Patent ID: 6149345
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: B01D,B09C,C02F,E21B

Abstract:
A system for remediating hydrocarbon contaminated matter, comprising:a centrifugal separating tank adapted for separating solid, liquid and gaseous phases of contamination, said tank having a vapor phase outlet, a liquid phase outlet, and a multi-phase inlet;a vacuum source fluidly connectable with the vapor phase outlet of said centrifugal separating tank for drawing a flow of hydrocarbon-contaminated matter through the multi-phase inlet and into said centrifugal separating tank;an automatically-actuable vent in fluid communication with said centrifugal separating tank for reducing negative pressure levels within said centrifugal separating tank, thereby enabling flow of liquid phases from the liquid phase outlet of said centrifugal separating tank;a fractionation system in fluid communication with the liquid phase outlet of said centrifugal separating tank through an interposed low-shear pump, said low-shear pump being adapted to minimize emulsification of the liquid phases during pumping of the liquid phases from said centrifugal separating tank to said fractionation system; anda fill sensor for sensing the level of the liquid phases in said centrifugal separating tank, said fill sensor being in operable communication with said automatically-actuable vent and said low-shear pump for actuating said vent and activating said pump when the liquid phases reach a predetermined level within said centrifugal separating tank .