# US 6,719,897 B1 · Fluid treatment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,719,897 B1 - Document ID: US6719897B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/110,090 - Filed: 2002-04-08 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 1999-10-12 - Inventors: Christopher Maltin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719897B1 ## CPC - C12M 21/04: {for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10)} - B01D 21/2461: {Positive-displacement pumps; Screw feeders; Trough conveyors} - B01D 21/2466: {Mammoth pumps, e.g. air lift pumps} - B01F 33/406: {in receptacles with gas supply only at the bottom (B01F33/405 takes precedence)} - B01J 8/007: {by sedimentation} - B01J 8/22: gas being introduced into the liquid - B01J 8/226: {internally, i.e. the particles rotate within the vessel} - C02F 3/20: using diffusers - C12M 23/02: {Form or structure of the vessel (large containers B65D88/00)} - C12M 29/06: {Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26)} - C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)} - B01J 2219/182: horizontal - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Treatment apparatus comprising a treatment chamber (10), for receiving a process fluid, in which there are provided means for introducing gas (19, 20) at a low level within the chamber to create bubbles which drive the process fluid to circulate within the chamber as they rise, in which there are provided means associated with the gas inlet openings for collecting solid particles entrained with the process fluid which sink as a consequence of contact with the bubbles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Treatment apparatus comprising means defining a treatment chamber for receiving a process fluid, in which there are provided means for introducing gas at a low level within the chamber to create bubbles which rise through the fluid, in which there are provided means associated with the gas inlet openings for collecting solid particles entrained with the process fluid which sink as a consequence of contact with the bubbles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the gas inlet openings are arranged in two or more rows with a collection channel for solid particles between them. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Treatment apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that there are provided means (27, 28, 29, 30) for extraction of solid particles from the said particle-collection means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the particle-extraction means includes an upright column open at or adjacent its upper end and communicating at or adjacent its lower end with the interior of the associated chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Treatment apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the chamber is defined within a process fluid treatment vessel 11. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) Treatment apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that there are provided means (27) for displacing solid particles along the said channel (26) towards an outlet or discharge end (28) thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Treatment apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the bubbles are introduced in such a way as to drive the circulation of the process fluid within the treatment chamber (17, 18). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Treatment apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that there is further provided a screen above the said solid particle collection means, in the vicinity of the bubbles created by the gas introduction means whereby to assist in the separation of particles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the said screen is orientated to lie in a substantially vertical or slightly inclined plane.