Apparatus for water purification by culturing and harvesting attached algal communities
US5527456A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 18, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W10/37
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A floway for cleansing the water of a waterway containing nutrients and other pollutants, utilizing growing attached algal turf, the floway utilizing at least two elongate curbs spaced apart in a parallel relationship. A growing surface for algae is disposed between the curbs, on which growing surface, selected algae are caused to grow and form an algal turf able to bring about bioassimilation of nutrients and pollutants, as well as the physical trapping of particulates contained in water caused to flow over the algal turf. Water from the waterway is directed to flow through the floway and over the algal turf. A mobile harvester is provided for removing mature algal turf containing nutrients and pollutants assimilated and trapped by the algal turf, such harvester being of a width commensurate with the spacing of the curbs, so as to be supported therefrom. The harvester contains a vacuum pickup system, including an intake plenum for harvesting mature algal turf. Advantageously, the harvested algal turf is disposed of without permitting it to reenter the waterway. This floway may be a part of an algal farm made up of a number of floways disposed in a parallel array, with a barge bein…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.