Apparatus for treating a process fluid
First Claim
1. An apparatus for treating a process fluid to remove contaminants, comprising:
- a process tank having an inlet for receiving the process fluid, a fluid level sensor, a vent, and an outlet for the process fluid;
at least one pump for circulating the process fluid to and from said process tank;
a diffuser for diffusing a gas through the circulating process fluid, said gas exhausting through said vent;
a gas sensor adjacent to said vent for detecting a contaminant emission concentration in said exhaust gas;
a controller operable for receiving signals from said fluid level and gas sensors and actuating said at least one pump such that the process fluid is circulated through said process tank until a predetermined level of contaminant emission concentration is reached.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic control apparatus for effecting the continuous removal of contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a process fluid, such as water used to wash print towels or the like. The apparatus includes a pump for circulating wash water from a washer to a treatment tank. A diffuser is provided for air stripping the contaminants from the wash water in the tank. The diffused gas is exhausted through a vent in the tank, and a contaminant emissions concentration sensor detects the composition of VOCs in the exhaust. A controller signals the pump to vary the circulation based on the emissions concentration detected by the sensor. The wash water is continuously recirculated to the washer until a predetermined emissions concentration is reached. A drain in the tank releases the treated wash water to the environment. To reduce the cycle time of the process, a holding tank may be included in the control apparatus for temporarily storing a particularly contaminated portion of water while a second, less contaminated portion is processed. The first portion is then treated as the washer enters the regular wash cycle. A method of treating a process fluid to remove contaminants is also provided.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating a process fluid to remove contaminants, comprising:
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a process tank having an inlet for receiving the process fluid, a fluid level sensor, a vent, and an outlet for the process fluid; at least one pump for circulating the process fluid to and from said process tank; a diffuser for diffusing a gas through the circulating process fluid, said gas exhausting through said vent; a gas sensor adjacent to said vent for detecting a contaminant emission concentration in said exhaust gas; a controller operable for receiving signals from said fluid level and gas sensors and actuating said at least one pump such that the process fluid is circulated through said process tank until a predetermined level of contaminant emission concentration is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for treating a process fluid to remove contaminants, comprising:
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supplying the process fluid to a tank until a predetermined fluid level is reached; diffusing a gas through the process fluid to strip contaminants from the process fluid, said diffused gas exiting the process fluid as an exhaust gas; sensing a contaminant emission concentration in the exhaust gas; circulating the process fluid through the tank, while continuing the diffusing, until said emission concentration level reaches a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification