1

hydraulic ram

2

piston (permeable to liquids but
substantially impermeable to solids)

3

reaction tank

4

circulation pump

5

pH probe

6

wastewater transfer pump

7

wastewater sump

8

pressure relief valve (discharge of solids)

9

effluent discharge

10

acid and base pumps

11

precipitator pump

12

coagulator pump

Starting with valves 9 closed and all pumps inactive, this treatment proceeds in the following sequence :

1.

hydraulic ram 1 lifts piston 2 to its uppermost position;

2.

pump 6 transfers wastewater from sump 7 into reaction tank 3, beneath piston 2;

3.

circulation pump 4, with an appropriate set-up of valves installed on the circulation loop, starts to provide rapid mixing of wastewater in reaction tank 3;

4.

metering pumps 11 and 12 inject a required dosage of Calcium Chloride (precipitation of dissolved surfactants) and a high molecular weight cationic polymer (coagulation and flocculation of solids) into reaction tank 3;

5.

circulation pump 4 continues providing rapid mixing of wastewater inside reaction tank 3, until Calcium Chloride and the polymer are thoroughly dispersed;

6.

circulation pump 4, with an appropriate set-up of valves installed on the circulation loop, starts to provide gentle ("tapered") mixing to expedite coagulation and flocculation;

7.

after a sufficient time to permit the completion of precipitation and coagulation/flocculation, circulation pump 4 stops and hydraulic ram 1 slowly moves piston 2 downwards in reaction tank 3, to its lowermost position (this allows water to be displaced through piston 2 to the space above piston 2, while confining solids to the space below piston 2);

8.

circulation pump 4 starts to provide intensive mixing of water (now free of suspended solids and surfactants) inside reaction tank 3, above piston 2;

9.

if the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) is between 7 and 10, pH probe 5 stops circulation pump 4 and opens valves 9, discharging water from the space above piston 2 to sewer;

10.

if the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) is lower than 7 or higher than 10, pH probe 5:

a.

activates an appropriate metering pump 10 to adjust the pH, and then

b.

stops circulation pump 4 and opens valves 9, discharging water from the space above piston 2 to sewer.

After a sufficient accumulation of solids in the lowest part of reaction tank 3, the solids are automatically discharged through pressure relief valve 8, during subsequent downward movements of piston 2.