BiowaveTM: A novel reactor for the treatment of wastewater

BiowaveTM, a novel process for the treatment of sewage, is based on the development of a resonant wave motion in a tank. Treatment is brought about by biofilms attached to arrays of parallel plates in the tank. These biofilms are alternately wetted by the wastewater and exposed to air. The plates are arranged parallel to the direction of wave-motion resulting in a very energy efficient device — the only energy required is that to overcome friction between moving water and the plates. The unit produced a very high quality effluent at all loads tested. The commercially available wave generator, a floating plastic sphere with an internal motor driving a weight oscillating on a vertical shaft, supplied by the WOW company of Belgium, has been used successfully to demonstrate this concept for wastewater treatment. An intrinsic limitation caused by placing the drive mechanism inside the floating body meant that the unit was tested with a wave-motion of greater frequency and lower amplitude than designed.