US 5,451,318 A · Solids separator boundary layer effect filtration system

Abstract

A filtration system for water or other selected liquids that includes an ozone mixing station, a primary solids and gas separator and, if desired, a second vortex particle separator and filter system. The ozone mixing station includes a high efficiency ozone generator and a channel arrangement, such as a spiral tubular treatment coil, through which the ozone/liquid mixture passes to assure thorough mixing and provide time for effective treatment. The primary solids separator includes an offset inlet jet through which the liquid from the ozone treatment station is injected into a first circular chamber. The resulting rotating liquid vortex moves to a narrowed co-axial second circular chamber to cause heavy particles to concentrate at the outer perimeter then to a coaxial larger third circular chamber. The liquid exits through an annular outlet located around the chamber axis to prevent buoyant particles in the axial region and heavy particles at the outer periphery from passing out with the liquid. Gas collects in a cylindrical axial region with the lighter suspended particles in an annular region around the gas column. The gas phase is removed through an annular, variable, series of holes at the top of the chamber. The liquid from the solids separator may be passed to a filter system to further treat the liquid.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A solids separation system for removing heavy particles and light, buoyant, particles from a liquid stream which comprises:

communicating first, second and third coaxial circular chambers
liquid injection means for injecting liquid into said first chamber to form a rapidly rotating liquid vortex in said chamber;
said second chamber being adjacent to said first chamber and having a smaller diameter than said first chamber, for receiving said liquid vortex from said first chamber, whereby the vortex velocity is increased and heavy solid particles in said liquid are forced to the chamber periphery and migrate along said periphery, gases are forced to a columnar region along the axis of said chambers and light particles are concentrated in an annular light particle rich region surrounding said gas column;
said third chamber being adjacent to said second chamber and having a larger diameter than said second chamber for receiving said liquid vortex from said second chamber;
a sump in said third chamber for receiving said heavy solid particles;
means for removing said solid particles from said third chamber;
means for maintaining a central gas column of selected diameter;
means for removing light, buoyant, particles from said annular light particle rich region surrounding said gas column;
and
an annular outlet means coaxial with said third chamber and spaced from the axis of said third chamber for removing clean liquid from said third chamber.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solids separator boundary layer effect filtration system

Life of this patent

Solids separator boundary layer effect filtration system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11