IE85329B1 - A separator - Google Patents
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- IE85329B1 IE85329B1 IE2005/0505A IE20050505A IE85329B1 IE 85329 B1 IE85329 B1 IE 85329B1 IE 2005/0505 A IE2005/0505 A IE 2005/0505A IE 20050505 A IE20050505 A IE 20050505A IE 85329 B1 IE85329 B1 IE 85329B1
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- Prior art keywords
- inlet
- outlet
- chamber
- separator
- compartment
- Prior art date
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- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 102000014961 Protein Precursors Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108010078762 Protein Precursors Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000001145 hydrido group Chemical group *[H] 0.000 description 1
- 239000010807 litter Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- OZAIFHULBGXAKX-UHFFFAOYSA-N precursor Substances N#CC(C)(C)N=NC(C)(C)C#N OZAIFHULBGXAKX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010408 sweeping Methods 0.000 description 1
Description
PATENTS ACT, 1992
/0
A Separator
Hydro International PLC
A SEPARATOR
This invention relates to a separator for separating solids from a liquid flow. The
invention is particularly. although not exclusively, concerned with a separator for use in
drainage system for the primary separation of solids such as sand, street litter, gross
solids and the like from storm water.
Conventional gullies under roadways and other paved areas comprise a chamber
having inlet and outlet pipes which open into the chamber at a position above the
bottom of the chamber. There may also be a top inlet, which provides access to the
interior of the chamber through a grating provided at the roadway surface, for example
in a gutter. in use, solids entering the chamber. whether from the inlet pipe or through
the grating, collect under gravity in the base of the chamber and can be extracted at
intervals by means of a suction pipe introduced into the chamber after removing the
grating. Such gullies have a low separation efficiency. Furthermore, in the event of
heavy storm flows, collected solids in the base of the chamber, and solids floating on
the surface tend to be stirred up, and can pass into the outlet pipe.
According to the present invention, there is provided a separator for separating solids
from a liquid flow, comprising a chamber and inlet and outlet housings disposed within
the chamber and respectively defining an inlet compartment and an outlet
compartment, an inlet opening being provided in a wall of the inlet compartment and
being directed so that, in use, inflowing liquid flowing from the inlet compartment into
the chamber through the inlet creates a circulating flow within the chamber about a
central axis of the chamber, an outlet opening being provided in a wall of the outlet
compartment and being directed so that, in use, outllowing liquid flowing from the
chamber into th'e”outlet compartment passes through the outlet opening in a direction
opposite that of the circulating flow.
The inlet opening may be directed so that incoming flow enters the chamber in a
tangential direction with respect to the central axis of the chamber. The outlet opening
may also be directed tangentially, and in the same direction as the inlet opening so that
it effectively faces in the direction of the circulating flow. The relative orientations of the
inlet and outlet openings means that, even under conditions of heavy flow, solids will
be swept past the outlet opening rather than leave the chamber. Consequently, both
newly introduced solids. and any which have previously settled to the base or floated to
the surface. are more likely to be retained within the chamber.
An inlet duct may extend through the chamber wall and preferably emerges into the
inlet housing. Thus, incoming flow from the inlet duct first enters the inlet compartment
and then emerges into the main interior of the chamber through the inlet opening. The
inlet and outlet housings may be open at their upper ends.
A bypass duct preferably extends between the housings and may extend around the
central axis of the chamber between the inlet and outlet compartments.
The bypass duct may extend adjacent the chamber wall, to leave access through the
centre of the chamber for a suction pipe or other device to extend from the top of the
chamber to the base or to the fluid surface to extract accumulated solids or floating
debris and oils. In a preferred embodiment, the bypass duct is arcuate and has a
rectangular, for example square, cross-section.
The bypass duct preferably communicates with the inlet compartment through an
opening in a wall of the inlet compartment. A weir may be provided between the inlet
compartment and the bypass duct, the upper edge of the weir being situated above the
lower edge of the inlet duct at its entry to the inlet compartment. Thus. in periods of
heavy flow, only some of the flow entering the inlet compartment will pass through the
inlet opening. and the remainder will pass over the weir and through the bypass duct
directly to the outlet compartment. The inlet compartment may communicate with the
interior of the chamber through an aperture in the wall of the inlet housing, the aperture
having a top edge which is not higher than the top edge of the weir. An inlet duct may
open into the inlet housing, the bypass duct having a lowermost level which is above
the lowermost level of the inlet duct. The aperture may have a top edge which is not
higher than the lowermost level of the bypass duct.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of
modifying a gully chamber to provide a separator. the method comprising:
(a) assembling a bypass module from an inlet housing, an outlet housing
and a bypass duct providing communication between the inlet housing
and the outlet housing, the inlet housing and the outlet housing
respectively defining an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment
and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening respectively;
(b) installing the bypass module in the gully chamber with the inlet opening
directed so that. in use, inflowing liquid creates a circulating flow within
the chamber about a central axis of the chamber. and the outlet opening
is directed so that outtlowing liquid passes through the outlet opening in
a direction opposite of the circulating flow;
(c) forming an opening in the inlet compartment adjacent an inlet duct of the
gully chamber whereby, in use. liquid flowing from the inlet duct enters
the inlet compartment;
(d) forming an opening in the outlet compartment or the bypass duct
adjacent an outlet duct of the gully chamber, whereby. in use, liquid may
llow from the bypass module to the outlet duct.
The bypass duct may be cut to length before the bypass module is assembled so as to
position the inlet and outlet housings adjacent the inlet and outlet ducts. This provides
flexibility in terms of the orientation of the inlet to and outlet from the separator enabling
the separator to readily accommodate a change in direction.
For a better understanding of the present invention. and to show more clearly how it
may be carried into effect. reference will now be made, by way of example. to the
accompanying drawings. in which:-
Figure 1 is a section view of a separator;
Figure 2 is a section view of a modified separator.
Figure 3 shows the separator of Figure 2 viewed from the opposite direction;
Figure 4 shows a further modified separator;
Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the separator; and
Figure 6 shows a further altemative embodiment of the separator.
The separator shown in Figure 1 comprises a gully chamber 2 having top and bottom
walls 4, 6 and a cylindrical surrounding wall 8. An inlet duct 10 and an outlet duct 12
open into the cylindrical wall 8 on substantially opposite sides of the chamber 2. An
inlet chute 14 is fitted to the top wall 4, and may be covered by a grating (not shown) in
a roadway passing over the separator. The inlet chute 14 has an outlet 16 opening
close to the surrounding wall 8 of the chamber 2.
Within the chamber 2, there is a bypass module 18 which comprises an inlet housing
, an outlet housing 22 and a bypass duct 24.
The inlet housing 20 lies against the interior surface of the surrounding wall 8 and has
an opening 26 which provides communication between the inlet duct 10 and an inlet
compartment 28 within the inlet housing 20. An opening 30 is provided at the bottom of
the inlet housing 20, this opening 30 serving as an inlet to the interior of the gully
chamber 2. The inlet opening 30 is situated close to the internal face of the
surrounding wall 8, and is oriented to direct incoming flow tangentially of the chamber
2. That is, it lies in a plane extending radially with respect to the central axis X of the
chamber 2.
The inlet housing 20 is generally sector shaped having an arcuate wall 32 lying
adjacent the inner face of the surrounding wall 8 of the chamber 2, and two end walls
34, 36 which extend generally radially of the chamber 2. Each end wall 34, 36 has a
rectangular projection 38, 40 having a shape complementary to that of the interior of
the bypass duct 24. As can be appreciated from Figure 1. the projection 38 is left
intact, but part of the end face of the projection 40 is cut away to provide
communication with the bypass duct 24. Only the upper part of the face is removed,
leaving a weir 42 between the inlet compartment 28 and the interior of the bypass duct
24. The upper edge of the weir 42 is at a level above that of the lowermost edges of
the inlet and outlet ducts 10, 12.
The outlet housing 22 is similar to the inlet housing 20. The inlet and outlet housings
, 22 are made using moulded housing precursors of plastics material which are
identical to each other and which differ only in the way in which openings are formed to
communicate with the inlet and outlet ducts respectively and the bypass duct 24. In the
case of the outlet housing 22. an opening 44 is formed to provide communication
between the outlet compartment 46 and the outlet duct 12 and the entire end wall of
the projection 40 is cut away to provide communication between the bypass duct 24
and the outlet compartment 46 over the full cross-section of the bypass duct 24.
Although not shown in Figure 1, the outlet housing 22 has an opening 47 (see Figure 3)
corresponding to the opening 30 in the inlet housing 20. The opening in the outlet
housing 22 is oriented in the same direction as the inlet opening 30 with respect to the
circumferential direction around the central axis X of the chamber 2,
A separator as shown in Figure 1 may be constructed as a complete unit comprising
the chamber 2 and the bypass module 18. Alternatively, however, the bypass module
can be installed in an existing chamber 2 so as to improve the separation and
retention characteristics of that chamber. it will be appreciated that the bypass module
18 comprises only three major components, namely the inlet and outlet housings 20,
22 and the bypass duct 24. The bypass duct may be available in different conduit
shapes and sizes (i.e. different radii of curvature), to suit different inlet/outlet
orientations and diameters of chamber 2.
To install the bypass module 18, the bypass duct 24 is cut to the appropriate length so
as to provide the correct position of the inlet and outlet housings 20. 22. The openings
26 and 44 are cut in the housings 20, 22, and the appropriate openings are formed in
the projections 40. The module is then secured to the interior of the chamber 2 by any
suitable means. The inlet chute 14 may also be fitted to the top wall 4 of the chamber
2, if no suitable inlet is already provided. Preferably, the outlet 16 of the chute is
situated over the open top of the inlet housing 20. so that any storm water flowing
through the inlet chute 14 will fall directly into the inlet compartment 28.
In use, under low or moderate flow. incoming water through the inlet duct 10 and the
inlet chute 14 will enter the inlet compartment 28, from which it will flow through the
inlet opening 30. The flow emerging from the inlet opening 30 will induce a circulating
flow in the water accumulated in the lower region of the chamber 2, below the lower
edge of the outlet duct 12. This relatively low—energy circulating flow will assist in
causing any solids within the incoming flow to accumulate and fall to the bottom of the
chamber 2 or rise to the fluid surface depending upon their density. Furthermore, by
sweeping past the outlet opening of the outlet housing 22, solids will be less likely to
enter the outlet compartment 46. This outlet compartment, and consequently the outlet
duct 12, will thus receive substantially clean water.
if the incoming flow rate through the inlet duct 10 increases to a rate above that which
can pass through the inlet opening 30, the level in the inlet compartment 28 will rise.
Eventually, it will reach the level of the upper edge of the weir 42, and will overflow into
the bypass duct 24. Much of the solids material entering the inlet compartment 28
through the inlet duct 10 will pass to the bottom of the inlet housing 20. to emerge from
the inlet opening 30. and so, as before, will tend to fall to the bottom of the chamber 2
or rise to the fluid surface. Nevertheless, under heavy flow conditions, some solid
material will pass, with the water, over the weir 42 into the bypass duct 24, and thence
to the outlet compartment 46 and the outlet duct 12. However, since the main flow
within the chamber 2 does not receive the surplus flow passing through the bypass
duct 24, there is less likelihood that the high flow throughput will stir up solids from the
bottom of the chamber 2 or from the fluid surface and cause them to enter the outlet
compartment 46.
Figures 2 and 3 show an alternative disposition for the bypass module 18, in which the
bypass duct 24 has been cut shorter in order that, with the inlet housing 20 positioned
adjacent the inlet duct 10, the outlet housing 22 can be positioned adjacent an outlet
duct 12 which is not directly in line with the inlet duct 10. This flexibility is an important
feature of the bypass module 18, allowing it to be adapted in a simple manner to
different arrangements of inlet and outlet ducts 10, 12.
Figure 4 shows an alternative configuration to that of Figures 2 and 3. again for use in
cases where the inlet and outlet ducts 10, 12 are not in line. In the variant shown in
Figure 4, no opening corresponding to the opening 44 is formed in the arcuate wall of
the outlet housing 22. Instead, the corresponding opening 48 is formed in the outer
arcuate wall of the bypass duct 24. Thus, outflowing water enters the outlet opening
(corresponding to the inlet opening 30) and passes through the outlet compartment 46
into the bypass duct 24 and thence to the outlet duct 12. This variant avoids the need
to cut the bypass duct 24 to match the are between the inlet and outlet ducts 10 and
12.
The embodiment of Figure 5 is similar to that of Figure 4, except that the bypass duct is
formed with only three walls. namely an inner wall 50, an upper wall 52 and a lower
wall 54. The upper and lower walls are provided with flanges 56 to enable them to be
attached to the inner surface of the surrounding wall 8 of the chamber 2. Thus, the
interior of the bypass duct 24 is, in fact. defined by the bypass duct 24 itself and the
surrounding wall 8 of the chamber 2. This avoids the need to form a separate opening
to provide communication between the bypass duct 24 and the outlet duct 12.
in the embodiment of Figure 6. several features are shown which may be used
individually or together in a separator. Parts corresponding to those shown in the
embodiments of Figures 1 to 5 are designated by the same reference numbers.
in the separator shown in Figure 6. the inlet and outlet compartments 28, 46 (Figure 1)
are closed at the top by walls 60,62, which may be fixed or removable. The outlet 16 of
the inlet chute 14 projects downwardly and is connected by a flexible pipe 64 to a
spigot projecting upwardly from the top wall 60 of the inlet chamber. If the flexible hose
is not used, the spigot may be closed by a removable lid.
In the previous embodiments, the rectangular projections 38 and 40 on the inlet and
outlet housings 20, 22 not engaged by the bypass duct 24 were moulded integrally with
the housings themselves, and left intact. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the
projection 38 on the inlet housing 20 is cut away to provide a solids escape aperture
66. in an alternative form, the moulded end face of the projection is cutaway, or
omitted altogether, and a maintenance access cover, with or without the aperture 66, is
fitted over the resulting opening. A similar cover 70 may be provided over the
projection 40 on the outlet housing 22. after the end face, it moulded with the outlet
housing, has been removed.
In use of the separator shown in Figure 6, water and entrained solid material flowing
into the chute 14 passes directly to the inlet housing 20 through the flexible pipe 64. At
low flow rates. some floatable materials may accumulate at the surface within the inlet
housing 20. At higher flowrates, water will back up in the inlet housing 20. The
function of the escape aperture 66 is to allow any accumulated floatable materials in
the inlet housing 20 to flow into the main flow in the chamber 2 before the water level in
the inlet housing 20 reaches the upper edge of the weir 42. Thus the accumulated
solids are discharged from the inlet housing 20 into the main flow without being
discharged over the weir 42 into the bypass duct 24 and thence to the outlet duct 12.
In order to serve this purpose, the top edge of the escape aperture is either at or below
the top edge of the weir 42.
if flow through the outlet 12 is restricted for any reason, the level within the chamber 2
may rise above the level of the tops of the inlet and outlet housings 20, 22. The top
walls 60, 62 prevent the loss of floatable materials in such circumstances, keeping
them within the upper region of chamber 2. The same objective could be achieved by
increasing the height of the walls of the inlet and outlet housings 20. 22.
The removable covers 68, 70 enable access to the interiors of the inlet and outlet
housings 20, 22 for maintenance purposes or to clear blockages.
Another possible measure, not shown in the Figures, is to raise the bypass duct 24
relative to the inlet and outlet housings 20, 22 such that the lower wall of the bypass
duct 24 defines the bypass level, thereby eliminating the need for the separate weir 42.
Separators in accordance with the present invention thus provide a relatively low cost
device which can separate a large proportion of the solids materials from a flow of
liquid. Furthermore, the bypass module 18 can be installed in existing gullies with very
little fabrication and assembly work, using moulded plastics components. Because the
bypass duct 24 does not extend straight across the middle of the chamber 2, but
instead, being of arcuate form, avoids the central axis X, access is left for equipment to
remove settled solids materials at the bottom of the chamber 2 and/or floatable
materials from the fluid surface.
Claims (20)
- A separator for separating solids from a liquid flow, comprising a chamber and inlet and outlet housings disposed within the chamber and respectively defining an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment, an inlet opening being provided in a wall of the inlet compartment and being directed so that, in use. inflowing liquid flowing from the inlet compartment into the chamber through the inlet creates a circulating flow within the chamber about a central axis of the chamber. an outlet opening being provided in a wall of the outlet compartment and being directed so that, in use. outflowing liquid flowing from the chamber into the outlet compartment passes through the outlet opening in a direction opposite that of the circulating flow.
- A separator as claimed in claim 1. in which the inlet opening is directed so that incoming flow enters the chamber in a tangential direction with respect to the central axis of the chamber.
- A separator as claimed in claim 2. in which the outlet opening is directed tangentially in the same direction as the inlet opening.
- A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which an inlet duct extends through the chamber wall and emerges into the inlet housing.
- A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the inlet housing is open at its upper end.
- A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the inlet housing is closed at its upper end by a top wall.
- A separator as claimed in claim 6, in which an inlet pipe opens into the inlet housing at the top wall.
- A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. in which the outlet housing is open at its upper end.
- A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the outlet housing is closed at its upper end by a top wall.
- A separator as claimed in claim 6 or 9, in which the top wall is removable.
- A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a bypass duct is provided within the chamber and extends around the central axis of the chamber between the inlet and outlet compartments.
- A separator as claimed in claim 11, in which the bypass duct extends adjacent the chamber wall.
- A separator as claimed in claim 11 or 12. in which the bypass duct is arcuate and has a rectangular cross-section.
- A separator as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, in which the bypass duct communicates with the inlet compartment through an opening in a wall of the inlet compartment.
- A separator as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, in which a weir is provided between the inlet compartment and the bypass duct.
- A separator as claimed in claim 15, in which the inlet compartment communicates with the interior of the chamber through an aperture in the wall of the inlet housing, the aperture having atop edge which is not higher than the top edge of the weir.
- A separator as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, in which an inlet duct opens into the inlet housing, the bypass duct having a lowermost level which is above the lowermost level of the inlet duct.
- A separator as claimed in claim 17, in which the inlet compartment communicates with the intenor of the chamber through an aperture in the wall of the inlet housing, the aperture having a top edge which is not higher than the lowermost level of the bypass duct. 12
- 19. A method of modifying a gully chamber to provide a separator, the method comprising: (a) assembling a bypass module from an inlet housing. an outlet housing and a bypass duct providing communication between the inlet housing and the outlet housing, the inlet housing and the outlet housing respectively defining an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening respectively; (b) installing the bypass module in the gully chamber with the inlet opening directed so that, in use, inflowing liquid creates a circulating flow within the chamber about a central axis of the chamber. and the outlet opening is directed so that outflowing liquid passes through the outlet opening in a direction opposite of the circulating flow; (c) forming an opening in the inlet compartment adjacent an inlet duct of the gully chamber whereby, in use, liquid flowing from the inlet duct enters the inlet compartment; (d) forming an opening in the outlet compartment or the bypass duct adjacent an outlet duct of the gully chamber, whereby, in use, liquid may flow from the bypass module to the outlet duct.
- 20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the bypass duct is cut to length before the bypass module is assembled so as to position the inlet and outlet housings adjacent the inlet and outlet ducts.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
USUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA26/08/20041 | |||
US10/926,339 US7344636B2 (en) | 2004-08-26 | 2004-08-26 | Separator |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
IE20050505A1 IE20050505A1 (en) | 2006-03-08 |
IE85329B1 true IE85329B1 (en) | 2009-09-16 |
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