Electrocoagulation reaction chamber and method

• US 20030070919A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemini Strategies, LLC, Gemini Master Fund Ltd. (Gemini Strategies LLC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gilmore F. William
• Inventors: Gilmore, F. William
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/275.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/42 in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/40 Mixers using gas or liquid agitation, e.g. with air supply tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/08 Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor application of shock waves B01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/249 Plate-type reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0813 employing four electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0835 substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2453 Plates arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2458 Flat plates, i.e. plates which are not corrugated or otherwise structured, e.g. plates with cylindrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/246 Perforated plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2474 Mixing means, e.g. fins or baffles attached to the plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/249 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2493 Means for assembling plates together, e.g. sealing means, screws, bolts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2496 Means for assembling modules together, e.g. casings, holders, fluidic connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2498 Additional structures inserted in the channels, e.g. plates, catalyst holding meshes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/463 by electrocoagulation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/52 by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/463 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 : using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 : with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46119 : Cleaning the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/024 : Turbulent

Abstract

Dielectric rails (112) support an electrode stack (109) that is compressed between end pressure plates (118). The stack is composed of a dielectric spacer (46, 103) forming a central spacer opening, separating a pair of electrode plates (101,102) that each have a different configuration of openings. A first electrode plate (101) of the pair has a central aperture, while the second electrode plate (102) of the pair has peripheral apertures. A compression device such as a hydraulic cylinder (124) compresses the stack, sliding the plates and spacers together to form a pressure-tight reaction chamber (108). When the cylinder is released, any plate or spacer is readily removed from the stack for replacement or maintenance merely by lifting it off the rails. An electric potential can be applied to each electrode plate at a connecting ear (116), which may be a one of the rail guides (116).

Claims

1. An electrocoagulation reaction chamber for the electrolytic treatment of a stream of process liquid, comprising:

a supporting frame providing a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, dielectric rails for supporting an electrode stack;

first and second spaced apart end plates that are carried by said supporting frame;

an electrode stack that is located between said end plates and that defines a flow path therethrough for process liquid, formed of at least;

a dielectric spacer that is supported on said rails and which defines a central spacer opening that forms a portion of the flow path;

first and second electrode plates that are supported on the rails, wherein said first electrode plate is positioned between the first end plate and said spacer, and said second electrode plate is positioned between the second end plate and the spacer; and

wherein one of said electrode plates defines a central electrode aperture that is positioned centrally relative to the central spacer opening and forms a portion of the flow path; and

the other of the electrode plates defines a peripheral electrode aperture that is positioned peripherally relative to the central spacer opening and forms a portion of a flow path;

a compression means for selectively applying or releasing a compressive force on the end plates for selectively applying compression to said electrode stack or releasing compression from the electrode stack;

an inlet means for supplying process liquid into a first end of the flow path; and

an outlet means for discharging process liquid from a second end of the flow path.

2. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, further comprising a means for supporting said first end plate on said rails for sliding movement.

3. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 2, wherein said compression means is applied against said first end plate for sliding the first end plate on said rails and against said electrode stack.

4. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said second end plate and frame are suitably arranged such that the frame braces the second end plate against movement away from said electrode stack.

5. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said dielectric spacer is supported on said rails by a means for allowing the spacer to slide longitudinally with respect to the rails.

6. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said electrode plates are supported on said rails by a means for allowing the plates to slide longitudinally with respect to the rails.

7. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said peripheral electrode aperture is juxtaposed to an edge of said central spacer opening.

8. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 7, wherein said edge of the central spacer opening is concave to said peripheral electrode aperture.

9. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said peripheral electrode aperture is arcuate.

10. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 9, wherein said peripheral electrode aperture is radially juxtaposed to said central spacer opening.

11. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 9, further comprising:

a compressible seal located between said spacer and each of said first and second electrode plates for forming a pressurizable electrode stack when longitudinal compressive force is applied to said first and second end plates.

12. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said peripheral electrode aperture smaller in area than said central spacer opening.

13. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical connection ear extending laterally of said first electrode plate;

a waterproof, selectively connectable and disconnectable wire connector joined to said connection ear; and

a DC power source connected at one pole to said waterproof wire connector.

14. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said first electrode plates, each having an electrical connection ear extending laterally; and

a plurality of said second electrode plates, each having an electrical connection ear extending laterally;

wherein the first electrode plates are arranged with said electrical connection ears extending to a first lateral side of the electrode stack; and

the second electrode plates are arranged with the electrical connection ears extending to a second lateral side of the electrode stack.

15. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, further comprising:

a catch tray carried by said frame below the electrode stack for catching process liquid when said compression means selectively releases compressive force on the electrode stack.

16. The electrocoagulation chamber of claim 1, wherein said compression means comprises a fluid operated piston cylinder operable between an extended position and a retracted position, connected at one end to said frame and suitably positioned to push against said first end plate when in extended position.

17. A electrocoagulation reaction chamber for the electrolytic treatment of a stream of process liquid, comprising:

a supporting frame providing a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, substantially horizontally disposed dielectric rails for supporting an electrode stack;

first and second end plates carried by said supporting frame, wherein at least one of said end plates is slidably supported on said rails;

an electrode stack intermediate said first and second end plates, defining a flow path therethrough for process liquid, including;

a dielectric spacer supported on said rails and providing a central circular opening defining a portion of a flow path for process liquid;

first and second electrode plates supported on said rails, wherein said first electrode plate is positioned between said first end plate and said spacer, and said second electrode plate is positioned between said second end plate and the spacer; and

wherein one of said first and second electrode plates defines a circular central electrode aperture forming a portion of a flow path for process liquid, positioned centrally relative to said circular spacer opening and of smaller size than the circular spacer opening; and

the other of the first and second electrode plates defines a plurality of peripheral electrode apertures forming a portion of a flow path for process liquid, positioned peripherally relative to the central spacer opening, and cumulatively of smaller size than the circular spacer opening;

means selectively applying and releasing a longitudinal compressive force to said first and second end plates for selectively compressing said electrode stack and releasing compression on the electrode stack;

an inlet means for supplying the process liquid into a first longitudinal end of the flow path; and

an outlet means for removing the process liquid from an opposite longitudinal end of the flow path.

18. A method of assembling an electrocoagulation chamber, comprising:

first, providing a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, generally horizontal, dielectric rails;

second, building an electrode stack on the dielectric rails by placing a sequence of alternating electrode plates and dielectric spacers on the rails, together with a pressure resistant end plate at each end of the electrode stack, wherein said electrode plates, spacers, and at least one of the end plates rest on the rails by gravity and are longitudinally slidable thereon;

third, compressing the electrode stack to seal the junction between each electrode plate and spacer.