Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Making an insoluble substance or accreting suspended...
Patent
1989-12-08
1991-08-06
Dawson, Robert A.
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Making an insoluble substance or accreting suspended...
210177, 210202, 210259, 2105121, 210521, 210703, 210704, 210737, 210787, 210806, B01D 17038
Patent
active
050375580
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a liquid separator for the separation of mixtures, particularly but not exclusively for separation of liquid components in a liquid mixture.
An object of the invention is to improve the operation of a hydrocyclone whereby to improve the separating efficiency, particularly but not exclusively in the case where the liquid to be separated comprises an oily water mixture with a proponderance of water.
In one aspect, the invention provides a liquid separator comprising a hydrocyclone and a mixing and/or residence vessel having an inlet for a liquid mixture to be separated, and an outlet, the outlet being coupled to the inlet of the hydrocyclone and the hydrocyclone having outlets for respectively more dense and less dense liquid components of the mixture to be separated.
Generally, the flotation device may comprise any device which utilizes induced gas or dissolved gas to increase the rate of separation of one component such as that comprising the disperse phase.
The invention also provides a method of separating liquid components in a liquid mixture one from the other in a hydrocyclone wherein the mixture is passed to a mixing and/or residence vessel before passing to the hydrocyclone.
It has been found that performance of the hydrocyclone is substantially improved by the use of the mixing and/or residence vessel.
The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
FIG. 1 shows a system in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a hydrocyclone useful in the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a flotation cell useful in the invention.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a mixing and/or residence vessel 90 to which a mixture of oil and water, with a preponderance of water is admitted on a line 92. Outlet liquid from the vessel 90 is taken on a line 42 to a hydrocyclone 10.
Hydrocyclone 10 provides at an outlet line 44 separated oil and at an outlet line 46 separated water which may, however, still contain some residual oil. The water component is passed on line 46 through a pressure reducing device 50 and thence on a line 52 to a flotation cell 54. Here, further separation occurs with the water component being taken on a line 58 from the flotation cell and the oil component on a line 60 therefrom.
The hydrocyclone 10 may be constructed in known fashion, such as in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,006, Australian patent application 84713/79, or in my International applications PCT/AU83/00028 or PCT/AU85/00010. FIG. 2 shows, diagrammatically, a separator of this general type. This is shown as having a tapered elongate separating chamber 25 which is of circular cross-section having, at its larger diameter end, a first cylindrical portion 12, a tangential inlet 26 having an inlet opening 30 and an axial overflow outlet 34 which communicates with an outlet opening 32. A tapered portion 12a of separating chamber 25 is provided adjacent portion 12, this leading to a second, also slightly tapered, portion 14 of the separating chamber 25, this in turn leading to an elongate cylindrical portion 16 of the separating chamber which opens to an axial underflow outlet 23 for the separator.
Oily water mixture to be separated is passed on the inlet 26 through the inlet opening 30 into the portion 12 of the separating chamber 25 so as to generate a vortex within the separating chamber. The oil component emerges from the outlet 34 via opening 32 and the water component emerges from the underflow outlet 23.
As shown, the first portion 12 has a length l.sub.1 and a diameter d.sub.1, the second portion has a length l.sub.2 and diameter d.sub.2 at its larger diameter end, portion 16 has a length l.sub.3 and a diameter d.sub.3, whilst the overflow outlet has a diameter d.sub.0. As described in Australian patent application 84713/79, two strictly tangential inlets 26 may for example be provided or, as shown in International application PCT/AU85/00010, a single inlet 26 of involute form may be provided.
The cyclon
REFERENCES:
patent: 1600030 (1926-09-01), Ballard
patent: 3735869 (1973-05-01), Carpenter et al.
patent: 4226722 (1980-10-01), Jones
patent: 4350596 (1982-09-01), Kennedy, Jr.
patent: 4683061 (1987-07-01), Carroll
patent: 4812225 (1989-03-01), Corti et al.
patent: 4851123 (1989-07-01), Mishra
patent: 4941977 (1990-07-01), Cornelissen
International Patent Publication, WO86/06653, Larox, 11-1986.
International Patent Publication WO86/03696, Carroll, 7-1986.
International Patent Publication WO86/03143, Carroll et al., 6-1986.
International Patent Publication, WO85/00760, Carroll et al., 2-1985.
OTC 5594 "Hydrocyclones: A Solution to Produced Water Treatment" by N. Meldrum, Apr. 1987.
WO85/00851, Feb. 1985.
Conoco Specialty Products Inc.
Dawson Robert A.
Drodge Joseph
Holder John E.
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