US 9,675,915 B1 · Separator for dewatering particulate matter suspended in water

Abstract

The disclosed technology regards a water/solids separator for filtering slurry into residue cakes and filtrate water. The separator includes a frame supporting a plurality of rollers supporting a filter media belt, a plurality of blades and wipers for cleaning the rollers and removing excess filtrate water and cake material, and an inlet water manifold to distribute slurry water uniformly on the filter media belt. The frame supports a filter bed, with a slurry receiving area having a perforated panel at its base, for receiving, pre-filtering and moving the slurry through the separator, and a filter bed collection tub with an exit aperture for collecting and delivering filtrate to a water holding tank. The filter media belt traverses the plurality of rollers, through and about the filter bed, supported along a portion of its path by the perforated panel. Both a residue cake bin and a clean water holding tank may be provided with the system to collect residue and filtrate water, respectively, for re-use or disposal. The present invention also regards a method for separating filtrate water and cake residue from slurry, using the water/solids separator herein described, by continuously providing slurry through the inlet water manifold, while powering the gear motor to cause rotation of the drive roll, resulting in rotation of the filter media about the plurality of rollers. By this method and the disclosed technology, a portion of the water from the slurry is removed, through the filter media belt and the perforated panel.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A water/solids separator for filtering slurry into residue cakes and filtrate water, the separator comprising

a. a frame supporting a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers comprising:
i. four or more filter media idler rolls to support a filter media belt,
ii. a drive roll, wherein the rotation of the drive roll is powered by a gear motor,
iii. a filtrate press roll positioned above, and in near vertical alignment with, the drive roll, and
iv. a NIP roll positioned below and in near vertical alignment with the drive roll, and
b. an inlet water manifold comprising a plurality of pipes and pipe fittings to distribute slurry water uniformly on the filter media belt,
c. a filter vessel having a slurry receiving area defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge, with a perforated panel at its base, for receiving and pre-filtering the slurry water to produce filtrate, and further having a filter collection tub with an exit aperture for collecting and delivering filtrate to a clean water holding tank,
d. the filter media belt traversing the plurality of rollers, and supported along a portion of its path by the perforated panel,
e. a residue cake bin, wherein the frame supports the filter vessel above the residue cake bin, and
f. a plurality of blades and wipers for removing filtrate water and dewatered residue from the filter media belt and the rollers, the plurality of blades and wipers comprising a roll scraper blade coupled with the filtrate press roll.

7 more elements

A method for separating filtrate water and cake residue from slurry, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

a. providing a water/solids separator for filtering slurry into residue cakes and filtrate water, the separator comprising
a frame supporting a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers comprising:
four or more filter media idler rolls to support a filter media belt;
a drive roll, wherein the rotation of the drive roll is powered by a gear motor;
a filtrate press roll positioned above, and in near vertical alignment with, the drive roll, and;
and a NIP roll positioned below and in near vertical alignment with the drive roll, and
an inlet water manifold comprising a plurality of pipes and pipe fittings,
a filter vessel having a slurry receiving area defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge, with a perforated panel at its base, and further having a filter collection tub with an exit aperture,
the filter media belt traversing the plurality of rollers, and supported along a portion of its path by the perforated panel,
a residue cake bin, wherein the frame supports the filter vessel above the residue cake bin, and
a plurality of blades and wipers, the plurality of blades and wipers comprising a roll scraper blade coupled with the filtrate press roll;
and
b. continuously providing slurry through the inlet water manifold, the manifold being designed and configured to deliver the slurry uniformly above the filter media belt,
c. providing power to the gear motor, thereby rotating the drive roll and causing the filter media belt to traverse the plurality of rollers,
d. removing a portion of the water from the slurry, through the filter media belt and the perforated panel,
e. pressing the slurry between the drive roll and the press roll to dewater the slurry,
f. directing water from the pressing process into the filter collection tub, and directing slurry into the residue cake bin, and
g. scraping the filtrate press roll to remove any remaining residue cake therefrom.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Separator for dewatering particulate matter suspended in water

Life of this patent

Separator for dewatering particulate matter suspended in water

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16