Apparatus and method for separating a liquid from other substances

An apparatus for separating a liquid from other substances, comprising:

• a first chamber;
• a second chamber;
• an inlet connected to the first chamber;
• an outlet connected to the second chamber;
• a bypass conduit passing from the inlet, through the first chamber, and into the second chamber;
• a passage between the first and second chambers and configured to allow the liquid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passage located below the bypass conduit,
• wherein the bypass conduit comprises a first opening located within the first chamber and a second opening located in the second chamber,
• wherein the second opening comprises a notch in the bypass conduit, the notch having a height relative to a bottom surface of the bypass conduit and a
• width relative to an end of the bypass conduit,
• wherein the bypass conduit is angled at an angle relative to a horizontal so that a lowest region of the notch is higher, in relation to the horizontal, than a highest region of the first opening, such that liquid flow into the inlet, less than a treatment flow rate, flows substantially entirely through the first opening, and
• wherein the first opening comprises a slot in the bypass conduit having an area sufficient to allow liquid flow into the inlet, less than the treatment flow rate, to substantially entirely flow through the first opening.

An apparatus for separating floating and non-floating matter from liquid and for separating liquids from liquids with a different density, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more structures divided such that the apparatus comprises a plurality of internal chambers;
• at least one inlet conduit that passes all the way through at least one chamber, but not all chambers, and terminates within one of the chambers, the conduit having at least one opening in each of the internal chambers;
• a passageway between the internal chambers below the conduit to simultaneously allow liquid to pass between the internal chambers and to prevent floatable matter from passing between chambers;
• and
• the first opening in the first internal chamber for the passage of liquid out of the conduit, first opening comprising a shape that wraps generally around the bottom and sides of the conduit but not the top and the first opening is shorter, relative to the axis of the conduit, at the bottom than on the sides so as to allow flow to exit the conduit in all horizontal and downward directions, but minimizing the average downward component of the velocity of this flow.

An apparatus for separating a liquid from other substances, comprising:

• a first chamber;
• a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a baffle wall;
• the baffle wall comprising a horizontal slab;
• an inlet connected to the first chamber;
• an outlet connected to the second chamber;
• a bypass conduit passing from the inlet, through the first chamber, and into the second chamber;
• a passage configured to allow the liquid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passage located beneath the horizontal slab;
• and
• wherein the bypass conduit comprises a first opening located within the first chamber, adjacent to the baffle wall, and a second opening located in the second chamber.