Lamellar apparatus and method for clarifying water
OwnerMilos Kroftainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tank receives raw water for clarification by flotation. An array of lamellae define a set of generally vertically oriented channels with solid side walls. Flotation occurs in each channel. The channels are preferably inclined. With a round tank, a frame rotates an interlocking array of radial and concentric lamellae. A stationary raw water inlet distribution box fills the channels with raw treated water. An aligned clarified water collection box withdraws clarified water. A stationary skimmer directs floating sludge to a removal conduit with a variable pitch screw conveyor. Sliding seals on the lamellae isolate individual channels or groups of channels as they move through the tank. The channels lock and move columns of water through the tank with substantially no turbulence.
Claims15
Apparatus for the classification of raw water treated with a flocculating agent and dissolved air that is released as microscopic bubbles that float flocced particulate contaminants to the surface of the water where they form a sludge comprising,
- a generally circular tank that holds a supply of the water during the floatation,
- a plurality of channels each of which extend generally vertically within the tank, said plurality of channels substantially filling said tank, and
- inlet means for introducing said raw, treated water into said channels,
- outlet means for withdrawing clarified water from said channels after a preselected time after said introducing,
- means for removing sludge from the surface of the water in said tank,
- means or moving said plurality of channels within said tank in a generally horizontal direction whereby the flotation of flocced particulate contaminants occurs in said channels,
- said plurality of channels being constructed to hold the water with substantially no turbulence in the held water and at an effective net zero velocity of the held water with respect to said channels despite said moving.
A water clarification process carried out in a generally circular tank with inlet means for raw, treated water, outlet means for clarified water and means for removing sludge that collects on the surface of the water held in the tank and being clarified by flotation, comprising,
- holding the water in the tank in a plurality of generally vertically extending channels, and
- rotationally transporting the plurality of channels through the tank with a net zero relative velocity of said held water with respect to said channels and substantially no turbulence for a period of time sufficient to effect clarification of the water held in said channels, and
- holding the inlet means, outlet means and sludge removal means stationary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.