Modern wastewater treatment: features, description and types

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

The process of urbanization, and in particular the expansion of public utilities, complicates the tasks of urban service organizations. The fight against sewage pollution is especially important in this regard, since the waste from the consumption of household fluids has a direct impact on the hydrological system of the area. In this regard, more effective means of minimizing the negative processes of environmental impact are being developed. Today, wastewater treatment is organized taking into account several factors for the elimination of harmful microorganisms. The main method of water treatment is still the arrangement of mechanical filter stations, but more and more complex plants are appearing that also perform high-quality biological water treatment.

Features of modern wastewater treatment

Engineering equipment is developing in general directions that focus on improving ergonomics and reliability. Therefore, a modern sewage treatment plant is characterized by versatility, efficiency and ease of operation. Both industrial and domestic wastewater filtration systems are equipped with control panels with a wide range of settings.

In addition, the developersprojects of sewerage and septic systems strive to rationalize communication networks as much as possible, optimizing energy resources as well. In other words, wastewater treatment at some sites can also be connected to complex engineering management systems for a home or enterprise. And this is not to mention the increase in the basic operational capabilities of cleaning equipment, which is achieved through the use of high-tech filtration materials.

Mechanical cleaning

The whole wastewater treatment process is divided into several stages, which have significant technological differences. The stage of mechanical filtration is primary and at the same time multi-stage. The simplest mechanism for such cleaning can be observed on the streets in the form of metal, concrete or plastic gratings that trap debris, leaves, stones and other large elements. In the future, wastewater can be sent through the sewer channel to special centrifuges and hydrocyclones. Also, a special strainer is used to trap microscopic particles - in essence, this is a filtration cleaning station. The drain, thanks to such equipment, can be cleaned of elements up to 0.25 mm in size. Together, the cleaning steps to this point can eliminate about 80% of foreign bodies in the waste fluid.

Biological treatment

Means of this kind of cleaning are usually used as a continuation of mechanical filtration. We can say basic cleaning with strainersprepares liquid for deeper processing by biological stations. However, both methods work on different principles. That is, it is wrong to assume that mechanical filtration retains large particles, while biological installations retain small ones. The second option focuses on the environmental neutralization of water, which does not cause chemical harm during maintenance and after its release into water bodies. To date, the biological treatment of wastewater, the main goal is the elimination of organic matter or its processing. As a result, the composition of the liquid medium retains only dissolved nitrates and oxygen. In practice, such cleaning is implemented in two ways - natural or artificial. In the first case, wastewater is dispersed in filtration fields and biological ponds. Artificial cleaning is carried out in special aeration tanks that release environmentally friendly water into reservoirs.

Chemical and thermal cleaning methods

From the point of view of eliminating the negative processes of decomposition in the sewage environment, one of the most effective methods is chemical reagent. As a rule, this group of methods is based on redox reactions, which essentially cancel some reactions, replacing them with others that are less environmentally hazardous. But the most effective method of combating pollution in wastewater is thermal exposure. This method is carried out using furnace installations and burners in which the liquid is burned. Wastewater treatment by fire is also practiced.method without the use of furnace structures. Technologically, this method involves spraying a liquid in a finely dispersed state into a special torch formed during the combustion of gaseous fuel. As a result, water evaporates, which eliminates harmful compounds.

Sludge disposal

New technologies, which ensure the complete elimination of decomposition products, are not yet used at all treatment facilities. Moreover, such a principle does not always justify itself economically. Therefore, traditional cleaning channels are still common, the operation of which leaves sediments. New technologies in such recycling processes manifest themselves at the final stage of waste disposal. In particular, digesters are used. These are massive reinforced concrete tanks in which biogas is formed by fermentation. As a result, methane fuel is formed, which can later be used in boiler houses instead of traditional fuel. Also, complex wastewater treatment with sludge elimination involves the use of mechanical dehydration methods using special devices - centrifuges, belt or chamber pressing plants. In the future, the products of such processing, depending on the chemical composition, can be used in agriculture as a fertilizer.

Conclusion

At this stage in the development of sewer systems, many manufacturers are solving the problem of a complete transition to one of the cleaning methods. This is due to the fact that the technical organizationseveral stages of processing contaminated liquid is expensive and requires the connection of large resources in the maintenance process. As an alternative, a biological wastewater treatment plant is considered, which also provides for the functions of mechanical processing, but only as auxiliary stages. However, this option cannot be called universal, since biological aerotanks lose in terms of the efficiency of removing harmful particles to the same thermal cleaning. Therefore, it is still advisable to approach the solution of the problem of wastewater treatment through the development of projects that take into account individual conditions and the requirements of the treatment equipment.