Magnetic Separation and Seeding to Improve Ballasted Clarification of Water
First Claim
1. A ballasted flocculation process for treating water having pollutant particles, comprising:
- a. mixing a magnetic ballast, flocculant and the water to form magnetic floc;
b. agitating the magnetic floc in a flocculation zone;
c. collecting some of the magnetic floc on a first magnetic collector;
d. shearing the collected magnetic floc to produce a sheared slurry including magnetic ballast and sludge;
e. recycling the magnetic ballast;
f. directing the water and some of the magnetic floc to a settling zone located downstream from the flocculation zone;
g. settling by gravity some of the magnetic floc in the settling zone;
h. returning at least a portion of the settled magnetic floc to a point upstream from the settling tank; and
i. magnetically collecting the returned magnetic floc at a point upstream from the settling zone.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process for removing fine particles and particulate from water. The process includes mixing a magnetic ballast, flocculant and water to form magnetic floc, and agitating the magnetic floc in a flocculation zone. A portion of the magnetic floc is collected on a magnetic collector in the flocculation zone. Another portion of the magnetic floc is directed downstream to a setting zone where the magnetic floc are settled. The settled magnetic floc is returned upstream of the settling zone where the returned magnetic floc is recombined with other magnetic floc in the flocculation zone. Ultimately, all, or substantially all, of the magnetic floc is removed by one or more magnetic collectors disposed upstream of the settling zone.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A ballasted flocculation process for treating water having pollutant particles, comprising:
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a. mixing a magnetic ballast, flocculant and the water to form magnetic floc; b. agitating the magnetic floc in a flocculation zone; c. collecting some of the magnetic floc on a first magnetic collector; d. shearing the collected magnetic floc to produce a sheared slurry including magnetic ballast and sludge; e. recycling the magnetic ballast; f. directing the water and some of the magnetic floc to a settling zone located downstream from the flocculation zone; g. settling by gravity some of the magnetic floc in the settling zone; h. returning at least a portion of the settled magnetic floc to a point upstream from the settling tank; and i. magnetically collecting the returned magnetic floc at a point upstream from the settling zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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7. A process that combines ballasted flocculation and magnetic seeding and separation to clarify water, comprising:
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a. mixing a flocculant and a magnetic seed with a water to be treated to form magnetic floc; b. flocculating the magnetic floc in a flocculation zone and maintaining the magnetic floc in suspension in the flocculation zone; c. disposing a movable magnetic collector in the flocculation zone and moving the magnetic collector through the water in the flocculation zone and collecting a portion of the magnetic floc that is in suspension in the water in the flocculation zone; d. removing the collected magnetic floc from the magnetic collector; e. directing the water and some of the magnetic floc to a downstream settling tank having an inclined bottom; f. settling by gravity the magnetic floc in the settling tank such that the magnetic floc settle and engage the inclined bottom of the settling tank; and g. utilizing the inclined bottom of the settling tank to direct the settled magnetic floc to direct the settled magnetic floc towards the flocculation zone; and h. returning the settled magnetic floc to the flocculation zone and maintaining the settled magnetic floc in suspension in the flocculation zone such that settled magnetic floc can be collected by the moving magnetic collector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification