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Fluid treatment process

  • US 7,964,101 B2
  • Filed: 03/24/2009
  • Issued: 06/21/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A process of treating a primary fluid stream containing solids and liquids to produce a clarified liquid, comprising:

  • (a) introducing the primary fluid stream into a primary separator to separate first size solids and produce a solids fraction and a secondary fluid stream comprising liquids and second size solids;

    (b) providing a secondary separator, the secondary separator comprising;

    (i) an agglomeration zone;

    (ii) a clarifying zone having a plurality of spaced apart clarifying plates;

    (iii) a thickening zone having a lower end comprising at least one wall and a downwardly diminishing cross-sectional area, the agglomeration zone, clarifying zone and thickening zone being in fluid communication with each other; and

    (iv) a diffuser having a plurality of ports disposed between the agglomeration zone and the clarifying zone;

    (c) introducing the secondary fluid stream into the agglomeration zone and allowing the secondary fluid stream to mix with an agglomerate to produce agglomerated solids;

    (d) allowing the secondary fluid stream and solids to flow through the ports of the diffuser to produce a substantially uniform flow in a substantially horizontal direction into the clarifying zone at or below a top edge of the clarifying plates; and

    (e) allowing the solids to contact the clarifying plates and settle downwardly from the clarifying plates into the thickening zone to form settled solids in the lower end and clarified liquid in the clarifying zone.

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