Patent Publication Number: US-2015068969-A1

Title: Mobile Fluid Clarifying System

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This application relates to a mobile apparatus for clarifying a liquid for example, water. This apparatus may be used to treat liquid flow back or liquid produced from an oil or gas well. It is specifically designed to remove solids from a liquid but may be used to separate any two components of varying density. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Currently, liquid clarifiers are in use that utilize various combinations of baffles and weirs as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,196 to Pielkenrood and U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,092 to Odom. Although somewhat effective, systems currently in use separate out a limited amount of solid from the mixture of liquids and solid. Also, it is difficult to effectively remove the solid material from the separation tank. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention increases the amount of solids separated out from a liquid solid mixture by a unique combination of weir type compartments and a lamella clarifier. To enhance removal of solids from the bottom of the tank, the bottom portion of the tank includes sloping wall portions and a lower sump section with a plurality of drain pipes and valves. This arrangement facilitates removal of solids that have settled to the bottom of each compartment within the tank. The several drain pipes are connected to a common manifold pipe which in turn is connected to a single, specially selected pump for withdrawing the solids from the tank. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a rear prospective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid tank. 
         FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the liquid tank. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the lamella clarifier section of the liquid tank. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the invention includes a tank  60  mounted on a wheeled frame assembly for ease of transportation. The frame includes longitudinal members  11  and  14  connected together by vertical struts  12 . Struts  13  extend between longitudinal member  11  and tank  60  for support. The frame assembly also includes a longitudinal member  92  and support struts  93  and  4  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A platform comprising a floor  32 , side walls  25 ,  26 ,  29  and  19  is connected to the frame and also to tank  60  via support frame  27 ,  28 ,  33 ,  30  and  31 . A connector  24  for connecting the apparatus to a hauling vehicle extends forwardly of the platform. Connector may be designed for connection to the fifth wheel of a conventional truck or for connection to any known connection device. The rear portion of the apparatus is supported by wheel assembly  15 . When the apparatus is disconnected from the truck, support frame member  2  and  11  rest on the ground. 
     Tank  60  is generally rectangular and includes front wall  22 , rear wall  18  and side walls  19  and  23 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom floor of tank  60  includes a first inclined section  65 , a horizontal portion  63 , and a vertical upright portion  64  which leads to a second inclined portion  67 . This configuration forms a trough  66 . A plurality of drain pipes  61  are in fluid communication with trough  66  through wall section  64 . Each pipe  61  includes a valve  62 . Each pipe  61  is connected to a manifold pipe  51  which in turn is connected to an inlet of a pump  71  which is mounted on platform floor  32 . A manway  45  is provided through sidewall  23 . 
     The interior structure of the tank which separates the liquid from the solid material will now be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . An inlet pipe  17  directs a fluid containing solid material into a first compartment  81  formed by end wall  18  and a side weir partition  35 . An end portion of partition  35  is spaced from tank side wall  23  and forms an opening  35   a  so that the mixture of liquid and solids will flow around partition  35  and into a second compartment  82  formed between partition  35  and a second side weir partition  36 . Second side weir partition is spaced from tank side wall  19  and forms an opening  36   a  so that the liquid solid mixture will flow around partition  36  into a third compartment  83  formed by second partition  36  and a third partition  37 . Partition  37  extends between side walls  19  and  23  of the tank but is spaced from the floor of the tank to form a gap  91  for fluid flow. A fourth compartment  84  is formed between partition  37  and a fourth partition  38  which is inclined as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     A central opening  59  is located at the top of partition  38  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Opening  59  leads into a center compartment  41  which extends between two lamella clarifiers  40  and  50  which include a plurality of spaced, parallel panels  42  which are inclined with respect to the horizontal. Panels  42  may be formed of high density polyethene. Center compartment  41  includes two side walls  7  and  8  and a front wall  69  and back wall  68  thus forming a box like structure that is open at the bottom as shown in  FIG. 5 . Inclined partitions  38  and  39  conform to the bottom of the tank  60  and together with side walls  19  and  23  form a closed chamber in which central compartment  41  and the lamella clarifiers are located. As shown in  FIG. 5 , fluid to be treated enters central compartment  41  through inlet  59  and flows downwardly and out the bottom of central compartment  41 . From there, the fluid is directed upwardly along panels  42  where the solids continue to separate out. The liquid overflows partition  39  and falls into a fifth compartment  85  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Trough  41  may include an open grate covering its top portion. Fifth compartment  85  is formed between partition  39  and a partition  43  which is a top weir which allows fluid to flow over the top portion of partition  43  into a sixth compartment  86 . Sixth compartment  86  is formed between partition  43  and a top weir partition  44  which allows fluid to flow over the top portion of weir  44 . A final compartment  87  is formed between partition  44  and front wall  22 . A pair of outlet pipes  52  and  53  are located at an upper portion of front wall  22  and permit clarified liquid to exit compartment  87 . Partitions  43  and  44  conform to the shape of the bottom of the tank so as to form separate compartments that are closed at their bottoms. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a drain pipe  61  is located in each compartment,  83 - 87  to provide an outlet for the solid material. Drain pipes  61  are connected to a common manifold pipe  51  which is connected to the inlet of pump  71 . A plurality of sampling ports are provided in sidewall  23 . 
     MODE OF OPERATION 
     In operation, the liquid/solid mixture is introduced into the tank via inlet  17 . The mixture is directed around partitions  35  and  36  into compartment  83 . The mixture then exits chamber  83  where some of the solid material begins to fall to the bottom of the tank. Lighter oils accumulate at the top of chamber  83  and do not enter the rest of the tank. The mixture is then directed upwardly along baffle  38  to the opening  59  of center compartment  41 . Fluid then flows out the bottom of center compartment  41  and is directed upwardly along the panels  42  of lamella clarifiers  40  and  50  where solids continue to fall to the bottom of the tank. The fluid passes over the top of partition  39  into compartment  85 . The mixture then flows over weir  43  into chamber  86  and from there it travels over weir  44  into chamber  87  where further separation takes place. Clarified liquid exits the tank through outlets  52  and  53  from which the liquid may be directed to a storage tank or a further treatment device. 
     Solid material that settles to the bottom of the tank may be periodically removed by pump  71  via manifold pipe  51  and drain lines  61  that are connected to the bottom of the tank in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Pump  71  is preferably a rotary lobe positive displacement pump, although any fluid pump may be used. Although the drawings show a single drain pipe  61  connected to each of the compartments  83 - 87 , more than one drain pipe can be connected to each compartment and the number of drain pipes could decrease as flow continues through the tank. 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims. For example the support frame for the tank  60  may be of any suitable design to support the tank on a wheeled support frame.