Abstract:
The present invention relates to a separator including one or more separation members upon which residue can accumulate. An agitator is provided for agitating the separation members to remove the residue. The agitator may clean residue from the members without removing the separation members from the separator. Advantageously, the frequency that the members need to be removed from the separator and thoroughly cleaned is reduced when compared with the known separator.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a separator including, for example, an oil water separator. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
         [0003]    A known oil-water separator  1  is shown in  FIG. 1 , The separator  1  includes a container  2  which houses a number of oleophilic separation plates  4 . In use, a oil-water solution is provided to the plates  4  through an inlet  6 . Turbulent flow of the solution over the plates  4  causes the oil and water to separate. The oil can be drained through a top outlet  8 , clean water can be drained through an intermediate outlet  10 , and settled residue or sludge at the base of the container  2  can be drained through a bottom outlet  12 . 
         [0004]    Over time, oily residue accumulates on the oleophilic separation plates  4  and adversely affects the separation of the oil and water. Accordingly, it is necessary to periodically remove the plates  4  from within the container  2  and clean away the accumulated residue to restore the optimum function of the separator  1 . This cleaning process is undesirably laborious and time intensive, involving the careful disassembly and reassembly of the fixed array of separation plates  4 . 
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a separator with improved cleanabilty. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an oil-water separator including:
       one or more oleophilic separation plates against which turbulent flow of an oil-water solution impacts to separate oil and water, and upon which residue can accumulate during separation; and   an agitator for agitating the separation plates to remove the residue.       
 
         [0009]    The agitator may clean residue from the plates without removing the separation plates from the separator. Advantageously, the frequency that the plates need to be removed from the separator and thoroughly cleaned is reduced when compared with the known separator. 
         [0010]    The agitator may include a reciprocator for reciprocating the separation plates. Preferably, the reciprocator rotationally reciprocates the separation plates in a clockwise/anticlockwise manner. The reciprocator may include a ram. The ram may include either a pneumatic or electric motor. 
         [0011]    The separator may further include a flusher for flushing the separation plates with cleaning fluid. 
         [0012]    The separator may further include a container in which the separation plates are located and defining an outlet at its base through which settled residue can be removed. The separator may include a floor which slopes toward the outlet to facilitate removal of the settled residue through the outlet. The separator may further include a chute extending from the floor to the outlet. The separator may further include a flusher at the base of the container to facilitate flushing the settled residue through the outlet. The flusher may be arranged to generate a vortex within the base of the container. 
         [0013]    The separation plate may have the general shape of a truncated cone. in one embodiment, the separator may include a lid for rotationally mounting to the container. The separation plates may be releasably and serially mounted to a rack extending from the lid. The rack may include a quartet of frame elements. The separator may include a bridge mounted to the container for supporting the agitator. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning an oil-water separator, the separator including one or more oleophilic separation plates against which turbulent flow of an oil-water solution impacts to separate oil and water, and upon which residue can accumulate during separation, the method involving agitating the separation plates to remove the residue. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controller configured to clean an oil-water separator, the separator including one or more oleophilic separation plates against which turbulent flow of an oil-water solution impacts to separate oil and water, and upon which residue can accumulate during separation, the controller configured to agitate the separation plates to remove the residue. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a known oil-water separator; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an oil-water separator according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a reciprocator of the separator of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned perspective view of the separator of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the separator of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a oil-water separator  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The separator  20  includes oleophilic separation plates  22  upon which oily residue can accumulate. A reciprocator  24  shown more clearly in  FIG. 3  can reciprocate the separation plates  22  to remove the oily residue, and thereby reduce the frequency that the separation plates  22  need to be removed from the separator  20  and thoroughly cleaned. A detailed description of the improved cleanability separator  20  is provided below. 
         [0023]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , the separator  20  further includes a cylindrical container  26  in which the separation plates  22  are located. The container  26  defines an outlet  28  in a slidewall at its base through which settled residue can be removed. The separator  20  also includes a floor  30  which slopes toward the outlet  28  to facilitate removal of the settled residue through the outlet  28 . Furthermore, the separator  20  includes a residue chute  32  extending from the lower end of the floor  30  to the outlet  28 . 
         [0024]    The separator  20  further includes a residue flusher  34  at the base of the container  26  to facilitate flushing the settled residue through the residue outlet  28 . The residue flusher  34  includes a bent outlet pipe  36  arranged to project flow against the side wall of the container  26  to generate a vortex within the base of the container  26 . In use, the vortex facilitates collection of the settled residue which is passed into the chute  32  and through the outlet  28 . 
         [0025]    The separator  20  includes a lid  38  for rotationally mounting to the container  26  with a ball bearing arrangement. As can best be seen in  FIG. 4 , the separation plates  22  are releasably and serially mounted to a rack  39  extending downwardly from the lid  38 . The rack includes a quartet of frame elements  40  that extend through peripheral flanges of the separation plates  22 . Each separation plate  22  has the general shape of a truncated cone. The separator  20  further includes a plate flusher  42  for flushing the separation plates  22  with cleaning fluid (e.g. fresh water) during cleaning. 
         [0026]    As can best be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the separator  20  includes a bridge  43  mounted to the container  26  for supporting the centrally mounted reciprocator  24 . The reciprocator  24  rotationally reciprocates the separation plates  22  in a clockwise/anticlockwise manner. To this end, the reciprocator  24  includes a ram (or piston)  44  with a working rod  45  mounted to a rotational head  46 . The ram  44  includes either a pneumatic or electric motor  48  which drives the working rod  45  back and forth relative to the motor  48 . The head  46  terminates a rotational shaft  50  extending upwardly from the rotational lid  38 , in turn, from which the rack  39  of separation plates  22  depend. During cleaning, the linearly reciprocating working rod  45  causes the rotational reciprocation of the lid  38  and separation plates  22 . 
         [0027]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , the separator  20  further includes a controller  60  configured to perform an automatic cleaning method. The controller  60  includes a processor  62  loaded with a software product  64 . The software product  64  includes machine readable instructions for performing the automatic cleaning method described below. 
         [0028]    Initially, the separator  20  has ceased separating the oil-water solution and the residue outlet  28  is closed. The clean water has been drawn out through the clean water outlet  10 . The controller  60  receives user input from a user interface  66  to indicate that the automatic cleaning procedure should be initiated. 
         [0029]    Next, the controller  20  actuates the residue flusher  34  and opens the residue outlet  28  so that residue at the base of the container  26  is drained. 
         [0030]    The controller  20  also actuates the plate flusher  42  concurrently with the reciprocator  24  so that built-up residue on the plates  22  is removed and moves to the base of the container for draining through the residue outlet  28 . 
         [0031]    The foregoing cleaning process can be performed periodically. 
         [0032]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
         [0033]    For example, the reciprocator  24  can also be actuated during separation of oil and water during regular operation of the separator  20 . 
         [0034]    The preferred embodiment was described in relation to a rotational cleaning reciprocator  24 . In an alternative embodiment, another type of mechanical agitator for agitating the separation plates  22  to remove the residue can instead be used. 
         [0035]    In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.