The Mini-Plant is a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) system, controlled by a factory set programmer which times aeration and settling functions. A batch of treated effluent is discharged to the disposal area once a day.
The program is set to aerate for 20 hours, 6:00 A.M until 2 A.M., supplying the wastewater with fine diffused air. Air diffusers create thousands of fine air bubbles supplying oxygen for the aerobic digestion process. At 2:00 A.M. the program turns the compressor off and a 3 hour quiescent settling period follows. During this period, the aeration tank becomes the settling tank and the batch process uses this time to separate the solids from the clear supernatant.
After the Mini-Plant's 3 hours of perfectly quiescent settling period, the clear supernatant (effluent) is discharged (5:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M.) to the disposal area, solids are retained. The Mini-Plant begins the new day's cycle, aerating to further digest the retained organic solids and the incoming wastewater. The Mini-Plant has three main sections; the control panel, the manway and the tank with its in tank components.
