Patent ID: 6074557
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
An apparatus for separating contaminants from a liquid stream comprising:a vessel containing an internal chamber and a gas inlet, said vessel containing a gas blanket within said internal chamber, with said vessel containing a liquid stream inlet for receiving said liquid stream containing said contaminants and a liquid stream outlet for discharging the liquid stream having a reduced amount of contaminants;a skimmer means, received within said internal chamber and adapted to receive the liquid stream containing said contaminants from said liquid stream inlet, for separating the contaminants from said liquid stream and providing an output, said skimmer means being disposed to release said liquid stream;a first gas flotation cell contained within said vessel, said first gas flotation cell being adapted to receive the liquid stream from said skimmer means; and wherein said first gas flotation cell comprises a first screen member having a permeable structure; a plate baffle, said plate baffle having a first passage; an eductor means, operatively associated with the gas blanket, for introducing gas bubbles into said liquid stream in said vessel; and wherein said eductor means comprises an elongated tube operatively associated with said vessel, said tube being in communication with the outlet liquid stream having a reduced amount of contaminants; a nozzle member positioned within said elongated tube and adapted to receive the liquid stream having a reduced amount of contaminants, said nozzle member having an inner convex surface concluding at a nozzle tip so that the liquid stream having a reduced amount of contaminants accelerates upon exiting said nozzle member and creates a zone of low pressure at the nozzle tip; a port formed on said elongated tube and located adjacent the nozzle tip, said port being adapted to receive the gas contained within said gas blanket and introduce the gas into said elongate tube; a rotor member positioned within said elongated tube and adapted to disperse the gas within said elongated tube and wherein said rotor member comprises: a first collar operatively adapted to be positioned in said elongated tube; a first shaft having a first end and a second end and wherein said first end is rotably connected to said collar and said second end is rotably connected to said collar; a first blade attached to said first shaft, and wherein said first blade is rotated with said first shaft; a second blade attached to said first shaft, and wherein said second blade is rotated with said first shaft, and wherein said first blade contains a first projection extending therefrom and said second blade contains a second projection extending therefrom;an oil bucket positioned within said vessel and adapted to receive a portion of said liquid stream having an increased amount of contaminants from said skimmer means and said first gas flotation cell.