Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for efficient hydrophobic particles to gas bubble attachment in a slurry is provided. The process comprises: tangentially introducing a slurry stream into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall with sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex in the flowing slurry; introducing gas into the flowing slurry during at least a portion of its travel in the chamber, the gas being introduced orthogonally to the stream through means located at the chamber inner wall and for developing gas bubbles which move into the slurry. The apparatus comprises of: a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, the chamber being oriented in any direction, enclosed at both ends, and with an entry port to introduce the stream of slurry to develop a spiral flow of the stream along the chamber inner wall toward the output end, a porous wall to permit the introduction of gas orthogonally into the stream to develop gas bubbles within the stream, and an exit port to discharge the mixture of slurry and gas bubbles.
Abstract:
An apparatus for separating a fluid mixture includes a uniaxial cyclonic separator (2) having a separation chamber (18) for separating the fluid mixture by cyclonic action into a first fluid and a second fluid. An inlet (16) is located at a first end of the separation chamber (18) for receiving a fluid mixture, while a first outlet (22) for the first fluid and a second outlet (26) for the second fluid are located at a second end of the separation chamber. A gas injection means (12) is provided for injecting a gas into the fluid mixture to aid separation within the separation chamber (18). The gas injection may also be through an annular chamber surrounding the separator chamber (18). The gas in this case is introduced through a porous medium 130 via a gas supply line 136.
Abstract:
A fluid conditioning system and method is disclosed for coupling to a first solution source comprising a suspension solution and particles suspended in the suspension solution. The fluid conditioning system includes a containment vessel (36) defining a treatment environment and including a wall defining a fluid passage and having an inlet apparatus (60). The inlet apparatus (60) is coupled to the solution source for receiving a solution stream and directing the solution stream through the passage helically along the cylindrical wall. The containment vessel (36) includes a sparging apparatus disposed downstream of the inlet apparatus for introducing a gas into the solution stream, and an outlet (46) for discharging the sparged solution stream. The system further includes a flotation tank (130) disposed proximate the containment vessel outlet (46) for receiving the discharged solution stream. The flotation tank (130) is adapated to carry a predetermined volume of a second solution to effect flotation of the particles to the surface of the second solution. The flotation tank (130) further includes a tank outlet for exiting processed effluent from the tank (130).
Abstract:
A method for treating liquid from a liquid source and separating particulate matter from the liquid comprising the following steps: providing a liquid source; pumping said liquid source (3) into at least one hydrocyclone system (30) where said liquid source is gas sparged (448); collecting said liquid source (130) and removing flocculated particles (137) from the surface; and filtering said liquid source through at least one filter.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for the separation of particles in either a liquid or gas stream is provided. The fluid stream is directed in a swirl-flow pattern (14) to develop thereby centrifugal forces on the stream. Optionally, magnetic and/or electrical fields may be applied to the system to enhance separation of the particles. Air sparging (22) may also be employed to further enhance the separation of hydrophilic particles (32) from hydrophobic particles (30) in a liquid system. Optionally, the swirl-flow pattern may exit the down-stream end of the separator where a stream splitter (70) is employed to split the swirl-flow pattern stream which splays outwardly at the outlet in two or more streams (76, 78) which carry desired particles to be recovered.
Abstract:
A fluid conditioning system and method is disclosed for coupling to a first solution source comprising a suspension solution and particles suspended in the suspension solution. The fluid conditioning system includes a containment vessel (36) defining a treatment environment and including a wall defining a fluid passage and having an inlet apparatus (60). The inlet apparatus (60) is coupled to the solution source for receiving a solution stream and directing the solution stream through the passage helically along the cylindrical wall. The containment vessel (36) includes a sparging apparatus disposed downstream of the inlet apparatus for introducing a gas into the solution stream, and an outlet (46) for discharging the sparged solution stream. The system further includes a flotation tank (130) disposed proximate the containment vessel outlet (46) for receiving the discharged solution stream. The flotation tank (130) is adapted to carry a predetermined volume of a second solution to effect flotation of the particles to the surface of the second solution. The flotation tank (130) further includes a tank outlet for exiting processed effluent from the tank.
Abstract:
A process for separating a mixture of immiscible solid and/or liquid particles in a slurry based on different physical, magnetic and/or chemical properties of the particles. The process comprises: (I) introducing a stream of the slurry into a vertically oriented, open top cylindrical chamber (12), the stream being introduced near the lower end at an incline and tangentially of the chamber to develop an upwardly directed spiral flow of the stream; (II) introducing the stream in sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex (80) in the slurry which extends downwardly from the chamber end (20); (III) introducing air into the stream through the chamber inner wall (68) during at least a portion of its upward travel; (IV) the chamber (12) being of a height sufficient to provide a residence time in the chamber which permits a separation of particles by means of centrifugal flotation, the stream developing into a whirlpool at the chamber upper end; (V) directing the whirlpool stream outwardly at the open end (20) into a catch basin (24) surrounding the open end, permitting the air bubbles to float toward a peripheral edge (28) of the catch basin; (VI) collecting outwardly floating air bubbles with lighter hydrophobic particles from an upper zone of the catch basin, while the heavier particles sink from a lower zone of the catch basin to effect the separation.
Abstract:
A soil reclamation system that separates the contaminant from all soil particles greater than one micron in diameter and generates resuable soil and contaminant products. The process is based on a novel application of gas-sparged centrifugal separation under operating conditions and equipment specifications tailored to optimize the separation of the particular contaminant. The apparatus is mounted on a front-end loader for mobility and self-contained on site operation.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods to cleanse water contaminated with hydrocarbons, hydraulic fracturing fluids, volatile organic compounds, sulfurous compounds, crude oil, and other petroleum products. The products recovered with the invention can be returned to the source, stored, transported, sold, or otherwise reused.
Abstract:
Separator apparatus and method for treatment of a contaminated liquid by injecting air/gas to lower the specific gravity of the contaminated liquid by at least 20% and rotating the contaminated liquid to separate contaminants by centrifugal forces. The separator includes a swirl chamber defining a longitudinal axis; at least one injector for, in use, introducing: (i) liquid entrained with air/gas; (ii) air/gas-entrained liquid; or (iii) air/gas, into the swirl chamber; a first outlet located at or near the operative bottom of the swirl chamber for, in use, removing sludge from the swirl chamber; a second outlet located operatively above the first outlet for, in use, removing liquid from the swirl chamber; circulating means to, in use, circulate liquid in the swirl chamber; and an elongate body that extends from or near the operative top of the swirl chamber, along the longitudinal axis of the swirl chamber, beyond the level of the at least one injector.