Fluid treatment apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for treating fluid comprising solids and liquids to produce clarified fluid, comprising:
- (a) an agglomeration zone having an inlet for receiving the fluid and at least one fluid outlet, the agglomeration zone comprising an energy displacement sub-zone including a flow path obstacle disposed therein in substantially facing relation to the fluid inlet and having two ends, operative to turbulently mix an agglomerant with the fluid to agglomerate a portion of the solids therein while dissipating the energy of the fluid said at least one fluid outlet disposed proximately perpendicular to at least one of said ends;
(b) a clarification zone in fluid communication with the outlet of the agglomeration zone, the clarification zone comprising a plurality of spaced apart clarifying plates to promote the settling of the solids from the clarification zone to produce clarified fluid; and
(c) a thickening zone disposed below and in fluid communication with the clarification zone for receiving the settling solids and comprising at least one wall defining a downwardly diminishing cross-sectional area;
wherein the outlet of the agglomeration zone directs the fluid to exit the agglomeration zone towards the plurality of clarifying plates.
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Abstract
Processes and apparatuses for treating drilling fluid by passing the fluid through a separator including a clarifying zone and a thickening zone, the clarifying zone having inclined plates and the thickening zone having at least one wall with an angle of less than about 60°. The separator may optionally include an agglomeration zone and a removal zone.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating fluid comprising solids and liquids to produce clarified fluid, comprising:
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(a) an agglomeration zone having an inlet for receiving the fluid and at least one fluid outlet, the agglomeration zone comprising an energy displacement sub-zone including a flow path obstacle disposed therein in substantially facing relation to the fluid inlet and having two ends, operative to turbulently mix an agglomerant with the fluid to agglomerate a portion of the solids therein while dissipating the energy of the fluid said at least one fluid outlet disposed proximately perpendicular to at least one of said ends; (b) a clarification zone in fluid communication with the outlet of the agglomeration zone, the clarification zone comprising a plurality of spaced apart clarifying plates to promote the settling of the solids from the clarification zone to produce clarified fluid; and (c) a thickening zone disposed below and in fluid communication with the clarification zone for receiving the settling solids and comprising at least one wall defining a downwardly diminishing cross-sectional area; wherein the outlet of the agglomeration zone directs the fluid to exit the agglomeration zone towards the plurality of clarifying plates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for separating solids from a fluid to produce a clarified fluid, comprising:
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(a) an agglomeration zone for treating the fluid with an agglomerant to agglomerate a portion of the solids therein to form a treated fluid; (b) a clarification zone in fluid communication with the agglomeration zone comprising a plurality of spaced apart clarifying plates to promote the settling of the solids in the treated fluid to produce the clarified fluid; (c) a diffuser disposed between the agglomeration zone and the clarification zone having a plurality of ports sized to permit passage of the treated fluid including agglomerated solids therethrough at a substantially uniform flow in a substantially horizontal direction into the clarification zone; and
at or below a top edge of the clarifying plates; and(d) a thickening zone disposed below and in fluid communication with the clarification zone for receiving the settling solids and comprising at least one wall defining a downwardly diminishing cross-sectional area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification