Granted Patent B2

US 12,623,939 · App. 18/019,817 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Michael R. Ekholm (Minneapolis, MN); Elsa Vulliez (Châtellerault, FR); Clement Vitteau (Availles en Châtellerault, FR); Fabrice Coura-Geot (Availles en Châtellerault, FR)

Assignee: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.

C02F3/06C02F2203/006

Abstract

Claims (34)

1 . A biofilter system, comprising:

a tank defining a floor surface;

a media bed;

one or more flow channels defined below the floor surface;

a shaped underdrain assembly including a plurality of elongated underdrain structures positioned on the tank floor, each elongated underdrain structure having a flume plate residing within the one or more flow channels, each elongated underdrain structure having a permeable upper surface, a lower surface in fluid communication with the flume plate and an underdrain interior so as to define an underdrain cross-section and wherein the permeable upper surface supports the media bed; and

an upper shaped drain assembly including a plurality of elongated upper drain structures positioned above the shaped underdrain assembly, the upper drain structures having a permeable upper drain surface, an upper drain lower surface and an upper drain interior defining an upper drain cross-section, wherein the permeable upper drain surface comprises a slotted screen.

2 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein a flow interface is mounted within the underdrain interior, the flow interface allowing at least a first and second flow species to flow through the permeable upper surface.

3 . The biofilter system of claim 2 , wherein the flow interface includes one or more of a flow orifice or a flow valve.

4 . The biofilter system of claim 2 , wherein the at least first and second flow species include one or more of a process influent stream, a process effluent stream, an aeration inflow stream, an aeration outflow stream and/or a process additive inflow stream.

5 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the permeable upper drain surface is positioned to face the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

6 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the permeable upper drain surface is positioned to face away from the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

7 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the upper shaped drain assembly is positioned within the media bed.

8 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the upper shaped drain assembly is positioned above the media bed.

9 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the permeable upper surface comprises a slotted screen.

10 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a semi-circular section.

11 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a rectangular or square cross-section.

12 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a triangular cross-section.

13 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the underdrain cross-section comprises a hexagonal cross-section.

14 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the permeable upper surface comprises a surface coating selected to inhibit biological growth on the permeable upper surface.

15 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second flow species include a high flow species and a low flow species that are directed through the permeable upper surface in a shared direction.

16 . The biofilter system of claim 1 , wherein a high flow species and a low flow species are directed through the permeable upper surface in opposed directions.

17 . A method for promoting biological treatment in a biofilter, comprising:

positioning a shaped underdrain assembly in a floor of a biofilter tank, the floor defining one or more flow channels and wherein the shaped underdrain assembly includes a plurality of elongated underdrain structures, each elongated underdrain structure having a flume plate residing within the one or more flow channels, each elongated underdrain structure further including a permeable upper surface, a lower surface and an underdrain interior so as to define an underdrain cross-section, and wherein each lower surface is in fluid communication with at least one of the flow channels through the flume plate;

supporting a media bed on the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure;

positioning an upper shaped drain assembly in the biofilter tank, the upper shaped drain assembly located above the shaped underdrain assembly, the upper shaped drain assembly including a plurality of elongated upper drain structures, each elongated upper drain structure including an upper drain permeable surface, an upper drain lower surface and an upper drain interior defining an upper drain cross-section, wherein the upper drain permeable surface comprises a slotted screen; and

directing a fluid flow through the permeable upper surface to promote biological interaction in the media bed.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of directing the fluid flow through the permeable upper surface comprises:

mixing a first flow species and a second flow species within the underdrain interior prior to directing a mixed flow stream through the permeable upper surface and into the media bed.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the upper drain permeable surface is positioned to face the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the upper drain permeable surface is positioned to face away from the permeable upper surface of each elongated underdrain structure.

21 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of positioning the upper shaped drain assembly further comprises:

positioning the upper shaped drain assembly above the media bed.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of positioning the upper shaped drain assembly further comprises:

positioning the upper shaped drain assembly within the media bed.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (23)