Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Separating
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-27
2001-09-11
Popovics, Robert J. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Separating
C210S276000, C210S280000, C210S414000, C210S415000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287474
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns liquid treatment, and more particularly liquid treatment apparatus using granular media such as deep bed filters or deionizers, the bed of granular media disposed in a tank through which is passed a liquid to be treated thereby.
In filters, the media must be cleaned periodically to remove accumulated filtered solids, as by backwashing the bed. This is also required in demineralizing apparatus where resin beads must be backwashed preparatory to brining the resin beads to reactivate the same. Backwashing can cause the loss of media if a too vigorous outflow is set up, but this limits the effectiveness of the cleaning of the media, which otherwise gradually becomes less effective.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,443 issued on Dec. 15, 1992 describes an improved regeneration process and system, particularly suited for filters using lightweight media such as crushed black walnut shells, but which is also applicable to deionizers. In that process and system the liquid and media are vigorously agitated to form a slurry, and the liquid and contaminants are caused to flow out through openings in a separator, the openings sized to block the escape of media granules.
In that process and system, the separator is a hollow cylindrical structure which is rotated within the slurry of liquid and media. The rotation of the separator prevents the media from clogging the separator strainer openings as the liquid flow draws the media against the openings, since the granules in suspension impact and dislodge the granules drawn against the separator openings.
This arrangement has worked very well and that design has been quite successful.
However, the need to rotate the separator necessitates the use of relatively costly seals, and also requires a significantly more powerful drive motor than that required to simply agitate the liquid, increasing the cost to manufacture and operate the apparatus.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a regeneration process and system for liquid treatment apparatus media which provides many of the advantages of the rotating separator design, but at a lower cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above recited object is achieved by providing an annular, stationary separator having an inner diameter surface defined by a screen formed with an array of strainer openings. An auxiliary rotor is disposed within the inside diameter of the separator with tips thereof closely spaced to the surface of the screens The auxiliary rotor is rotated so as to create turbulence at the surface of the screen, causing the media granules in the slurry to be directed at the inner diameter surface, tending to dislodge any media granules which have been drawn onto the openings by the cleaning outflow through the separator during backwashing. The slurry may be formed by mechanical agitation, and in this case an agitator impeller may be driven by the same rotating shaft as the auxiliary rotor within the separator, or the auxiliary rotor may itself also act as a mechanical agitator forming the slurry.
REFERENCES:
patent: 632091 (1899-08-01), Bommarius
patent: 748857 (1904-01-01), Goade
patent: 4496464 (1985-01-01), Hensley
patent: 5171443 (1992-12-01), Bratten
patent: 5445740 (1995-08-01), Malone
Benefiel John R.
Filtra-Systems Company
Popovics Robert J.
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