WO2012134418A1 - Municipal wastewater electrical power generation assembly and a method for generating electrical power - Google Patents

Municipal wastewater electrical power generation assembly and a method for generating electrical power Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012134418A1
WO2012134418A1 PCT/US2011/000559 US2011000559W WO2012134418A1 WO 2012134418 A1 WO2012134418 A1 WO 2012134418A1 US 2011000559 W US2011000559 W US 2011000559W WO 2012134418 A1 WO2012134418 A1 WO 2012134418A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
waste
assembly
clean water
selectively
electrical power
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2011/000559
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Gerard CHUPA
Subramaniam Ganesan
Christopher J. KOBUS
Original Assignee
Chupa John Gerard
Subramaniam Ganesan
Kobus Christopher J
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Chupa John Gerard, Subramaniam Ganesan, Kobus Christopher J filed Critical Chupa John Gerard
Priority to PCT/US2011/000559 priority Critical patent/WO2012134418A1/en
Publication of WO2012134418A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012134418A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/006—Regulation methods for biological treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/28—Anaerobic digestion processes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
    • C02F2303/10—Energy recovery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2210/00—Working fluid
    • F05B2210/10—Kind or type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2220/00—Application
    • F05B2220/60—Application making use of surplus or waste energy
    • F05B2220/602—Application making use of surplus or waste energy with energy recovery turbines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F05D2220/00—Application
    • F05D2220/70—Application in combination with
    • F05D2220/75—Application in combination with equipment using fuel having a low calorific value, e.g. low BTU fuel, waste end, syngas, biomass fuel or flare gas
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/50—Hydropower in dwellings
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W10/00—Technologies for wastewater treatment
    • Y02W10/30—Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a municipal wastewater electrical power generating assembly and to a method for generating electrical power and, more particularly, to an assembly and to a method which allows for the efficient generation of electrical power and electrical energy from a wastewater treatment facility according to a variety of generating strategies which may be selectively used in a desired manner.
  • a wastewater treatment facility typically receives waste laden water based liquid (generally and most typically denoted as “wastewater”) and is adapted to and actually treats the contained waste by removing undesirable waste constituents from the received liquid (e.g., organic type constituents) and returns or generates or “creates” substantially “clean” water which may be further processed to create what is often referred to as “drinkable” Water.
  • waste water waste laden water based liquid
  • Such a treatment facility is owned and operated by a municipality and the treated liquid which emanates from that municipality (i.e., the generated or produced "clean” water) is transmitted back to citizens or residents of that municipality.
  • the present invention enhances the operational performance of such wastewater treatment facilities by allowing for the efficient generation of electrical power as part of the overall wastewater treatment process, wherein such generated electrical power may be used for a variety of purposes and in a variety of applications.
  • an assembly for ⁇ use in combination with a wastewater treatment facility of the type which receives waste containing liquid and which produces substantially clean water and waste, the assembly of the present invention including a first portion which selectively receives the substantially clean water and which selectively generates electricity by use of the received substantially clean water; a second portion which receives the waste and which selectively generates electricity by use of the received waste; and a third portion which controls the operation of the first and second portions, thereby controlling' the generation of electricity by use of the waste containing liquid.
  • a method for generating electrical energy includes receiving wastewater which comprises a combination of water and waste; removing the waste from the wastewater, thereby producing substantially clean water; causing the substantially clean water to flow through a first turbine assembly and to thereafter enter a retention pond, producing gas from the received waste; and using the gas to operate a second turbine assembly, wherein the first and second turbine assemblies are each adapted to selectively produce electrical energy.
  • an assembly for use in combination with a wastewater treatment facility of the type which receives waste containing liquid and which produces substantially clean water and waste, the assembly of the present invention including a first portion which selectively receives the substantially clean water and which selectively generates electricity by use of the substantially clean water; a second portion which receives th ' ⁇ "' ⁇ ' ⁇ wa ' ste and which generates waste gas; a third portion which selectively receives the waste gas and which selectively generates electricity by use of the waste gas; a controller which is coupled to said first, second, and third portions and which controls the operation of the first, second, and third portions, thereby controlling the generation of electricity by use of the waste containing liquid .
  • a method for generating electrical energy comprises a plurality of electric energy generating strategies involving wastewater; and selectively utilizing the predetermined control strategies in a manner which allows a substantially constant amount of electric energy to be produced.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram o,f the assembly and method for generating electrical power according to the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • an electrical power generation assembly 10 which is made in accordance with the teachings of the preferred, although non-limiting, invention and which is operatively deployed within and which operates in combination with and/or which forms a part of an overall wastewater treatment facility 12, such as but not-limited to a municipal wastewater treatment facility.
  • the wastewater treatment facility 12 receives wastewater 14 and produces water 16 which has a reduced amount of organic material.
  • This "cleaned” water 16 i.e., sometimes referred to as “substantially clean water
  • the substantially “drinkable” water 5 is then transmitted and/or delivered to the various residents, citizens, and business/other entities which operate within that municipality.
  • the treatment system 12 includes an organic removal assembly 18 (such as an agitator assembly) which is adapted to receive the wastewater 14 and to selectively remove the organic material from the received wastewater 14, thereby creating substantially clean water 16.
  • an organic removal assembly 18 such as an agitator assembly
  • the present invention is independent of the actual organic material removal process and that substantially any desired organic removal process may be utilized, of which there may be many.
  • the substantially clean water 16 is transmitted, in one noon- limiting embodiment, to holding tanks 30 while the removed organic material 36 is typically discarded.
  • the substantially clean water 16, on its way to the holding tanks or pond 30, is made to first traverse a first turbine assembly 40 and such traversal causes the generation of electrical energy or electrical power 48.
  • the turbine assembly 40 includes the combination of a turbine 101 and a generator 102 and the moving water 16 causes the blades of the turbine 101 to move, and such movement is transferred to the generator 102 which causes the generator to generate electricity or electrical power 48.
  • the obtained organic material 36 is transmitted, in one non- limiting embodiment, to a digester assembly 50 (e.g., comprising in one non-limiting embodiment, a plurality of holding tanks) and the organic material subsequently produces digester gas 55.
  • This digester gas 55 is then used to operate a second turbine assembly 60 which may be substantially, similar to assembly 40 and which produces electrical power 62 (e.g., the produced gas is made to turn/move the blades of the turbine of this second assembly 40, which causes concomitant movement within a second generator which is effective to produce electricity or electrical power 62).
  • Both of the turbine assemblies 40, 60 operate under the direction and control of controller assembly 70 and may each be selectively connected to the power grid of the municipality where the generated electrical power 48,62 may be sold and utilized. Alternatively the produced electrical power 48, 62 may be utilized by the wastewater treatment plant itself.
  • the organic material may alternatively be utilized /processed as fertilizer and the digester gas may be transmitted to a heat exchanger assembly and the produced heated air may be used within/outside of the plant 12.
  • some or all of the organic material 36 may be transmitted to a furnace assembly 100 where the received organic material 36 is combusted and made to produce steam 102.
  • the steam 102 may then be selectively communicated to a third turbine assembly 110 (which may be substantially similar to assembly 40) and the gas 102 causes the blades of the turbine portion of the third turbine assembly 110 to move, which in turn causes the generator portion of the third turbine assembly 110 to generate electricity 13.
  • the created gas 102 may be selectively communicated to the second turbine assembly 60 and/or to the first turbine assembly 40 which causes this turbine assembly 60 to produce electricity.
  • each strategy in one non-limiting embodiment uses a unique turbine assembly 40, 60, 110
  • a unique turbine assembly 40, 60, 110 which may be singularly or cooperatively employed in any manner (e.g., each strategy may respectively and singularly be utilized, any two strategies may be utilized, or all three strategies may be utilized as desired) .
  • control assembly 70 may comprise a computer which is operable under stored program control and is coupled to a first control valve 120, a second control valve 130, and a third control valve 140.
  • control assembly 70 is coupled to valve 120 by bus 119 and by use of valve 120, assembly 70 allows the substantially clean water 16 to either flow through the first turbine assembly 40 or to bypass the assembly and enter into holding tank assembly 30. If no water 16 flows trough assembly 40, electrical power 48 is not produced.
  • the control assembly 70 is coupled to valve 130 by bus 131 and by use of valve 130, assembly 70 either allows or prevents the emitted gas 55 to enter the turbine assembly 60. If no gas 55 flows through assembly 60, no electrical power 62 is produced.
  • the control assembly 70 is coupled to valve 140 by bus 141 and by the use of control valve 140, assembly 70 either allows or prevents material 36 from entering the furnace or combustion chamber 100. If no material 36 enters furnace 100, no electrical power 13 is produced.
  • the selective activation of the control valves 120, 130, 140 allows for the use of the diverse strategies and such use is important because there may be an interruption or uneven supply in the substantially clean water 16, and/or there occurs a fault in one or more of the turbine assemblies 40, 60, 110, with such multiple strategies, electrical power, to some extent, may continue to be produced even if such a fault or interruption occurs.
  • the control assembly 70 may be programmed to provide a substantially constant amount of electric power.
  • controller assembly 70 may be selectively employed by the controller assembly 70 to provide a substantially constant amount of electrical power. That is, controller assembly 70 constantly, in one non-limiting embodiment, monitors the amount of produced electrical power 48, 62, and 13 (by the use of a power meter assembly which is coupled to each of the turbine assemblies 40, 60, 110) and, through the control of valves, 120 130, 140,. selects which strategies to use and the respective duration of use, in order to maintain an overall constant amount of generated electrical power.
  • heat which is exhausted from the furnace assembly 100 may be used/sold to heat homes or other buildings.
  • a business method is provided whereby the electric power generation assembly 12 is provided to a municipality and operated by a private entity which provides some of the produced electrical power to that municipality and sells the rest, thereby comprising a profitable business venture.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical generating assembly 10 which may be selectively used in combination with and/or as part of a municipal wastewater treatment facility 12 and which allows the wastewater treatment facility 12 to generate electrical energy 48,62, 13 as received wastewater 14 is cleaned according to a plurality of diverse energy generating strategies.

Description

Municipal Wastewater Electrical Power Generation Assembly And A Method For Generating Electrical Power
General Background
Field Of The Invention
The present invention generally relates to a municipal wastewater electrical power generating assembly and to a method for generating electrical power and, more particularly, to an assembly and to a method which allows for the efficient generation of electrical power and electrical energy from a wastewater treatment facility according to a variety of generating strategies which may be selectively used in a desired manner.
Background Of The Invention
A wastewater treatment facility typically receives waste laden water based liquid (generally and most typically denoted as "wastewater") and is adapted to and actually treats the contained waste by removing undesirable waste constituents from the received liquid (e.g., organic type constituents) and returns or generates or "creates" substantially "clean" water which may be further processed to create what is often referred to as "drinkable" Water. Typically, such a treatment facility is owned and operated by a municipality and the treated liquid which emanates from that municipality (i.e., the generated or produced "clean" water) is transmitted back to citizens or residents of that municipality.
While these wastewater treatment facilities do indeed desirably treat such waste liquid, they undesirably utilize a lot of electrical energy and the cost of such energy is increasing. Moreover the cost and use of such electrical energy for all purposes is vastly increasing throughout the world .
The present invention enhances the operational performance of such wastewater treatment facilities by allowing for the efficient generation of electrical power as part of the overall wastewater treatment process, wherein such generated electrical power may be used for a variety of purposes and in a variety of applications.
Summary Of The Invention
It is a first non-limiting object of the present invention to provide an assembly which may be used within a wastewater treatment facility and which allows for the generation of electrical power as part of the overall wastewater treatment process.
It is a second non-limiting object of the present invention to provide a method for generating electrical power as part of a wastewater treatment process.
It is a third non-limiting object of the present invention to provide an assembly and a method which is adapted to employ a plurality of diverse electrical energy generating strategies and to allow several or all or a selected singular strategy to be selectively employed.
According to a first non-limiting aspect of the present invention an assembly is provided for ■ use in combination with a wastewater treatment facility of the type which receives waste containing liquid and which produces substantially clean water and waste, the assembly of the present invention including a first portion which selectively receives the substantially clean water and which selectively generates electricity by use of the received substantially clean water; a second portion which receives the waste and which selectively generates electricity by use of the received waste; and a third portion which controls the operation of the first and second portions, thereby controlling' the generation of electricity by use of the waste containing liquid.
According to a second non-limiting aspect of the present invention, a method for generating electrical energy is provided. Particularly, the method includes receiving wastewater which comprises a combination of water and waste; removing the waste from the wastewater, thereby producing substantially clean water; causing the substantially clean water to flow through a first turbine assembly and to thereafter enter a retention pond, producing gas from the received waste; and using the gas to operate a second turbine assembly, wherein the first and second turbine assemblies are each adapted to selectively produce electrical energy.
' According to a third non-limiting aspect of the present invention an assembly is provided for use in combination with a wastewater treatment facility of the type which receives waste containing liquid and which produces substantially clean water and waste, the assembly of the present invention including a first portion which selectively receives the substantially clean water and which selectively generates electricity by use of the substantially clean water; a second portion which receives th'^"'·'·wa'ste and which generates waste gas; a third portion which selectively receives the waste gas and which selectively generates electricity by use of the waste gas; a controller which is coupled to said first, second, and third portions and which controls the operation of the first, second, and third portions, thereby controlling the generation of electricity by use of the waste containing liquid .
According to a fourth non-limiting aspect of the present invention a method for generating electrical energy is provided. Particularly, the method comprises a plurality of electric energy generating strategies involving wastewater; and selectively utilizing the predetermined control strategies in a manner which allows a substantially constant amount of electric energy to be produced.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages . of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and by reference to the following drawings. Brief Description Of The Drawings
Figure 1 is a block diagram o,f the assembly and method for generating electrical power according to the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiment Of The
Invention
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an electrical power generation assembly 10 which is made in accordance with the teachings of the preferred, although non-limiting, invention and which is operatively deployed within and which operates in combination with and/or which forms a part of an overall wastewater treatment facility 12, such as but not-limited to a municipal wastewater treatment facility.
Particularly, as should be known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the wastewater treatment facility 12 receives wastewater 14 and produces water 16 which has a reduced amount of organic material. This "cleaned" water 16 (i.e., sometimes referred to as "substantially clean water) is typically sent to a holding tank assembly 48 which may agitate the water and/or further process the water, before it fs deemed to be "drinkable" or potable. The substantially "drinkable" water 5 is then transmitted and/or delivered to the various residents, citizens, and business/other entities which operate within that municipality. The combination of the organic removal assembly and the holding tank assembly 30 cooperati ely form the wastewater treatment facility 12, according to one non-limiting embodiment.
The treatment system 12 includes an organic removal assembly 18 (such as an agitator assembly) which is adapted to receive the wastewater 14 and to selectively remove the organic material from the received wastewater 14, thereby creating substantially clean water 16. It should be appreciated that the present invention is independent of the actual organic material removal process and that substantially any desired organic removal process may be utilized, of which there may be many. Importantly, according to the known and utilized strategies, the substantially clean water 16 is transmitted, in one noon- limiting embodiment, to holding tanks 30 while the removed organic material 36 is typically discarded.
According to the teachings of the present invention, the substantially clean water 16, on its way to the holding tanks or pond 30, is made to first traverse a first turbine assembly 40 and such traversal causes the generation of electrical energy or electrical power 48. That is, the turbine assembly 40 includes the combination of a turbine 101 and a generator 102 and the moving water 16 causes the blades of the turbine 101 to move, and such movement is transferred to the generator 102 which causes the generator to generate electricity or electrical power 48. The obtained organic material 36 is transmitted, in one non- limiting embodiment, to a digester assembly 50 (e.g., comprising in one non-limiting embodiment, a plurality of holding tanks) and the organic material subsequently produces digester gas 55. This digester gas 55 is then used to operate a second turbine assembly 60 which may be substantially, similar to assembly 40 and which produces electrical power 62 (e.g., the produced gas is made to turn/move the blades of the turbine of this second assembly 40, which causes concomitant movement within a second generator which is effective to produce electricity or electrical power 62). Both of the turbine assemblies 40, 60 operate under the direction and control of controller assembly 70 and may each be selectively connected to the power grid of the municipality where the generated electrical power 48,62 may be sold and utilized. Alternatively the produced electrical power 48, 62 may be utilized by the wastewater treatment plant itself.
Moreover, the organic material may alternatively be utilized /processed as fertilizer and the digester gas may be transmitted to a heat exchanger assembly and the produced heated air may be used within/outside of the plant 12.
Alternatively or concurrently with the foregoing operation of the turbine assemblies, 40, 60, some or all of the organic material 36 may be transmitted to a furnace assembly 100 where the received organic material 36 is combusted and made to produce steam 102. The steam 102 may then be selectively communicated to a third turbine assembly 110 (which may be substantially similar to assembly 40) and the gas 102 causes the blades of the turbine portion of the third turbine assembly 110 to move, which in turn causes the generator portion of the third turbine assembly 110 to generate electricity 13. Alternatively, the created gas 102 may be selectively communicated to the second turbine assembly 60 and/or to the first turbine assembly 40 which causes this turbine assembly 60 to produce electricity.
It should be appreciated that the foregoing electric power generator system 10 has three separate and unique power generator strategies (e.g., each strategy, in one non-limiting embodiment uses a unique turbine assembly 40, 60, 110) which may be singularly or cooperatively employed in any manner (e.g., each strategy may respectively and singularly be utilized, any two strategies may be utilized, or all three strategies may be utilized as desired) .
It should further be appreciated that the control assembly 70 may comprise a computer which is operable under stored program control and is coupled to a first control valve 120, a second control valve 130, and a third control valve 140. Particularly, the control assembly 70 is coupled to valve 120 by bus 119 and by use of valve 120, assembly 70 allows the substantially clean water 16 to either flow through the first turbine assembly 40 or to bypass the assembly and enter into holding tank assembly 30. If no water 16 flows trough assembly 40, electrical power 48 is not produced. The control assembly 70 is coupled to valve 130 by bus 131 and by use of valve 130, assembly 70 either allows or prevents the emitted gas 55 to enter the turbine assembly 60. If no gas 55 flows through assembly 60, no electrical power 62 is produced. The control assembly 70 is coupled to valve 140 by bus 141 and by the use of control valve 140, assembly 70 either allows or prevents material 36 from entering the furnace or combustion chamber 100. If no material 36 enters furnace 100, no electrical power 13 is produced. In this manner, the selective activation of the control valves 120, 130, 140 allows for the use of the diverse strategies and such use is important because there may be an interruption or uneven supply in the substantially clean water 16, and/or there occurs a fault in one or more of the turbine assemblies 40, 60, 110, with such multiple strategies, electrical power, to some extent, may continue to be produced even if such a fault or interruption occurs. Moreover, the control assembly 70 may be programmed to provide a substantially constant amount of electric power. That is, in this production it is highly undesirable to have "spikes" (i.e., increases) or troughs (i.e., decreases) in the desired amount of electrical power production. The three strategies may be selectively employed by the controller assembly 70 to provide a substantially constant amount of electrical power. That is, controller assembly 70 constantly, in one non-limiting embodiment, monitors the amount of produced electrical power 48, 62, and 13 (by the use of a power meter assembly which is coupled to each of the turbine assemblies 40, 60, 110) and, through the control of valves, 120 130, 140,. selects which strategies to use and the respective duration of use, in order to maintain an overall constant amount of generated electrical power. In yet, a farther nan limiting embodiment, heat which is exhausted from the furnace assembly 100 may be used/sold to heat homes or other buildings. In yet another non-limiting embodiment, a business method is provided whereby the electric power generation assembly 12 is provided to a municipality and operated by a private entity which provides some of the produced electrical power to that municipality and sells the rest, thereby comprising a profitable business venture.
It is to be understood that the present inventions are not limited to the scope or content of the subjoined claims but that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the various inventions which are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:
(1) An assembly for use in combination with a wastewater treatment facility of the type which receives waste containing liquid and which produces substantially clean water and waste, the assembly of the present invention including a first portion which selectively receives the substantially clean water and which selectively generates electricity by use of the received substantially clean water; a second portion which receives the waste and which selectively generates electricity by use of the received waste; and a third portion which controls the operation of the first and second portions, thereby controlling the generation of electricity by use of said waste containing liquid.
(2) A method for generating electrical energy comprising the steps of receiving wastewater which comprises a combination of water and waste; removing the waste from the wastewater, thereby producing substantially clean water; causing the substantially clean water to flow through a first turbine assembly and to thereafter enter a retention pond; causing the removed waste to enter a digester assembly; producing gas from the waste which has entered the digester assembly; using the gas to operate a second turbine assembly, wherein the first and second turbine assemblies each produce electrical energy.
(3) An assembly for use in combination with a wastewater treatment facility of the type which receives waste containing liquid and which produces substantially clean water and waste, the assembly of the present invention including a first portion which selectively receives the substantially clean water and which selectively generates electricity by use of the substantially clean water; a second portion which receives the waste and which selectively generates waste gas; a third portion which selectively receives the waste gas and which generates electricity by use of the waste gas; a controller which is coupled to said first, second, and third portions and which controls the operation of the first, second, and third portions, thereby controlling the generation of electricity by use of said waste containing liquid.
(4) A method for generating electrical energy is provided, said method comprising a plurality of electric energy generating strategies involving wastewater; and selectively utilizing the predetermined strategies in a manner which allows a substantially constant amount of electric energy to be produced.
PCT/US2011/000559 2011-03-28 2011-03-28 Municipal wastewater electrical power generation assembly and a method for generating electrical power WO2012134418A1 (en)

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US6444124B1 (en) * 1999-08-27 2002-09-03 Theodore Onyeche System and method for improved treatment of wastewater
US20040159608A1 (en) * 2001-02-20 2004-08-19 Hoffland Robert O. Method and apparatus for treating animal waste and wastwater
US20040084366A1 (en) * 2002-11-01 2004-05-06 Joseph Anderson Apparatus, system and method for treating waste material
US20060053684A1 (en) * 2004-09-15 2006-03-16 Murcia Philippe R Fuel source and method of forming same from blending wastewater contaminants with biomass leftovers while cleansing wastewater
US20070041790A1 (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-22 Cripps Jeffrey L Waste water electrical power generating system
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