Protein skimmer

Details Protein skimmer Protein skimmer

2000-10-30

2001-10-16

Lithgow, Thomas M. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

Structural installation

Closed circulating system

C210S221200, C119S263000, C119S264000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06303028

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is in the field of foam fractionation protein skimmers for removing organic waste material dissolved in organic loaded water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Foam fractionation protein skimmers, for example, the Berlin(r) protein skimmer based on the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,872, and commercially available from the Assignee of the present application, employ a naturally occurring foam fractionation action to produce a protein loaded foam containing organic waste material extracted from organic loaded water. Other protein skimmers are illustrated and described in inter alia U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,957,017, 3,965,007, 3,994,811, 4,988,436, 5,084,164, 5,282,962, 5,484,525, 5,665,227, 5,667,671, and 5,736,034.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a foam fractionation protein skimmer for removing organic waste material from organic loaded water, the protein skimmer comprising an upright reaction chamber with an uppermost throat in flow communication with a foam collection cup for collecting a protein loaded foam containing the organic waste material, said chamber having a vertically directed partition with an uppermost portion terminating beneath said throat for partitioning said chamber into an upwardly converging inlet compartment and a downwardly diverging outlet compartment respectively having an inlet port and an outlet port downwardly remote from said throat, and a region of flow inversion for inverting an ingressing air/protein loaded water mixture upwardly flowing toward said throat to an egressing water flow downwardly flowing to said outlet port with an upward counterflow of protein bearing air bubbles, said upward counterflow of air bubbles combining with foam fractionation occurring at said region of flow inversion to produce said protein loaded foam at said throat whereby said egressing water flow is less protein loaded than said ingressing air/protein loaded water mixture.
The foam fractionation protein skier of the present invention is designed to prolong the contact time between air bubbles and protein loaded water for improving the efficacy of a naturally occurring skimming action for producing a protein loaded stable foam. The contact time is prolonged by way of inducing Valence in the ingressing flow of organic loaded water flowing upwardly in the inlet compartment from the inlet port towards the foam collection cup, and in the region of flow inversion therebeneath. The turbulence is preferably induced by horizontally injecting an air/protein loaded water mite into the compartment towards the partition, configuring the inlet compartment to be upwardly converging, and creating a back pressure in the region of flow inversion by way of restricting the outward flow therefrom relative to the inward flow thereinto. Moreover, the outlet compartment of the foam fractionation protein skimmer of the present invention is designed to facilitate a counter flow of protein bearing air bubbles from the egressing downward water flow such that clear non-aerated water is immediately available for recirculation.


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