Clarifier/thickener
OwnerMilovan A. Bosnjakinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The separation compartments of a clarifier are structured to force substantially all of a suspension through an active separating zone in a direct flow path which avoids short circuiting.
Claims19
In a clarifier of the type in which a stacked array of settling compartments is mounted substantially vertically within a vessel to provide exterior of said array along its entire vertical height within said vessel a flow stream of a mixture of a carrier liquid and suspended solids so that each said settling compartment receives a mixture of carrier liquid and suspended solids directly from said flow stream, the improvement comprising:
- the individual settling compartments within said stacked array, each being defined by a back plate, opposing side plates, a top plate and a bottom plate, cooperatively assembled to receive the mixture directly from said flow stream through an entryway opposite said back plate, and to receive substantially all of said carrier liquid at said back plate under clarifying flow conditions so that solids settle towards said bottom plate and then pass outwardly through said entryway to join said flow stream;
- and
- means for withdrawing said clarified liquid from a zone adjacent said back plate at a controlled rate.
In a clarifier in which a stacked array of settling compartments is mounted substantially vertically within a tank so that there is provided a flow channel within said tank exterior of said stacked array along its entire vertical height, the improvement which comprises:
- individual compartments defined by approximately parallel top and bottom plates mounted at an incline with respect to a horizontal plane and side plates connecting said top and bottom plates to provide an entry to receive a fluid mixture of settleable substance and carrier liquid from said flow channel, such that when said mixture is introduced to said entry under hydrostatic pressure conditions it is caused to flow in a path confined within said compartment towards a zone adjacent said top plate opposite said entry, said zone being provided with a flow control device constituting means for passing clarified liquid from said zone at a rate which maintains the flow rate of said mixture within said compartment effective to permit said substance to settle from said mixture and pass out of said compartment through said entry to said flow channel.
A clarifier including:
- a stacked array of settling compartments within a vessel, there being an inlet at the top of the vessel and an outlet at the bottom of the vessel so that there is defined a flow path between said inlet and outlet exterior of said stacked array;
- each said compartment being configured to provide an entry in open communication with said flow path so that when said vessel is filled with a fluid mixture of a settleable substance and carrier liquid, said mixture is caused to flow by hydrostatic pressure through said entryway in an ascending inclined path confined within said compartment to a zone remote from said entry;
- said zone including means for passing clarified liquid therefrom at a rate which maintains the flow rate of said mixture within said compartment effective to permit said substance to settle from said mixture and pass out of said compartment thorough said entry;
- thereby to exit said vessel through said outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.