in a treating chamber, wherein the positive and negative electrodes are independently interconnected to one another but the positive and negative electrodes are insulated there-between, wherein the polarity of the direct current supplied to the electrodes is changed at regular intervals to prevent passivation of the electrodes and to even abrasion, wherein the spacing between the electrodes is adjustable, and wherein said apparatus comprises of one or more of each of electrostatic rods and ultraviolet disinfector lamps.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an injector system which injects air, gas or a liquid coagulant chemical into the treating chamber.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrodes are separated by a wall from the ultraviolet disinfector lamps.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrode unit is integrated into a micro flotation system having an inlet, an upper outlet and a lower outlet and wherein flocculated sludge exists the upper outlet and is collected in a filter drum and wherein clear water exists the lower outlet, is tested for pH value, and is thereafter channeled to a drain.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising an air injector for gas installed at a front portion of the inlet.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein atleast one positive electrode is comprised of a plurality of individual electrodes wherein each individual electrode is at least 1 to 20 square centimeters in cross-section and between 0.30 meters to 3.00 meters in length and wherein the surface of the individual electrodes is comprised of a layer selected from the group consisting of titanium, molybdenum, alloys of titanium and molybdenum, diamante-coated niobium, and combinations thereof.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein atleast one negative electrode is comprised of a plurality of individual electrodes wherein each individual electrode is at least 1 to 20 square centimeters in cross-section and between 0.30 meters to 3.00 meters in length and wherein at least the effective surface of the individual electrodes is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of:
(i) Metals or metal alloys with at least 80% of aluminium,
(ii) Metals or metal alloys with at least 80% of magnesium,
(iii) Metals or metal alloys with at least 80% of total combination of aluminum and magnesium,
(iv) Conductive carbon in the form of graphite or compacted soot,
(v) Conductive carbon, which is embedded in plastics,
(vi) Diamante-coated niobium electrodes,
(vii) Conductive ceramic or mixtures of ceramic with other materials, and combinations thereof
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of positive and negative electrodes are each comprised of a plurality of individual electrodes wherein the individual electrodes are made of specific materials to target specific contaminant particles present in the water or wastewater.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein some of the plurality of electrodes made of specific materials can be powered down after the target particle present in the source water is removed.