Utilizing Parallel Separation Passages Patents (Class 210/802)
  • Patent number: 7731853
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment with which an organic solution extraction solution is purified from entrainment of aqueous solution and impurities during hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction. The method treats an organic extraction solution, which is loaded with a valuable metal or valuable substance from the aqueous solution. The purpose is to carry out the physical separation of water droplets and the chemical removal of impurities from the organic extraction solution simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Eero Ekman, Juhani Lyyra, Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto, Bror Nyman, Jussi Vaarno
  • Patent number: 7718076
    Abstract: Efficient methods and apparatus for separating both settleable-particles and finer-non-settlable-particles from particle-laden fluid are provided by combining many successive settling, filtration, and treatment stages in one basin. A sludge and finer-particle removal system combined into the one basin is configured with a common gantry drive having many arms hanging from an overhead beam, each arm carrying a particle remover configured for the corresponding stage. In one stage, a practical method of removing sludge from between closely-spaced settler flow trays is provided by one pair of arms that straddle the trays and move an array of pushers during movement of the common gantry drive. During that movement the common gantry drive also removes the finer-non-settleable-particles from all downstream stages of filtration and treatment, and each stage continues operating while the common gantry drive operates to perform the respective removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Charles Lonnie Meurer
  • Patent number: 7704398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus with which the aqueous solution from liquid-liquid extraction in the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals is purified from droplets of organic extraction solution. The aqueous solution is treated in a settling tank, where it is made to flow through a flow channel area with a reduced cross-section that extends over the width of the tank at least at one point. The flow channels are located in the lower section of the droplet coalescer according to the invention, with the upper section of the device being mainly solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto, Juhani Lyyra, Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman
  • Patent number: 7695625
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus with which an organic solution that is slightly soluble in water is scrubbed of aqueous entrainment and impurities. In particular, the organic solution may be the organic extraction solution of liquid-liquid extraction used in connection with the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals. The purpose is to perform the physical separation of water droplets and the chemical removal of impurities from the organic solution simultaneously. This occurs by routing the solution to be purified in the settling tank through at least one flow plate cassette of reduced cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: OutoTec Oyj
    Inventors: Juhani Lyyra, Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto, Eero Ekman, Bror Nyman
  • Patent number: 7678275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reversing the dispersion formed in the mixing section of liquid-liquid extraction and kept condensed in the separation section and the separated solutions form the rear end of the separation section to flow back towards the feed end of the separation section. The invention also refers to the extraction equipment for implementing the reversed flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman, Stig-Erik Hultholm, Pertti Pekkala, Juhani Lyyra, Launo Lilja, Raimo Kuusisto
  • Patent number: 7678286
    Abstract: A system for separating an emulsion fluid into a recovered fluid and a purified fluid. The emulsion fluid comprises a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The purified fluid is essentially constituted of the continuous phase. The system comprises a vessel at an inlet of which the emulsion fluid may flow. The system further comprises one or more coalescing elements made of Reusable Polymer Absorbent material. Each coalescing element allows to coalesce at least a portion of the dispersed phase from small droplets into large drops further detached from the coalescing element upon a flow of the emulsion fluid. The system further comprises one or more separating and guiding means made of oleophilic material. Each separating and guiding means is located a distance from an associated coalescing element and is disposed at an output of the associated coalescing element to guide the detached large drops for further recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Pays, Christophe Corailler
  • Publication number: 20090283483
    Abstract: A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising: injecting said suspension into a duct presenting a first section that is straight and a second section that is curved; and at the outlet from said curved section of the duct, extracting a liquid-enriched fraction of said suspension that is spatially separated from a particle-enriched fraction of the suspension; the method being characterized in that the injection flow rate of the suspension and the geometry of the duct are selected in such a manner that: in the straight section, lift forces cause particles to be superconcentrated in a ring around the longitudinal axis of the duct; and in the curved section, Dean secondary flows deform said ring and give rise to spatial separation between said liquid-enriched fraction and said particle-enriched fraction. A device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Jean Luc Achard, Elodie Sollier, Herve Rostaing
  • Publication number: 20090178975
    Abstract: Processes for treating drilling fluid by passing the fluid through a separator including a clarifying zone and a thickening zone, the clarifying zone having inclined plates and the thickening zone having at least one wall with an angle of less than about 60°. The separator may optionally include an agglomeration zone and a removal zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Q'MAX SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: KEVIN SLOUGH, TROY LUPUL
  • Patent number: 7517461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the controlled separation of a dispersion of two liquids formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction into their own phases in the separation section of the extraction. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals. In accordance with the method the dispersion band remaining between the separated phases is dammed up using at least one revert member for said purpose located in the separation section. The equipment according to the invention comprises at least one revert member, which is in turn made up of at least two separate parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Stig-Erik Hultholm, Eero Ekman, Launo Lilja, Juhani Lyyra, Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto
  • Patent number: 7482577
    Abstract: The present invention employs a beam steering apparatus to isolate valuable cells from other cells, tissues, and contaminants. In one embodiment, the system balances optical trapping against biasing flow to parallelize cell sorting under the flexible control of computer program-directed traps which differentially manipulate cells based on their composition or labels to direct separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Arryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Gruber, Kenneth Bradley, Ward Lopes, Robert Lancelot, Joseph Plewa, David Grier
  • Patent number: 7465402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for guiding a dispersion of two liquids formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction along the longitudinal axis of the separation section in the feed end of an extraction separation section. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals. In accordance with the method the dispersion to be fed into the separation section is guided so that it spreads evenly over the cross-section of the separation section using a directional member placed so as to obtain a vertical flow. The equipment in accordance with the invention consists of a directional member, which is in turn made up of at least two separate parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Stig-Erik Hultholm, Eero Ekman, Launo Lilja, Juhani Lyyra, Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto
  • Patent number: 7449117
    Abstract: A filtration unit that includes a casing that has a closed bottom and is immersed in a water storage tank (or water storage pond) into which raw water is introduced, the casing being composed of a introduction port which introduces the raw water in the water storage tank into the casing, an active carbon supply device which adds active carbon to the introduced raw water, an agitator which agitates the raw water inside the casing to which active carbon has been added, a filtration module which filters the raw water, a back flow preventing device which prevents the raw water inside the casing from flowing back into the introduction port and being discharged into the water storage tank, and a discharging device which discharges the raw water from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7431846
    Abstract: An apparatus to separate solids from drilling slurry, having an inlet positioned over an outlet of a concentration tank to displace water that would otherwise enter the down-stream centrifuges. Baffles are provided to direct solids to the outlet and minimize the time that solids spend in the concentration tank. Fluids having solids removed therefrom are removed from the apparatus at a location remote from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: Robert M. Palmer
  • Patent number: 7390420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling and compressing a dispersion formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction. The compression of the dispersion is achieved by reducing the cross-section of the separation section in the direction of flow and by equipping the separation section with a dispersion-damming member. The equipment according to the invention thus comprises a settler, which is essentially trapezoid in shape so that its cross-section is wider at the feed end of the settler and gets smaller towards the rear end of the settler, from whence the separated solutions are discharged from the settler, and the settler is equipped with at least one device to dam up the dispersion. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Stig-Erik Hultholm, Eero Ekman, Launo Lilja, Juhani Lyyra, Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto
  • Publication number: 20080011693
    Abstract: A self-cleaning waste-water treatment device and method having a housing; a waste-water inlet; a coalescing plate interceptor removably mounted within the housing comprising a plurality of corrugated separator plates each having apertures therein, for receiving the waste-water and for separating, via specific gravity, hydrocarbon-based contaminants from the waste-water; at least one ultrasonic generator disposed within the housing; contaminant removal means for removing separated hydrocarbon-based contaminants from the housing; a purified water outlet; and at least one baffle located adjacent to the purified water outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Ming Li, ShaoXiang Lu
  • Patent number: 7314572
    Abstract: Settleable-particles are separated from a dirty flow of settleable-particles and fluid by trays having a planar section configured with opposed ends and opposed sides, and an entrance edge and an exit edge on opposed ends. The section has opposed side edges, and an upturned entrance lip at each of the entrance and exits edges, with downturned lips at each side edge. A settler unit has one tray as an upper tray and another tray as a lower tray, the two trays being mounted parallel and at a low-angle to define a dirty flow entrance, a clean flow exit, and a pocket between the upturned entrance lip and the upturned exit lip for receiving and capturing settled-particles from the dirty flow while cleaner flow flows from the entrance to the exit. A sludge exit is at each side of the trays for permitting the captured settled-particles to exit the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Meurer Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Lonnie Meurer
  • Patent number: 7279076
    Abstract: In an apparatus capable of distilling and refining an easily polymerizable substance, piping is performed so that when a strainer in action is switched to a backup strainer, the strainer can be switched after removing air in the backup strainer to replace air in the backup strainer with a discharge liquid of a pump. According to the apparatus, switching the strainers installed on an upstream side of the pump for extracting a liquid of a vacuum distillation column, which distills and refines the easily polymerizable substance, can be performed with no trouble during operation of the distillation column. When the apparatus includes a device for measuring a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side of the strainer in action, two or more strainers installed in parallel can be switched at proper times and the easily polymerizable substance can be produced efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Yada, Yasushi Ogawa, Hirochika Hosaka, Yoshiro Suzuki, Mitsuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7258800
    Abstract: A waste water treatment system and process for treating waste water received in a batch tank. The waste water is discharged in a headwork screen for removing large solids in the water. The solids are into a sludge drying bin. The screened water is transferred into a top of an influent surge tank with an oil/water separator. The oil/water separator includes a plurality of coalescing plates for separating free oil from the waste water. Heavy solids in the surge tank are drained into the sludge drying bin. The waste water is now dropped into a containment pan. From the containment pan, the waste water is pumped into a water treatment tank. The water treatment tank includes two or more electrodes mounted in the top thereof. The electrodes are separated using insulating support spacers for providing proper electrode spacing and insulation between the electrodes. The electrodes are used for providing current to the waste water and separating the contaminates in the water by electrocoagulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Robert J. Herbst
  • Patent number: 7223348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus for separating a disperse mixture of two non-miscible liquids to increase the separation extent within less time required as per usual. The proposed method includes the steps of providing a tank having an elongated horizontal extension terminated by two end faces (4, 5), creating within said tank an interface (13) between a first layer formed by a volume of one of said two liquids and a second layer formed by a volume of the other of said two liquids with, and supplying said disperse mixture into the tank from one of said end faces (4) thereof directly into said interface (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Lisopharm AG
    Inventors: Alexander Seregin, Victor Ermolov, Vladimir Minaev, Andrey Orlov
  • Patent number: 7201849
    Abstract: The invention concerns a lamellar clarifier (1) comprising: a) a tank (3) for liquid to be clarified (5), b) means for conveying said liquid (5) into a lower zone (9) of said tank (3), c) means (11) for evacuating said liquid (5) from an upper zone (13) of the tank (3), and d) a plurality of settling plates (Di) arranged inside said tank (3), said plates (Di) being substantially parallel and uniformly spaced apart from one another so as to define a plurality of passages (IIi) extending between said lower (9) and upper (13) zones. Said clarifier is characterized in that it further comprises tubular members (Ti) integral with said plates (Di), and oscillating fixing means (?i) interposed between said tubular members (Ti) and said tank (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Innova Environnement
    Inventor: Alain Boulant
  • Patent number: 7182874
    Abstract: A stormwater treatment device for removing floatables, solids and suspended particles and the like from stormwater run off, whereby a removable assembly is provided for installation into a manhole basin, the assembly including a pass-through member which receives stormwater from an incoming drainage system, and diverts low flows to at least one or more vortex separators, while allowing for high flows to bypass the separators and flow through the assembly untreated to exit the basin without diversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: KriStar Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Allard, Jonathan McDonald
  • Patent number: 7178593
    Abstract: An inline well fluid separator is movable for pigging operations. The separator assembly has a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port. A separation unit is carried within the housing. The separation unit has an operational position in alignment with the ports to cause well fluid to flow through the separation unit. The separation unit will move to a storage position within the housing outside of the flow path to enable a pipeline pig to pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Jarle Michaelsen, Lars-Petter Sollie
  • Patent number: 7150834
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating blood into components, may be expanded to include other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Arryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Mueth, Amy Anderson, Jessica Shireman
  • Patent number: 7118676
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Arryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mueth, Joseph Plewa, Jessica Shireman, Amy Anderson, Lewis Gruber, Neil Harris Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 7093722
    Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for removing and trapping large and/or dense abrasive particles from a polishing slurry. The polishing slurry is introduced into a container and allowed to stagnate, thereby causing large and/or dense particles to separate from the slurry under the influence of gravity. The container includes a cavity or plurality of cavities defined by an inner surface of the container into which the separated particles sink. To prevent the large and/or dense particles from becoming re-suspended into the slurry, the size and shape of the cavity is relatively deep and narrow with respect to the large and/or dense particles, thus providing a trapping effect. The cavities do not effectively trap the smaller particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Cabot Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventor: Steven K Grumbine
  • Patent number: 7008546
    Abstract: A cylindrical vertical oil, water and gas separator that incorporates the known advantage of a horizontal flow path, when utilizing the force of gravity to separate a mixture of flowing fluids into distinct laminar layers, while providing a means for maintaining the dynamic equilibrium of the disparate layers of the fluids even when the oil, water and gas separator is swaying back and forth as might happen if the oil, water and gas separator is installed on the deck of a ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: Jerry M Edmondson
  • Patent number: 6951619
    Abstract: A separation tank with an outer chamber and an inner chamber within the outer chamber. An inlet and outlet are formed in the outer chamber to receive and discharge water, respectively. An inlet opening is located in the inner chamber and is generally aligned with the inlet to receive water from the inlet. An outlet opening is formed in the inner chamber below the inlet opening but above the bottom of the inner chamber. The inner chamber has a cylindrical interior surface such that water from the inlet is directed at a tangent to the interior surface and forms a vortex as the water progresses through the inner chamber. A baffle plate having an opening forming upper and lower weirs is located within the outer chamber just upstream of the outlet to separate both floatable and non-floatable material from the water prior to its discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Graham Bryant
  • Patent number: 6921489
    Abstract: An aerated grit chamber includes an aeration zone in which influent is vigorously aerated and a settling zone separated from the aeration zone by a baffle beneath which wastewater flows from the aeration zone into the settling zone. The aeration causes swirling motion and causes larger grit particles to settle and accumulate in a grit trough on the floor. An inclined plate settler in the upper part of the settling zone causes smaller grit to settle and fall into the grit trough. In order to prevent overly efficient operation at low flow rates and settling of organics with the grit, internal recycling of the wastewater from the settling zone back into the aeration zone is effected, preferably with air lift to induce recycling but also using alternative techniques such as direct pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 6852239
    Abstract: A duct for conveying influent to a head cell having multiple, vertically aligned trays has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end can be connected to an influent channel positioned at a level above the head cell apparatus. The outlet end is positioned downstream of the inlet end and can be connected to the head cell. The outlet end has multiple, discrete nozzles that are spaced apart in a vertical direction and correspond in number to the multiple trays. Influent that enters the inlet end of the duct travels downwardly and exits the duct through orifices in the nozzles, entering each of the respective trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: George E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6845821
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns a static oil/water separation chamber that is installed in a well extending to an underaround production formation containing hydrocarbon oil and water. The separation chamber has an inlet for receiving well fluid from a section below the separation chamber and two outlets. One outlet discharges a water-enriched component into a discharge well section, and the other outlet produces an oil-enriched component. The height of the separation chamber is larger than the thickness of the dispersion band that is formed under normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jelle Sipke Bouma, Eric Johannes Puik, Paulus-Henricus Joannes Verbeek
  • Patent number: 6827865
    Abstract: A treater for separating oil from water in an emulsion uses vertical coalescing vanes extending through the oil portion into the water portion. The vanes are made of a conductive material, and are electrically grounded in the produced water, and may be coated or partially coated to promote de-watering. Water droplets coalescing on the faces of the vanes are transported down the vane into the water portion and are removed from the system. In a further embodiment, the vanes extend above the oil portion into the gas portion to facilitate removal of gas entrained in the oil. In another embodiment, at least some of the coalescing vanes are rotatable, allowing external control of the flow of fluid through the treater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Bradley T. Fenwick
  • Patent number: 6824692
    Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for measuring the concentration in dense granular material in a flow comprising a liquid, a dense granular material and suspended fine particles. The invention is characterised in that it comprises: at least a member for separating the dense granular material from the liquid and the suspended fine particles, at least a device for measuring (12, 12a, 13) at least a parameter representing the amount of separated dense granular material for a specific time interval T. Such an installation may be integrated in a ballasted-floc water treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: OTV S.A.
    Inventors: Patrick Binot, Stanislas Rineau
  • Patent number: 6712982
    Abstract: Catalyst particles are separated from the wax in a reactor slurry reactor by feeding a portion of the slurry to a dynamic settler. Heavier catalyst particles settle and are removed as the slurry at the bottom of the settler is recycled back to the reactor. Clarified wax is removed at the top of the settler. A multi-channel baffle prevents turbulence, improving retention of the desired heavier catalyst particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Bohn, James E. Siebarth
  • Patent number: 6691781
    Abstract: It is common in oil extraction operations to reinject produced gas and\or water back into hydrocarbon bearing formations in order to maintain formation pressure. Conventional production facilities normally flow all formation fluids to the surface and subsequently reinject the required fluids back into the formation, which can be extremely inefficient due to the high power input required to overcome the large pressure differential between the surface and formation level. A production fluid handling method and apparatus for separating downhole at least gaseous and liquid components (16, 18, 20) of fluid produced from a hydrocarbon bearing formation (12), and reinjecting at least a portion of the gaseous and liquid components (16, 18, 20), as required, back into the formation (12). Re-injection also occurs downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Weir Pumps Limited, Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Alexander Angus Grant, Per Almdahl, Per Eivind Gramme, Sven Arne Kjolberg, Bjarne Olsen, Terje Sondtvedt
  • Patent number: 6659290
    Abstract: In-situ cleaning of the bilgewater processing plates of stacks within the tank chamber of an oil/water separator is performed by an injected chemical cleaning agent while being dispersed by diverted flow of pressurized air introduced into the tank chamber below the plate stacks in the form of air bubbles emerging from plural branches of an air sparging array positioned in underlying alignment with crest formations of the processing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John J. Lawson, Steven A. Stetz, Stephan J. Verosto, Nete M. Poret, Richard R. Leung
  • Patent number: 6623640
    Abstract: A phase separator, upflow reactor apparatuses and methods for separating phases are provided. The phase separator includes a first separation unit and a second separation unit, each of which has walls defining a coagulation area. One of the walls adjoins a deflector inclined to the horizontal and vertical. The separator also includes a plurality of parallel plates spaced from each other and vertically and horizontally inclined which each have a lower edge. The other wall of the separator adjoins one of the parallel plates and the deflector extends below and across the lower edges of the parallel plates. Each of the first and the second separation units is capable of separating a gas from a liquid by diverting the gas around one wall of each of the separation units and by creating a circulation of the liquid around at least one of the parallel plates such that liquid is directed into the coagulation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Biothane Corporation
    Inventors: Jelte Lanting, John L. Murphy, III
  • Patent number: 6605224
    Abstract: A coalescer apparatus is used in oil-water separator tanks. The coalescer includes a frame that supports coalescing plates that are inclined upwardly from the bottom of the frame member. The coalescing plates run parallel with each other and are spaced equally apart. The coalescing plates have a bottom surface that is corrugated and a top surface that is flat without corrugations. Water containing oil and solids is passed through the coalescing apparatus and separation of the oil and solids from the water occurs. The solids fall to the top flat surface of the inclined coalescing plates. The inclined flat surface cause the solids to slide down the plate and out of the coalescer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Highland Tank and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gregory G. Aymong
  • Patent number: 6599418
    Abstract: An integrated apparatus that contains both the gravity settling mechanism and the dissolved-air floatation (DAF) mechanism in a compensating manner is provided. The said apparatus comprises a gravity settling chamber (34), a DAF chamber (42), a chamber connection channel (22), an air-dissolving device (38), a means for collecting treated water (24), and a water level control device (16). During treatment, heavy solid particles in water or wastewater can be quickly removed by gravity settling, while the remaining light solid particles and/or oil can be quickly removed by DAF. Thus, the apparatus of this invention is more effective and efficient compared with conventional clarifiers that employ only one clarification mechanism. Therefore, the apparatus of this invention is more compact and can achieve better effluent quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Jianmin Wang
  • Patent number: 6565758
    Abstract: A system for dispensing, collecting, and processing wash fluid includes a first movable support frame including a first tank that stores clean wash fluid, a first pump that pressurizes the clean wash fluid and delivers the pressurized wash fluid to a dispenser, a second tank that stores used wash fluid, and at least one of a separator unit and a reverse osmosis unit that process used wash fluid delivered from the second tank. A second movable support frame includes a used washed fluid collection area and a second pump at one end that transfers the collected wash fluid back to the second tank of the first movable support frame through a conduit. The second movable support frame also includes an inclination adjustment mechanism that adjusts the inclination of the second movable support frame so that the collected fluid is supplied to the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: The Centech Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Thomas
  • Patent number: 6558558
    Abstract: Apparatus for circulating a fluid, for example a liquid or a gas, from a first end to a second end is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a tube of a flexible material divided by dividing walls of a flexible material into an array of compartments or cells running the length of the tube, the compartments being arranged in rows and columns so that the tube divided by dividing walls has a honeycomb structure, with a first end of the tube on a base and a second end of the tube above the first end of the tube; first flow means and second flow means a fluid inlet into the first row of compartments; and a fluid outlet from the last row of compartments; so that fluid introduced through the fluid inlet flows either up or down the compartments in the first row, through the first or second flow means between the first and second rows, and then down or up the compartments in the second row, through the second or first flow means between the second and third rows, and so on until the fluid reaches the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Alethea Rosalind Melanie Hall
  • Patent number: 6537458
    Abstract: A three-phase separator (1) comprising a normally horizontal vessel (3) defining a liquid separation space (5) and a gas space (7), which vessel (3) has an inlet end space (1) provided with a feed inlet (21) and an outlet end space (15) provided with separate outlets (25, 26 and 27) for the three phases, which vessel (3) further comprises an inlet device (31) comprising a primary separator (35) arranged in the gas space (7) and a tilted return tray (38) arranged in the gas space (7) having a lower end (39) that is located near the inlet end wall (13) such that a passage (41) is defined between the lower end (39) and the inlet end wall (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Hugo Gerardus Polderman
  • Patent number: 6506310
    Abstract: A system for separating solids from a fluid stream. The system includes a first separator device mounted to a container. The container includes a settling compartment and baffle plate module, with the initial settling compartment receiving the fluid from the first separator device. The fluid stream proceeds through the baffle plate module. The solids within the fluid stream will descend to the bottom of the container. A spiral blade is positioned at the bottom of the container, with the spiral blade adapted to convey solids to a first pump member. The speed of rotation of the spiral blade may be varied. The first pump member discharges the slurry to a second separator device. The second separator device will discharge the separated fluid stream into the baffle plate module. In one embodiment, the first separator device is a linear shaker and the second separator device is a cyclone separator and linear shaker mounted in tandem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Del Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Kulbeth
  • Patent number: 6485652
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the physico-chemical treatment of water characterized in that it comprises at least a step consisting in causing the water to be treated in at least one settler providing non-thickened sludge and in at least one settler-thickener treating the sludge from the two settlers and part of the water to be treated. The invention also concerns a plant for implementing said method comprising means for supplying the water to be treated (6), at least a settler providing non-thickened sludge (2), at least a settler-thickener (5, 5a), means for conveying (7) at least part of the non-thickened sludge coming from the settler providing non-thickened sludge (2) to the settler-thickener (5, 5a), means for evacuating (9, 9a) treated water coming from said settler providing non-thickened sludge (2) and from said settler-thickener (5, 5a) and means for evacuating (8) the thickened sludge coming from said settler-thickener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventors: Nicolas M. Le Poder, Didier M. Haegel
  • Patent number: 6478965
    Abstract: Dilute solutions of fermentation sales may be concentrated by extracting water using low-miscibility, low-molecular-weight secondary and tertiary amines, e.g. triethylamine (TEA), diisopropyl amine (DIA), N,N-diethylmethylamine (DEMA), and mixtures thereof. At 30° C.-55° C., which corresponds to typical fermentation temperatures, these low-molecular-weight amines or their mixtures, can extract large amounts of water from dilute aqueous solutions containing fermentation salts. Thus, dilute fermentation salt solutions can be concentrated by selectively removing water. At these low temperatures, the amine phase contains 20-35% water and a much reduced quantity of fermentation salt. When the temperature is raised, water phases out of the amine, allowing the amine to be recycled and reused to extract additional water. Using this approach, about 82.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Richard R. Davison, Torsten Luettich
  • Publication number: 20020003118
    Abstract: Separation device for separating a fluid from a fluid/particle mixture, comprising a feed and a discharge, which are divided by a displaceable separating wall, which comprises an inflow surface and an outflow surface and is provided with passages, which connect the feed to the discharge, the passages, in the vicinity of the inflow surface, including an acute angle &agr; with the inflow surface (25). The device comprises drive means for displacing the separating wall along a curved path in a direction, as seen from angle &agr;, of that limb of said angle &agr; which lies against the inflow surface. The feed is designed to cause the particle mixture to flow in at an angle &ggr; with respect to the inflow surface which is at most 90°, and that limb of angle &ggr; which lies against the inflow surface extends in the intended direction of displacement of the separating wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: DUST INNOVATION B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Plomp, Maurice Igmar Leander Beumer
  • Publication number: 20020000409
    Abstract: A phase separator, upflow reactor apparatuses and methods for separating phases are provided. The phase separator includes a first separation unit and a second separation unit, each of which has walls defining a coagulation area. One of the walls adjoins a deflector inclined to the horizontal and vertical. The separator also includes a plurality of parallel plates spaced from each other and vertically and horizontally inclined which each have a lower edge. The other wall of the separator adjoins one of the parallel plates and the deflector extends below and across the lower edges of the parallel plates. Each of the first and the second separation units is capable of separating a gas from a liquid by diverting the gas around one wall of each of the separation units and by creating a circulation of the liquid around at least one of the parallel plates such that liquid is directed into the coagulation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: Biothane Corporation
    Inventors: Jelte Lanting, John L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6309553
    Abstract: A phase separator, upflow reactor apparatuses and methods for separating phases are provided. The phase separator includes a first separation unit and a second separation unit, each of which has walls defining a coagulation area. One of the walls adjoins a deflector inclined to the horizontal and vertical. The separator also includes a plurality of parallel plates spaced from each other and vertically and horizontally inclined which each have a lower edge. The other wall of the separator adjoins one of the parallel plates and the deflector extends below and across the lower edges of the parallel plates. Each of the first and the second separation units is capable of separating a gas from a liquid by diverting the gas around one wall of each of the separation units and by creating a circulation of the liquid around at least one of the parallel plates such that liquid is directed into the coagulation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Biothane Corporation
    Inventors: Jelte Lanting, John L. Murphy, III
  • Patent number: 6258858
    Abstract: Cross-flow microchannel apparatus for producing emulsions includes a pump 9 and a pump 11 which are driven to respectively supply a continuous phase to a concave portion 4 via a supply pipe 10, a supply hole 6 and a supply port 18 and a dispersed phase to a space between the outside of a base 3 and the inside of a concave portion 2 formed in a case 1 via a supply pipe 12 and a supply hole 7. Then, by applying a predetermined pressure to the dispersed phase, the dispersed phase is formed into fine particles via a microchannels 21 and mixed with the continuous phase, thereby forming emulsions. The emulsions are withdrawn to a tank and so on via a withdrawal port 19, a withdrawal hole 8, and a withdrawal pipe 13 for emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignees: Japan as Represented by Director of National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bio-Oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Nakajima, Yuji Kikuchi, Takahiro Kawakatsu, Hideaki Komori, Toshikuni Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 6245243
    Abstract: Improved settlement of solids is provided, while minimizing problems in collecting clarified liquid from a clarifier, by controlling the flow of clarified liquid from a given one of many flow channels of a clarifier. Such control is by causing a substantial amount of that flow of clarified liquid to be collected immediately as that flow exits the given flow channel. Such collection of the substantial amount, if not all of that flow of the clarified liquid from the given flow channel, minimizes if not eliminates, the mixing of the flow from all of the flow channels of a clairfier. As a result, during normal settling operations the flow of the clarified liquid from the given flow channel is substantially isolated. During such normal operations, the isolated flow may be separately sampled for examination of the performance of the separate flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Meurer Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Lonnie Meurer
  • Patent number: 6217777
    Abstract: Flotation apparatus (1) for the purification of polluted water, comprising a flotation vessel (3) having an inlet means (23) for supplying polluted water to said vessel, an assembly (41) of spaced elements (43, 65) defining passages for the flow of water through said elements, and outlet means for surface sludge (15, 17) and outlet means (39, 45; 57, 61) for treated water, further comprising flow directing means for forcing the incoming polluted water to reach a level above said assembly (41) and to flow downwardly through said assembly and towards said treated water outlet means (39, 45; 57, 61); and a process for the purification of polluted water by flotation performed in such apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: AW Creative Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jan Dahlquist, Torsten Hedberg