Chevron clarifier

A clarifier for separating a substance of heavier density from a liquid having a lesser density comprising:

• a vessel having a separation portion and an upper weir portion;
• a plurality of pairs of separation elements positioned in the separation portion in vertically stacked opposed parallel relation to define a common up flow channel therebetween and a down flow path exteriorly thereof, each having a substantially uniform cross section in the direction of liquid flow, each separation element having a vertical downward extending wing and a downward and outward jutting wing, the vertically downward wing and the downward and outward wing being joined at a predetermined angle .alpha. at an apex, and each separation element further having a predetermined number of fluid flow apertures of predetermined cross sectional areas formed in the vertically downward wing adjacent the apex;
• and,
• retaining means retaining the separation elements in at least one pair of vertical columns within the separation portion of the vessel with the downward extending wings of each separation element being in near vertical alignment with the downward extending wing of each vertically adjacent separation element of the column, said means further retaining said elements with the adjacent downward extending wings of the separation elements in one column facing in opposed substantial parallel relation to the similar adjacent downward extending wings of the separation elements of the other column of the pair to define a vertical up flow collecting channel extending through the separation portion and communicating with the upper weir portion of the vessel;
• whereby the heavier density substance is caused by gravity to settle along the downward and outward jutting wings of the separation elements and the liquid is caused by a decrease in specific gravity due to settling of the heavier density substance to flow upward and inward through the fluid flow apertures to the up flow collecting channel to provide clarified liquid of lesser density at the weir portion of the vessel.