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2
Introduction: Tricel Vitae
Tricel Vitae wastewater treatment plants are manufactured from sheet moulding compound (SMC)
ensuring a durable and high-strength product. They are also constructed from modular
components; these modules are then fabricated together to make different size tanks.
The Tricel Vitae is suitable for domestic and light commercial applications and is a sequential batch
reactor (SBR). There are two zones in the SBR treatment system. The first is a buffer zone where the
wastewater gets stored. From here it is carried into the second zone for treatment in batches.
Wastewater is then treated for a set amount of time, after which it is expelled from the tank. As the
treatment is for a fixed amount of time in each batch, the water emitted from the tank is to the
highest quality standard even in times of high usage.
2.1
The Wastewater purification process
Stage 1: Buffer chamber
The buffer chamber acts primarily as a storage zone to hold the wastewater until it is ready to be
treated. This ensures that even in times of low usage there is a constant supply of wastewater to
feed the bacteria. While being stored the heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank and the light
particles, like fats or oils, float to the top of the water to create a scum. An airlift pump takes
wastewater from the buffer chamber to the aeration chamber in batches at the beginning of the
aeration cycle. The airlifter is designed to ensure that only the wastewater from the centre of the
chamber gets transferred into the aeration chamber.
Stage 2: Aeration (treatment) chamber
This stage of the process takes place in the second chamber where submerged aeration combines
the principles of the biofilm and activated sludge processes. Masses of naturally occurring bacteria
form in clumps at the bottom of the chamber. These bacteria get sustained with air delivered by
means of an aerator at the bottom of the tank which turns on intermittently throughout the cycle.
After the aeration takes place, there is a settling phase in which the aerator is turned off for 1.5 -2
hours. This process allows for the solids and the bacteria to settle to the bottom of the chamber. As
a result, the water above is cleared of any solid particles before it gets expelled from the tank.
