CA2221188A1 - Separation of hydrocarbons and water from mixtures thereof - Google Patents
Separation of hydrocarbons and water from mixtures thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2221188A1 CA2221188A1 CA002221188A CA2221188A CA2221188A1 CA 2221188 A1 CA2221188 A1 CA 2221188A1 CA 002221188 A CA002221188 A CA 002221188A CA 2221188 A CA2221188 A CA 2221188A CA 2221188 A1 CA2221188 A1 CA 2221188A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- granules
- mixture
- water
- filter mass
- hydrocarbon
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D15/00—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor
- B01D15/02—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor with moving adsorbents
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
- C10M175/00—Working-up used lubricants to recover useful products ; Cleaning
- C10M175/04—Working-up used lubricants to recover useful products ; Cleaning aqueous emulsion based
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2215/00—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with adsorbents
- B01D2215/02—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with adsorbents with moving adsorbents
- B01D2215/021—Physically moving or fluidising the adsorbent beads or particles or slurry, excluding the movement of the entire columns
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Water Treatment By Sorption (AREA)
- Filtering Materials (AREA)
- Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
- Devices And Processes Conducted In The Presence Of Fluids And Solid Particles (AREA)
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for separating hydrocarbon (particularly oil) and water components from mixtures thereof, involving passing the mixture through a filter mass such as a fluidised bed (20) in a vertically elongate housing (10) divided into three chambers (13, 14 and 15) by sieves (16a and 16b) with chamber (14) containing the fluidized bed. The fluidised bed contains granules (17) of polymer material, such as rubber, suspended in a body of water, which granules have been activated by exposure to a substance, such as alcohol or an alcohol based substance, rendering the granules hydrophilic whereby the mixture flowing through the housing from an inlet conduit (18) contacts the granules and a large proportion of the oil content is retained by the granules to be separated from the water content which in turn discharges from the housing through a discharge conduit (22).
Description
SEPARATION OF HYDROCARBONS AND WATER E'ROM hl~ .JKES T~RRP'oF
Technical Field This invention relates to the separation of hydro~r~on~
and water from emulsified mixtures thereof, and more ~articularly the se~aration of oil and other hydrocarbon fuels from emulsified mixtures with water. For the simplicity of description, hereinafter the invention will be described with reference to the separation o~ mixtures of oil and water, although it should be a~preciated that it is also a~plicable to the ~eparation of mixtures of other hydrocarbon fuels and water.
BachylouLl~ Art The advent of increasingly stricter environmental regulations with res~ect to the treatment of oil and water mixtures to ~e~arate the compon~t~ of the mixture both at ~ea and on land, whereby to dispose of the unwanted oil component of the mixture and recovery of the water component, has required a reas~essment of existing ~eparation methods and apparatu~. At present it has been internationally agreed that the treatment of such mixtures be such as to reduce the oil compo~e~t of the mixture to a level less than 15 parts per million. Xnown separation methods and apparatus using principles of ~ra~ity, coalescence and ~arious membrane based equipment, have been unable to, or at the be~t unable to consistently, ~eparate the oil component from such mixture~ to achieve water discharges with the low oil level required, whilst it is anticipated that ultimately re~ulations, including ~ tional regulations, will require si~nificantly less, if not no, le~els of oil in water after treatment.
.
The problem has become eYAce~hAted with ~essels at sea where the increased use of detergents combined with the aa~ent of fuel types that are composed of a greater proportion of the lighter hydrocarbon fraction~, has CA 0222llss lgg7-ll-l3 re ulted in bilge waters that co~t~;~ oil which is emulsified with the bilge water, and as Ruch vessels are ~ubject to increa~in~ly ~tricter international regulationq which known treatment methods and apparatus cannot-5 consistently meet, there iR a need for better methods and ap~aratus. It iq antici~ated that on-land installation~q will ultimately be Rubject to the qame stricter regulation~. j Diqclosure of the Invention 10 We have found that uqing activated polymer materialR, such a~ ground rubber, and in the form of filter deviceR into a which mixtures of oil and water are pa~ed, achieveR very si~nificant im~ ts in capturing the oil component of the mixture whereby the water discharge from the filter 15 device co~tA;~ far leRs than the required 15 ~arts ~er million of oil and with the ca~acity ultimately to achieve close to no, if not any, oil com~onent.
Fine grouna rubber, or other polymer materials, ground to in the range of 30 - 60 mesh, and activated, and ~laced in 20 oil, ha~ the ability to retain oil on it~ surface. In normal circumstances fine ground ~olymer materialR, Ruch as rubber, are hydrophobic and will float on the surface of a body of water and not mix with the water, whereby the water will not wet the surfaces of the rubber granule~, and as a 25 consequence oil in an emulsified mixture with water will not co~t~ct the qurfaces of the rubber ~ranules. However, if the ground rubber or other polymer material is, what is hereinafter referred to aq "activated", by being washed with certain substance, ~uch as, alcohol or an alcohol 30 based Rubstance, the granulated material becomes hydro~hilic allowing full contact therewith by the water of the mixture and therefore also by the oil emulsifiea in the mixture, and iq quch that the oil will be retA;ne~ on the surfaces of the granulated material, and a~ a result 35 separated from the water component of the mixture.
CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 W096l37290 PCT/AUs6/00307 The invention therefore envisages a method of separating the hydrocarbon and water compon~nt~ of a mixture thereof, in which the mixture i8 ~a8~ed through at least one filter ma~s incluains ~ranules of a polymer material which have been activated by exposure to a substance rendering ~aid ~ranules hydro~hilic, and whereby a large ~ro~ortion of the hydrocarbon content of the mixture is retained by ~aid granules to be ~e~arated from the water content of the mixture as it ~asses throu~h saia filter mas3.
The invention al~o envisa~es an a~paratus for separating the hyarocarbon and water com~onents of a mixture thereof, com~rising at least one housin~ cont~;n;n~ at least one filter ma~s including granules of a ~olymer material which have been activated by exposure to a substance rendering ~aid granules hydro~hilic, and whereby to retain a large ~ro~ortion of the hydroc~hon content of the mixture and ~e~arate it from the water ~ontent of the mixture as it ~as~e~ through saia filter ma~s, means to introduce said mixture into saia housin~, ana means throu~h which separated water may be discharged from said housing.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawing~
Several preferred embo~i - ts of the in~ention will now be described with reference to the accom~anying drawin~, in which, Fi~ure 1, is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view throu~h an a~paratus in accoraance with a first preferred emhs~;m~nt of the invention, and for carrying out the method of the invention, Figure 2, i~ a schematic view of a plurality of the apparatus of Fi~ure 1 aonneatea in series to form a second emko~; - t of the invention, Figure 3, i~ a schematic view of a plurality of the a ap~aratus of Fi~ure l co~nected in ~arallel to form a third embo~; - t of the invention, Figure 4, i~ a to~ ~lan view of an apparatus in accordance 5 with a fourth embodiment of the invention, Figure 5, i~ a cro~s-sectional view taken along line 5 - 5 o~ Figure 4, and Figure 6, i~ a plan view from beneath of the a~paratu~ o~
Fi~ure~ 4 and 5.
l0 Be~t ~ode~ for carrYing out the Invention Referring to ~igure l of the drawingQ, the a~paratu~ of thi~ fir~t ~referred embodiment of the invention compri~e~
a vertically elongate cylindrical hou~ing l0 having a u~er end wall ll and a lower end wall 12, and divided into three a ch~mher~ 13, 14 and 15 by u~per and lower ~ieve~ or screens 16a and 16b re~ectively, and throu~h which fluid can pas~
from chamber 13 to chamber 14 and thereafter from chamber 14 to chamber 15. The upper and lower ~ieves or ~creen~
~revent ~olid rubber, or other polymer, granules 17 in the chamber 14 from pa~sing out of that chamber into either chamber 13 and/or 15. In this ~referred embodiment the material in chPmher 14 i~ granulated rubber ground from old motor vehicle tyre3 to within a range of 30 - 60 me~h, by means of a gr;n~;ng me~h~n;sm which cut~ or ~aws the tread, ~ide walls, or both, of the tyre into granules. Other ~olymer materials may al~o be used, including natural rubber. The rubber granule~ after being wa~hed with alcohol, or an alcohol ba~ed ~ub~tance, to thereby become "acti~ated" a~ di~cu~sed previou~ly, are ~u~ended in a body of water in chamber 14 to form a fluidi~ed bed 20 in the ~hr h~.
At the top of the hou~ing l0, and through the upper end wall 11 thereof, i5 ~rovided an inlet co~;t 18 for admittin~ an emul~ified mixture of oil and water into chamber 13, and incorporatin~ an inlet valve 19 for controllin~ flow of mixture to the chamber 13. The mixture ac~ lAtin~ in chamber 13 di~perses evenly laterally of the housing 10 and then through the up~er sieve or ~creen 16 to the fluidi~ed bed 20. ~he activated rubber granules 17 in the fluidi~ed bed are cont~cted by the mixture to capture the oil component of the mixture, whil~t the water com~onent of the mixture pa~es freely through the fluidi~ed bed to a mineral layer 21 in the bottom of _ chamber 14. The mineral layer may be formed from quartz, calcite or any other ~uitable filterin~ medium. The ~e~arated water ~a~e~ throu~h the mineral layer and then through the lower sieve or ~creen 16b into chamber 15 from which it flow~ to a vertically exten~;ng di charge conduit 22 and then out of the a~aratu~ via an outlet val~e 22a which control~ water di~char~e from the apparatu~.
The reaction of the oil with the activated rubber granules 17 in chamber 14, tend~ to cau~e the granules to ri~e within the chr h~ to the top thereof where they are retarded again~t further upwara -v~- - t by the u~er ~ieve of screen 16a, whilst the oil and water mixture pa~in~
through the upper ~ieve or ~creen 16a tends to agitate the activated fluidi~ed rubber bed 20 to expo~e the rubber granule~ 17 to the oil component of the mixture to increa~e contact and retention of the oil on the granule~.
The quality of water di~charged~from the a~aratu~ may be monitored by equipment, already available, to detect when the oil content re~ch~ the -Y; level ~llowable and to ~hut down the a~paratus and ~witch the flow of oil/water mixture to an alternative filtering a~paratu~, whereafter the ~ranulated oil/rubber ma~ i5 - ved from the pre~iou31y u~ed apparatu~ for treatment to recover the oil or the ma~ di~po~ed of.
CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 In the embs~; - t of Fi~ure 2, a ~lurality, in thi~ ca~e ~ix, of the filtering a~paratus units of Figure 1 are connected in ~erie~ by connecting conduits 23 between the di~charge cgn~ll; t~ 22 of one unit and inlet cgn~-;t~ 18 of a following unit to increa~e the overall oil ~e~aration e~iciency of the a~paratu~
In the embodiment of Fi~ure 3 a ~lurality, once again ~ix, of the filtering a~aratu~ unit~ of Fi~ure 1 are connected in ~arallel by a common supply conduit 24 fee~;n~ directly the inlet conduit~ 18 of each hou~ing 10 with a common main ~i~charge conduit 25 being ~rovided for each of the ~ischarge cs~ ;ts 22 from the housin~s. Once again the quality of the water di~charge from each unit maY be monitored to detect when the oil content re~ch~s the maximum level allowable to ~hut down the ~articular unit leaving the remaining unit~ to continue their ~e~arating functions.
In the embs~; ~ t of Fi~ure~ 4 to 6, which ha~ ~rovea to be ~articularly succes~ful in trial~ cQ~ ctea in a Royal Au~tralian Navy vessel, and which ha~ become e~ecially e~fective when installed in ~erie~ with conventional se~arators, such a~ to become a ~ol; ~h; ng or ~nh~n~ing filter, com~ri~es of vertically elongate cylindrical main housing 26, with lower ~u~porting leg~ 26a. In the hou~ing three su~erimpo~ed filter cartridge~ 27 having outer hou~in~ 27a, formed from haraened rubber or metallic material~, are received and located relative to each other by a male member 28 on the ba~e of one cartridge locating within a f emale member 29 on the to~ of the underlying cartriage, and through which cartridseQ emulsified oil and water mixture successively filters from the to~ to the bottom of the main housing 26.
In this Ca~Q, the housing~ 27a of each of the cartridgeq 27 have CQ~t~ therein rubber, or like ~olymer, granule~
CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 which ~rior to "activation~ are immo~ili ed by a~lication to a thin layer o~ ~olymer bond material whilst that material is in a liquid state, and thereafter the combination i~ allowed to cure into a ~heet ~rom t-he surface o~ which the rubber granules protrude in an immobili~ed condition. A plurality of such sheet~ with o~en weave ~acer sheet~ therebetween, such a~ ~lastic fly wire ~creen ty~e material, are then wound into the form of a cylinder to form a filter structure the circumference of which i~ ~ealed by a ~lastic sleeve leaving the ends thereof open to allow fluid flow axially throu~h each cartrid~e via the open weave s~acer ~heet~ after the filter ~tructure~ are ~lace~ in the res~ective housing 27a. ~ayers of glass fibre wool or similar materials are ~ositionea within the to~s ana bottom~ of the cartridges to prevent migration out o~ the cartridges of rubber granules which may become det~ch~ from the ~olymer bond materials. The immobilisea rubber granules within the cartridge are acti~atea by expo~ure to alcohol, or an alcohol ba~ed substance, ~rior to, or whilst, being ~ositionea within the hou~ing~ 27a.
In order to allow access to the interior of the main housing 26 an u~er closure ~late 28 is ~rovided which closes the u~per end of the housing with a ~lurality of circumferentially s~acea apart clamping aevices 29 havin~
clam~ing boltQ 29a carrying nut~ 29b bein~ ~roviaed. The clam~in~ bolts 29a are received within radially exten~;~g ~lots 31 in the perimeter of the closure ~late whereby, when the clo~ure ~late i~ positioned on the u~er end of the housing, the nut~ 29b may be tightened to clamp the closure ~late to the end of the housing, with a handle and clampin~ lever arrangement 37 being ~rovided to complete the clam~ing action.
In thi~ emboaiment of the invention an inlet 32 for emul~ifiea oil and water mixture iQ ~ro~ided ext~;~g CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 r~ially through the wall o$ the housin~ into a cavity 33 above the u~ermost of the cartridges 27, and which allows a su~ly of emulsified oil and water mixture to spread evenly over the to~ of the u~ermost of the cartri~es 27 before filtering down throu~h the cartrid~e ass~mhly. A
s~ring assembly generally indicated as 34, and including force transmitting ~illars 34a, a s~acer ~late 34b, and conical coil springs 34c, ~rovides a downward biasing force on the assembly of the cartridges 27, whilQt the cavity 33 is defined between the spacer plate 34b and the to~ of the uppermost of the cartridges 27. -~
The bottom of the housing 26 is closed by an end wall 35 throu~h the middle of which an outlet 36 is ~rovided for the discharge of separated water.
As the emulsified oil and water mixture ~as~es ~uccessively through the cartridges 27, the oil content thereof cont~cts an~ is ret~;~e~ by the "activated~ rubber granules within the cartridges. Once the effectiveness of the "activated~ ;
rubber granule~ is reduced to the extent that monitored oil 20 content of the water discharging from the apparatu~ re~che~ _ the allowable maximum parts ~er million the cartridges 27 are ~ ed after opening the u~per closure plate 28 and are thereafter replaced with new cartridges. The used cartridges are then disposed of by burial in land filling~
25 or as fuel for f~r~css or kilns. In this embo~;m~t of the invention a ~res~ure gauge may be provided and associated with a gauge ~ort 50 through the up~er closure plate 28, whilst a drain port 51 is provided t~rough the lower end wall 35 of the housing and closed by a removable closure 30 plug 52. r Once again, a~ with the embodiments of Fi~ures 2 and 3, a ~lurality of the ap~aratus of Fi~ures 4 to 6 may be cou~led in ~eries or in parallel to increase the capacity of the sy~tem, or in the case of ~arallel cou~ling, allow the CA 0222l188 1997-11-13 wos6/372so PCT/AU96/00307 closing down of one unit when the oil ~ont~nt of the water dischar~ing therefrom r~h~ the allowable limit.
~ As an alternative to inclusion of ~ranuleQ of rub~er, or like polymer material, in a fluidi~e~ bed as in t~e ca~e of d 5 the embodiment~ of FigureQ 1 to 3, or immobilisation on a thin layer of polymer bond material a~ in the ca~e of the embodiment of Fi~ure~ 4 to 6, the granule~ may be retA;neA
within a body of a medium of particles such a~ ~and or gravelr either be~ore or after being ~activate~ by 10 expo~ure to alcohol or an alcohol ba~ed ~ubstance. In another alternative, the granules may be retA;n~A by a~lyin~ them to a threa~ of cotton or ~imilar material utili~iny a ~olymer ho~;n~ material, and the threads thereafter vertically bllnche~ together within a ~lastic 15 sleeve to ~rovide a ~orous filtering mas~ for u~e as di~o~able cartrid~es in the a~aratus of Fi~ures 4 to 6.
The ~ranule~ may then be ~activated~ by ex~o~ure to alcohol, or ~ alcohol ba~ed ~ubQtance. In a still further alternative a s~onge may be created by blowing rubber or 20 polymér ~ranules into a chamber in which, under turbulence, they are mixed with dro~let~ of an aerated ~olymer bon~;n~
material which adhere to the ~ranules, and then dro~ to the bottom of the chamber to form a ~ponge-like combination of the ~ranule~ and the ~olymer which, when cured, will form a 25 ri~id porous filter medium throu~h which an oil and water emulsion mixture can pass and which, if the circumference i~ co~tA;n~A within a ~la~tic sleeve, can provide di ~o~able ~artridges for use in the ap~aratu~ of Figure~ 4 to 6.
Technical Field This invention relates to the separation of hydro~r~on~
and water from emulsified mixtures thereof, and more ~articularly the se~aration of oil and other hydrocarbon fuels from emulsified mixtures with water. For the simplicity of description, hereinafter the invention will be described with reference to the separation o~ mixtures of oil and water, although it should be a~preciated that it is also a~plicable to the ~eparation of mixtures of other hydrocarbon fuels and water.
BachylouLl~ Art The advent of increasingly stricter environmental regulations with res~ect to the treatment of oil and water mixtures to ~e~arate the compon~t~ of the mixture both at ~ea and on land, whereby to dispose of the unwanted oil component of the mixture and recovery of the water component, has required a reas~essment of existing ~eparation methods and apparatu~. At present it has been internationally agreed that the treatment of such mixtures be such as to reduce the oil compo~e~t of the mixture to a level less than 15 parts per million. Xnown separation methods and apparatus using principles of ~ra~ity, coalescence and ~arious membrane based equipment, have been unable to, or at the be~t unable to consistently, ~eparate the oil component from such mixture~ to achieve water discharges with the low oil level required, whilst it is anticipated that ultimately re~ulations, including ~ tional regulations, will require si~nificantly less, if not no, le~els of oil in water after treatment.
.
The problem has become eYAce~hAted with ~essels at sea where the increased use of detergents combined with the aa~ent of fuel types that are composed of a greater proportion of the lighter hydrocarbon fraction~, has CA 0222llss lgg7-ll-l3 re ulted in bilge waters that co~t~;~ oil which is emulsified with the bilge water, and as Ruch vessels are ~ubject to increa~in~ly ~tricter international regulationq which known treatment methods and apparatus cannot-5 consistently meet, there iR a need for better methods and ap~aratus. It iq antici~ated that on-land installation~q will ultimately be Rubject to the qame stricter regulation~. j Diqclosure of the Invention 10 We have found that uqing activated polymer materialR, such a~ ground rubber, and in the form of filter deviceR into a which mixtures of oil and water are pa~ed, achieveR very si~nificant im~ ts in capturing the oil component of the mixture whereby the water discharge from the filter 15 device co~tA;~ far leRs than the required 15 ~arts ~er million of oil and with the ca~acity ultimately to achieve close to no, if not any, oil com~onent.
Fine grouna rubber, or other polymer materials, ground to in the range of 30 - 60 mesh, and activated, and ~laced in 20 oil, ha~ the ability to retain oil on it~ surface. In normal circumstances fine ground ~olymer materialR, Ruch as rubber, are hydrophobic and will float on the surface of a body of water and not mix with the water, whereby the water will not wet the surfaces of the rubber granule~, and as a 25 consequence oil in an emulsified mixture with water will not co~t~ct the qurfaces of the rubber ~ranules. However, if the ground rubber or other polymer material is, what is hereinafter referred to aq "activated", by being washed with certain substance, ~uch as, alcohol or an alcohol 30 based Rubstance, the granulated material becomes hydro~hilic allowing full contact therewith by the water of the mixture and therefore also by the oil emulsifiea in the mixture, and iq quch that the oil will be retA;ne~ on the surfaces of the granulated material, and a~ a result 35 separated from the water component of the mixture.
CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 W096l37290 PCT/AUs6/00307 The invention therefore envisages a method of separating the hydrocarbon and water compon~nt~ of a mixture thereof, in which the mixture i8 ~a8~ed through at least one filter ma~s incluains ~ranules of a polymer material which have been activated by exposure to a substance rendering ~aid ~ranules hydro~hilic, and whereby a large ~ro~ortion of the hydrocarbon content of the mixture is retained by ~aid granules to be ~e~arated from the water content of the mixture as it ~asses throu~h saia filter mas3.
The invention al~o envisa~es an a~paratus for separating the hyarocarbon and water com~onents of a mixture thereof, com~rising at least one housin~ cont~;n;n~ at least one filter ma~s including granules of a ~olymer material which have been activated by exposure to a substance rendering ~aid granules hydro~hilic, and whereby to retain a large ~ro~ortion of the hydroc~hon content of the mixture and ~e~arate it from the water ~ontent of the mixture as it ~as~e~ through saia filter ma~s, means to introduce said mixture into saia housin~, ana means throu~h which separated water may be discharged from said housing.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawing~
Several preferred embo~i - ts of the in~ention will now be described with reference to the accom~anying drawin~, in which, Fi~ure 1, is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view throu~h an a~paratus in accoraance with a first preferred emhs~;m~nt of the invention, and for carrying out the method of the invention, Figure 2, i~ a schematic view of a plurality of the apparatus of Fi~ure 1 aonneatea in series to form a second emko~; - t of the invention, Figure 3, i~ a schematic view of a plurality of the a ap~aratus of Fi~ure l co~nected in ~arallel to form a third embo~; - t of the invention, Figure 4, i~ a to~ ~lan view of an apparatus in accordance 5 with a fourth embodiment of the invention, Figure 5, i~ a cro~s-sectional view taken along line 5 - 5 o~ Figure 4, and Figure 6, i~ a plan view from beneath of the a~paratu~ o~
Fi~ure~ 4 and 5.
l0 Be~t ~ode~ for carrYing out the Invention Referring to ~igure l of the drawingQ, the a~paratu~ of thi~ fir~t ~referred embodiment of the invention compri~e~
a vertically elongate cylindrical hou~ing l0 having a u~er end wall ll and a lower end wall 12, and divided into three a ch~mher~ 13, 14 and 15 by u~per and lower ~ieve~ or screens 16a and 16b re~ectively, and throu~h which fluid can pas~
from chamber 13 to chamber 14 and thereafter from chamber 14 to chamber 15. The upper and lower ~ieves or ~creen~
~revent ~olid rubber, or other polymer, granules 17 in the chamber 14 from pa~sing out of that chamber into either chamber 13 and/or 15. In this ~referred embodiment the material in chPmher 14 i~ granulated rubber ground from old motor vehicle tyre3 to within a range of 30 - 60 me~h, by means of a gr;n~;ng me~h~n;sm which cut~ or ~aws the tread, ~ide walls, or both, of the tyre into granules. Other ~olymer materials may al~o be used, including natural rubber. The rubber granule~ after being wa~hed with alcohol, or an alcohol ba~ed ~ub~tance, to thereby become "acti~ated" a~ di~cu~sed previou~ly, are ~u~ended in a body of water in chamber 14 to form a fluidi~ed bed 20 in the ~hr h~.
At the top of the hou~ing l0, and through the upper end wall 11 thereof, i5 ~rovided an inlet co~;t 18 for admittin~ an emul~ified mixture of oil and water into chamber 13, and incorporatin~ an inlet valve 19 for controllin~ flow of mixture to the chamber 13. The mixture ac~ lAtin~ in chamber 13 di~perses evenly laterally of the housing 10 and then through the up~er sieve or ~creen 16 to the fluidi~ed bed 20. ~he activated rubber granules 17 in the fluidi~ed bed are cont~cted by the mixture to capture the oil component of the mixture, whil~t the water com~onent of the mixture pa~es freely through the fluidi~ed bed to a mineral layer 21 in the bottom of _ chamber 14. The mineral layer may be formed from quartz, calcite or any other ~uitable filterin~ medium. The ~e~arated water ~a~e~ throu~h the mineral layer and then through the lower sieve or ~creen 16b into chamber 15 from which it flow~ to a vertically exten~;ng di charge conduit 22 and then out of the a~aratu~ via an outlet val~e 22a which control~ water di~char~e from the apparatu~.
The reaction of the oil with the activated rubber granules 17 in chamber 14, tend~ to cau~e the granules to ri~e within the chr h~ to the top thereof where they are retarded again~t further upwara -v~- - t by the u~er ~ieve of screen 16a, whilst the oil and water mixture pa~in~
through the upper ~ieve or ~creen 16a tends to agitate the activated fluidi~ed rubber bed 20 to expo~e the rubber granule~ 17 to the oil component of the mixture to increa~e contact and retention of the oil on the granule~.
The quality of water di~charged~from the a~aratu~ may be monitored by equipment, already available, to detect when the oil content re~ch~ the -Y; level ~llowable and to ~hut down the a~paratus and ~witch the flow of oil/water mixture to an alternative filtering a~paratu~, whereafter the ~ranulated oil/rubber ma~ i5 - ved from the pre~iou31y u~ed apparatu~ for treatment to recover the oil or the ma~ di~po~ed of.
CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 In the embs~; - t of Fi~ure 2, a ~lurality, in thi~ ca~e ~ix, of the filtering a~paratus units of Figure 1 are connected in ~erie~ by connecting conduits 23 between the di~charge cgn~ll; t~ 22 of one unit and inlet cgn~-;t~ 18 of a following unit to increa~e the overall oil ~e~aration e~iciency of the a~paratu~
In the embodiment of Fi~ure 3 a ~lurality, once again ~ix, of the filtering a~aratu~ unit~ of Fi~ure 1 are connected in ~arallel by a common supply conduit 24 fee~;n~ directly the inlet conduit~ 18 of each hou~ing 10 with a common main ~i~charge conduit 25 being ~rovided for each of the ~ischarge cs~ ;ts 22 from the housin~s. Once again the quality of the water di~charge from each unit maY be monitored to detect when the oil content re~ch~s the maximum level allowable to ~hut down the ~articular unit leaving the remaining unit~ to continue their ~e~arating functions.
In the embs~; ~ t of Fi~ure~ 4 to 6, which ha~ ~rovea to be ~articularly succes~ful in trial~ cQ~ ctea in a Royal Au~tralian Navy vessel, and which ha~ become e~ecially e~fective when installed in ~erie~ with conventional se~arators, such a~ to become a ~ol; ~h; ng or ~nh~n~ing filter, com~ri~es of vertically elongate cylindrical main housing 26, with lower ~u~porting leg~ 26a. In the hou~ing three su~erimpo~ed filter cartridge~ 27 having outer hou~in~ 27a, formed from haraened rubber or metallic material~, are received and located relative to each other by a male member 28 on the ba~e of one cartridge locating within a f emale member 29 on the to~ of the underlying cartriage, and through which cartridseQ emulsified oil and water mixture successively filters from the to~ to the bottom of the main housing 26.
In this Ca~Q, the housing~ 27a of each of the cartridgeq 27 have CQ~t~ therein rubber, or like ~olymer, granule~
CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 which ~rior to "activation~ are immo~ili ed by a~lication to a thin layer o~ ~olymer bond material whilst that material is in a liquid state, and thereafter the combination i~ allowed to cure into a ~heet ~rom t-he surface o~ which the rubber granules protrude in an immobili~ed condition. A plurality of such sheet~ with o~en weave ~acer sheet~ therebetween, such a~ ~lastic fly wire ~creen ty~e material, are then wound into the form of a cylinder to form a filter structure the circumference of which i~ ~ealed by a ~lastic sleeve leaving the ends thereof open to allow fluid flow axially throu~h each cartrid~e via the open weave s~acer ~heet~ after the filter ~tructure~ are ~lace~ in the res~ective housing 27a. ~ayers of glass fibre wool or similar materials are ~ositionea within the to~s ana bottom~ of the cartridges to prevent migration out o~ the cartridges of rubber granules which may become det~ch~ from the ~olymer bond materials. The immobilisea rubber granules within the cartridge are acti~atea by expo~ure to alcohol, or an alcohol ba~ed substance, ~rior to, or whilst, being ~ositionea within the hou~ing~ 27a.
In order to allow access to the interior of the main housing 26 an u~er closure ~late 28 is ~rovided which closes the u~per end of the housing with a ~lurality of circumferentially s~acea apart clamping aevices 29 havin~
clam~ing boltQ 29a carrying nut~ 29b bein~ ~roviaed. The clam~in~ bolts 29a are received within radially exten~;~g ~lots 31 in the perimeter of the closure ~late whereby, when the clo~ure ~late i~ positioned on the u~er end of the housing, the nut~ 29b may be tightened to clamp the closure ~late to the end of the housing, with a handle and clampin~ lever arrangement 37 being ~rovided to complete the clam~ing action.
In thi~ emboaiment of the invention an inlet 32 for emul~ifiea oil and water mixture iQ ~ro~ided ext~;~g CA 0222ll88 lsg7-ll-l3 r~ially through the wall o$ the housin~ into a cavity 33 above the u~ermost of the cartridges 27, and which allows a su~ly of emulsified oil and water mixture to spread evenly over the to~ of the u~ermost of the cartri~es 27 before filtering down throu~h the cartrid~e ass~mhly. A
s~ring assembly generally indicated as 34, and including force transmitting ~illars 34a, a s~acer ~late 34b, and conical coil springs 34c, ~rovides a downward biasing force on the assembly of the cartridges 27, whilQt the cavity 33 is defined between the spacer plate 34b and the to~ of the uppermost of the cartridges 27. -~
The bottom of the housing 26 is closed by an end wall 35 throu~h the middle of which an outlet 36 is ~rovided for the discharge of separated water.
As the emulsified oil and water mixture ~as~es ~uccessively through the cartridges 27, the oil content thereof cont~cts an~ is ret~;~e~ by the "activated~ rubber granules within the cartridges. Once the effectiveness of the "activated~ ;
rubber granule~ is reduced to the extent that monitored oil 20 content of the water discharging from the apparatu~ re~che~ _ the allowable maximum parts ~er million the cartridges 27 are ~ ed after opening the u~per closure plate 28 and are thereafter replaced with new cartridges. The used cartridges are then disposed of by burial in land filling~
25 or as fuel for f~r~css or kilns. In this embo~;m~t of the invention a ~res~ure gauge may be provided and associated with a gauge ~ort 50 through the up~er closure plate 28, whilst a drain port 51 is provided t~rough the lower end wall 35 of the housing and closed by a removable closure 30 plug 52. r Once again, a~ with the embodiments of Fi~ures 2 and 3, a ~lurality of the ap~aratus of Fi~ures 4 to 6 may be cou~led in ~eries or in parallel to increase the capacity of the sy~tem, or in the case of ~arallel cou~ling, allow the CA 0222l188 1997-11-13 wos6/372so PCT/AU96/00307 closing down of one unit when the oil ~ont~nt of the water dischar~ing therefrom r~h~ the allowable limit.
~ As an alternative to inclusion of ~ranuleQ of rub~er, or like polymer material, in a fluidi~e~ bed as in t~e ca~e of d 5 the embodiment~ of FigureQ 1 to 3, or immobilisation on a thin layer of polymer bond material a~ in the ca~e of the embodiment of Fi~ure~ 4 to 6, the granule~ may be retA;neA
within a body of a medium of particles such a~ ~and or gravelr either be~ore or after being ~activate~ by 10 expo~ure to alcohol or an alcohol ba~ed ~ubstance. In another alternative, the granules may be retA;n~A by a~lyin~ them to a threa~ of cotton or ~imilar material utili~iny a ~olymer ho~;n~ material, and the threads thereafter vertically bllnche~ together within a ~lastic 15 sleeve to ~rovide a ~orous filtering mas~ for u~e as di~o~able cartrid~es in the a~aratus of Fi~ures 4 to 6.
The ~ranule~ may then be ~activated~ by ex~o~ure to alcohol, or ~ alcohol ba~ed ~ubQtance. In a still further alternative a s~onge may be created by blowing rubber or 20 polymér ~ranules into a chamber in which, under turbulence, they are mixed with dro~let~ of an aerated ~olymer bon~;n~
material which adhere to the ~ranules, and then dro~ to the bottom of the chamber to form a ~ponge-like combination of the ~ranule~ and the ~olymer which, when cured, will form a 25 ri~id porous filter medium throu~h which an oil and water emulsion mixture can pass and which, if the circumference i~ co~tA;n~A within a ~la~tic sleeve, can provide di ~o~able ~artridges for use in the ap~aratu~ of Figure~ 4 to 6.
Claims (16)
1. A method of separating the hydrocarbon and water components of a mixture thereof, in which the mixture is passed through at least one filter mass including granules of a polymer material which have been activated by exposure to a substance rendering said granules hydrophilic, and whereby a large proportion of the hydrocarbon content of the mixture is retained by said granules to be separated from the water content of the mixture at it passes through said filter mass.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the filter mass is a body of liquid in which the said granules are suspended to form a fluidised bed.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the filter mass is one or more cartridges formed from cylindrically wound sheets comprised of said granules retained on a thin layer of polymer bond material, with said sheets alternating with sheets of open weave material.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the filter mass is formed by mixing said granules with a medium of particulate material.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the filter mass is formed from a mass of thread-like elements of which the granules are retained by means of a polymer bonding material.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the filter mass is a porous sponge formed by mixing said granules under turbulence with droplets of an aerated polymer bonding material.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the granules are rubber granules.
8. An apparatus for separating the hydrocarbon and water components of a mixture thereof, comprising at least one housing containing at least one filter mass including granules of a polymer material which have been activated by exposure to a substance rendering said granules hydrophilic and whereby to retain a large proportion of the hydrocarbon content of the mixture and separate it from the water content of the mixture as it passes through said filter mass, means to introduce said mixture into said housing, and means through which separated water may be discharged from said housing.
9. An apparatus as claimed Claim 8, wherein the filter mass is a body of liquid in which said granules are suspended to form a fluidised bed.
10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the filter mass is one or more cartridges formed from cylindrically wound sheets comprised of granules retained on a thin layer of polymer bond material, with said sheets alternating with sheets of open weave material.
11. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the filter mass is formed by mixing said granules in a medium of particulate material.
12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the filter mass is formed from a mass of thread-like elements on which the granules are retained by means of a polymer bonding material.
13. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the filter mass is a porous sponge formed by mixing said granules under turbulence with droplets of an aerated polymer bonding material.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 13, wherein the granules are rubber granules.
15. A method of separating the hydrocarbon and water components of a mixture thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described.
16. An apparatus for separating the hydrocarbon and water components of a mixture thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPN3113A AUPN311395A0 (en) | 1995-05-23 | 1995-05-23 | An apparatus and method for the effective separation of oil and water from oil/water mixtures |
| AUPN3113 | 1995-05-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2221188A1 true CA2221188A1 (en) | 1996-11-28 |
Family
ID=3787455
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002221188A Abandoned CA2221188A1 (en) | 1995-05-23 | 1996-05-22 | Separation of hydrocarbons and water from mixtures thereof |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0828555A4 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1185121A (en) |
| AU (1) | AUPN311395A0 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9610859A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2221188A1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO975347L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1996037290A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104383719B (en) * | 2014-12-01 | 2016-04-06 | 东北石油大学 | A kind of inversion fluid bed oil droplet grabber |
| JP7053569B2 (en) | 2016-08-16 | 2022-04-12 | ドナルドソン カンパニー，インコーポレイティド | Hydrocarbon fluid-water separation |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB323094A (en) * | 1928-11-23 | 1929-12-24 | Edwin Bruce Warren | Recovery of oily substances and purification of water containing oily substances |
| NL142379B (en) * | 1969-03-06 | 1974-06-17 | Snam Progetti | PROCESS FOR PREPARING A PREPARATION FOR CONCENTRATING THIN LAYERS OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ON WATER TO THICKER LAYERS. |
| US4182677A (en) * | 1975-04-03 | 1980-01-08 | Institut Francais Du Petrole | Modified rubber, its use as hydrocarbon absorber |
| US4172031A (en) * | 1975-11-04 | 1979-10-23 | The Dow Chemical Company | Separation of oil from water |
| DE2903056A1 (en) * | 1978-01-26 | 1979-08-09 | Budny Lucina | Binder for absorbing substances - comprises rigid styrene! resin foam particles, esp. used for removing oil from water |
| US4508626A (en) * | 1981-12-21 | 1985-04-02 | Exxon Research & Engineering Co. | Oil removal from water suspensions using ionic domain polymers |
| DE3436944C1 (en) * | 1984-10-09 | 1989-02-02 | Daimler-Benz Ag, 7000 Stuttgart | Process for dewatering water/oil emulsions |
| FR2635099B1 (en) * | 1988-08-05 | 1990-10-19 | Toulouse Inst Nal Sciences | GRANULAR MATERIAL WITH OLEOPHILIC CHARACTER FOR WATER TREATMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE |
| GB2276373A (en) * | 1993-03-22 | 1994-09-28 | Kspw Env Res Tech Inc | Water treatment process |
-
1995
- 1995-05-23 AU AUPN3113A patent/AUPN311395A0/en not_active Abandoned
-
1996
- 1996-05-22 WO PCT/AU1996/000307 patent/WO1996037290A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-05-22 BR BR9610859A patent/BR9610859A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-05-22 CA CA002221188A patent/CA2221188A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-05-22 EP EP96914791A patent/EP0828555A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1996-05-22 CN CN96194108A patent/CN1185121A/en active Pending
-
1997
- 1997-11-21 NO NO975347A patent/NO975347L/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0828555A4 (en) | 1998-10-07 |
| WO1996037290A1 (en) | 1996-11-28 |
| BR9610859A (en) | 1999-07-27 |
| CN1185121A (en) | 1998-06-17 |
| NO975347D0 (en) | 1997-11-21 |
| AUPN311395A0 (en) | 1995-06-15 |
| EP0828555A1 (en) | 1998-03-18 |
| NO975347L (en) | 1998-01-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |