Reversible flow, inclined plate clarifier

In a clarifier of a type including a plurality of parallel spaced-apart plates mounted in inclined relation within a housing to form flow passages therebetween and means for causing liquid to be clarified to flow along the flow passages, the housing also forming a manifold flow chamber above the plates in communication with the respective passages formed therebetween and with a first outlet conduit, the improvement comprising collection channel means formed within each respective passage by an L-shaped divider plate having a downwardly extending leg arranged in spaced-apart relation from the underside of each inclined plate and adjacent the upper inclined end thereof, the housing forming a low density phase outlet conduit means in communication with the collection channel means for receiving a low density phase therefrom and a flow control means arranged within the manifold flow chamber for regulating liquid flow between the passages formed by the inclined plates and the first conduit, the flow regulating means including integral means for communicating the low density phase from the collection channel means with the low density phase conduit means wherein the low density phase collection channel means extends along a lateral portion of the passage between each pair of inclined plates, the flow control means comprising a trough having spaced apart side walls and an inclined floor arranged therebetween, the flow control means overlapping the remaining lateral portion of the passages in order to receive the low density phase beneath the inclined floor for communication to the low density phase outlet conduit means, the flow control means being movably mounted in order to provide ready access to the flow passages between the inclined plates.

In a clarifier of a type including a plurality of parallel spaced-apart plates mounted in inclined relation within a housing to form flow passages therebetween and means for causing liquid to be clarified to flow along the flow passages, the housing also forming a manifold flow chamber above the plates in communication with the respective passages formed therebetween and with a first outlet conduit, the improvement comprising collection channel means formed within each respective passage by an L-shaped divider plate having a downwardly extending leg arranged in spaced-apart relation from the underside of each inclined plate and adjacent the upper inclined end thereof, the housing forming a low density phase outlet conduit means in communication with the collection channel means for receiving a low density phase therefrom and a flow control means arranged within the manifold flow chamber for regulating liquid flow between the passaged formed by the inclined plates and the first conduit, the flow regulating means including integral means for communicating the low density phase from the collection channel means with the low density phase conduit means wherein the first flow control means comprises a trough having spaced-apart side walls and an inclined floor arranged therebetween, the trough being in communication above the inclined floor with the first conduit by means of an overflow weir positioned between said first conduit and said trough, said trough extending transversely to said collection passages the trough also being in communication below the inclined floor with the collection passages and with the low density phase outlet conduit means for receiving the low density phase.

In a clarifier including a plurality of spaced-apart parallel plates arranged in inclined relation within a housing to form inclined flow passages therebetween, the housing also forming a manifold flow chamber above the plates in communication with each of the flow passages, the improvement comprising

• an L-shaped divider plate means mounted with an upwardly extending portion in parallel spaced-apart relation from the underside of each inclined plate adjacent the lower end thereof and forming a divided flow region between each inclined plate and the respective divider plate means,
• a vertically extending manifold flow means formed by the housing and extending along a lateral edge of the inclined plates, a vertical partition plate separating the vertical manifold flow means from the flow passages while forming openings permitting communication between the vertical manifold flow means and the divided flow regions formed by each of the inclined plates and the adjacent divider plate means,
• conduit means in communication with the vertical manifold flow means, and
• overflow weir means arranged within the vertical manifold flow means to regulate liquid flow through the vertical manifold flow means between the conduit means and the openings formed by the vertical partition plate.

In a clarifier including a housing having a trapezoidal configuration in cross-section and defining a clarifier section including a plurality of parallel spaced-apart plates arranged in inclined relation in the housing to form inclined flow passages therebetween, the housing also forming an inlet manifold chamber above the inclined plates in communication with the flow passages therebetween for introducing liquid to be clarified into the inclined flow passages between the inclined plates, and means for receiving clarified liquid from the lower ends of the flow passages, a suitable support structure providing a mounting for the lower end of the housing, the improvement comprising a combination support structure for the upper end of the housing and a flocculating chamber for introducing flocculating material into liquid to be clarified prior to its passage into the inlet manifold chamber, the combined support structure and flocculating chamber comprising a hollow structure supporting the upper end of the housing and extending downwardly to provide support therefor, the hollow support structure internally forming a vertical chamber having inlet and outlet means in communication with an upper end thereof, the outlet means communicating the vertical chamber with the inlet manifold, the vertical chamber including a vertical baffle separating the inlet and outlet means and extending downwardly to divide the vertical chamber into two portions with an interconnecting passage beneath the vertical baffle at the bottom of the vertical chamber.

In a clarifier of a type including a housing having a trapezoidal configuration in cross-section and defining a clarifier section including a plurality of parallel spaced-apart plates arranged in inclined relation within the housing to form inclined flow passages therebetween, the housing also defining an inlet and outlet means for communicating liquid to be clarified through the inclined flow passages between the inclined plates, the housing also including means for collecting a selected phase of material to be removed from the liquid and means for receiving clarified liquid from the lower ends of the flow passages, the improvement comprising means for supporting the inclined plates within the housing and for maintaining a liquid seal between one of the inclined plates and a similarly inclined wall of the housing, the support means comprising a support structure extending across the housing at the bottom of the clarifier section to receive the inclined plates, the seal means comprising at least one pair of channel members arranged in respective engagement with the one inclined plate and the similarly inclined housing wall, one of the channels being fixed in place, the channels being U-shaped and arranged in facing and overlapping relation to form a closed column, expandable means being arranged within the closed column to urge the U-shaped channel members apart into respective engagement with the one inclined plate and the similarly inclined housing wall.