Abstract:
A separating device. The separating device is used in a tank, for separating solid, gas, and liquid of polluted water, including a first panel, and a plurality of first dividers. The first panel is disposed in the tank, includes a first body and a plurality of first tubes. The first body has a plurality of first openings. The first tubes, connected with the first openings, are disposed under the first body. The first dividers, corresponding to the first tubes, are horizontally disposed under the first tubes. A gap is formed between each first divider and each first tube. The first tube projects to the first divider, forming a projecting perimeter within the first divider.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a separating device, and in particular, to a separating device used in a reacting tank, for separating solid, gas, and liquid from polluted water in the reacting tank. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a separating device, conventionally utilized in wastewater treatment, is often disposed in an anaerobic sludge tank  1 . Wastewater, entering the tank  1 , is decomposed under anaerobic conditions, producing biogas which includes methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. The gas rises with the upflow sludge through a guiding area  2  to a gas collecting area  3 . The rest of the solid-liquid mixture enters a solid-liquid area  4  through a gap G. A slanting plate  5  separates the solid and the liquid, keeping solid material in the solid-liquid area  4 . The liquid then overflows to a weir  6 . 
   In the conventional separating device, a scum weir (not shown) disposed in the gas collecting area releases gas. However, the conventional separating device has an enclosed gas collection area. Problems such as when to discharge the scum, and how to completely discharge the scum frequently arise. Additionally, openings for the liquid to flow through are required, affecting overall intensity. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention provides a separating device. The separating device is used in a tank to separate solid, gas, and liquid from polluted water, and comprises a first panel, and a plurality of first dividers. The first panel is disposed in the tank, and comprises a first body and a plurality of first tubes. The first body has a plurality of first openings. The first tubes, connected with the first openings, are disposed under the first body. The first dividers, corresponding to the first tubes, are horizontally disposed under the first tubes. A gap is formed between each first divider and each first tube. The first tube projects to the first divider, forming a projecting perimeter within the first divider. 
   A solid-liquid separation area is formed above the first panel, a gas collecting area is formed between the first panel and the first dividers, and a reacting area is formed under the first dividers. 
   The separating device further comprises a slanting plate, disposed in the solid-liquid separation area. 
   The separating device further comprises a weir, disposed in the solid-liquid separation area, above the slanting plate. 
   The separating device further comprises a bucket, communicating with the gas collecting area, collecting gas and scum from the tank. 
   The separating device further comprises a first tube, communicating with the gas collecting area. 
   The separating device further comprises second tube, communicating with the solid-liquid separation area. 
   The separating device further comprises a distribution tank, communicating with the solid-liquid area via the second tube. 
   The separating device further comprises a pump, disposed on the second tube. 
   The separating device further comprises a third tube, via which the distribution tank communicates with the reacting area. 
   The separating device further comprises a second panel, and a plurality of second dividers. The second panel, disposed in the tank, comprises a second body, a plurality of second tubes, and a collecting tube. The second body has a plurality of second openings and a third opening. The second tubes, connected with the second openings, are disposed under the second body. The collecting tube, connected with the third opening, is disposed above the second body. The second dividers, corresponding to the second tubes, are horizontally disposed under the second tubes. A gap is formed between each second divider and each second tube. The second tube projects to the second divider, forming a projecting perimeter within the second divider. 
   The first gas collecting area communicates with the second gas collecting area by the collecting tube. 
   The tank has a height between 15 and 25 meters. 
   A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional separating device and an anaerobic sludge tank; 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a separating device and a tank of the invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is a schematic view showing a first pipe and a first divider in  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a first panel in  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a second panel in  FIG. 2A ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a variant embodiment of the separating device and the tank of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 2A  depicts a separating device of an embodiment of the invention. The separating device is used in a tank  10  containing wastewater. The tank  10  is an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) tank, having a height between fifteen and twenty five meters. The separating device comprises a first panel  11 , a plurality of first dividers  11 A, a second panel  12 , a plurality of second dividers  12 A, a colleting tube  12 B, a slanting plate  13 , two weirs  14 , a bucket  15 , a distribution tank  16 , a pump P, a first pipe a, a second pipe b, and a third pipe c. It should be noted that in  FIG. 2A , only two first dividers  11 A and two second dividers  12 A are shown. 
   In the tank  10 , the first divider  11  and the second divider  12  comprise a demarcation line, dividing the tank  10  into different sections. A solid-liquid separation area S-L is defined above the first panel  11 , and a first gas collecting area G 1  is defined between the first panel  11  and the first dividers  11 A. A first reacting area R 1  is defined between the first dividers  11 A and the second panel  12 . A second gas collecting area G 2  is defined between the second panel  12  and the second dividers  12 A. A second reacting area R 2  is defined under the second dividers  12 A. 
     FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the first panel  11 . The first panel  11  is disposed in the tank  10 , and comprises a first body S 1  and a plurality of first tubes T 1 . The first body S 1  has a plurality of first openings O 1 , the number, the sizes, and shapes of the sections of which are not limited. The first tube T 1  connects with the first opening O 1 , and the first tube T 1  is beneath the first panel  11 . The first divider  11 A is disposed in respect to the first tube T 1 , and below the first tube T 1 . Each first divider  11 A comprises a periphery extending radially to the corresponding first tube T 1 . A gap d 1  is maintained between the first tube T 1  and the first divider  11 A (referring to  FIG. 2B ). 
     FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the second panel  12  disposed in the tank  10 , and below the first panel  11 , comprising a second body S 2 , a plurality of second tubes T 2 , and a third opening O 3  (referring to  FIG. 2A ). The second body S 2  has a plurality of second openings O 2 , wherein the number, the sizes, and shapes of which are not limited. The second tube T 2  connects with the second opening O 2 , and is disposed beneath the second body S 2 . The second divider  12 A is disposed in respect to the second tube T 2 , and below the second tube T 2 . A gap d 2  is kept between the second tube T 2  and the second divider  12 A. The collecting tube  12 B connects with the third opening O 3 , and is disposed above the second body S 2 , wherein the first gas collecting area G 1  communicates with the second gas collecting area G 2  by the collecting tube  12 B. It should be noted that while one collecting tube  12 B and one third opening O 3  are shown, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The number, the sizes, and shapes of the collecting tube  12 B and the third opening O 3  are designed according to demand. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2A  again, the slanting plate  13  is disposed in the solid-liquid separation area S-L. Two weirs  14  are disposed on inner walls of the tank  10 , respectively, above the slanting plate  13 , although disposition of the weirs  14  is not limited thereto. 
   The bucket  15  communicates with the first gas collecting area G 1  by the first pipe a, wherein the first pipe a is disposed near the first panel  11 . The distribution tank  16  communicates with the solid-liquid separation area S-L by the second pipe b, and the pump P is disposed on the second pipe b. An end of the second pipe b extends to the solid-liquid separation area S-L, between the slanting plate  13  and the first panel  11 . The distribution tank  16  communicates with the first and second reacting areas R 1 , R 2  by the third pipe c, respectively. 
   Waste water in the tank  10  is a mixture comprising solid, gas, and liquid, which is received in the second reacting area R 2  of the tank  10 . The mixture flows up from the second reacting area R 2 , through the bottom of the second panel  12 A, and toward the sides of the second panel  12 A. A portion of gas is collected in the second gas collecting area G 2 , and enters the first gas collecting area G 1  through the collecting tube  12 B. Remaining mixture continuously flows to the first reacting area R 1  through the gap d 2  between the second panel  12 A and the second tube T 2 . When the mixture reaches to the bottom of the first panel  11 A, it moves toward the sides of the first panel  11 A. Remaining gas in the mixture is collected in the first gas collecting area G 1 . Remaining mixture then flows to the solid-liquid separation area S-L through the gap d 1  between the first divider  11 A and the first tube T 1 . 
   The gas collected in the first gas collecting area G 1  carries some solid scum. The gas and the scum along the under surface of the first panel  11  enter the bucket  15  through the first pipe a. Gas is exhausted out of the bucket  15 , with the solid scum remaining. A window can be disposed on the bucket  15  to observe accumulation of the solid scum in the bucket  15 . After a certain amount of solid scum is accumulated in the bucket  15 , a valve (not shown) of the first pipe a is closed temporarily, such that the bucket  15  does not communicate with the first gas collecting area G 1 . Thus, the solid scum can be removed from the bucket  15 . 
   The mixture in the solid-liquid separation area S-L continuously moves upward through the slanting plate  13 . The solid in the mixture is blocked by the slanting plate  13 , and precipitates on the first panel  11 . The liquid then flows through the slanting plate  13 , outflow through the weirs  14 . 
   In the solid-liquid separation area S-L, the combined liquid and the solid precipitate on the first panel  11  is pumped through the second pipe b by the pump P, to the distribution tank  16 . The mixture in the distribution tank  16  is recycled to the bottom of the first and second reacting areas R 1 , R 2  through the third pipe c. 
   The superficial velocity of gaseous material increases with the height of the tank, reducing concentration of the sludge. Accordingly, when the superficial velocity of gaseous material reaches a certain limits, gas in the tank must be released from the reacting area. In the embodiment, the tank  10  has a certain height, such that two sets of panel  11 ,  12  and two sets of corresponding divider  11 A,  12 A are disposed in coordination with the tank  10 . However, disposition is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a single set of the panel  11 ′ and the corresponding divider  11 A′ can be disposed in the tank  10 ′, with other parts the same as the above embodiment. 
   The separating device of the invention can be simply constructed, especially when assembled as a module. Not only is construction cost successfully reduced, but problems releasing the scum are overcome. Additionally, the volume of the anaerobic tank is efficiently utilized. 
   While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.