Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Patent
1998-09-11
2000-08-08
Valentine, Donald R.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
204237, 204273, 204269, C25B 900, C25B 1500
Patent
active
060997036
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a water cleaning system comprising at least one reactor device for electrolytic cleaning of polluted water, one flotation device where the pollutants are separated from the clean water, and one device for handling the sludge. The polluted water enters between at least one anode and one cathode across which a voltage is being supplied such that the anode is being continuously sacrificed when an electric current flows through the electrochemical reactor. From the reactor the water flows into the flotation device where the precipitated pollutants flotate as sludge to subsequently be dealt with in the sludge handling device.
2. Prior Art
One problem with reactor designs of the kind described above is that the anode surface, which may be of aluminum, magnesium or another suitable metal or alloy, gets fouled by pollutants and oxidation products during the electrolysis. This lowers capacity and reduces efficiency. Attempts have been made to solve this problem by rotating the anode (EP-31614), by alternating the polarity on the electrodes (DE-4315117/EP-623558), by having very high pressure on the inflowing water (U.S. Pat No. 4,236,990), by a distance piece between anode and cathode for mechanical scraping the anode clean (SE-470423), or by using a high pressurized liquid for flushing of the anode surface (SE-470554).
Another problem is to obtain sufficiently high separation efficiency without high consumption of anode material and energy. This is attempted solved by having a short distance between the electrodes (NO-143147/FI-55166 and SE-470554) or by mounting the anode within a cylindrical shaped cathode and create powerful agitation or rotation of the water to get a centrifugal effect in addition to the electrical field effect (U.S. Pat No. 5352343).
Even though the problem of anode fouling is partly solved by
SE-470554 and the distance between the electrodes is kept relatively short, which lead to a relatively low power consumption, it is not possible at present to combine high separation efficiency and a low consumption of anode material per cubic meter cleaned water. This leads to higher operating costs, than necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The basis for this invention is introduction of changes which will improve the electroflocculation process. The objects of the invention are to increase both the separation efficiency and the hydraulic capacity and at the same time reduce consumption of anode material and specific energy consumption per cubic meter. The device can be used to clean produced water and drainage water from oil- and gas platforms, rolling emulsions, tall oil emulsions, water from scrubbers for cleaning of gas etc., where the components to be removed are mineral oil, tall oil, heavy metals and other components which are harmful to the environment. The concentration of these components in the cleaned water shall be well below the limits set by the environmental authorities for discharge of water to a recipient.
These aims can be obtained by a new design of the electrochemical reactor and the associated device by: electrochemical reactor (by using a turbulence generator or by arranging the electrodes in a different way). sludge. flotation device.
The water cleaning system in accordance with the invention is characterised by the features mentioned in the requirements shown below and by having the reactor device assembled from one or more anodes and cathodes where the flow of water inside and downstream of the electrochemical reactor is turbulent, a flotation device where the pollutants are separated from the clean water, and a device for handling the sludge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is explained in more detail in the text which follows, and the text which shows some examples of operating principles refer to the enclosed drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a sketch of a corrugated or rough replaceable/exchangeable inlay plate on the cathode surface.
FIG. 2 shows a sketch of a rotatable non-conductin
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Kjaerheim Gudolf
Rubach Synnove
Saur Ingunn
Sundell Jan
Syversen Ulf
Cleaner Technology AS
Valentine Donald R.
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