Abstract: It has been discovered that a mechanical flotation system (10) having only two cells (18, 20) can be nearly as efficient as one having more cells, yet provide an apparatus with a considerably smaller footprint, significantly reduced capital and operating costs, as well as be resistant to floating oil recovery platform wave effects. The dual-cell mechanical flotation system (10) has, in sequential order, an inlet chamber (16) and two gasification chambers or cells (18, 20), each with at least one gas ingestion and mixing mechanism (32), and a discharge chamber (24). A common primary skim collection channel (40) atop the partition (44) dividing the gasification chambers (18, 20) efficiently channels away the bulk of the floating collected matter.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a mechanical flotation system (10) having only two cells (18, 20) can be nearly as efficient as one having more cells, yet provide an apparatus with a considerably smaller footprint, significantly reduced capital and operating costs, as well as be resistant to floating oil recovery platform wave effects. The dual-cell mechanical flotation system (10) has, in sequential order, an inlet chamber (16) and two gasification chambers or cells (18, 20), each with at least one gas ingestion and mixing mechanism (32), and a discharge chamber (24). A common primary skim collection channel (40) atop the partition (44) dividing the gasification chambers (18, 20) efficiently channels away the bulk of the floating collected matter.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a mechanical device may be used to effectively displace a first undesired gas from within a liquid with a second desired or at least inert gas. The device is a vessel that receives the liquid containing the first gas and passes the liquid through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber has at least one mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the liquid thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. The ingesting and mixing mechanisms may be a dispersed air flotation mechanism, and may be a conventional depurator. The liquid now containing the second gas and very little or none of the first gas is removed from the vessel for use.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a mechanical device may be used to effectively displace a first undesired gas from within a liquid with a second desired or at least inert gas. The device is a vessel that receives the liquid containing the first gas and passes the liquid through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber has at least one mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the liquid thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. The ingesting and mixing mechanisms may be a dispersed air flotation mechanism, and may be a conventional depurator. The liquid now containing the second gas and very little or none of the first gas is removed from the vessel for use.