US 9,321,057 B2 · Separation apparatus and processes

Abstract

An apparatus may include a separator and/or a discharger. A separator may include a separator channel, an influent portion configured to allow the passage of a first fluid into a separator channel, an effluent portion disposed above an influent portion and/or a fluid-lift portion between an influent portion and an effluent portion. A discharger may be disposed below a fluid-lift portion and/or may include a portion external to a separator channel, which may include a downward angle relative to an effluent portion and/or may be configured to minimize the passage of a second fluid into a discharger as the second fluid buoyantly travels in a separator channel from an influent portion to an effluent portion. A second fluid may have a density that is less than the density of a first and/or may be configured to lift a first fluid to a fluid-lift portion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a separator including:
an influent portion to receive a first fluid having target material;
an effluent portion over the influent portion to receive the target material;
and
a separator channel between the influent portion and the effluent portion to separate the first fluid and the target material, wherein the separator channel is to provide a substantially unobstructed flow of the first fluid being moved by a second fluid to a fluid-lift portion of the separator channel;
and
a discharger between the influent portion and the fluid-lift portion including:
an opening to the separator channel;
and
a downward-angled portion relative to the effluent portion that is to extend away from the opening and that is to be external to the separator channel to minimize passage of the second fluid into the discharger and maximize passage of a filtered first fluid out of the separator channel.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Separation apparatus and processes

Life of this patent

Separation apparatus and processes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20