Patent ID: 8945402
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: B01D,B03D,B09C,C10G,E21B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for separating particulate matter from a mixture containing oil, water and said particulate matter, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of separation cells arranged for sequential treatment of particulate matter, each separation cell including a wash tank, a settling tank, a liquids transfer tank and a hydrocyclone separator; the wash tank receiving a continuous flow of the mixture containing oil, water and particulate matter and having an agitator which agitates the mixture; the settling tank receiving continuous overflow from the wash tank, with the particulate matter which settles to the bottom of the settling tank being pumped through a line from the settling tank to the hydrocyclone separator; the hydrocyclone separator separating water from the particulate matter, the particulate matter being forwarded through a line to a next one of the plurality of separation cells for further processing and the water being recycled through a line back to the wash tank; and the transfer tank receiving continuous overflow from the settling tank, oil accumulating in the transfer tank being periodically pumped to oil storage as determined by a rate of oil accumulation and water being continually pumped from the transfer tank into the line leading from the hydrocyclonic separator to the wash tank of a prior one of the plurality of separation cells.