Patent attributes
A small and cost effective sewage treatment system intended for unattended use in individual homes, small industries or businesses in locations where a central sewage treatment plant is not available. The sewage treatment system comprises a conventional septic tank which drains into a smaller aerated holding tank, a pump to transfer effluent from the holding tank into a disinfecting chamber, a regenerative heat exchanger used to raise the temperature of the effluent while being aerated in the holding tank, means for pumping the effluent at a controlled rate through a microwave field, and a conventional drain field used to release the disinfected water into the surrounding soil. Operation of this system is fully regulated by a micro-controller, thereby eliminating the need for human intervention during normal use. This invention also incorporates electronic means for detecting various fault conditions which may impede effective disinfection, means for diagnosing what part of the system is at fault, means for reporting the fault and diagnose to a central municipal location via a telephone or transponder system, an emergency battery backup system, and means for reverting system operation to that of a conventional septic tank and drain field system is case of a total power failure (both A/C and DIC) or water pump failure. Conventional household alternating current or a battery recharged via a wind generator or solar cells may power the sewage treatment system.
