Removing hazardous contaminants from water

• US RE35,074 E
• Filed: 02/09/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: North East Environmental Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: North East Environmental Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Lamarre, Bruce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WYSE, THOMAS G
• Application Number:
  US08/015,448
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 210/747, 210/759, 210/758, 210/765, 210/902, 210/911, 210/103-105, 210/110, 210/123, 210/125, 210/128, 210/134, 210/138, 210/143, 210/150, 210/151, 261/108, 261/110, 261/112.1, 261/113, 261/114.1, 261/114.3, 55/66, 55/196, 95/263
• US Class Current: 210/747.7
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0005 with one or more auxiliary substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0042 modifying the liquid flow B01D19/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/645 Devices for iron precipitation and treatment by air
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/006 Radioactive compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/12 by absorption; by adsorption; by ion-exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/911 Cumulative poison

Abstract

A system for removing hazardous contaminants such as radon gas and volatile synthetic organic chemicals from domestic water supplies includes a perforated, horizontally-oriented tray which is baffled to define a curved (e.g., serpentine, spiral) liquid flow path. Contaminated water is distributed upon a portion of the tray and flows as directed by the baffles to a downcomer and into a storage tank. Air is blown into the storage tank, which is located below the perforated tray, and up through the perforations. The forced air causes the water flowing across the tray to froth, and evaporates the contaminants out of the frothing water. The forced air, carrying the volatilized contaminants, is then vented outside the home.

Claims

1. A method for removing hazardous contaminants from water comprising:

distributing the contaminated water upon the intake portion of a baffled and perforated tray,

flowing the contaminated water in a curved flowpath across said tray from said intake portion toward an output portion, and

causing sufficient air to flow upwardly through perforations in said tray so that the water flowing along said flowpath forms a deep froth while maintaining frothing throughout said flowpath.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting water significantly purified by removal of contaminants in a tank.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising venting air laden with contaminants volatilized from the water to the atmosphere.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the contaminated water is flowed in a serpentine flowpath.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the contaminated water is flowed in a spiral flowpath.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the contaminated water is distributed in the center of the spiral flowpath.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the contaminated water is distributed at the periphery of the spiral flowpath.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising pressurizing a tank located below said tray, whereby the air is blown from said pressurized tank through perforations in said tray.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the air is drawn through perforations in said tray.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising pumping the contaminated water from a well.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising spraying the contaminated water upon said tray.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising pumping said collected water into a water storage container. .Iadd.13. The method of claim 1 wherein said forth along said flowpath has a depth in the range of from 4 to 6 inches..Iaddend.