GB2409989A

GB2409989A - A liquid separator

Info

Publication number: GB2409989A
Application number: GB0400620A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Anthony Bartle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-13
Filing date: 2004-01-13
Publication date: 2005-07-20
Also published as: GB0400620D0

Abstract

A Light Liquid Separator which comprises a containment vessel 8, with an inlet 1 and outlet 2 arranged around a turret 3 on top of the vessel. The containment vessel 8 and turret 3 are divided into two chambers by a weir baffle 4 on which is mounted a removable coalescing filter 12, which removes liquids with a specific gravity less than water from the carrying water. The inlet to the containment vessel is a skim closure device 10, which controls and restricts the flow into the containment vessel. Captive within the skim closure device 10, is a specific gravity responsive closure 6, which closes onto a nitrile seal 11, when a change in specific gravity occurs. No further flow into or out of the containment vessel 8 can occur after the specific gravity closure 6 has closed.

Description

1 2409989

DESCRIPTION

A Light Liquid Separator The invention relates to a Class 1 or Class 2 Light Liquid Separator, normally used in a drainage system, whereby contaminants (light liquids), with a specific gravity less than water, can be removed and contained, from the carrying water, preventing onward transmission and possible pollution.

Many types of light liquid separators are already used, which contain coalescing filters and automatic closure devices. After separation, the light liquids are contained in a storage vessel, which may or may not have a closure device on the outlet. As the coalescing filter and closure arrangement (where fitted) is usually at the bottom of the tank, the closure device only reacts when the vessel is full of contaminants, this can lead to significant quantities of contaminants being discharged before the outlet is closed. There is also no control over the quantity of contaminants stored, other then when the vessel is full, at which point there is a possibility of contaminants returning to the inlet and finding it's way back up the drainage system.

The object of this invention, is to provide a Light Liquid Separator system whereby the flow into, the containment vessel is controlled, and can be closed off preventing discharge from either the inlet or the outlet.

Accordingly this invention provides a Light Liquid Separator with a skim pipe inlet, in which is held captive, a specific gravity responsive closure. This device on the inlet, controls both the inflow and outflow of liquid through the separator, and when a pre determined amount of light liquid is present in the vessel, seals of the inlet, preventing excessive storage of contaminants, and eliminating the possibility of accidental discharge of pollutants The Separator and its' components are usually made from reinforced plastics, pure plastics, concrete or steel, or any combination thereof, but other materials proving suitable can be used. The specific gravity responsive closure can be either a float or a float and plunger type arrangement with a combined specific gravity of less than 1.0, usually made from a pure or reinforced plastic, and or metal, or a combination of both.

The coalescing filter is usually made from reticulated polyester foam.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a general arrangement drawing of the Light Liquid Separator.

FIGURE 2 shows cross section of inleVoutlet arrangement FIGURE 3 shows the components of the Skim Closure Device FIGURE 4 shows Skim Closure Device at closed position FIGURE 5 shows the Weir Baffle and Removable Coalescing Filter arrangement.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the general arrangement of the Light Liquid Separator, being a CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8, surmounted by a TURRET 3, with an INLET 1 and an OUTLET 2 attached to opposite sides. The TURRET 3 and the CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8 are split into two chambers by the WEIR BAFFLE 4. Access to the first chamber is via the SKIM INLET 5, and the second by COALESCING FILTER 9.

As shown in FIGURE 2, there is an inlet pipe, INLET 1, and an outlet pipe, OUTLET 2, which are joined into an open top tube, TURRET 3, which when installed gives maintenance access from above. In order for contaminated water to enter the Light Liquid Separator, it has to come in through INLET 1. At low flows, it is prevented from exiting through OUTLET 2, by the WEIR BAFFLE 4. The flow must then pass through the SKIM CLOSURE DEVICE 10, into the CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8 which can be divided into two chambers by the WEIR BAFFLE 4. The contaminated water must then pass through the REMOVABLE COALESCING FILTER 12, which is mounted over a cut out on WEIR BAFFLE 4, go through the aperture at the top of the vessel, escaping via OUTLET 2. Before doing so, the light liquids will either rise to the surface of the CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8, or will be removed on the surface of the COALESCING FILTER 9, eventually rising to the surface, so that only clean water will pass through and be discharged from OUTLET 2.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the SKIM INLET 5, the SPECIFIC GRAVITY RESPONSIVE CLOSURE 6, and the SKIM OUTLET 7 form the SKIM CLOSURE DEVICE 10. The SKIM INLET 5, is calculated to accept a maximum flow, with the head that will act upon it created by the WEIR BAFFLE 4. This ensures that no more than the desired flow will pass through the CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8. As and if, circumstances change, and a higher or lower flow is desired in the future, the SKIM INLET 5 can be removed and changed to a smaller or larger aperture, allowing the SPECIFIC GRAVITY RESPONSIVE CLOSURE 6, to also be changed, should a change of specific gravity response be required. When the maximum flow is achieved, excess water will overflow the WEIR BAFFLE 4, and exit via OUTLET 2 as shown in FIGURE 2. The SPECIFIC GRAVITY RESPONSIVE CLOSURE 6 is shown floating at the top of the SKIM CLOSURE DEVICE 10. This is its normal working position, as it is designed to float in water, but sink in any other liquid of a lesser specific gravity than water.

As shown in FIGURE 4, after having been installed for some time, a significant volume of light liquid has collected in the CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8, at or near the designed MAXIMUM OIL STORAGE 4. The light liquid has then entered the SKIM CLOSURE DEVICE 10, via the SKIM OUTLET 7, and displaced the water, resulting in the SPECIFIC GRAVITY RESPONSIVE CLOSURE 6, sinking to the bottom, and sealing against the NITRILE SEAL 11, closing off the outlet. Any contaminated light liquid is now sealed into the first chamber of the CONTAINMENT VESSEL 8, at which point the contaminants will need to be removed, replaced with clean water, and the SPECIFIC GRAVITY RESPONS!.yl: CLOSURE 6 reset.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the general arrangement detail of the REMOVABLE COALESCING FILTER 12, in relation to the WEIR BAFFLE 4. As the requirement for Light Liquid Separators is currently for both Class 1 performance (< 5mg of light liquid per litre of water), usually with a coalescing filter, and Class 2 performance (<1 OOmg of light liquid per litre of water), usually without a coalescing filter, as defined under BSEN858 Part1, the coalescing filter can be left out to achieve Class 2, but can also be retro fit to upgrade a Class 2 to Class 1.

Claims

1. A Light Liquid Separator vessel, with an inlet and an outlet arranged around an access turret.

2. A Light Liquid Separator as claimed in Claim 1, with a weir baffle situated centrally to effectively divide the vessel into two, and create a head of water.

3. A Light Liquid Separator as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, where a removable coalescing filter system is fitted to the weir baffle.

4. A Light Liquid Separator as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, where a skim closure device is fitted to control the flow into the separator vessel.

5. A Light Liquid Separator as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4, where a specific gravity responsive closure is held captive in the skim closure device, to react to changes in specific gravity within the separator vessel, and prevent inflow or outflow from the vessel.

6. A Light Liquid Separator as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from reinforced plastics, pure plastics, concrete or steel, or any combination thereof.

7. A Light Liquid Separator substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.