Sedimentation

Details Sedimentation Sedimentation

1992-12-21

1994-02-22

Upton, Christopher

Liquid purification or separation

Gravitational separator

Material supply distributor

210522, 210525, 210540, B01D 2102, B01D 2124

Patent

active

052884040

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to sedimentation apparatus, particularly primary and final sedimentation in wastewater treatment.
At present, sedimentation is usually carried out in large tanks, suitably of concrete, of various shapes, designed to retain liquid flow for periods of between two to six hours and where the particles must settle through depths of 2.5 to 4.5 meters.
The construction of such tanks requires considerable land area and excavation. Also the large volumes required tend to preclude the use of construction materials other than concrete. All of these factors make for a high cost on installation and maintenance.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to provide an improved separation apparatus.
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for separating constituents of a liquid containing solids, comprising an inlet for the liquid, and a flow path leading from the inlet including separator means, having a plurality of baffle plates through which the liquid is arranged to flow in an upwardly inclined path whereby to separate heavier constituents from lighter constituents of the mixture, the flow path being bifurcated into two sections which each include separator means, each separator means having a downstream and an upstream outlet respectively for lighter and heavier constituents of the liquid, characterised in that the inlet is between two separator means (3,4) and is directed to the surface of the liquid away from a common outlet (6) for heavier constituents of the liquid, in that the respective downstream outlets (9) are for lighter constituents, and in that the respective upstream outlets lead to the common outlet (6).
The separator means may each comprise an array of substantially parallel spaced apart plates arranged to provide a laminar flow therebetween. This provides for separation of the constituents.
The separation of the plates may suitably be in the range 50-100 mm. This provides for efficient separation of constituents of the mixture.
The angle of inclination of the plates may be in the range 55.degree.-60.degree. to the horizontal, to provide for sufficient contact time during separation.
The ratio of plate length to plate separation may preferably be approximately 20. This provides for a sufficient contact area.
The plates may each be corrugated and may be spaced apart by the corrugations whereby to provide an array which may have a honeycomb-like configuration in end elevation. This provides for construction using a plurality of corrugated plate members.
Each separator means may be removably mounted in the apparatus.
The flow path may comprise a plurality of separate feed means whereby to feed the mixture to the apparatus in a direction away from the common outlet. This provides for a passage through the apparatus without substantial turbulence.
The inlet may provide a conduit comprising the outlet for the lighter constituents, which conduit may comprise a blanked off part of an inlet pipe.
The outlet for the light constituents also may comprise a collector for those constituents intermediate the downstream end of the separator means and the conduit.
The collector may comprise a tube with longitudinally spaced inlet ports formed therein.
The apparatus may include a channel for collecting scum from the liquid, and, suitably, means periodically to allow scum to pass to the scum channel. This helps to obviate the build-up of scum in the apparatus.
The means may comprise a valve operable to raise the level of the liquid in the apparatus whereby to allow scum to pass to the scum channel.
There may be a stirrer device to stir heavier constituents adjacent the common outlet. This helps to ensure smooth flow through the apparatus.
There may also be a further device for urging scum towards the scum channel, which further device may comprise a reciprocable blade member.
The further device may comprise the reciprocable blade member and a cam to which the blade member is attached, and the cam may be mounted on a rotatable rod of the stirrer device.
Apparatus for separa

REFERENCES:
patent: 3346122 (1967-10-01), Cornelissen
patent: 3768648 (1973-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 3797668 (1974-03-01), Piakenrood et al.
patent: 4034526 (1987-01-01), Salkeld et al.
patent: 4290887 (1981-09-01), Brown et al.
Korrespondenz Abwasser vol. 31, Feb. 1984, pp. 104-111; H. Schade et al: `Parallelplattenabscheider`.

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