Patent ID: 7282144

Claim:
A semi-submersible floating decanter for decanting supernatant from a reactor, said semi-submersible floating decanter comprising: a) a float forming an internal cavity, said float having a center annulus; b) a weir having an inlet opening, said weir positioned within said center annulus and fixedly connected to said float to form a passage between said float and said weir; c) a discharge conduit in connection with said weir for discharging supernatant therefrom; and d) means for adjusting a depth of said semi-submersible floating decanter within a liquid between a non-decant position wherein said inlet opening is above the surface of the liquid and a decant position wherein said inlet opening is positioned within the supernatant to allow the supernatant to be withdrawn, said depth adjusting means including an inlet pump for injecting said fluid into said internal cavity and an outlet pump for discharging said fluid from said internal cavity.