Superposed Compartments Or Baffles, E.g., Parallel Plate Type Patents (Class 210/521)
  • Publication number: 20150114903
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the coalescence of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion is presented. The apparatus includes at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion, at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase, and at least one article disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The article includes a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and wherein the pattern includes a plurality of inter-connected regions that are substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. A related article is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shyam Sivaramakrishnan, Oscar Max Sittner, Terje Glomsaker, Luc Stephane Leblanc, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Vaibhav Bahadur, Yifan Gao
  • Publication number: 20150108073
    Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus separates solid impurities from a fluid containing solid impurities. The method and apparatus allow the introduction of influent comprising a fluid containing solid impurities into a plurality of channels and allowing at least a portion of the solid impurities initially present in the influent to settle on upward-facing surfaces of a plurality of plates forming the channels or slide down the upward-facing surfaces, while permitting fluid, which has been depleted of at least a portion of solid impurities, to flow upward toward the top edges of the plurality of plates. The influent is introduced into the plurality of channels in a manner that inhibits a disrupting or disturbing of the solid impurities, which have separated from the influent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: PARKSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell L. COOK, Alejandro MEJIA, Lakshminarasimha KRISHNAPURA
  • Patent number: 9010548
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for separating two solutions mixed in dispersion into two solution phases in a liquid-liquid extraction separation cell. A lighter solution phase placed on the heavier solution phase is forced to flow as a thin overflow layer over the top edge of a front panel such that the dispersion thickens A rear panel is essentially parallel with the front panel so that in between the front panel and the rear panel, there is formed an uptake shaft along which the thickened dispersion can rise and be compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman, Pertti Pekkala, Hannu Laitala, Rami Saario
  • Patent number: 8985343
    Abstract: A separator plate is used for separating immiscible liquids and solids from a liquid mixture. The oil water separator plate is composed of bi-directional corrugations extending in both lateral and longitudinal directions, thereby forming a plurality of peaks and valleys. A ramp extends from each peak to the neighboring valleys. An elongated oil port is formed in the peak for passing immiscible liquids that disengage from the liquid mixture. The oil port includes a tip portion angled approximately vertically from horizontal. Solids disengaged from the liquid mixture translate through a solids aperture. Fences are included along the lower surface of the plate to guide rising immiscible liquid. The separator plate is configured for stacking by selectively engaging a pin with one of a number of sockets in another plate. The pin and sockets permit varied vertical spacing and alignment in both lateral directions and longitudinal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Kirby Smith Mohr
  • Publication number: 20150076057
    Abstract: To facilitate the collection of grease and water from commercial kitchen exhaust fans the invention provides a collection tank in communication with the drainage spout of the fan assembly. The tank has a lid for sealing the tank, a first reservoir for collecting the stream of grease and water and a second reservoir below the first reservoir for receiving water separated from the grease and water stream in the first reservoir. The first and second reservoirs are separated by a sloping plate. The tank also includes a siphoning apparatus which when connected to a source of high pressure fluid such as water or steam can purge the second reservoir of water and recycle the water back to a fan cleansing operation or to a disposal facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: James MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20150068969
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing solids from a liquid/solid mixture includes a plurality separation compartment formed by a plurality of weir partitions. According to one aspect of the invention, a lamella clarifier is positioned within one of the compartments. According to another aspect of the invention, a drain trough extends along the bottom of the apparatus and a plurality of drain pipes are connected to the trough. The drain pipes are connected to a common manifold pipe which in turn is connected to an inlet of a pump. The pump may be activated to remove separated solids that accumulate in the trough at the bottom of each compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher H. Stagg, Jason L. Harmon, Richard M. Seale
  • Patent number: 8968579
    Abstract: A separation process and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a mixture. In some embodiments, a process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, comprises: (a) receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel, (b) distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity, (c) slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, and then (d) collecting a bitumen enriched froth stream and (e) collecting a separate water and fine solids stream. Related embodiments of systems and apparatus may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford E. Bjornson, Craig Aaron Strand, William Nicholas Garner, John Khai-Quang Diep, Darwin Edward Kiel, Thomas Charles Hann
  • Publication number: 20150048030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water treatment device comprising a mixing tank comprising an inlet path (12) for an effluent to be treated, an optional inlet path (13) for reagents, a stirring source (14) for generating a turbulent stir in a given volume of said tank, an extraction path (15) for discharging sludge, and an extraction path (16) for treated effluent, and further comprising above and adjacent to the given volume, but below the treated-effluent outlet path, a settling structure (17) comprising a plurality of ducts extending from the bottom to the top and arranged in the form of a baffle so that no particle can flow through said layer along a rectilinear path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Barbier, Amaud Genin
  • Patent number: 8945401
    Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus separates solid impurities from a fluid containing solid impurities. The method and apparatus allow the introduction of influent comprising a fluid containing solid impurities into a plurality of channels and allowing at least a portion of the solid impurities initially present in the influent to settle on upward-facing surfaces of a plurality of plates forming the channels or slide down the upward-facing surfaces, while permitting fluid, which has been depleted of at least a portion of solid impurities, to flow upward toward the top edges of the plurality of plates. The influent is introduced into the plurality of channels in a manner that inhibits a disrupting or disturbing of the solid impurities, which have separated from the influent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Parkson Corporation
    Inventors: Russell L. Cook, Alejandro Mejia, Lakshminarasimha Krishnapura
  • Patent number: 8920640
    Abstract: An oil/water separator is provided that is suitable for use aboard an oil spill recovery vessel and elsewhere. The separator comprises a tank structure divided into first and second compartments that communicate via a bottom channel. An inlet pipe supplies an oil/water mix to be separated into the first compartment. An oil suction pipe draws oil out of the first compartment on a continuous or intermittent basis. Water discharges unassisted from the second compartment once the water level in the second compartment has reached a certain level. A heating compartment is provided adjoining the first compartment thereby to enable the oil in the compartment to be heated to reduce its viscosity in cold conditions; this heating compartment is arranged to serve as a reservoir for hydraulic fluid whereby heating of the oil results from heat given up by worked hydraulic fluid returned to the heating compartment after operational use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gobbler Oil Spill Recovery Ltd
    Inventor: Paul Frederick Jauncey
  • Patent number: 8915380
    Abstract: A separator 252 for immiscible liquids comprises a tank having an inlet, a separation chamber and an outlet chamber 262, with the inlet 12 feeding effluent into the separation chamber 28 at or below a maximum acceptable flow rate. The effluent is separated into a more dense and less dense fractions in the separation chamber 28. The separation chamber 28 is in communication with the outlet chamber 262, where the more dense fraction exits. An outlet 260 for the less dense fraction is in communication with the separation chamber 28 and has a lowermost exit level at which the less dense fluid exits. The more dense fluid cannot rise to the level of the lowermost level, and the height of the less dense fluid is such that it will exit through the outlet as the more dense fluid passes over the weir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Goslyn, LP
    Inventors: John Sowerby, Richard Sowerby, Douglas F. Samuelson, Jonathan Owen
  • Publication number: 20140353232
    Abstract: A modular, portable, gravity fed clarification system includes internal surfaces which come in contact with the water to be clarified which are clad in a non-reactive plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Minihan
  • Patent number: 8889000
    Abstract: A stormwater treatment unit comprising a containment vault having an inlet and an outlet separates debris from a flow of stormwater through the unit. The water flow is controlled by a wall which directs flow from the inlet to the outlet through a reservoir of fluid in the unit. Debris separation by density occurs whereby lighter elements such as oil float on top of the fluid and heavier elements such as sediment collect at the bottom of the unit or in collectors in the reservoir. A wire mesh, deflector, and/or ripple boards placed beneath the inlet further increase efficiency of the separation, and a vent pipe is placed above the outlet to release pressure built up in the outlet during operation. A stormwater treatment system and method of retrofitting an existing stormwater trunk line locates the stormwater treatment unit in an off-line position from an existing drainage trunk line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Storm Drain Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Robert Hannemann, Albert Mayer Cohen
  • Patent number: 8883009
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of water comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing the water in laminar flow; and (b) providing bubblefree aeration to the water. The present invention introduces aerobic treatment into wastewater settlement without any hindrance to the settlement process. The present invention is useable for any settlement step or stage, without limitation, the commonest being primary settlement or final settling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Queen's University of Belfast
    Inventors: Elaine Groom, Simon Murray, Joel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8871096
    Abstract: A system for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content, the system comprising: a magnetic dynamic settling vessel comprising at least one magnetic field inside the vessel and/or one magnetized component; at least one inlet for introduction of the fluid stream having a starting solids content; at least one exit for a stream comprising a solids content not greater than the inlet solids content; at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content; and a vertical feed conduit extending at least 70% of the distance from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content. A method for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Res USA, LLC
    Inventor: Sergio Mohedas
  • Publication number: 20140311957
    Abstract: An apparatus for settling sediment from a liquid collected in a drainage pit, including a plurality of spaced apart deflectors which are configured to be inclined in use, the deflectors comprising: an uppermost deflector having an aperture formed in an upper portion thereof so that liquid pooling in the pit can flow through the aperture, a second deflector arranged in use to be at least partially below the uppermost deflector, the second deflector opening into a sediment reservoir at a lower end thereof so that liquid flowing along the second deflector can settle in the sediment reservoir, and a third deflector extending upwardly from the sediment reservoir, the third deflector having an aperture formed in an upper portion thereof so that liquid pooling in the sediment reservoir can flow along the third deflector and through the aperture to exit the pit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Envirostream Solutions Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Rhys Lathlain Eddy, David Thomas McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8864888
    Abstract: This oil-water separation device includes: a supply port (3b) for oily water; a flow passage that causes oily water (X4, X7) supplied from the supply port to flow so that a flow component in a horizontal direction is a main flow component; a floated oil recovery port (F) provided above an upper portion of the flow passage and also at a position spaced from a start end of the flow passage; and a settled oil recovery port (T) provided beneath the flow passage. According to the oil-water separation device, it is possible to separate an oil component from oily water that contains an oil component with higher viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Osawa, Makoto Kitano, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 8858799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for separating two solutions mixed in dispersion into two solution phases in a liquid-liquid extraction separation cell. The arrangement includes a first guide wall extending along the whole width of the cell with respect to the vertical direction at an inclined angle. The first guide wall includes a bottom edge, which is located at a distance from the cell bottom, so that a clearance gap is formed between the bottom edge and the cell bottom. The arrangement also includes a second guide wall essentially parallel with the first guide wall and placed at a distance therefrom. Between the first guide wall and the second guide wall an uptake shaft is formed extending diagonally upwards at the inclined angle. The second guide wall is pressed tightly against the cell bottom, and includes a number of vertical slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman, Pertti Pekkala, Hannu Laitala, Rami Saario
  • Patent number: 8839963
    Abstract: A water purifying apparatus and system capable of sedimenting particulates in the fluid over time, and allowing for the quick flushing of sedimented particulates. Top and bottom baffles act as barriers for the sediments, with the bottom barriers having a removable barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Angel Torres-Collazo
  • Patent number: 8834725
    Abstract: A process for treating acid mine drainage containing heavy metals and soluble contaminants is provided. In one embodiment, at least a metal cation is added to the acid mine drainage at a pre-select pH to form insoluble heavy metal complexes. In one embodiment, the metal cation is a trivalent metal ion, e.g., ferric iron such as in ferric sulfate. In another embodiment, a divalent metal ion such as in ferrous sulfate is used. After the removal of the heavy metal complexes, the effluent water is treated with at least a phosphate additive to remove remaining soluble contaminants, thus producing a treated water stream with reduced levels of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Shankar Bhaduri, Alexander Kuperman, Michael Dubrovsky
  • Patent number: 8813977
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for fabricating the discharge end (2) chute arrangement (3) of a liquid-liquid extraction settling tank and the corresponding chute arrangement. The chute arrangement (3) comprises at least one chute member (4, 5; 6), which is made of fiber-reinforced plastic composite. The chute member (4, 5; 6) is manufactured by the filament winding technique essentially making a tubular hollow piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Jussi Vaarno
  • Patent number: 8815101
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of separation of heterogeneous mixtures and, more particularly to a solid-liquid separating tank and system. A settlement tank including: a tank wall defining a tank inner space; an internal wall structure in the inner space and defining a fluid flow path from a center of the inner space to a fluid outlet at the tank wall; and a plurality of drainage pipes having an open internal end and an outer end connected to a drainage manifold, wherein the open internal end is positioned at a bottom of the inner space to remove gravity decanted sediment and hydrostatically decanted water from the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Juan Brown, Johanna Guerrero, Alvaro Quezada, Lenin Garcia
  • Publication number: 20140224745
    Abstract: Apparatus 10 for separating a mixture of oil and water. The apparatus 10 comprises a cylindrical vessel 12, with a cylindrical divider 18 separating the vessel 12 into a central zone 24 and outer annular zone 22. An upper part of the divider 18 provides a weir to enable fluid in the central zone 24 to pass into the outer zone 22. A tangential inlet extends into the central zone 24 at a lower part of the vessel 12, with an outlet 36 at the upper end of the vessel 12 for oil and/or gas, and a water outlet 42 on the side of the vessel 12 a small distance above the bottom of the outer zone 22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: ENHYDRA LTD
    Inventor: David Douglas Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8800784
    Abstract: An extraction system and process for extracting bitumen from a slurry containing bitumen, solids and water. The system comprises a cyclone separation facility for separating the slurry into a solids component stream and a bitumen froth stream with the bitumen froth stream including water and fine solids. The bitumen froth stream is then delivered to a froth concentration facility for separating the bitumen froth stream into a final bitumen enriched froth stream, and a water and fine solids stream. The final bitumen enriched froth stream is suitable for further processing. The system of the present invention is preferably mobile so that the cyclone extraction facility and the froth concentration facility can move with the mine face at an oil sands mining site, however, it is also contemplated that the system can be retrofitted to existing fixed treatment facilities to improve the operational efficiency of such fixed facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford E. Bjornson, Craig Aaron Strand, William Nicholas Garner, John Khai-Quang Diep, Darwin Edward Kiel, Thomas Charles Hann
  • Patent number: 8778178
    Abstract: A system for separating liquids from solids comprising an immobilization unit comprising an immobilization vessel containing a bed of magnetizable material and a magnet configured to produce a magnetic field within the immobilization vessel, wherein the immobilization vessel further comprises an immobilization vessel outlet and an immobilization vessel inlet for a fluid comprising liquid and metal-containing particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergio Mohedas, Harold A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8778159
    Abstract: A method of separating oil and water in a flow-stream through a gravity settling vessel (10) in which the flow-stream (12) separates into a lower water layer (22) and an upper oil layer (26), includes feeding an off-take stream (34) of the oil layer and/or an emulsion layer (20) that forms between the oil layer and the water layer through a compact electrostatic coalescer (CEC) (38) that has electrically isolated electrodes. The CEC coalesces water droplets in the off-take stream, and the coalesced off-take stream is then returned to the settling vessel. An associated separator apparatus for comprises: a gravity settling vessel (10); a CEC (38) including electrically isolated electrodes; a coalescer feed line (34) configured to provide an off-take stream of an oil phase and/or an emulsion layer from the settling vessel to the CEC; and a return line (40) from the CEC for returning the off-take stream to the settling vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Marks & Clerk
    Inventors: Jon Liverud, Arne Myrvang Gulbraar, Simon Davies
  • Patent number: 8734053
    Abstract: An articulated baffle assembly is disclosed and claimed. The battle assembly includes a support and vanes connected to the support. The support holds the vanes in the flow of a liquid in order to promote sedimentation when the baffle assembly is in an operational configuration. The support includes an articulation that allows the baffle assembly to be reversibly converted to a retracted configuration that facilitates access to and removal of sediment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Gerald L. Sackett
  • Publication number: 20140138327
    Abstract: A re-entrainment prevention apparatus (18) for use in a settler area (12) of a mixer-settler, the re-entrainment prevention apparatus (18) comprising: at least one panel (28, 30) of generally vertical linearly-spaced barrier elements (31), an upper barrier element (24) and a lower barrier element (26), wherein the upper and lower barrier elements (24, 26) are arranged relative to the generally vertical barrier elements (31) so as to constrain a fluid flow (32) that impinges thereon such that it is directed through fluid flow channels defined between the generally vertical linearly-spaced barrier elements (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HATCH ASSOCIATES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Scott Brian Poulter, Ross Jeffrey Haywood, Wesley Adam Taylor, Christos Panaou
  • Patent number: 8728318
    Abstract: A three phase separator or settling device (2) or a digester (1) including the settling device. The settling device can receive a fluid containing liquid, gas and particulate material. The settling device includes a settling chamber to be filled with this fluid. The device can also include a liquid-discharge (5) for discharging liquid from the settling chamber and fitted close to the liquid level (30), a fluid inlet (6) for supplying the fluid into the settling chamber (3), a particulate material separation device (7) and a sludge outlet (8). A flow of fluid is provided into and out of the settling device and settling chamber. The inlet includes a gas separation device (4) for separating gas from the fluid including channels, the inlet positioned close to the fluid level. The inlet and transition (75) into the settling chamber is arranged to create a pre-separated flow pattern including a generally laminar liquid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Paques I.P.B.V.
    Inventors: Sjoerd Hubertus Jozef Vellinga, Antonius Johannes Jorna
  • Publication number: 20140131292
    Abstract: A separator disk for use in centrifugal separation of components is designed to automatically position itself during separation at the interface between the supernatant and the remaining components. Preferably the interface is between plasma and red blood cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. ELLSWORTH, Steven LEVESQUE
  • Patent number: 8715507
    Abstract: Some examples includes a flow-through stormwater sump having a bottom and defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a top access opening, an inlet conduit coupled to the flow-through stormwater sump at the inlet opening, an outlet conduit coupled to the flow-through stormwater sump at the outlet opening and a flow-path baffle disposed in the stormwater sump, the flow-path baffle being substantially planar and defining a plurality of openings, the flow-path baffle oriented such that a centerline of the inlet conduit intersects a major plane of the baffle at a point and a centerline of the outlet conduit intersects the major plane at a further point, the flow-path baffle disposed in the stormwater sump in a direct impingement inlet flow-path of the inlet conduit and a direct impingement outlet back-flow-path of the outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: John Gulliver, Adam Howard, Omid Mohseni
  • Patent number: 8709257
    Abstract: A method and system for purifying liquid using waste heat is provided. Initially, a liquid is mixed with an anti-sealant agent in a first filtering unit to form a liquid mixture. Thereafter, the liquid mixture is filtered in the first filtering unit to separate foreign objects from the liquid mixture. Subsequently, the liquid mixture is heated in a pipe arrangement connecting the first filtering unit and one or more second filtering units to generate steam. The steam obtained from the heated liquid mixture is then purified in the one or more second filtering units. Thereafter, the purified steam is condensed in the pipe arrangement to obtain the purified liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
    Inventors: Mazen Abdullah Ba-Abbad, Hany Abdulrahman Al-Ansary
  • Publication number: 20140110359
    Abstract: A phase splitter (14) for splitting phases of liquids, the phase splitter (14) characterised by an elongate body (16) having a generally convexly curved liquid-facing face (28) when viewed in transverse cross-section along a longitudinal axis of the elongate body (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: HATCH ASSOCIATES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Ross Jeffrey Haywood, Scott Brian Poulter
  • Publication number: 20140083932
    Abstract: A sludge protector canopy baffle system for use in a clarifier tank with a tank bottom, and peripheral vertical wall bounding the interior of the tank is formed by a plurality of individual perforated baffles interconnected and supported by other components of the tank forming a rigid ceiling of sloped and curved perforated baffles allowing the incoming water to pass on its surface minimizing sludge re-suspension and directing the flow on top of the blanket in the settling zone of the tank. Each baffle has a curved surface in the lateral direction to allow drainage of solids and openings to allow gas release and water flow. The baffles are interconnected along the length by cross connectors to ensure rigidity. The resulting system provides a sludge protector canopy baffle system by which the water flows uniformly through the tank without disturbing or re-suspending settled or thickened sludge and overall tank performance is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Hany Zarif Gerges
  • Publication number: 20140069859
    Abstract: A multistage composite fluid separator capable of isolating a first liquid from a composite fluid having at least a first and second liquid, in which the first and second liquids have differing specific gravities or for separating solid contaminates from at least one liquid. An outer housing encloses a plurality of separation chambers. An inlet port delivers the composite fluid through an elongated spillway into the sump of the chambers. Positioned between the inlet and the outlet of each chamber is a plurality of stacked baffles, composed of individual separation flow plates, placed in an inclined relationship. The plurality of baffles creates a flow path in which the composite fluid is forced to flow over each of the individual separation flow plates as the fluid travels upward in the separation chamber toward the outlet port shearing the liquid causing coalescence and coagulation of liquids due to their density and/or viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Gary D. Hanks
  • Patent number: 8663466
    Abstract: A method of flow baffle installation is disclosed herein. The method, in various aspects includes the steps of orienting a side support at a specified elevation about a sidewall of a sump using a leveling support, bolting the side support to the sidewall of the sump following the step of orienting a side support at a specified elevation about a sidewall of a sump using a leveling support, orienting an opposing side support at the specified elevation about the sidewall of the sump using a corresponding leveling support, bolting the opposing side support to the sidewall of the sump following the step of orienting an opposing side support at the specified elevation about the sidewall of the sump using a corresponding leveling support, adjusting an adjustable cross-member to span between the side support and the opposing side support. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Upstream Technologies Inc
    Inventors: William F. Braunwarth, Bonnie Brewer, Aaron Gendler
  • Publication number: 20140042109
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator including one or more separation members upon which residue can accumulate. An agitator is provided for agitating the separation members to remove the residue. The agitator may clean residue from the members without removing the separation members from the separator. Advantageously, the frequency that the members need to be removed from the separator and thoroughly cleaned is reduced when compared with the known separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Hardman
  • Publication number: 20140021148
    Abstract: A system to separate solids from liquids is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a series of alternating baffles disposed along a length of a tank, where the series of alternating baffles define a vertical tortuous flow path of the fluid from a first end of the tank to a second end of the tank to cause solids to settle out of the fluid. The alternating baffles each have a sloped planar surface disposed between a lower horizontal planar surface and an upper horizontal planar surface to cause at least one eddy in a vertical plane as the fluid flows through the tank. The system may also include a series of tanks in fluid communication with the at least one tank and secured side by side, where the solids progressively settle out from the fluid in stages as the fluid passes from one tank to another in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Don M. Buckner
  • Patent number: 8623206
    Abstract: A system, that may be portable, for purifying liquid flowing gravitationally from a source/reservoir into a purified liquid receptacle is described. The system includes a housing with a generally horizontal filtering space. More than one liquid inlet disposed at a top portion of the filter is provided as well as one or more liquid outlets disposed at a bottom portion. The liquid flows in a generally lateral direction through the liquid treatment medium. Two or more first walls extending upwardly into the filtering space from a bottom wall thereof and ending with an apex are provided inside the device. One or more second walls downwardly extending into the filtering space from a top wall thereof are also provided. Each of the walls defines a closed path. The first and second walls jointly cause the liquid to flow in a curvilinear flow path from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Strauss Water Ltd
    Inventors: Haim Wilder, Abraham J. Domb
  • Publication number: 20130327724
    Abstract: A system and method for filtering sediment from water prior to disposal. According to some aspects, water is provided to a trough which feeds a settling pool via a port. The settling pool may comprise one or more blocks disposed in one or more corresponding channels which restricts flow of the water. In some embodiments, this restriction of flow may cause sediment to collect on a bottom of the settling pool and/or residual oil to collect on a surface of the water. The residual oil may be pumped or skimmed from the surface and the water may be pumped from the settling pool into one or more external holding tanks The one or more blocks may then be removed from the settling pool and the sediment may be collected via a frontloader or other device accessing the sediment via an access ramp formed in the settling pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Willard G. McAndrew, III
  • Patent number: 8603343
    Abstract: The device described in the present invention can separate fine solid particles in suspension in a viscous liquid, withdrawing a clear liquid from the top of the device, and a dense liquid charged with solid particles is withdrawn from the bottom. The invention also concerns the application of this device to the separation of catalyst particles in a liquid phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: IFP Energies Nouvelles, Eni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Jean Christophe Viguie, Willi Nastoll, Francois Hugues, Elsa Mignone, Giuseppe Belmonte
  • Patent number: 8597511
    Abstract: A profiled strip for the installation in honeycomb-like separator packages and a honeycomb-like separator package formed by a plurality of profiled strips are described. The profiled strip has two long base sides and two connection sides. It is distinguished by the fact that a single groove connection portion is respectively arranged at the free ends of the connection sides and a single tongue connection portion is respectively arranged at the ends of the base sides that abut the connection sides, or vice versa. By this, corresponding separator packages can be assembled very simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: GEA 2H Water Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Marggraff, Dieter Kreicha
  • Patent number: 8591732
    Abstract: Three flow paths within a single container are provided for the separation of contaminates, such as floating debris, heavy trash, lighter fluids and heavier fluids, from an effluent stream. A first flow path is provided for low flow conditions wherein the effluent stream pools in a first chamber within the container and the surface of the pooled fluid is drawn off, leaving heavy contaminates within the first chamber. The drawn fluid, with lighter and/or floating contaminates, enters a second chamber. The fluid is drawn from the second chamber below the surface level of the fluid, leaving the lighter and floating contaminates within the second chamber. In moderate flow conditions, a second flow path is established from the first chamber and out the container, bypassing the second chamber. Fluid for the second flow path is drawn from below the surface of the fluid in the first chamber to exclude light and floating contaminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Baysaver Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Pank
  • Publication number: 20130292326
    Abstract: A fast settling concentration tank for sewage in gangue includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder connected in the outer cylinder by a first bracket. The upper end of the inner cylinder is a sewage inlet. A baffle plate is provided in the middle of the inner cylinder by a second bracket. A feeding gap is formed between the edge of the baffle plate and the inner wall of the inner cylinder. At least one annular return plate is fixed on the outer wall of the inner cylinder. An overflow gap is formed between the outer edge of the return plate and the inner wall of the outer cylinder. A residue outlet is formed at the lower portion of the outer cylinder. An overflow tank is formed at the upper end of the outer cylinder. The overflow outlet of the overflow tank is separated from the sewage inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Muqing Su
  • Publication number: 20130292327
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the coalescence-separation of a mixture comprising two fluid phases mutually immiscible other and with a different specific density, characterized in that it comprises a tubular body (2) closed at opposite ends, of which, considering the apparatus in the configuration of use, one is higher than the other, at least one inlet mouth (5) of the mixture to be separated which is defined on the side surface of the tubular body (2), at least one outlet mouth (6) of the fluid phase with a lower specific density separated from the mixture which is defined close to the end of the tubular body at an upper height, at least one outlet mouth (7) of the fluid phase with a greater specific density separated from the mixture which is defined close to the end of the tubular body at a lower height and at least a set of coalescence plates (8) which is housed inside said tubular body (2), wherein each of the coalescence plates (8) has a flow plate (9) of the mixture which is ti
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Eni S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Andreussi, Domenico Antonio Direnzo
  • Patent number: 8574443
    Abstract: A drain connector may be arranged within a trough or sump of a grease containment apparatus to separate a water component from brown water, and automatically drain same when the brown water attains a predefined level, to prevent overflowing of brown water from the grease containment apparatus. A grease containment apparatus arranged to receive grease discharged by a fan-type rooftop grease exhauster may include multiple corner sections and at least one trough disposed between the sumps, and arranged on at least one (preferably all) sides of a rooftop grease exhauster. Mounting brackets with multiple bends may flexibly support a grease containment apparatus above a roof surface. Flashing is provided to direct grease into at least one trough section. A venturi cleaning attachment may be provided to promote forced suction discharge of a grease containment system motivated by ingress of pressurized fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: DunnWell, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn William Boland Mims, Joseph R. Dunn
  • Patent number: 8562841
    Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could be a continuous flow separator for biodiesel formation and a method of operating same. The separator could comprise tank with hollow interior forming a main compartment, a weir-formed compartment, and a sump, the weir being formed at one end of the tank, the sump being formed in the tank bottom, the main compartment being located over the sump; a set of horizontally stacked plates received within the main compartment over the sump, each plate features a series of conical structures, cone apertures, and trough apertures; wherein the plates are so configured and stacked that the cone apertures align to form series of cone aperture columns while the trough apertures align to form series of trough aperture columns. The biodiesel moves up the cone aperture columns over a weir into the separate compartment while glycerine descends the trough aperture columns to the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: James Philip Hygate
  • Publication number: 20130248433
    Abstract: A separator (10) comprises a housing (12) and a separator chamber (14) contained within the housing (12), an inlet (16) and outlet (18) to the separator chamber and a dividing member (20) for substantially dividing the separator chamber (14) into a first chamber (22) and a second chamber (24). A flow path is provided between the first and second chambers (22), (24) for allowing flow to circulate between the first and second chambers, and obstruction means (74) is provided in the second chamber (24) for slowing flow through the second chamber (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: ADEY HOLDINGS (2008) LIMITED
    Inventor: Simon Downie
  • Publication number: 20130248434
    Abstract: Disclosed is a debris filter capable of reducing a pressure loss of coolant as it flows and capturing debris in the coolant. The debris filter includes bent plates, first plates, and second plates, all having respective same shapes, wherein each of the bent plates is composed of a first inclined strip-like plate and a second inclined strip-like plate. The bent plates are arranged parallel with each other, the bent plates and the first plates are fixed with each other so that the first plates intersect each first inclined plate, the bent plates and the second plates are fixed with each other so that the second plates intersect each second inclined plate, and the first plates does not touch the second plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Nuclear Fuel Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Owaki, Tomomi Kawano, Yuichiro Kubo, Yoshitaka Mizutani, Tetsuhiro Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8540884
    Abstract: A flotation apparatus (10) for the separation of solid particles from a suspension with formation of a fraction lacking in solid particles and a fraction rich in solid particles comprises a tank with an inlet (14) for the suspension, with an outlet (16) for the fraction lacking in solid particles, with an outlet (18) for the fraction rich in solid particles, and with at least one block of slats (20) composed of multiple overlapping slats (22), wherein the at least one block of slats (20) has a rear side oriented toward the tank wall and a front side arranged on the opposite side of the block of slats (20). On the rear side of the at least one block of slats, a plate (26) is arranged which extends over at least a part of the rear side of the block of slats, wherein the plate has a plurality of openings which facilitate the penetration of liquid through the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Meri Entsorgungstechnik fuer die Papierindustrie GmbH
    Inventors: George Troubounis, Lucas Menke