Separation of components of a fluid mixture

Abstract: There is provided a low-energy separator comprising a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and an end wall at one end, a body being provided in the vessel and defining with the end wall an annular opening which is spaced from the outer wall, the vessel being provided with an inlet, for introducing a fluid into the vessel, and the body being connected to the end wall by a member having an outer surface which surrounds the axis of the vessel, the body projecting radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the member so that the body, the member and the end wall define an annular channel, this channel being provided with an outlet opening.

Description: This invention relates to a low-energy hydrodynamic separator. Our British Patent GB-A-2082941 discloses a separator which is particularly suitable for separating, for example, sewage and other solid matter from water in stormwater overflows. The separator is in the form of a cylindrical vessel having an inlet which is disposed tangentially so as to promote a circulating flow within the vessel. This circulating flow comprises an outer, relatively fast flow and an inner, relatively slow flow, the shear zone between these two regions being stabilized by an annular dip plate which projects downwardly from the top of the vessel. A flow-modifying member is provided in the vessel to enhance the removal of solid particles accumulating at the bottom of the vessel to a central outlet. Clean water is removed from the top of the vessel. Two somewhat distinct processes take place in the known separator. Firstly, solid matter in the incoming mixture is allowed to fall out of the liquid (usually water), so achieving separation of the solid matter from the liquid. Contrary to what might initially be thought, centrifugal forces resulting from the circulating flow of the mixture in the vessel play an insignificant part in this separation process. Separation occurs almost entirely under the force of gravity acting on the particles, and to achieve a high separation efficiency the vessel is designed so that each "packet" of mixture entering the vessel travels along the longest possible path before reaching one of the outlets, so allowing enough time for the solid particles to fall to the base. The second process which takes place in the separator is the removal from the vessel of the solid matter which reaches the base. This removal process is achieved under the action of boundary layer effects at the base of the vessel; solids reaching the base are entrained in the laminar sub-layer at the base and progress, usually in the form of migrating dunes, towards the centre of the vessel. In the separator of British Patent GB-A-2082941, the flow-modifying member assists this migration by creating an inwards sweeping effect through an annular slot defined between the flow modifying member and the base of the vessel. According to the present invention there is provided a method of separating from a liquid mixture a solid component of said mixture, the method comprising the following steps: providing a separator comprising a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and an end wall at one end of which at least a part extends non-horizontal, a body being provided in the vessel and defining with the end wall an annular opening which is spaced from the outer wall, the vessel also being provided with a generally tangential inlet, for introducing a liquid into the vessel, and an annular dip plate projecting downwardly from the top of the vessel for creating and stabilising, in use, a shear zone between an outer, fast-flowing flow and an inner, slower-flowing flow of liquid in the vessel: wherein the body is connected to the end wall by a member having an outer surface which surrounds the axis of the vessel, the body projecting radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the member so that the body, the member and the end wall define an annular channel, this channel being provided with at least one outlet opening in the non-horizontal part of the end wall defining a wall of the annular channel, from which a tangential outlet duct extends; introducing the said liquid mixture into the separator vessel via the said tangential inlet in order to create a circulating flow of the liquid mixture within the vessel which is of sufficiently low energy that non-floatable solid matter falls to the end wall and than migrates inwardly under the influence of boundary layer effects at the end wall through the said annular opening into the said annular channel; and removing the solid matter from the annular channel via the said tangential outlet duct. The separator employed herein is described as a "low-energy" separator in contrast to known "high-energy" separators which function as centrifuges to achieve separation. The body may have a passage to permit flow through it generally axially of the vessel, but alternatively the body may be solid. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a separator which is not in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a partly sectioned plan view of the separator of Figure 1; Figures 3 to 5 show further alternative constructions for the lower part of a separator in accordance with the present invention. Although the separator illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is not in accordance with the present invention, it does show many of the features of the separator of the present invention. The separator comprises a cylindrical vessel 1 defined by an outer wall 2 and an end wall or base 3. The vessel 1 has a main inlet 4 and two outlets 6 and 8. The inlet 4 (see particularly Figure 2), is directed somewhat tangentially so as to promote a circulating flow or swirl within the vessel 1. This effect is enhanced by a deflector plate 10. It is possible for more than one main inlet to be provided in the wall 2 at the deflector plate 10. The inlets may be disposed one above the other. The flow will circulate about a swirl axis which can be considered to coincide with the central axis of the vessel although fluctuating conditions will mean that this will not always be the case. The inlet 4 may extend exactly tangentially of the wall 2 although it is shown in Figure 2 as being offset from the tangential. The angle of offset may be up to 45°. The outlet 6 constitutes a solids outlet. As shown in Figure 1, the base 3 opens into a sump 12, which in turn discharges into the outlet 6. There may be a shut-off valve in the outlet 6. Separated solids will be deposited in the sump 12 in the form of a sludge, and may be discharged intermittently, for example into a mobile tanker. In cases where continuous solids discharge is possible, the sump 12 may be dispensed with. Above the outlet 6 there is a flow modifying member or body in the form of a cone 14. The cone 14 is supported on the base 3 by support plates 16. There is an upwardly extending passage 18 through the cone 14. The vertex angle of the cone 14 is 60° in the embodiment illustrated, and its dimensions are such that the base of the cone terminates at a position approximately half way between the central axis of the vessel 1 and the outer wall 2, at which region it defines with the base 3 an annular opening 15. The end wall 3 has a slope of 30°, which means that the cone 14 and the end wall 3 are at right angles to each other. Of course, these angles may be changed to meet different circumstances. At the top of the chamber 2, there is a baffle plate 20 supported by plates 22 which act as flow spoilers for clean liquid (for example, water) flowing to the outlet 8. On its way to the outlet, the clean water, as indicated at 21, passes upwardly between the outer edge of the baffle plate 20 and a dip plate 36 (to be described later), and then flows radially inwardly through an annular slot defined between the baffle plate 20 and then top of the vessel. This reduces the possibility of solid material entering the clean water outlet 8, since such solid material will tend to accumulate near the swirl axis. The outlet 8 extends from an annular chamber 24, which may or may not be closed at the top. An aperture 26 extends through the chamber 24 and the baffle plate 20 to provide access for a cleaning rod which can be passed through the passage 18 and the sump 12 to dislodge solid matter which may adhere to these parts. At the top of the vessel near the outer wall 2 there is a floatables trap 28 and a floatables outlet 30. The floatables trap 28 comprises a bottom wall 32 and an end wall 34, the construction being such that any solid matter floating to the top of the vessel is carried round into the trap 28, from which it may be discharged through the outlet 30. In Figure 2, the floatables trap is shown disposed opposite the outlet 8, but the trap 28 could be disposed anywhere around the circumference of the vessel 1. An annular dip plate 36 projects downwardly into the chamber 2 from the top wall. As with the dimensions of the cone 14, the position and axial extent of the dip plate 36 must be determined empirically. Its function is to create, or stabilize, a shear zone between an outer, fast-flowing flow and an inner, slower-flowing flow of the mixture in the vessel. A line 38 is branched from the clean water outlet 8 so that some of the flow through the outlet 8 is diverted to a pump 40. The outlet of the pump 40 is connected by a pipe 42 to a secondary inlet 44. As shown in Figure 2, the pipe 42 extends tangentially of the chamber, like the main inlet 4. A deflector plate, similar to the deflector plate 10 for the main inlet 4, may be provided for the secondary inlet 44. In operation as part of a stormwater overflow system, storm water containing sewage and other solid matter is directed into the vessel 1 through the main inlet 4. This creates a circulating flow in the chamber 2 which exists, with the assistance of the dip plate 36, as the outer and inner flows mentioned above. The flow is such that non-floatable solid matter falls to the base 3 and then migrates inwardly under the influence of boundary layer effects at the base 3. Eventually the solid matter passes through the opening 15 and between the plates 16. Some solid matter will, however, be deposited on the outer surface of the cone 14, and the flow will tend to move these deposits slowly up the cone 14. The cone 14 has the effect of creating a secondary flow which circulates upwardly through the passage 18, and then downwardly again over the surface of the cone 14 and between the plates 16. Deposits climbing up the outer wall of the cone 14 will eventually be entrained in this flow and so repeatedly pass between the plates 16 until eventually they are deposited in the sump 12. At the upper end of the vessel, clean water passes through the slot 21 and between the plates 22 into the annular chamber 24 and out of the outlet 8. Under some conditions, this water will be clean enough to pass directly to any acceptable outfall, such as a tidal outfall. Any floatable solids which will not be passed to the outlet 6 will be caught in the trap 28 and can then either be mixed with the solids issuing from the outlet 6 or else disposed of separately. In Figures 3 to 5, several further embodiments of the present invention are shown. These figures only show the arrangement in the base of the separator. The construction of the remainder of the separator may be as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Parts corresponding to parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 are designated in Figures 3 to 5 even where they differ in some respects. Figure 3 shows a solid cone supported on the floor of the vessel by a solid pedestal 88. The cone 14 and the pedestal 88 define with the lower wall of the vessel an annular sump 12. A number of outlet pipes 6 (for example four) extend tangentially from the sump 12. Figure 4 shows a similar embodiment, except that the floor of the annular sump 12 has a helical shape in order to assist the travel of solids particles to the outlet 6. The embodiments of Figure 4 and 5 have solids collecting zones of reduced height, which means that less excavation is required to install the separator. The same facility is provided by the embodiment of Figure 5, where the lower wall of the vessel has an upwardly extending conical portion 90 which, again, provides an annular sump 12 from which one or more outlets 6 extend. By improving the efficiency of solids removal without lowering the separation efficiency, the possible use of the separator can be extended beyond the primary use in sewage treatment and storm water overflows into further areas of application. For example the separator can be used to separate out heavy solids which do not move easily over the base, such as sand, gravel and mineral ore and for separation of the products of chemical processes. The separator can also be used in applications where the solids tend to form a thick sludge which does not behave as particulate matter but more as a non-newtonian viscous fluid or which may even set hard if allowed to come to rest. Examples of such applications are in sludge thickening, farm waste treatment and in gypsum separation. The height of the vessel, measured between the baffle plate 20 and the bottom of the outer wall 2 is preferably in the range 0.4 to more than 3 times the diameter. The range 0.4 to 1 times the diameter is more suitable for separation while the range 1.5 to 3 times the diameter is more suitable for sludge thickening.

Claims: A method of separating from a liquid mixture a solid component of said mixture, the method comprising the following steps: providing a separator comprising a vessel (1) having a cylindrical outer wall (2) and an end wall (3) at one end of which at least a part extends non-horizontal, a body (14) being provided in the vessel (1) and defining with the end wall (3) an annular opening (15) which is spaced from the outer wall (2), the vessel (1) also being provided with a generally tangential inlet (4), for introducing a liquid into the vessel (1), and an annular dip plate (36) projecting downwardly from the top of the vessel (1) for creating and stabilising, in use, a shear zone between an outer, fast-flowing flow and an inner, slower-flowing flow of liquid in the vessel (1): wherein the body (14) is connected to the end wall (3) by a member (88) having an outer surface which surrounds the axis of the vessel (1), the body (14) projecting radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the member (88) so that the body (14), the member (88) and the end wall (3) define an annular channel, this channel being provided with at least one outlet opening in the non-horizontal part of the end wall defining a wall of the annular channel, from which a tangential outlet duct (6) extends; introducing the said liquid mixture into the separator vessel (1) via the said tangential inlet (4) in order to create a circulating flow of the liquid mixture within the vessel which is of sufficiently low energy that non-floatable solid matter falls to the end wall (3) and than migrates inwardly under the influence of boundary layer effects at the end wall (3) through the said annular opening (15) into the said annular channel; and removing the solid matter from the annular channel via the said tangential outlet duct (6). A method according to claim 1, wherein the said body (14) of the separator is solid. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the annular channel of the separator is of reduced height.

Inventors: SMISSON BERNARD, SMISSON, BERNARD
Applicants: HYDRO INT LTD, HYDRO INTERNATIONAL PLC.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B01D21
IPC codes: B01D21, B04C5