Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Water – sewage – or other waste water
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-23
2001-01-30
Phasge, Arun S. (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Water, sewage, or other waste water
C205S743000, C204S242000, C204S275100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179991
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of water treatment, and more particularly to a machine and process for treating contaminated water.
In broad terms, the invention provides a waste treatment process wherein contaminated or waste water to be treated is routed directly past at least two electrodes of different polarity and composed of metals which can form multivalent salts and/or noble metals which will not be dissolved. These electrodes are mechanically cleaned on a continuous basis with a device that automatically travels the length and width of the electrodes making contact with the surface of the electrodes to remove any foreign build up on the electrodes.
In a typical electrolytic treatment process, multivalent electrode metal ions are released during electrolysis. The ions cause flocculation of the contaminates in the waste water to be treated. The floc, in turn, absorbs additional components or impurities present in the contaminated stream, thereby serving as a transport medium to remove the organic, inorganic and metal components from the water. The continuous production of ions for flocculation is maintained by the continuous cleaning of the electrodes to eliminate any build up on the electrodes and aids in a uniform electrode consumption.
The electrolytic process has been in existence for many years. In each case, the process equipment has been plagued with a continuous build up of foreign materials on the electrodes causing the electrolysis reaction to diminish or terminate completely and the result is uneven corrosion of the electrodes. Prior patents have attempted to illustrate the use of non-conductive pellets or balls in a fluidized bed to clean the electrodes. Liquid fluid beds with, for example, a 4 ft/sec. Fluidization velocity, are not adequate to remove the deposits from the electrodes. Other patents have indicated reversing the polarity of the electrodes frequently and increasing the velocity of the feed stream contributes to the cleaning of the electrodes. These inventions have met with limited success because this does not remove the non-conducting deposits on reversal of current and high velocity results in non-treatment of the water. After intermediate operating periods (approximately one week), the electrodes inevitably became coated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary advantage of the invention is to provide a wastewater treatment process for treating contaminated streams containing organic, inorganic and heavy metals. Another advantage of the invention is to provide a wastewater treatment process that incorporates effective mechanism for cleaning electrodes on a continuous basis. Another advantage of the invention is to provide a water treatment apparatus and method that regularly cleans the electrodes. A further advantage of the invention is to provide a water treatment apparatus and method for controlling the cleaning of corroded electrodes.
Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a machine for treating contaminated water having a chamber with at least two electrodes having voltages of different polarities and made of metals which form multivalent salts, an inlet port for introduction of untreated wastewater to said chamber, wherein said wastewater is treated by passing over said electrodes, an outlet port for outputting said treated wastewater from the chamber, and scraper blades in substantial contact with the electrodes wherein the blades move the length of the electrodes to remove accumulated debris.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention there is disclosed a process for treating contaminated water having the steps of: directing water to be treated into an electrolysis chamber having at least two electrodes having voltages of different polarity and made of multivalent metals; passing untreated water through the chamber and across the electrodes; and scraping the electrodes periodically to remove any accumulated debris that may form on the electrodes.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention there is disclosed a machine for treating contaminated water having a chamber with a first electrode rotatably mounted on a drive shaft for movement along the length of the chamber and with a second electrode where the electrodes have voltages of different polarities and are made of multivalent metals and an inlet port for introduction of untreated water to said chamber, where the water is treated by passing over the electrodes and an outlet port for outputting the treated water from the chamber and means on the first electrode for cleaning the second electrode during rotation of the first electrode.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4105534 (1978-08-01), Beatty, III
patent: 5545310 (1996-08-01), Silveri
Davis Brian
Flemming Rolf
Norris Bruce
Norris Jeffrey
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