Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Separating
Patent
1993-11-16
1995-07-11
Dawson, Robert A.
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Separating
210799, 2102423, 210923, 210519, C02F 140
Patent
active
054318289
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating immiscible liquids of differing specific quantities and more especially for separating a surface layer of liquid of lower density from a body of liquid of higher density on which it is floating. The invention is especially suited to the removal of floating oil from the surface of water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method for the separation of a less dense liquid from a body of a more dense liquid on which it is floating, which comprises passing a column of liquid at high velocity substantially vertically from within the body of liquid through the surface thereof and collecting the mixture of less dense liquid and other liquids thereby produced.
The invention also provides an apparatus for the separation of a less dense liquid from a body of more dense liquid on which it is floating, which comprises means for generating a high-velocity column of carrier liquid, means for directing said column upwardly through the body of liquid and the floating layer of less dense liquid, whereby a layer of less dense liquid is entrained by the surface of the column of carrier liquid, and means for directing said carrier liquid and entrained less dense liquid to a collector device.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a support rod which at one end has an outwardly and upwardly flared portion defining a spreader device and at the other end is surrounded by a coaxial tube which is spaced from the rod to define an annular passage which terminates at a point spaced from the narrowest point of the spreader device, means for connecting the tube to means for pumping a carrier liquid through the annular passage towards the spreader device and a collector positioned below the spreader device and having an aperture in its base to receive the support rod and allow passage of the column of carrier liquid.
In operation of the apparatus, the apparatus is supported relative to the body of liquid so that the lower end of the support rod and its surrounding tube are below the surface and the spreader device and the collector are above the surface. A carrier liquid is pumped into the lower end of the annular passage. It exits at the upper end of the annular column surrounding the support rod to impinge on the spreader device. As the column of liquid breaks through the surface it entrains the adjacent surface layer which is carried upwards as a liquid skin surrounding the column. On contracting the flared surface of the spreader device the column is directed outwardly over the collector and is collected therein as a mixture of the surface layer of the body of liquid, including floating contaminants, and carrier liquid.
The mixture of liquids from the collector may then be transferred to means for effecting further separation as desired.
Since the withdrawn surface layer is continuously replaced continued operation of the apparatus will clear contaminants from the surface of a body of liquid over a wide area and moreover since the operation of the apparatus creates a surface current towards the column of liquid non-liquid floating contaminants can also be removed provided that they are not too massive to be transferred to the collector by the column of liquid.
The surface of the spreader device may be of any continuously expanding shape and may for example be a conical or preferably a cuspoidal surface. There should preferably be a gentle transition from the support rod to the spreader device to avoid abrupt changes in direction of the column of liquid with the consequent risk of splashing.
Preferably the spreader device has a reentrant portion in its peripheral region to deflect the liquid downwardly into the collector but this may not be necessary if the extent of the surface of the spreader device relative to the collector is such that the reduction in momentum of the liquid over the surface is such that gravity will cause the liquid to fall into the collector.
According to a second embodimen
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Dawson Robert A.
Fortuna Ana M.
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