FLOTATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS

Abstract: Flotation apparatus (1) for the purification of polluted water, comprising a flotation vessel (3) having an inlet means (23) for supplying polluted water to said vessel, an assembly (41) of spaced elements (43, 65) defining passages for the flow of water through said elements, and outlet means for surface sludge (15, 17) and outlet means (39, 45; 57, 61) for treated water, further comprising flow directing means for forcing the incoming polluted water to reach a level above said assembly (41) and to flow downwardly through said assembly and towards said treated water outlet means (39, 45; 57, 61); and a process for the purification of polluted water by flotation performed in such apparatus.

Description: FLOTATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS The present invention relates to the purification of polluted water, such as surface water, ground water as well as sewage water, and relates more specifically to an apparatus for such purification and to a process that can be performed in such apparatus. In all purification of polluted water, such as sur¬ face water, ground water as well as sewage water, the ι π separation processes are cf utmost importance. For the manufacture of drinking water or for other purification of sewage water contaminants are removed in the form cf particles. Said particles may occur naturally in the wa¬ ter entering the purification plant or they are formed in 15 the biological or chemical processing. Normally, parti¬ cles descend to the bottom of a vessel where they are separated as a bottom sludge. During history this has been the traditional manner of purifying water. Another method for the purification of water is flo- 20 tation which has been developed and refined since the 1950 :ies. In flotation the particles are separated from the water by transportation up to the surface by means of very srr.all air bubbles. These attach to the particles and form so called aggregates, the ascending rate of which is 25 five to ten times that cf the descending rate of corre¬ sponding particles. In a traditional flotation plant for the treatment cf water the water to be treated moves downward and leaves the tank from exit means near the bottom. A normal 30 surface load for example in a process for potable water is 7-10 m/h. When this lead is exceeded the downward ve¬ locity cf the water increases to such an extent that air bubbles from the dispersion which normally rise to the surface leave the tank together with the outlet water. 35 These air bubbles enter the subsequent filtration step where they behave like particles. The head less cf the filter increases dramatically and causes a more frequent backwash. The operational cost of the filtration process is thereby subject to increase. It seems as though the entrained air bubbles are not carrying any particles 01 very few particles since the turbidity on water samples containing air bubbles after the air bubbles have been removed increases only slightly. The air bubole carry-over m the effluent is thus a limiting factor for the surface load of the process based on dissolved air flotation. The main ob ect of the present invention is to pro¬ vide a flotation apparatus for the purification of pollu¬ ted water, said apparatus enabling a significant increase of the surface load without significant entrainment of air bubbles m the discharged water. Another object of the present invention is to pro¬ vide a process for the purification of polluted water by flotation, in which the Disadvantages associated with the prior art techniques will be substantially eliminated or at least significantly reduced. Other objects and advantages of the present inven¬ tion will be made clear m the following disclosure of specific embodiments. Tne present invention is based cn a new concept where the lamellae clarification technique is applied to flotation techniques m using an assembly of spaced ele¬ ments defining passages for the flow of water through said elements where, instead of leaving the process from the top as in normal lamellae clarification tne treated water is imparted a downward flow through the spaced ele¬ ments to be discharged at the bottom. Air buobles and particles attached thereto have a rising tendency put are forced by the flow of water at a high velocity αownwarαs . During their downward transporta ion they will aαhere to the back side of the spaced elements where they coalesce to form larger aggregates with other air bubbles until they nave a rising force strong enough for leaving the spaced elements ana rise to the top. Under this new con¬ cept all water to ce purified has to pass from the top and down through the spaced elements to leave at the bot¬ tom. Accordingly, the present invention provides for a lamellaeflotation apparatus for the purification of pol¬ luted water, comprising a flotation vessel navmg an in¬ let means for supplying polluted water to said vessel, an assembly of spaced elements defining passages for the flow of water through said elements, and outlet mieans for surface sludge and outlet means for treated water, cha¬ racterized by flow directing means forcing the incoming polluted water to reach a level above said assembly and to flow downwardly through said assembly and towards said treated water outlet means. In such flotation apparatus said water supply means is positioned at the bottom of said vessel at one end tnereof. Tne spaced elements constituting said assembly are preferably comprised by a set of spaced inclined parallel lamellae defining narrow passages for the flow of water, out may also be comprised by a set of spaced inclined parallel pipes forming such narrow passages. Said water supply means is preferably constituted by an inlet slot extending across substantially the whole width of the vessel. It is also preferred that said treated water outlet means is positioned at the bottom of said vessel. In an- otner embodiment according to the invention said outlet means is comprised by a flat box defining a bottom of said vessel, said box comprising a top wall and a bottom wall joined by side strips and oemg open at one end tnereof and closed at tne other end thereof, and said top wall being proviceα with a plurality of orifices communi- eating with said narrow passages for the flow cf purifie water toward said treated water cutlet means defined by saiα one end of the box. Said flat bottom box can also be comprised of squared pipes packed together being open at one end and closed m the other and with orifices communicating with said narrow passages for the flow and thus having the same function as the described flat bottom box. In such embodiment said vessel is suitably provided with double side walls, the inside walls of which at the lower end thereof are provided with a plurality of open¬ ings communicating with said narrow passages defined by said lamellae, the purified water flowing via said open¬ ings upwardly between said sidewalls toward said treated water outlet means. Furthermore, in tne embodiment just described said water outlet means is preferably constituted by outlet weirs arranged at the top of said sidewalls, each weir being associated with a channel extending from one of said openings coextensively with and juxtaposed the cor¬ responding narrow passage and positioned inside said sidewall. In the flotation apparatus according to the inven¬ tion it is preferred to include dispersion means posi¬ tioned m association with said inlet means for the in¬ troduction of a gas for providing flotation. The invention also provides for a process for the purification of polluted water by flotation, and said process involves the following steps: a) introducing polluted water into a flotation zone at the top thereof wnile dispersing the water by the in¬ troduction of a gas therein; b) generating a downward flow of the dispersed water through a zone of increased surface at such a flow rate that small gas bubbles are entrained with the water but coalesce on contact with said surface thereby rising to the top of the flotation zone; c) removing skimmings from the top of the flotation zone and discharging separately purified water. In the process according to this invention the sur- face load on the polluted water in the flotation zone preferably exceeds about 7 m/h and especially exceeds about 10 m/h. In a preferred embodiment of the process according 5 to the invention the polluted water is introduced at a level substantially equal to the bottom level of the flo¬ tation zone where it is dispersed with gas, and wherein the dispersed water is then imparted an upward flow out¬ side of the flotation zone and is then directed to and 0 distributed over said zone for downward flow there¬ through. Some specific embodiments ό " f the invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the appen¬ ded drawings, wherein 5 Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a perspective view of an embodiment of the flotation apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows also diagrammatically and in a perspec¬ tive view, another embodiment of the flotation apparatus 0 according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows, also in perspective and diagrammati¬ cally, a third embodiment of the flotation apparatus of this invention; and Fig. 4 shows a diagram comparing conventional flo- 5 tation with lamellaeflotaticn in accordance with the pre¬ sent invention. The embodiment of the flotation apparatus according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 in a diagrammatic per¬ spective view com.prises a vessel or container 3 with a 0 front wall 5, a rear wall 7, end walls 9,11, and a flat bottom 13. In association with the front wall 5 vessel 3 is provided with an extension 15 including a sludge out¬ let 17. At the other end of vessel 3 a pressurized air saturated water inlet 19 is connected to pipes 21 for the - c introduction of pressurized gas saturated water, suitably air, at the bottom of vessel 3 adjacent tc the rear wall 7 thereof. At the lower end of said rear wall 7 there is arranged an inlet slot 23 for polluted watei to be treated. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 tne bottom 13 is constituted by a flat box 31 having a top wall 33, a bot- torn wall 35 and side strips 37 joining the top and bottom walls. The flat box 31 has an open end 39 for the dis¬ charge of treated water, whereas the opposite end of box 31 is closed. Inside vessel 3 and on top of the flat box 31 a set 41 of inclined lamellae 43 are arranged, and be- tween said lamellae 43 orifices 45 have been arranged for communication with the interior of the flat box 31. The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 corresponds to that shown m Fig. 1 except for the following construction of features . The apparatus of Fig. 2 is equipped with a single- walled bottom 13 instead of the flat box 31 of the appa¬ ratus shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the vessel or con¬ tainer is provided with double side walls 51a, 51D and 53a, 53b. Withm said double side walls there are arranged partitions 55, ore opposite each lamella inside tne ves¬ sel to form cnannels 57. Said channels 57 are at the low¬ er ends thereof proviαed with openings 59, one for each channel, and at tneir upper ends v>eιrs 61 are arranged, ore for eacn cnannel 57. In other respects the emocdiment of Fig. 2 corresponds to that shown m Fig. 1. The embodiment of tne flotation apparatus shown in Fig. 3 corresponds closely to that shown in Fig. 1 except for the fact that the set of lamellae 43 has been replac¬ ed cy a set of pipes 65, each pipe being m communication with the inside of the flat box 31 through orifices 67 Tne design of the embodiment shown m Fig. 3 is otnerwise tre same as the design of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The function of the embodiments shown m Figs. 1 and 3 is onefly as follows. Before entering the flotation apparatus tne polluted water, such as sewage water, is flocculated in a conven¬ tional manner and enters the apparatus tnrcugh the inlet slot at the bottom of the rear wall 7. The flocculated water when entering through slot 23 is then dispersed by the introduction of air through inlet 19 and pipes 21 through special valves at the bottom of the flotation ap- paratus. The instantaneous pressure fall in such valves releases the air in the form of microscopic bubbles. The air bubbles and the flees attach to each other and move upwardly in vessel 3 and rise over the lamellae 43 or pipes 65 and up to the surface. The aggregates of air bubbles and floes form a sludge blanket on the surface and are transported by scrapers (not shown in the drawings) to the surface sludge outlet 17. The clear water together with small air bubbles flows downwardly and in between the lamellae 43 or pipes 65. Small air bubbles entrained in the water then coalesce on contact with the lamellae or pipes to form larger bubbles which move upwardly against the flow of water and to the surface. The water leaves the lamel¬ lae 43 or pipes 65 through the small outlet orifices 45 and 67, respectively, and the water is evenly distributed between the lamellae cr pipes. Because of the restric¬ tions created by the cutlet orifices 45 a small head loss is created, which regulates the flow so as to evenly dis¬ tribute it over the set of lamellae or pipes. The treated water leaves the flotation vessel or tank 3 through the water outlet 39 via the space within the flat box 31. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the conditions are the same as in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 3 except that the water passing downwardly between the lamellae flews sideways over the weirs and out from the flotation plant. The weirs are separated from each other and the water is thus evenly distributed between the passages de¬ fined by the lamellae. The concept of the invention will now be illustrated by a specific example which, however, is not to be con¬ strued to limit the sccoe of the invention exceot as de- fined in the appended claims EXAMPLE An ordinary flotation pilot plant was provided with an extra bottom above the normal outlet pipes. On this extra bottom lamella plates were placed, and between every plate holes were drilled through the bottom evenly distributed and with such a size that a small loss of head was created at normal loads. The water was forced to flow from the top and down between each lamella. Due to the head loss in the holes the flow through each lamella was the same. After passing the holes the water was al¬ lowed to leave the flotation plant through the normal ef¬ fluent pipes. This piict plant thus operated largely in the same manner as the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. An on line turbidimeter was connected to the pilot plant eff¬ luent . The flotation pilct plant used involved the follow¬ ing operational data: Flotation tank length m 1,4 Flotation tank width m 0,7 Nominal flotation surface m 2 1,0 Limited flotation surface during tests 2 0, 63 Number of lamella plates 14 Lamella plate height 0, 50 Inclination deα 50-60 Lamella projected surface m 2 2, 86 Lamella area 0, 32 Recycle rate through all experiments 7-8 Saturator pressure bar 5,2 Coagulant dose of Al' " through all ex¬ mg/1 70 periments Raw water from Lackareback, Gothenburg, Sweden, was used in the experiments. Two series of experiments were made, one with lamel¬ la elates and for comcarison a second series -without la- mella plates corresponding to an ordinary flotation pro¬ cess. Different surface loads were applied and turbidity was measured continuously on line. In the second series of experiments the lamella plates except for the first and the last one were remov¬ ed. The extra bottom in the tank was, however, kept cre¬ ating a small pressure drop when water was passing through the holes. This resulted in an extra air removal efficiency in the experiments. In view of limitation of the raw water flow the surface of the flotation was re¬ stricted to about half of the size in all the experi¬ ments. A plastic blanket from the bottom of the tank and to a level above the water surface was installed. The ar¬ rangement was tested for leakage during the experiments by dosing small amounts of rhodamine near all the corners and the walls where leakage could be expected. The results are presented in the diagram of Fig. 4 by plotting turbidity against surface load. The two cur¬ ves representing conventional flotation as the upper curve and the use of lamellae according to the present invention as the lower curve clearly illustrate the effi¬ ciency cf using the concept of the present invention. Thus, by using the lamellae flotation concept the surface load can be significantly increased thus increasing the capacity of the plant. A surface load exceeding 10 m/h can be successfully used and comparison shows that the surface load can be increased by about at least 50% while maintaining the same level of turbidity. It is to be noted that the present invention is in no way restricted to the embodiments shown, and changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Flotation apparatus (1) for the purification of polluted water, comprising a flotation vessel (3) having an inlet means (23) for supplying polluted water to said vessel, an assembly (41) of spaced elements (43,65) de¬ fining passages for the flow of water through said ele¬ ments, and outlet means for surface sludge (15,17) and outlet means (39, 5; 57, 61) for treated water, character- ized by flow directing mieans forcing the incoming pol¬ luted water to reach a level above said assembly (41) and to flow downwardly through said " assembly and towards said treated water outlet means (39, 45; 57, 61) . 2. Flotation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said water supply means is positioned at the bottom (13) of said vessel at one end thereof. 3. Flotation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said assembly cf spaced elements is comprised by a set (41) of spaced inclined parallel lamellae (43) de- fining narrow passages for the flow of water. 4. Flotation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said assembly cf spaced elements is comprised by a set (41) of spaced inclined parallel pipes (65) defin¬ ing narrow passages for the flow of water. 5. Flotation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said water supply means is constituted by an inlet slot (23) extending across substantially the whole width of said vessel (3) . 6. Flotation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said treated water outlet means (39,45) is positioned at the bottom (13) of said vessel (3) . 7. Flotation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said outlet means is comprised by a flat box (31) . 8. Flotaticn apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said flat box has a tcp wall (33) provided with orifices (45), whereby the water is evenly distributed over said assembly (41) when passing therethrough. 9. Flotation apparatus according to claim 3 or 5, wherem said vessel is provided with double sidewalls (51a, b, 53a, b), the side walls of which at the lower end thereof are provided with a plurality of openings (59) communicating with said narrow passages defined by said lamellae (43), the purified water flowing via said openings upwardly between said sidewalls toward said treated water cutlet means (39) . 10. Flotation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said openings (59) are arranged to evenly dis- tripute the water ever said assembly (41) when passing theretnrough. 11. Flotation apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wnerem said treated water outlet means is constituted by outlet weirs (61) arranged at the top of said sidewalls (51a, b, 53a,b) , each weir (61) being associated with a cnannel (57) extending from one of said openings (59) co- extensively with and juxtaposed tne corresponding narrow passage and positioned side said sidewall. 12. Flotation apparatus according to any preceα g claim, further comprising dispersion (19,25) means posi¬ tioned association witn said mlet means (23) for tne introduction of a gas for providing flotation. 13. A process for the purification of polluted water cy flotation, comprising the steps: a) introducing polluted water mto a flotation zone at the top thereof wnile dispersing tne water by the in¬ troduction of a gas therein; b) generating a downward flow of tne dispersed water through a zone of increased surface at such a flow rate that small gas buboles are entrained with the water but coalesce on contact witn said surface thereoy rising to the top of the flotation zone; c) removing skimmings from tne top of the flotation zone and discharging separately purified water. 14. A process according to claim 13, wnerem tne surface load on tne polluted water in said zone of m- creased surface exceeds about 7 m/h and preferably ex¬ ceeds about 10 m/h. 15. A process according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said zone of increased surface is established by inclined lamellae or pipes. 16. A process according to claim 15, wherein said zone of increased surface is established oy inclined la¬ mellae. 17. A process accordmg to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the polluted water s introduced at a level sub¬ stantially equal to the bottom level of the flotation zone where it is dispersed with gas, and wherein the dis¬ persed water is then imparted an upward flow outside of the flotation zone and is then directed to and distri- outed over said zone for downward flow therethrough.

Inventors: DAHLQUIST JAN, HEDBERG TORSTEN, DAHLQUIST, JAN, HEDBERG, TORSTEN
Applicants: DAHLQUIST JAN, HEDBERG TORSTEN, PURAC AB, DAHLQUIST, JAN, HEDBERG, TORSTEN
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: B01D21, B03D1, C02F1