Vortex coagulation means and method for wastewater clarification

Abstract

Raw wastewater to be clarified is routed in an apparatus which directs the wastewater in an improved upwardly directed vortex path that is above and open to a source of dense microbubbles. Impurities within the wastewater are urged toward the periphery of the vortex and coagulate, while the bubbles tend to pass up through a central core of the vortex. The coagulated impurities and the bubbles approach the outlet of the vortex apparatus, whereupon a venturi-like effect is developed to accomplish an improved contacting of the coagulated impurities and the bubbles to form buoyant agglomerates. The wastewater and buoyant agglomerates flow together through the vortex outlet, after which the buoyant agglomerates may be permitted to float to the surface of the wastewater in a separate chamber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.