# US 8,771,520 B2 · 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 8,771,520 B2 - Document ID: US8771520B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/131,061 - Filed: 2008-05-31 - Published: 2009-12-03 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-31 - Assignees: VWS Westgarth Limited - Applicants: Neville Lange; Kenneth Wayne Severing - Inventors: Neville Lange; Kenneth Wayne Severing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771520B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/24: by flotation (C02F1/465 takes precedence) - B01D 17/0205: {by gas bubbles or moving solids} - B01D 17/0217: {by centrifugal force} - B01F 23/2322: {using columns, e.g. multi-staged columns} - B03D 1/1412: {with baffles, e.g. at the wall for redirecting settling solids} - B03D 1/1456: {Feed mechanisms for the slurry} - B03D 1/1493: {with means for establishing a specified flow pattern} - B03D 1/247: {Mixing gas and slurry in a device separate from the flotation tank, i.e. reactor-separator type} - C02F 2101/32: Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil - 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) - 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) - B03D: FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION (sedimentation in general B01D21/00; in combination with other separation of solids B03B; sink-float separation B03B5/28; detergents, soaps C11D) ## Abstract A fluid treatment apparatus comprises a fluid vessel defining first and second fluid chambers. A fluid inlet is provided for delivering a fluid to be treated into the first fluid chamber. One or more nozzle assemblies are provided for fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers, wherein said nozzle assemblies are adapted to facilitate mixing of a gas with said fluid. The second fluid chamber is adapted to accommodate a fluid treatment process therein, including a floatation treatment. One specific use of the fluid treatment apparatus includes separating oil from water, particularly water produced from a subterranean formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid treatment apparatus comprising: a fluid vessel; a partition secured to a side wall of the vessel to divide the vessel into first and second fluid chambers enclosed within the fluid vessel, the first fluid chamber being a header fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber being a flotation separation treatment fluid chamber; a fluid inlet for delivering a fluid to be treated comprising a liquid into the first fluid chamber into engagement with said partition within the first fluid chamber, said fluid inlet having a smaller cross-section than the first fluid chamber; and a plurality of nozzles for providing fluid communication of said fluid from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber, wherein said nozzles are adapted to introduce gas into said fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are adapted to extend through the partition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle includes a first fluid conduit defining a fluid port adapted to permit communication of fluid to be treated from the first fluid chamber into the first fluid conduit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fluid port of the first fluid conduit is provided at a raised location relative to a base region of the first fluid chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one nozzle includes a second fluid conduit adapted to permit fluid communication of a gas from a gas source to a portion of the nozzle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gas source comprises gas contained within the vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gas source comprises gas released from the fluid being treated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gas source comprises gas provided externally of the vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle includes a discharge pipe defining a fluid outlet opening into the second fluid chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the discharge pipe is arranged to establish rotational flow within the second chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nozzles is adapted to be operational at a different head of fluid within the first fluid chamber than at least one other of the nozzles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid passage between the first and second chambers to permit fluid communication therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fluid passage is adapted to permit fluid communication of a gas from the second fluid chamber into the first fluid chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fluid passage extends through the partition separating the first and second chambers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the fluid passage is defined by a wall extending from a surface of the partition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the wall defines a wall portion of the first chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a distributor assembly adapted to receive fluid entering the first chamber via the fluid inlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more fluid outlets to permit discharge of treated fluid or components thereof from the vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid chamber is adapted to receive fluid only from the first fluid chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein communication of fluid being treated between the first and second fluid chambers is achieved exclusively through the nozzles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to chamber claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle extends within the vessel from the first fluid to the second fluid chamber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle extends entirely within the vessel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said nozzles are adapted to facilitate mixing of gas from the first fluid chamber with said fluid to be treated. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles extends entirely within the vessel. ### Claim 25 A method of treating a fluid, said method comprising the steps of: discharging a fluid to be treated from a fluid inlet into a first fluid chamber, said fluid to be treated comprising a liquid and said fluid inlet having a cross-section that is smaller than said first fluid chamber; building up a head of fluid in said first fluid chamber; flowing the fluid through a plurality of nozzles adapted to introduce gas to said fluid; and discharging the fluid from the plurality of nozzles into a second fluid chamber to be further treated therein by flotation separation treatment, said first and second fluid chambers being separated by a partition secured to a side wall of said vessel for dividing said vessel into said first and second fluid chambers enclosed within said vessel, fluid being discharged into engagement with said partition within said first chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of treating a fluid according to claim 25, the method comprising flowing the fluid through the nozzles wherein said nozzles are adapted to facilitate mixing of a gas from the first fluid chamber with said fluid to be treated. ### Claim 27 A nozzle arrangement for distributing a fluid to be treated between a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, said nozzle arrangement comprising: a first nozzle assembly comprising a first fluid conduit extending between the first and second fluid chambers, wherein the first fluid conduit comprises a first fluid port providing communication for said fluid with the first fluid chamber; and a second nozzle assembly comprising a second fluid conduit extending between the first and second fluid chambers, wherein the second fluid conduit comprises a second fluid port providing communication for said fluid with the first fluid chamber; wherein the first and second fluid ports are provided at different heights relative to a base of the first fluid chamber to facilitate operation of the first and second nozzle assemblies with different head ranges of fluid within said first fluid chamber to permit the nozzle arrangement to be operational only when a predefined head of fluid to be treated is present in the first fluid chamber. ### Claim 28 A fluid treatment apparatus comprising: a fluid vessel; first and second fluid chambers defined within the fluid vessel; a fluid inlet for delivering a fluid to be treated into the first fluid chamber, said fluid to be treated comprising a liquid; at least one nozzle assembly for providing fluid communication of said fluid between the first and second fluid chambers, said nozzle assembly being adapted to facilitate mixing of a gas with said fluid, wherein said nozzle assembly comprises a discharge pipe defining a fluid outlet opening into the second fluid chamber and the discharge pipe is arranged to establish rotational flow within the second chamber; and a fluid passage between the first and second chambers to permit fluid communication of a gas from the second fluid chamber into the first fluid chamber. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fluid treatment apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising a partition for separating the first and second fluid chambers, the fluid inlet delivering the fluid into engagement with the partition within the first chamber.