Dynamic vertical solids separator

• US 5,707,523 A
• Filed: 04/28/1995
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diverseylever Incorporated (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Diverseylever Incorporated (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Temple, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Popovics, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US08/431,020
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 210/786, 210/521, 210/513, 210/532.1
• US Class Current: 210/521
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0045 Plurality of essentially parallel plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0057 with counter-current flow direction of liquid and solid particles
• 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 21/2427 The feed or discharge opening located at a distant position from the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/32 Density control of clear liquid or sediment, e.g. optical control ; Control of physical properties

Abstract

A dynamic vertical solids separator acts as a dynamic filter to produce a clarified supernate sample for use in measuring the net electrokinetic charge demand of finely divided particles suspended in the slurry. The dynamic vertical solids separator first removes silt by simple solids separation, and then promotes rapid agglomeration of particles by first directing the slurry across serrated floc plates and then discharging the slurry upward through a venturi. Above the venturi a dynamic sample pool forms, within which the clarifying action occurs. The clarified supernate forms above the sample pool with a visible boundary separating the two. The clarified supernate can be fed to a streaming current detector for measuring the net electrokinetic charge demand of finely divided particles suspended in the slurry, or the position of the boundary can be measured as an indication of the concentration of finely divided particles suspended in the slurry. The measure of the net electrokinetic charge demand of finely divided particles suspended in the slurry can then be used in an automatic control system to control the turbidity of the slurry.

Claims

1. A dynamic vertical solids separator comprising:

a generally vertically oriented clarifying conduit having a slurry sample inlet and a slurry sample outlet that discharges the slurry in a generally upward direction into a sample pool, the clarifying conduit including a venturi arranged to create a low pressure region at the slurry sample outlet;

a return conduit formed external to the clarifying conduit for draining a sludge material from the sample pool;

a sludge discharge port arranged to drain sludge that passes through the return conduit, the discharge port being located below the slurry sample outlet; and

p1 a supernate discharge port for draining supernate fluid from the sample pool, the supernate discharge port being disposed above the clarifying conduit'"'"'s slurry sample outlet; and

whereby in use, when a slurry sample is input into the clarifying conduit, the sample pool is formed over the clarifying conduit'"'"'s slurry sample outlet and the slurry sample is clarified at the sample pool into a supernate and a sludge with the supernate passing substantially through the supernate discharge port and the sludge passing substantially through the sludge discharge port.

2. A dynamic vertical solids separators recited in claim 1 further comprising a skimming port positioned above the supernate discharge port for skimming materials having a low specific gravity from the supernate.

3. A dynamic vertical solids separator as recited in claim 1 wherein the clarifying conduit further includes a silt drain positioned below the slurry sample inlet for discharging especially heavy particles from the slurry sample, the silt drain being sized substantially smaller than the slurry sample outlet such that the vast majority of the slurry sample passes through the slurry sample outlet rather than the silt drain.

4. A dynamic vertical solids separator as recited in claim 3 further comprising a housing chamber that receives the clarifying conduit, the return conduit being formed between the housing chamber and the clarifying conduit and the sludge discharge port being arranged to drain the housing chamber, wherein the silt drain opens into the housing chamber below the return conduit but above the sludge discharge port.

5. A dynamic vertical solids separator as recited in claim 3 further comprising a housing chamber that receives the clarifying conduit, the return conduit being formed between the housing chamber and the clarifying conduit and the sludge discharge port being arranged to drain the housing chamber, wherein the silt drain opens outside of the housing chamber.

6. A dynamic vertical solids separator as recited in claim 1 wherein the clarifying conduit includes a multiplicity of floc plates operable for mixing the slurry sample to promote agglomeration of finely divided particles suspended in the slurry sample.

7. A dynamic vertical solids separator as recited in claim 6 wherein the multiplicity of floc plates have substantially planar surfaces.

8. A dynamic vertical solids separator as recited in claim 6 wherein the multiplicity of floc plates have substantially serrated surfaces.

9. A dynamic vertical solids separator comprising:

a housing chamber;

a generally vertically oriented clarifying conduit disposed within the housing chamber and having a slurry sample inlet and a slurry sample outlet that discharges the slurry in a generally upward direction within a sample pool in the housing chamber;

a return conduit formed external to the clarifying conduit for draining a sludge material from the sample pool;

a sludge discharge port arranged to drain sludge from the housing chamber that passed through the return conduit, the discharge port being located below the slurry sample outlet;

a supernate discharge port for draining supernate fluid from the housing chamber, the supernate discharge port being disposed above the clarifying conduit'"'"'s slurry sample outlet;

a skimming port positioned above the supernate discharge port for skimming materials having a low specific gravity from the supernate;

a silt drain positioned below the slurry sample inlet for discharging especially heavy particles from the slurry sample, the silt drain being sized substantially smaller than the slurry sample outlet such that the vast majority of the slurry sample passes through the slurry sample outlet rather than the silt drain.

a venturi arranged to create a low pressure region at the slurry sample outlet;

a multiplicity of floc plates disposed within the clarifying conduit between the slurry sample inlet and the venturi, the floc plates operable for mixing the slurry sample to promote precipitation of finely divided particles suspended in the slurry sample; and

whereby in use, when a slurry sample is input into the clarifying conduit, a sample pool is formed over the clarifying conduit'"'"'s slurry sample outlet and the slurry sample is clarified at the sample pool into a supernate and a sludge with the supernate passing substantially through the supernate discharge port and the sludge passing substantially through the sludge discharge port.