Clarification tank

An apparatus for clarifying a liquid mixture, comprising:

• a. a tank having means for removing one component of said mixture at the liquid level in said tank;
• b. a central tube vertically disposed in said tank and having upper and lower plenum chambers therein;
• c. means for feeding said liquid mixture to said upper plenum chamber, said upper chamber having an opening therein for discharging said mixture into said tank to effect a separation of the liquid components of said mixture;
• d. a plurality of pick-up tubes of equal length and diameter each extending radially from said lower plenum chamber, each tube having a downwardly facing opening near the outer end thereof through which a second liquid component is withdrawn from the lower section of said tank through each of said tubes at equal flow rates into said lower plenum chamber;
• e. a riser positioned exteriorly of said tank in fluid communication with said lower plenum chamber, said riser being of a size relative to said tank and said plenum chamber as to educt liquid from said tank through said lower plenum chamber;
• and
• f. an adjustable weir device at the upper end of said riser for controlling the rate of discharge of said second liquid component from said tank, and the liquid level in said tank.