Liquid decontamination apparatus

Abstract

In a multi-pass system for purifying oil or other liquids, an improved apparatus and method for mixing air with the contaminated liquid for separation after a phase change from liquid to gas. The contaminated liquid is drawn from a reservoir by a pump, filtered, and heated, and atmospheric air is induced into the contaminated liquid downstream of the heater by an eductor, which promotes the phase change from liquid to vapor. The liquid/contaminant mix, which now includes entrained air, is passed immediately through a second eductor, the compressibility of the air in tile mix, followed by expansion of the compressed air as the mix exits the second eductor, causing intimate contact of air and contaminant, thereby promoting the stripping of the contaminant from tile liquid. The air/liquid/contaminant mix is then routed to a level controlled separation tank, water vapor, contaminants, and condensate being released from tile tank ill the space above the pooled liquid. Purified, dry liquid is drawn from the tank by a second pump and delivered back to the reservoir.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.