Gravitational Separation Device for Water Treatment

• US 20090218300A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
• Original Assignee: OTV S.A. (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Iborra, Olivier, Essemiani, Karim, Badard, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/801
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0042 Baffles or guide plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0087 Settling tanks provided with means for ensuring a special flow pattern, e.g. even inflow or outflow B01D21/2411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/2405 Feed mechanisms for settling tanks

Abstract

A gravitational separation device for purifying water includes a basin for receiving and holding the water. The basin includes an internal wall. At least one supply channel is provided to the periphery of the basin for providing water to the basin. A plurality of openings is provided in a bottom or floor portion of the supply channel. Disposed under the openings is a plurality of deflector plates. A skirt spaced from the internal wall of the basin is inclined towards the interior of the basin at an angle of approximately 5° to 80°. A discharge channel is provided for discharging liquid from the basin, and there is also provided a device for discharging suspended particles.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A gravitational separation device for purifying water by removing suspended particles from a liquid phase, the system comprising:

a. a basin for treating water having an internal wall;

b. at least one supply channel for supplying water to the basin provided at the periphery thereof;

c. a plurality of openings provided in a floor of the supply channel;

d. a plurality of deflector plates disposed under the openings;

e. a skirt spaced from the internal wall of the basin, wherein the skirt is inclined toward the interior of the basin at an angle α

of between approximately 5° and

approximately 80°

;

f. a discharge channel for discharging the liquid phase; and

g. a device for discharging suspended particles.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the angle α

is between approximately 30° and

approximately 60°

.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the openings have a diameter of between approximately 50 and approximately 200 mm.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the openings have a height of between approximately 150 and approximately 600 mm.

19. The device according to claim 15, wherein the openings in the supply channel are spaced apart from one another by a generally constant distance of between approximately 500 and approximately 3000 nm.

20. The device according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the openings has an axis tangentially inclined by an angle β

1 of less than approximately 45°

.

21. The device according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the openings has an axis radially inclined by an angle β

2 of less than approximately 45°

.

22. The device according to claim 15, wherein the deflector plates are arranged in a corner configuration.

23. The device according to claim 15, wherein the deflector plates are arranged in an open-box configuration.

24. The device according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the deflector plates is inclined at an angle δ

1 of between approximately 5° and

approximately 80°

.

25. The device according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the deflector plates is inclined at an angle δ

2 of between approximately 5° and

approximately 80°

.

26. The device according to claim 15, wherein the discharge channel is disposed at the periphery of the basin and shares a floor common with the supply channel.

27. The device according to claim 15, wherein the discharge channel is disposed generally at the center of the basin.

28. The device according to claim 15, wherein the skirt is secured to the supply channel or the discharge channel.

29. A method of purifying water in a gravitational separation device by removing suspended solids from a liquid phase comprising:

a. supplying water to a basin through a supply channel having a plurality of openings in a floor of the supply channel;

b. directing water through the openings in the floor of the supply channel into a flow guide formed by one or more deflector plates;

c. gravitationally settling suspended solids to the bottom of the basin;

d. directing water underneath an inclined skirt having an angle α

of between approximately 5° and

approximately 80°

to avoid resuspension of suspended solids already settled and not yet discharged;

e. collecting the suspended solids at the bottom of the basin

f. discharging treated water through a discharge channel; and

g. directing suspended solids through a discharge device.

30. The method of claim 29 including directing water underneath the inclined skirt having an angle α

is between approximately 30° and

approximately 60°

.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the openings in the floor of the supply channel are inclined at an angle β

1 of less than approximately 45°

.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the openings in the floor of the supply channel are inclined at an angle β

2 of less than approximately 45°

.

33. The method of claim 29 including deflecting the water with one or more deflector plates after the water passes through the openings in the supply floor, causing the direction of the water to change.

34. The method of claim 29 including deflecting the water with one or more deflector plates after the water passes through the openings in the supply floor, wherein at least one deflector plate is tangentially inclined by an angle δ

1 of between approximately 5° and

approximately 80°

.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more deflector plates engage the water falling from the openings and cause the water to generally spiral around the basin.