U.S. patent application number 11/039503 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for water clarification system with coalescing media.
Invention is credited to Montgomery, Howard Leander, Thacker, Kris Odell, Vanhoose, Bill Russell.
Application Number | 20050126989 11/039503 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32853589 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050126989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thacker, Kris Odell ; et
al. |
June 16, 2005 |
Water clarification system with coalescing media
Abstract
A casing defines a cavity having a top, a bottom and front and
rear ends. The casing is configured to conduct a liquid along a
flow path through the cavity from the front end to the rear end. A
holding structure, in the cavity, defines a chamber that can be
filled with coalescing media. The holding structure has a top
passageway through which the liquid can flow downwardly into the
chamber and a rear passageway through which the liquid can flow
rearwardly out of the chamber. Blocking structures constrain the
flow path to extend through the top passageway into the
chamber.
Inventors: |
Thacker, Kris Odell;
(Rawson, OH) ; Vanhoose, Bill Russell; (Findlay,
OH) ; Montgomery, Howard Leander; (Findlay,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPHEN D. SCANLON
JONES DAY
901 LAKESIDE AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
32853589 |
Appl. No.: |
11/039503 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11039503 |
Jan 20, 2005 |
|
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|
10614156 |
Jul 7, 2003 |
|
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60448326 |
Feb 19, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/538 ;
210/DIG.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 17/0211 20130101;
B01D 17/0208 20130101; Y10S 210/05 20130101; B01D 17/00 20130101;
B01D 17/0214 20130101; B01D 17/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/538 ;
210/DIG.005 |
International
Class: |
B01D 017/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a casing defining a cavity having a
top, a bottom and front and rear ends, and configured to conduct a
liquid along a flow path through the cavity from the front end to
the rear end; a holding structure, in the cavity, defining a media
chamber that can be filled with coalescing media, the holding
structure having a top passageway through which the liquid can flow
downwardly into the media chamber and a rear passageway through
which the liquid can flow rearwardly out of the media chamber; and
blocking structures that constrain the flow path to extend through
the top passageway into the media chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blocking structures include
a lower blocking structure extending from a front end of the top
passageway down to the bottom of the cavity.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blocking structures include
an upper blocking structure extending from a rear end of the top
passageway upward.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bypass passageway
in the cavity through which the liquid can bypass the media chamber
only when the liquid is above a predetermined level.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the holding structure includes
a frame connected to the casing and a porous basket extending
downward from the frame.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an outlet tube at
the rear end of the cavity through which the liquid can exit the
cavity, the outlet tube defining a horizontal outlet channel with a
bottom that is above the top opening of the holding structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising coalescing media
within the media chamber.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising, in the media
chamber, a porous bag containing the media
9. An apparatus comprising: a casing surrounding an axis to define
a cavity having a top, a bottom and axially front and rear ends,
and configured to conduct a liquid along a flow path through the
cavity from the front end to the rear end; a porous basket
structure in the cavity that can hold coalescing media and that has
a top opening, the basket structure being configured for the liquid
to flow downward through the top opening into the basket structure,
through the coalescing media, and outward through the basket
structure in a downward direction and a horizontal direction; and
blocking structures that constrain the flow path to extend through
the top passageway into the chamber.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the blocking structures
include a lower blocking structure extending from a front end of
the top opening down to the bottom of the cavity, configured to
block the liquid from bypassing the top opening of the basket by
flowing rearwardly under and past the top opening.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the blocking structures
include an upper blocking structure extending upward from a rear
end of the top opening, configured to block the liquid above the
basket from flowing rearwardly onward to the rear end of the cavity
without first flowing through the basket.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a bypass passageway
in the cavity through which the liquid can bypass the basket
structure only when the liquid is above a predetermined level.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the horizontal direction is
perpendicular to the axis.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the basket structure is
configured for the liquid to flow outward through the basket
structure in two oppositely directed horizontal directions.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the basket structure is
configured for the liquid to flow outward through the basket
structure in downward, forward, rearward and sideways
directions.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus has an installed
orientation in which the axis is horizontal.
17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the basket structure includes
a screen extending downward from the top opening.
18. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an outlet tube at
the rear end of the cavity through which the liquid can exit the
cavity, the outlet tube defining a horizontal outlet channel with a
bottom that is above the top opening of the basket structure.
19. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising coalescing media in
the basket structure.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising, in the basket
structure, a porous bag containing the media.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/614,156, filed Jul. 7, 2003, incorporated herein by reference,
which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/448,326, filed Feb. 19, 2003.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to water clarification and
oil-water separators.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A water clarification system can be an oil-water separator
used to separate contaminants from water. The water is typically
rain runoff from a parking lot. The contaminants are typically oil,
sludge and gravel. The separator may be buried in the ground. In
operation, a mixture of the water and the contaminants enters the
separator. The water exits the separator, while the contaminants
are retained by and in the separator. The contaminants may be
manually removed from the separator by way of manholes located
along the top of the separator.
SUMMARY
[0004] An apparatus comprises a casing defining a cavity having a
top, a bottom and front and rear ends. The casing is configured to
conduct a liquid along a flow path through the cavity from the
front end to the rear end. A holding structure, in the cavity,
defines a chamber that can be filled with coalescing media. The
holding structure has a top passageway through which the liquid can
flow downwardly into the chamber and a rear passageway through
which the liquid can flow rearwardly out of the chamber. Blocking
structures constrain the flow path to extend through the top
passageway into the chamber.
[0005] Preferably, the blocking structures include a lower blocking
structure extending from a front end of the top passageway down to
the bottom of the cavity. The blocking structures further include
an upper blocking structure extending upward from a rear end of the
top passageway. Liquid can bypass the chamber through a bypass
passageway in the cavity only when the liquid is above a
predetermined level. The holding structure includes a frame
connected to the casing and a porous basket extending downward from
the frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part shown in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4A is a sectional view of other parts shown in FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken at line 4B-4B of FIG.
4A;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet other parts shown in
FIG. 1; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part shown in FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION
[0013] The apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 has parts which, as
described below, are examples of the elements recited in the
claims.
[0014] The apparatus 10 is a water-contaminant separator. The
separator 10 is used to separate contaminants from a liquid. In
this example, the liquid is water, such as rain runoff from a
parking lot. The contaminants can be buoyant, such as oil and
styrofoam debris, or sedimentary, such as sludge and gravel. The
separator 10 includes a cylindrical casing 14. In operation, a
mixture of the water and the contaminants enters the casing 14
through an inlet structure 22. The contaminants are initially
either floating at the top of the water, settled at the bottom, or
suspended in-between. A plate coalescer 26 and a media coalecser 30
within the casing 14 promote floating of the initially-suspended
buoyant contaminants and settling of the initially-suspended
sedimentary contaminants. As the water exits the tank structure 14
through an outlet structure 34, baffles 38 of various types within
the casing 14 retain the floating and settled contaminants in the
casing 14. The contaminants may be manually removed from the casing
14 through manways 41, 42 and 43 located along the top of the
chamber 14.
[0015] The separator 10 is configured to operate in an installed
orientation shown in FIG. 2, typically buried in the ground. The
various features of the separator 10 are described as follows with
reference to the installed orientation.
[0016] The cylindrical casing 14 is centered on a horizontal axis
45. The casing 14 has an inner surface 46 that surrounds the axis
45 to define a cavity 47. In this example, the casing 14 comprises
a cylindrical inner liner 50 surrounded by a corrugated wall 52
with circumferentially-extend- ing corrugations 54. The inner liner
50 defines the inner surface 46 of the casing 14. Front and rear
walls 56 and 58 cap the casing 14 at axially front and rear ends 66
and 68 of the cavity 47.
[0017] The cavity 47 has a top 70, a bottom 72 and two opposite
sides 74 and 76. As indicated by arrows 79, the chamber 14 is
configured to conduct the mixture of the water and the contaminants
rearward through the cavity 47 from the inlet structure 22 to the
outlet structure 34.
[0018] The cavity 47 is divided by the baffles 38 into first,
second, third and fourth compartments 81, 82, 83 and 84, as shown
in FIG. 2. In each compartment 81, 82, 83 and 84, a portion of the
initially-suspended contaminants rises upward or settles downward.
The resulting floating and settled contaminants are inhibited by
the baffles 38 from progressing along with water from one
compartment 81, 82, 83 and 84 to the next.
[0019] The outlet structure 34 comprises a horizontal tube 90 and a
vertical tube 92 joined at an elbow junction 94. The vertical tube
92 has an intake opening 96 within the fourth compartment 84. The
vertical tube 92 extends from the intake opening 96 upward to the
junction 94. The horizontal tube 90, in turn, extends from the
junction 94 axially rearward through the rear wall 58.
[0020] The horizontal tube 90 has a horizontal channel 97. A bottom
99 of the horizontal channel 97 defines a nominal water line 101
within the cavity 47. The nominal water line 101 corresponds to the
surface of the water in a normal flow condition of the separator
10. In this example, the nominal water line 101 coincides with the
central axis 45 of the casing 14. The intake opening 96 is located
midway between the nominal water line 101 and the bottom 72 of the
cavity 47. This helps prevent both the floating and settled
contaminants from exiting the cavity 47 through the intake opening
96.
[0021] Like the outlet structure 34, the inlet structure 22
comprises a horizontal tube 110 and a vertical tube 112 joined at
an elbow junction 114. The horizontal tube 110 of the inlet
structure 22 extends axially rearward through the front wall 56 to
the elbow junction 114 within the first chamber 81. The vertical
tube 112 extends downward from the junction 114 and has a discharge
opening 116 within the first compartment 81.
[0022] The horizontal tube 110 has a horizontal inlet channel 117
through which water flows rearward toward the junction 114. The
horizontal inlet channel 117 has a top 118 and a bottom 119, both
located above the nominal water line 101. This impedes the water
from draining out of the cavity 47 by way of the inlet structure
22.
[0023] The discharge opening 116 of the inlet structure 22 is
submerged below the nominal water line 101. Accordingly, the water
spilling down from the horizontal inlet channel 117 hits the
nominal water lines 101 inside the vertical inlet tube 112. Most of
the resulting turbulence is thus confined to within the vertical
tube 112, which reduces turbulence elsewhere within the cavity 47.
This is beneficial, because turbulence detrimentally impedes rising
and settling of the contaminants.
[0024] One of the baffles 38 is a transversely-extending (with
respect to the axis 45) perforated weir 120. The weir 120 is
located rearward of the inlet structure 22 and separates the first
compartment 81 from the second compartment 82. As shown in FIG. 3,
the weir 120 extends from the bottom 72 of the cavity 47 up to a
horizontal top edge 122 of the weir 120. The top edge 122 extends
transversely and horizontally from one side 74 of the casing 14 to
the other side 76. The weir 120 thus defines a barrier to water
flow bounded by the top edge 122 and the casing 14.
[0025] The top edge 122 of the weir 120 is located above the
nominal water line, indicated in FIG. 3 axially by the dashed line
101 and transversely by dashed line 127. This prevents the mixture
from floating over, and thus bypassing, the weir 120 under normal
flow conditions. However, the top edge 122 is spaced below the top
70 of the cavity 47, and, preferably, even lower than the top 118
of the horizontal inlet channel 117 (FIG. 2). This provides an open
section between the top edge 122 of the weir 120 and the top 70 of
the cavity 47 through which the water can quickly flow, and bypass
the weir 120, during abnormally high flow conditions.
[0026] The weir 120 consists of a perforated upper section 124 and
a non-perforated lower section 126. The perforated upper section
124 has two horizontal rows 128 of holes 129 located below the
nominal water line 101. The rows 128 are vertically overlapping.
The holes 129 are separated from each other, with the holes 129 of
one row 128 horizontally offset from adjacent holes 129 of the
other row 129. Accordingly, the holes 129 of one row 128 are
interleaved with, and staggered relative to, the holes 129 of the
other row 128. This enables compact packing of the holes 129. The
holes 129 are fluid flow apertures configured to pass water but not
debris larger than the holes 129. The perforated upper section 124
thus filters out larger contaminants from the water to retain them
in the first compartment 81, shown in FIG. 2.
[0027] The lower section 126 is non-perforated to prevent even
small sediment from passing from the first compartment 81 to the
second compartment 82. To this end, the weir 120 is free of fluid
flow apertures 129 below a first level L1 located vertically
halfway between the bottom 72 of the cavity 47 and the top edge
122. The weir 120 is also free of fluid flow apertures 129 below a
second level L2 vertically halfway between the bottom 72 of the
cavity 47 and the nominal water line 127.
[0028] The plate coalescer 26, as shown in FIG. 2, is located
rearward of the weir 120 between the second and third compartments
82 and 83. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the plate coalescer 26
comprises an inclined stack of corrugated plates 130. Each plate
130 extends from a bottom edge 132 of the plate 130 rearward and
upward to a top edge 134 of the plate 130. The bottom edge 132 is
spaced from the bottom 72 of the cavity 47, and the top edge 134 is
located below the nominal water line 101. This configuration
enables the water to enter the coalescer 26 from below, to flow
rearward and rearward in-between the plates 130, and to exit the
coalescer 26 from above.
[0029] Each plate 130 is corrugated, with corrugations 136
extending rearward and upward fully from the bottom edge 132 to the
top edge 134. The corrugations 136 are thus aligned along the
direction of the water flow between the plates 130, as indicated by
the arrows 79. As shown in FIG. 4B, each corrugation 136 of each
plate 130 is positioned directly above a corrugation 136 of the
plate 130 just below it. Each plate 130 has two opposite side edges
138 received in respective grooves (not shown) in two opposite
plate retainers 139.
[0030] Flow of the mixture rearwardly upward in-between the plates
130 shown in FIG. 4A promotes coalescing of the initially-suspended
particles and droplets into agglomerates. Relative to the suspended
particles and droplets, the agglomerates have more buoyancy for
floating upward or more weight for settling downward. The floating
agglomerates can flow out the top of the coalescer 26 into the
third compartment 83 where they can float at the water surface 101.
Similarly, the sedimentary agglomerates can be swept by the water
out the top of the coalescer 26 and settle as sediment at the
bottom of the third compartment 83. Alternatively, the sedimentary
agglomerates can slide down the plates 130 to settle as sediment at
the bottom 72 of the second compartment 82.
[0031] An upper coalescer baffle 140, which is one of the baffles
38 mentioned above, extends from a front one of the coalescer
plates 130 upward to the casing 14. The upper coalescer baffle 140
prevents any floating contaminants in the second compartment 82
from migrating to the third compartment 83. The upper coalescer
baffle 140 also prevents the mixture from flowing rearwardly over,
and thus bypassing, the coalescer 26 under normal flow conditions
when the water is below a predetermined level L3. A bypass flow
opening 141 in the upper baffle 140 allows the mixture to bypass
the plate coalescer 26 under high flow conditions when the water
rises above the predetermined level L3.
[0032] A lower coalescer baffle 142 extends from a rear one of the
plates 130 downward to the casing 14. The lower coalescer baffle
142 prevents the water from flowing rearwardly under, and thus
bypassing, the coalescer 26. The lower coalescer baffle 142 also
prevents any sediment in the second compartment 82 from migrating
to the third compartment 83. In this manner, the lower baffle 142,
along with the upper baffle 140 and the plates 130, separates the
second compartment 82 from the third compartment 83.
[0033] The media coalecser 30, as shown in FIG. 2, is located
rearward of the coalescer 26, in front of the outlet structure 34,
and between the third and fourth compartments 83 and 84. As shown
in FIG. 5, the media coalecser 30 comprises a frame 150, two porous
baskets 152, and coalescing media 154. When in use, the media 154
is contained in the baskets 152.
[0034] A porous bag 155 is used to contain the media 154 during
transport to and from each basket 152. To fill the basket 152, the
media 154 is first transported to the basket 152 while encased in
the porous bag 155. The media 154 is placed in the basket 152 along
with the bag 155 and remains encased in the bag 155 while in use.
While in use, the bag 155 prevents the water from sweeping the
media 154 out of the basket 152. The media 154 is removed from the
basket 152 by simply lifting the bag 155 out of the basket 152.
[0035] The frame 150 is located below the nominal water line 101.
The frame 150 comprises a nonporous plate 156 extending
horizontally from one side 74 (FIG. 1) of the casing 14 to the
other side 76. The plate 156 has two side-by-side rectangular
openings 157. From the two openings 157, two nonporous rectangular
tubes 158 extend downward to two bottom openings 159.
[0036] The two porous baskets 152 hang down from the two tubes 158.
Each basket 152 consists of a screen 160 extending downward from a
top opening 161 of the basket 152. This top opening 161 coincides
with the bottom opening 159 of the respective tube 158. The screen
160 passes the water while retaining the coalescing media 154. As
shown in FIG. 6, the basket 152 is trough-shaped, with a porous
bottom wall 171, porous opposite side walls 172 and 173, and porous
front and rear walls 174 and 175.
[0037] The water flows by force of gravity into the basket 152
vertically downward through the top opening 161, as shown in FIG.
6. The water then flows through the coalescing media 154 (FIG. 5)
in the basket 52. The water flows, further, out of the basket 152
in several directions. Specifically, the water can flow downward
through the bottom wall 171. This flow is in a first direction 181
extending vertically downward through the top opening 161,
perpendicular to the axis 45 of the casing 14 (FIG. 2). The water
can flow out of the basket 152 also through the side walls 172 and
173. These flows are in horizontal second and third directions 182
and 183 that are opposite each other, perpendicular to the first
direction 181 and perpendicular to axis 45 of the casing 14. The
water can flow out of the basket 152 also through the front and
rear walls 174 and 175. These flows are in a horizontal frontward
fourth direction 184 and a horizontal rearward fifth direction 185.
These directions 184 and 185 are opposite each other, perpendicular
to the first, second and third directions 181, 182 and 183, and
parallel with the axis 45 of the casing 14. So as not to obstruct
the water outflow in these directions 181, 182, 183, 184 and 185,
the porous walls 171, 172, 173, 174 and 175 are all spaced from the
casing 14.
[0038] Accordingly, the water can flow outward through of the
basket 152 in multiple, mutually opposite or perpendicular,
directions 181, 182, 183, 184 and 185, and those directions 181,
182, 183, 184 and 185 include both vertical and horizontal
directions. These features beneficially decrease resistance to
water flow. They also improve coalescing efficacy by reducing
turbulence. For this purpose, a depth D of the basket 152 is
preferably at least as large as the narrowest width W of the top
opening 161. Additionally, the porous wall 160 extends downward
sufficiently such that the surface area of the porous wall 160 is
at least double the area encircled by the top opening 161. In this
example, the area encircled by the top opening 161 equals the
length L of the opening 161 times the width W of the opening
161.
[0039] The coalescing media 154 in this example, shown
schematically in FIG. 5, is in the form of balls 200 known in the
art. Examples of such balls 200 are Jaeger Tri-Packs.RTM. sold by
Jaeger Products, Inc. of Houston, Tex. Each ball 200 comprises a
network of plastic ribs (not shown). The network of ribs promotes
coalescing of the initially-suspended particles and droplets into
agglomerates that have sufficient buoyancy to float upward or
sufficient weight to settle downward. Alternatively, the
agglomerates can have sufficient size and adhesion to be caught or
adhered by the rib network itself. When the balls 200 are first
piled into the basket 152, each ball 200 can roll about the pile
due to its round shape, until pile is compactly packed. The media
154 fills each basket 152 and extends upward into each tube 158.
This ensures that the water flowing into the basket 152 through the
top opening 161 and outward through the basket 152 must flow
through the media 154.
[0040] A lower media coalecser baffle 210, shown in FIGS. 2 and 5,
is one of the baffles 38 mentioned above. It is located in front of
the basket 152 and extends vertically from a front end 212 of the
frame 150 downward to the casing 14. The lower baffle 210 also
extends upward from the front end 212 almost to the nominal water
line 101. The lower media coalecser baffle 210 prevents the mixture
from bypassing the top opening 161 from the side or from below. The
lower media coalecser baffle 210 also prevents sediment in the
third compartment 83 from migrating to the fourth compartment
84.
[0041] An upper media coalecser baffle 214 is located rearward of
the basket 152 and extends vertically from a rear end 215 of the
plate 156 upward to the casing 14. The upper baffle 214 also
extends downward from the rear end 215 of the plate 156 without
reaching the bottom 72 of the cavity 47. The upper baffle 214
prevents floating contaminants in the third compartment 83 from
migrating to the fourth compartment 84. The upper baffle 214 also
prevents the water from bypassing the basket 152 from above under
normal flow conditions, when the water is below the predetermined
level L3. A bypass flow opening 217 in the upper baffle 214 allows
the water to bypass the media coalescer 30 under high flow
conditions, when the water rises above the predetermined level
L3.
[0042] Thus, the upper baffle 214, the lower baffle 210 and the
non-porous frame 150 together constrain the water flowing through
the cavity 47 from the front end 66 to the rear end 68 to flow
through the top opening 161 into the basket 152 under normal flow
conditions. Consequently, the upper baffle 214, the lower baffle
210 and the media coalecser 30 separate the third compartment 83
from the fourth compartment 84.
[0043] The manways 41, 42 and 43, shown in FIG. 2, are designated
first, second and third manways 41, 42 and 43. They are spaced
axially along the casing 14 and extend upward from the top 70 of
the cavity 47. The manways 41, 42 and 43 provide access to the
various compartments 81, 82, 83 and 84 for manually removing the
floating and settled contaminants that are retained in those
respective compartments 81, 82, 83 and 84. Specifically, the first
manway 41 is located above the weir 120 for removing the
contaminants retained in the first and second compartment 81 and
82. The second manway 42 is located above the third compartment 83
for removing the contaminants retained in the third compartment 83,
and also for removing the baskets 152 and the coalescing media 154.
The third manway 43 is located above the fourth compartment 84 for
removing the contaminants retained in the fourth compartment
84.
[0044] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable
scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they
have elements that do not differ from the literal language of the
claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with
insubstantial differences from the literal language of the
claims.
* * * * *