Oil water separator with air sparging array for in-situ cleaning
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJohn J. Lawson, Steven A. Stetz, Stephan J. Verosto, Nete M. Poret, Richard R. Leung
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Abstract
In-situ cleaning of the bilgewater processing plates of stacks within the tank chamber of an oil/water separator is performed by an injected chemical cleaning agent while being dispersed by diverted flow of pressurized air introduced into the tank chamber below the plate stacks in the form of air bubbles emerging from plural branches of an air sparging array positioned in underlying alignment with crest formations of the processing plates.
Claims9
In combination with an oil and water separator tank within which oily wastewater undergoes separation treatment, by a separator having an air sparger and plates for performance of the treatment;
- means for enhanced in-situ cleansing of the plates contaminated by exposure to the oily wastewater in the tank during said separation treatment, comprising:
- a main flow header;
- means for positioning the air sparger with a plurality of flow distributing branches connected thereto on the main flow header, air emergence means thereon for outflow of pressurized air therefrom within the separator tank at plural locations therein below the plates and means for injecting a chemical cleaning agent into said tank for cleaning said plates.
In combination with a one zone chamber within which cleansing treatment of rising oily wastewater is performed by exposure to a chemical cleaning agent on plates subject to in-situ cleaning after contamination during said cleansing treatment of the wastewater;
- said chamber having inlet means connected thereto for introducing pressurized air therein;
- air sparging means connected to the inlet means within the chamber for distribution of the pressurized air therein;
- and means for enhancing said in-situ cleaning of the plates by positioning the air sparging means below all of the plates to direct said distribution of the pressurized air said means for enhancing said in-situ cleaning further includes means for injecting said chemical cleaning agent into said tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.