US 4,564,457 AGranted

Upflow gas eductor induced air floatation separator

AssigneeL'eau Claire Systems, Inc.

InventorsJohn A. Cairo, Jr., Christopher A. Jahn

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Abstract

An upflow eductor induced air separator providing a main separator tank receiving a continuous fluid flow divided into a plurality of aeration chambers with each aeration chamber providing eductor means wherein gas is educted into an upflow water stream with contaminants of suspended oil and solids in the continuous fluid flow adhering to the gas bubbles for collection in a froth layer on the top portion of the tank. There is further provided a V-shaped collection channel extending substantially the length of the tank for removal of collected oil following the sensing activation of a valve allowing the fluid level within the tank to rise, with oil and solids ladened froth being removed through the valve. There is further provided a recirculation pump for recirculating the effluent which exits the tank following the aeration process, and a chemical injection mechanism for injecting a mixture of chemical flocculating agent entering the main separating tank.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An upflow separator apparatus for treating a contaminated liquid stream comprising:

a. a substantially cylindrical, gas tight fluid flow chamber, defining a lower liquid flow portion and an upper gas collection portion;
b. means for introducing a first flow of contaminated liquid into said liquid portion of said chamber;
c. an outlet line for flowing clarified liquid from said chamber;
d. baffle means dividing said chamber into a plurality of aeration chambers, said chambers in fluid flow communication with one another;
e. means for educting gas through said contaminated liquid in each of said aeration chambers, comprising:
i. a clarified liquid inlet line;
ii. a gas inlet line, said gas being educted into said eductor means by the flow of clarified liquid in said liquid line;
iii. header means, further comprising first and second spaced apart plate members emitting a mixture of said educted gas and liquid therebetween for achieving maximum upward dispersion of gas bubbles through the contaminated liquid in each of said aeration chambers;
and
iv. said means for educting gas protruding from the floor portion of each of said aeration chambers;
f. a single channel extending substantially the length of said gas collection portion transverse said baffle means for receiving and collecting contaminants removed from said liquid portion into said gas collection portion;
g. means for recirculating said gas collected within said upper gas collection portion by normal eduction, comprising a gas flow line in fluid communication with said upper gas collection portion and said means for educting gas into said liquid flow;
h. means in fluid communication with said channel for siphoning said contaminants from said channel as a result of a predetermined signal;
and
i. means for recirculating a portion of clarified liquid from said outlet line back into said chamber through said educting means.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.