US 5,207,869 A · Evaporative reduction of waste liquid

Abstract

A liquid waste reduction system uses an evaporator having two packed columns. A reservoir of the evaporator has three level sensor which monitor the fluid level in the reservoir. An input pump delivers waste liquid to the reservoir. When the fluid level has exceeded a low level, a control unit powers an output pump which pumps liquid from the base of the reservoir to an external storage unit. A distributor pump pumps liquid from the reservoir to the top of the packed columns. A blower forces air upward through the packing material to evaporate water from the liquid. When the fluid level has exceeded a high level, the control unit switches on a heating element which heats the air delivered from the blower to the second packed column, thus accelerating the evaporation process. When the fluid level has exceeded the maximum level, the control unit deactivates the input pump to prevent flooding of the evaporator unit.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An evaporative method for reducing the volume of waste liquid, comprising the steps of:

a) introducing waste liquid to a first packed column, whereby the liquid passes through the first packed column and is collected in a reservoir;
b) introducing waste liquid to a second packed column, whereby the liquid passes through the second packed column and is collected in said reservoir;
c) forcing a gas in the same direction through the first packed column and the second packed column with a blower;
d) evaporating water from the waste liquid;
e) sensing the fluid level in the reservoir by a sensor;
and
f) controlling by a control unit the activation of a heating element which, in response to the fluid level, heats only the gas forced through the second packed column.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Evaporative reduction of waste liquid

Life of this patent

Evaporative reduction of waste liquid

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13