Abstract: A system is described for separating first and second liquids that are present in an intimate mixture consisting primarily of the first liquid, which enables recovery of a high proportion of the second liquid in a system of moderate cost for construction and operation. The system includes a fine screen formed of woven threads of a material that is wetted by the second liquid. The mixture is pumped through the screen, causing the microscopic droplets of the second liquid to coalesce into much larger drops, so the drops can be rapidly recovered. The screen is very fine, with a thread count of at least 500 per inch (20 per millimeter), and the liquid is passed very slowly through the screen, at a velocity of no more than 12 inches per minute (30 cm./min.), to recover at least 70% and preferably at least 75% of the second liquid.

Abstract: A system is described for separating first and second liquids that are present in an intimate mixture consisting primarily of the first liquid, which enables recovery of a high proportion of the second liquid in a system of moderate cost for construction and operation. The system includes a screen formed of a single woven pattern of metal threads that have been woven in a uniform pattern, and that are backed by back-ups having holes larger than those of the screen. The mixture is pumped through the screen, causing the microscopic droplets of the second liquid to coalesce into much larger drops, so the drops can be rapidly recovered. The screen is very fine, with a thread count of at least 500 per inch (20 per millimeter), and the liquid is passed very slowly through the screen, at a velocity of no more than 12 inches per minute (30 cm./min.), to recover at least 70% and preferably at least 75% of the second liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for coalescing microscopic droplets of organic (principally hydrocarbons) that are present with particles in an aqueous stream (primarily water), which avoids frequent shutdowns for backwashing. The system includes two anthracite beds (56, 58, FIG. 2) and apparatus for connecting the beds in series. Most of the time, the stream flows down (60) through the first bed and up (64) through the second bed, and to a separator, while particles (74) accumulate at the top of the first bed. When the particles begin to seriously block flow through the first bed, the flow is reversed for a period while the particles are transferred from the top of the first bed to the top of the second bed. After several minutes, the flow is reversed again, causing particles at the top of the second bed to flow to the separator for removal.