Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Supported – shaped or superimposed formed mediums
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-09-04
Kim, John (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
Supported, shaped or superimposed formed mediums
C210S483000, C210S615000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283309
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for purifying gases or liquids, said device comprising a chamber in which filter material is received, said chamber having intakes and outlets for the medium to be purified, said filter material being a mat having large open pores and being made of foamed plastic material, said mat being intended for absorbing micro organisms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In a device of this type, as described in EP-A-0 190 801, a commercially available mat is employed, its one side being flat and its other side being provided with projecting portions so that the surface, seen in cross-section, has an undulated profile. The mat has a very large surface per unit of volume and has good adhesive properties for micro organisms. A number of such mats are placed on top of each other so that a plane surface of one mat contacts an undulating surface of the mat lying on it. Due to this, a certain free space remains between successive mats.
Although a good purifying result is achieved, there is the difficulty that the medium flowing through and along the mats experiences a considerable flow resistance. Using a rolled-up strip of foamed plastic material in a biological filter is known per se from GB-A-1 281 874. There, the strips are wound in such a way, that successive windings are spaced apart across some distance. To that end, the strip will be heated during rolling it up, so that a more or less stiff unity is achieved. It is obvious that it can only be used with relatively small dimensions of the strip.
Using a rolled-up strip is further known from FR-A-2 051 381. However, therein a foil of plastic and an undulated foil are used, so that continuous channels are achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to remove this difficulty and to that end provides for, that the mat of foamed plastic material has a flat surface on both sides and is rolled-up under insertion of a supporting element made of - at least partly - undulated, mutually connected, resilient threads, in such a way that a certain distance between the parts of the mat radially following one another remains free by the presence of the supporting element and the rolled-up mat can be fittingly mounted in a supporting structure.
It has turned out, that the micro organisms, providing for purification of the medium flowing through the device, exert their action substantially at the surface of the mat. Due to the presence of the supporting element, the flow resistance exerted on the medium flowing through, is restricted considerably, even though a good purifying action is achieved by the presence of the micro organisms on the surface of the mat. Manufacturing such a device is relatively simple too, and thus inexpensive.
According to a further development of the invention, the supporting structure, in which the filter material is received, will be a pipe having a framework therein for supporting the filter material, the pipe being arranged vertically in the chamber.
The width of such a mat will be kept restricted in order to prevent the vertically arranged mat from deforming under influence of its weight. In order to achieve a sufficiently large capacity of a device, it can be provided for, that a number of pipes, every one of them containing filter material, are stacked on top of one another, to which purpose parts of the pipes can engage and support each other.
This also contributes to the fact that the mats can be easily replaced, if necessary. A contaminated mat can then be cleaned so that it can be used again.
In order to render the mat biologically active, when the mat is brought to use, a biomass is applied on it, such as in the form of a graft, for example. The composition of said graft will depend on the nature and the composition of the medium to be treated. During use, the size of the biomass will increase so that the optimum efficiency of the device will be achieved after some time.
The device can be used for purifying air containing volatile hydrocarbons. Then, water will be sprayed onto the mat from above, so that the water consumption is reduced to a minimum. There, the air will be led through the chamber from the bottom to the top.
There, means for keeping or bringing the pH-value of the recirculated water at the desired value can be present. It is also possible to add nutrients to the water for an optimum biological purification of the air flowing through the device.
The device can also be provided with measuring equipment for the temperature, the salinity and the pressure drop. By this, the most essential conditions of the surrounding for the micro organisms can be monitored.
The device can also be used for purifying water. Then, the water can flow through the device from the top to the bottom and air can be brought into the lower part of the chamber so that it will flow through the water to be purified from the bottom to the top.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3112261 (1963-11-01), Porter et al.
patent: 4908128 (1990-03-01), Chiba
patent: 5718823 (1998-02-01), Tomita et al.
patent: 0190801 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 2051381 (1971-04-01), None
Derwent abstract of Great Britain Patent No. 1281874, 1972.
Foley & Lardner
Kim John
LandOfFree
Device for purifying gases, such as air in particular, or... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for purifying gases, such as air in particular, or..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for purifying gases, such as air in particular, or... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2501547