Separator for liquid suspension
AssigneeSouthern Water Services Ltd.
InventorDavid de Hoxar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is described a liquid treatment installation including a tank which defines a substantially vertical flow channel of circular cross section. Disposed coaxially in the flow channel there is a spiral separator plate pack 20 which comprises one or more conical helical plates which define at least one helical flow passage between axially facing surfaces of the plate or plates. The conical helical plate or plates of the separator plate pack 20 consist of a plurality of platelets 10, which have dimensions that allow them to pass through an opening 21 which runs axially through the centre of the spiral separator. The invention also relates to a method of constructing the above liquid treatment installation and to a method for assembling the spiral separator plate pack 20.
Claims21
A liquid treatment installation comprising:
- a containing vessel defining a substantially vertical flow channel of circular cross-section;
- a spiral separator comprising a conical helical plate which comprises a plurality of platelets, the conical helical plate defining a helical flow passage between axially facing surfaces of the plate, the spiral separator being disposed co-axially in the flow channel, the spiral separator being formed with a central axial channel, the diameter of the separator being substantially equal to that of the flow channel, the spiral separator being attached to an annular driving ring capable of rotating about the axis of the flow channel;
- an inlet means arranged to supply unseparated liquid to the containing vessel;
- and
- an outlet means arranged to withdraw treated liquid from the containing vessel, the inlet and outlet means being vertically spaced in relation to the containing vessel and the arrangement being such that between the inlet and the outlet means the liquid flows vertically through the helical flow passage of the spiral separator, wherein
- the dimensions of each platelet of the spiral separator are such that the platelets can pass through the central axial channel of the spiral separator.
A platelet for use in a spiral separator plate pack of a liquid treatment installation, where said platelet is shaped like a sector of an annulus, and each platelet has two concentrically curved edges so that a shorter one of the two curved edges is concave and a longer curved edge is convex, and the curved edges are joined by respective leading and trailing edges extending radially with respect to the curved edges, each platelet also being curved about a radial axis, and wherein the dimensions of each platelet are such that the platelet can pass through a cylindrical passage having the same radius as that of the concave edge of the platelet.
A method of constructing a liquid treatment installation which includes the steps of;
- providing a containing vessel having an open upper end;
- providing an inlet and an outlet means in fluid communication with said containing vessel;
- providing a bridge means at said open end of the containing vessel and supporting a horizontal annular driving ring on said bridge means;
- providing the containing vessel with a launder;
- attaching said launder to said outlet means for fluid communication between the launder and the outlet;
- assembling a plate pack comprising a plurality of platelets within the containing vessel, the assembly step including the steps of;
- suspending platelets from the annular driving ring to form a first ring of platelets;
- passing platelets through a central axial channel formed by the first ring of platelets;
- attaching platelets to the underside of the platelets in the first ring to form a plate pack comprising at least one conical helical plate.
A method of constructing a liquid treatment installation which includes the steps of;
- providing a containing vessel having an open upper end, a lower portion of said containing vessel being formed with an access hole, wherein the dimensions of said access hole are such that platelets may pass therethrough;
- providing an inlet and an outlet means in fluid communication with said containing vessel;
- providing a bridge means at said open end of the containing vessel and supporting an annular driving ring on said bridge means;
- providing the containing vessel with a launder;
- attaching said launder to said outlet means for fluid communication between the launder and the outlet;
- assembling a plate pack comprising a plurality of platelets within the containing vessel which includes the steps of;
- passing platelets through the access hole formed in the containing vessel;
- suspending platelets from the annular driving ring to form a first ring of platelets;
- attaching platelets to the underside of the platelets in the first ring to form a plate pack comprising at least one conical helical plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.