NL8103750A - Sepg. solids from fluid by filter - and removing sediment from upstream surface, e.g. by suction or using directional filter selectivity - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement is intended for separating e.g. solids from a fluid in which they are suspended by passing the fluid through a filter under the action of a pressure differential between the two sides thereof. During this process, the material settling on the upstream side of the filter is continuously removed, e.g. by a suction nozzle which moves relative to the upstream filter surface to successively apply suction to all parts thereof. The filter may, at the same time, have conditioning agents applied thereto to improve its filter action, or the solids may be conditioned, e.g. by inducing an electric charge therein just upstream of the filter (e.g. when the fluid is a gas) to improve their adhesion to the filter. Used for sepg. solids suspended in liquid or gas by passing this through filter, or alternatively, increasing solids concn. upstream of filter. The arrangement avoids the time loss incurred when interrupting the process to clean the filter by reverse flow.

Description

-1- * i - X Sch / gn / 7 Stork Services

Short designation: Method and device for separating at least one medium component from a mixture of medium components

The invention relates to a method for separating at least one medium component from a mixture of medium components, according to which method a flow mixture is supplied under the influence of an overpressure to a filter and the medium component or medium components remaining to be separated from the filter it is or will be removed. Such a method is known. It is also known an apparatus for carrying out such a method, which apparatus comprises a first space connected or connectable to a supply line, a second space connected or connectable to a discharge line, a filter arranged between the first and the second space, pressure means for generating an overpressure in the first with respect to the second space and cleaning means 15 for cleaning the filter.

According to the known technique, cleaning of the filter takes place by reversing the flow direction, whereby the filter is rinsed clean. It is clear that during such a flow direction reversal the operation of the device must be temporarily interrupted. Such a business interruption can take an unacceptably long time, especially with a heavily soiled filter.

In order now that no interruption of the operation of the device is necessary for cleaning the filter, the invention proposes to carry out the said method in such a way that the said medium component or medium components during the supply of mixture from the supply side of the filter. the filter is or are removed 8103750 -2- respectively. An apparatus for carrying out this method is characterized in that the cleaning means are placed on the supply side of the filter and are arranged for cleaning the filter during operation.

Preferred is the method according to which the said medium component (s) is (are) removed by suction of the filter. To increase the cleaning effect, the filter and / or the medium component (s) present in the mixture can be conditioned. To this end, a device according to the invention can be provided with conditioning means for increasing the effectiveness of the filter relative to the medium component or medium components to be separated.

A device according to the invention can comprise a suction member for extracting one or more medium components to be removed from the filter.

Preference is given to that embodiment in which the cleaning means and the filter are arranged to perform a scanning movement relative to each other.

In a very practical embodiment the filter has at least a collecting space with a permeability for the medium component (s) to be separated in the medium supply direction and a relatively high permeability in the other direction. For example, the or each collecting space can have a different shape when flowing in the medium supply direction than when flowing in a different direction. For example, the filter may comprise a cloth provided with pile threads at least on the supply side.

For example, when used on board ships of a device according to the invention, the first and the second spaces can be accommodated in a sling tank. In fixed arrangements, drive means may be provided for swinging the sling tank.

The aforementioned conditioning means can be arranged for conditioning the collecting space (s), for instance by the presence of means for supplying auxiliary substances. These means can be designed as a storage container for the auxiliary materials, to which a discharge movable over the 8103750-3-fliter connects? in a practical embodiment, a number of tubular pile threads permeable to the auxiliary materials connect to the interior of the storage container.

The conditioning means can also be arranged for conditioning the separable medium component (s) present in the mixture. These conditioning means can for instance be arranged for supplying an electric charge to the medium component or medium components to be separated.

The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of a drawing of some arbitrary embodiments to which the invention is not limited. In the drawing show: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention?

Fig. 2 a partly broken away perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment?

Fig. 3 a very schematic cross section of a suction device for explaining the cleaning method according to the invention?

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the filter of FIG.

2?

Fig. 5 is a cross-section corresponding with fig. 4 of a third exemplary embodiment, in which use is made of conditioning means?

Fig. 6 a partly broken away perspective view of conditioning means?

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a piece of cloth, 30 which can serve as filter material?

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of part of a filter in a further embodiment?

Fig. 9 a sling tank according to the invention provided with drive means? FIG. 10 an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with which, for example, open water can be cleaned?

Fig. 11 a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, which, for example, can be permanently installed in rivers? 8 1 0 3 7 $ 0 i $ -4-

Fig. 12 a device, of which a number of cascaded units form part;

Fig. 13 is a section of means for supplying auxiliary materials to the pile threads of a filter; FIG. 14 a more refined embodiment thereof;

Fig. 15 the detail indicated by XV in FIG. 14 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 16 is a simpler exemplary embodiment of. means for supplying auxiliaries to the pile threads of a filter;

Fig. 17 means for supplying an electrostatic charge to the medium components to be separated;

Fig. 18 a further embodiment of the invention, wherein a suction member is rotatable relative to a fixedly arranged filter;

Fig. 19 an embodiment in which a filter is rotatable relative to a fixed suction member;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the suction member of FIG. 19; FIG. 21 is a cross section of yet another exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

Fig. 22 is an axial view of a rotatable filter with a fixed suction member, comprising four suction tubes.

Fig. 1 shows a tray 1 in which a filter 2 separates a supply space 3 from a discharge space 4. Pressure means for generating an overpressure in the supply space relative to the discharge space are not shown. A suction mouth 6 connected via a hose 5 to suction means (not shown) is arranged such that it is capable of performing a scanning movement indicated by arrows 7 over the filter 2, namely on the side thereof directed towards the supply space 3. For carrying out the scanning movement 7, the suction mouth 6 is carried by a carriage 9 movable over a rail 8, which rail 8 is guided by guide posts 10 for vertical movement. The upward movement takes place by pulling a cord 11, which is attached to an ear 12 connected to the rail 8. The downward movement takes place under the influence of gravity. The up- and 8103750 r 4 -5- downward movement is indicated by arrows 13.

The reciprocating movement of the carriage 9, and thus of the suction mouth 6, takes place under the influence of a pulling member, not shown, which can selectively pull on one or the other end of a cord 14. The cord 14 is attached to an ear 15 mounted on the carriage 9 and is guided around a return roller 16 attached to the rail 8.

Fig. 2 shows a variant of the device according to the invention, in which a filter 17 is mounted on a cylindrical basket 18, which basket with the filter is rotatably driven by a motor 21 via a shaft 19 and a transmission 20,

The filter 17 is contained within a generally cylindrical vessel 22, to which a mixture can be supplied via a supply stub 23, so that "dirty" mixture is supplied to the space bounded by the wall of the vessel 22 and the filter 17. Connected to the space within the filter 17 is a discharge stub 24 for discharge of medium, to which certain medium components have been drawn in by the activity of the filter 17. From the lower end wall 25 extends just inside the basket 18 and 20 over a limited axial length thereof a cylinder-jacketed bulkhead 26.

A suction tube 27 is arranged vertically and adjacent to the filter 17 within the vessel 22. The active suction opening is directed towards the filter 17. The operation will be discussed later. A suction pipe 28 is connected to the suction pipe 27, which is connected via a suction pump 29 and a pressure pipe 30 to the space between the filter 17 and the circumferential wall of the vessel 22. The pump 29 can be effective for extracting from the "dirty" "side of the filter 17 of separable medium components, which are fed back to the filter 17 on the supply side. Thus, a gradual increase in the concentration of the medium components to be separated occurs in the supply space delimited by the vessel wall and the filter. Over time, contaminated medium 35 can be removed from the device via a discharge 31.

Fig. 3 shows a filter 32 consisting of a mesh support 33 to which pile threads 34 are attached. The mixture feed direction is indicated by arrows 35. It is clear that the pole threads 34 are arranged on the "dirty" side of the filter 32.

The pile threads 34 define capture spaces. These collecting spaces show a low permeability for the raedium component or medium-5 components to be separated in the direction of the arrows. In order to rid the collecting spaces of the medium components remaining on the filter, a suction member 36 is displaceable relative to the filter 32, as is shown symbolically by the arrows 37, 38.

Due to the suction action of the suction member 36, the collecting spaces bounded by the pile threads 34 are successively opened, so that medium components present in the relevant collecting space can be extracted in the manner indicated by the arrow 39. It will be clear with this that the collecting spaces have a different shape when flowing in the medium supply direction than when flowing in a different direction. It should be noted that for certain applications, loops may be preferable to pile threads.

Fig. 4 shows the basket 18 on which the filter 17 is arranged, while the suction tube 27 is placed on the periphery, to which the suction line 28 connects. The main flow direction is indicated by an arrow 40. An arrow 41 indicates the direction of rotation of the basket 18.

Fig. 5 shows a variant in which, in addition to the suction tube 27, 25, symbolically indicated conditioning means 42 are also present. These conditioning means 42 are adapted for supplying auxiliary substances to the filter 17, as symbolically indicated by arrows 43. ·

Fig. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device 30 44 for cleaning the filter 45 and supplying auxiliary materials thereto.

The device 44 comprises a cap 46, within which two brushes 47, 48 are carried by perforated hollow cylinders 49, 50. For rotary drive, the cylinders 49, 50 35 are provided at their lower ends with gears 51, 52, which are driven via drive gears 53, 196 by motors not shown.

Screw-plane transport plates 54, 55 are arranged within the cylinders 49, 50. A supply stub 56 connects to the lower end of the cylinder 40 for supplying 8103750 f * -7 auxiliary materials; a discharge stub 57 connects to the cylinder 50 for suction by means of suction means (not shown) of medium components remaining on the filter 45.

Fig. 7 shows a detail of filter cloth, consisting of a textile support 58, on the side of which pile threads 59 are arranged.

Fig. 8 shows a filter type in which hinged filter plates 61 are hinged on bars 60. Cords 62 serve to ensure the interconnection between the 10 bars 60.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the hingedly suspended plates can be non-filtering per se.

Fig. 9 shows the invention applied in conjunction with a sling tank 63. The sling tank 63 has two supply spaces 65, 66 and a discharge space 64 disposed between them. The space 65 is separated from the space 64 by a filter 67 of that shown in FIG. type; space 66 is separated from space 64 by a filter 68 of the same type.

The tank 63 is placed on a hinge 69 in a swinging manner.

The tank can be moved and maintained in the manner shown in Figures 9a, 9b and 9c, respectively, by drive means 70.

Fig. 9a shows a situation in which medium mixture in the spaces 65, 66 is slightly higher than in space 64, as a result of which a transport occurs in the direction indicated by arrows 71, 72.

Fig. 9b shows how the tilting of the tank to the left stimulates the transport from space 66 to space 64 and from space 64 to space 65. The directional selectivity of the filter 68 now obstructs the on-site passage, in particular for oily products, for example, while relatively clean medium in the space 64 can flow freely to the space 65, taking along the filter 67 on the filter. side of the room 65 remaining medium components. The transport directions are indicated by arrows 73, 74 in Fig. 9b.

8103750,> -8-

Fig. 9c shows the situation in which the drive means 70 are in such a position that the tank 63 slopes to the right. For this situation, the transport directions are indicated by arrows 75, 76. It will be clear that in this situation the same blocking and permeable functions are obtained as in the situation shown in Fig. 9b, with the proviso that the filters 67, 68 precisely exhibit their opposite effect. Therefore, FIG. 9c will not be discussed further.

Above the space 65, a mixture feed stub 77 opens; above the space 66 a mixture feed stub 78 opens. A drain stub 79 for "clean" medium is connected to the discharge space 64. Drainage stubs 80, 81 for "dirty" mixture adjoin spaces 65, 66.

FIG. 10 shows a self-contained, substantially circular filter 103, which is provided with annular floats 104. On top of the filter 103, sails 105 are mounted for wind-rotating driving of the filter 103, for example as a reinforcement of the rotation, such as that in one down occurs. With the aid of cables 106, all of which are connected to a common anchoring cable 107, the entire device 103, 104, 105 is anchored to the bottom of the relevant watercourse. After the foregoing explanations with regard to the invention, it will be apparent that the water within filter 103 will start to show a gradually increasing concentration of components to be separated, for instance oil, as a result of which the device. · Has a cleaning effect on the surrounding water.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the cleaning of the filter takes place under the influence of the rotation caused by the wind. From time to time, an excess amount of dirt, oil, debris or the like may be removed from the water bounded by the filter.

Fig. 11 shows a cascaded device according to the invention for retaining sludge and sand in a medium with a tidal movement or other alternating movement, such as water on a beach or wind above the beach and dunes. Five filters 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 which have poor permeability to sludge in the direction of arrow 114 and are mounted on the bottom 108 of a water at the bottom 108 of a water. sand, while the permeability is good in the direction indicated by the arrow 115. As a result, a gradual settling of sludge and sand occurs between the filters 109 to 113, as indicated in Fig. 11.

Fig. 12 shows another cascaded device according to the invention. Four spaces 82, 83, 84, 85 are separated from each other by filters 10 86, 87, 88 of the type shown in Figure 8. Suction members 89, 90, 91 allow medium components remaining on the filters 86, 87, 88 to be returned to the previous space by pumps 92, 93, 94, whereby a gradual increase in concentration of medium components to be discharged in the relevant spaces is achieved. At the bottom of spaces 82, 83, 84, 85, closable drains 95, 96, 97, 98 connect.

The mixture is supplied through an overflow chamber 99 in the first space 82. Drainage of the medium stripped of the 20 medium components to be separated takes place from the fourth space 85 through a discharge pipe 101 connecting to an overflow 100. As appears from Fig. 12, the overflow of the overflow chamber 99 is at a higher level than the overflow 100. This difference in level is responsible for a pressure difference 25 between the spaces 82, 83, 84, 85, as a result of which transport occurs in the direction indicated by the arrows 102.

Fig. 13 shows a filter 116 of the type shown in FIG. 7. A supply container 117 for conditioning auxiliaries is movable over and relative to the pile threads 59. The relative direction of movement is indicated by arrows 118. On the side facing the filter 116, the storage container 117 has perforations 119 for passage of the adjuvants. Thus, the auxiliary materials are, as it were, stripped against the pile threads 59 and adhered thereto.

FIG. 14 shows a variant in which a conditioning member 120 comprises a brush 122 rotatable within a cap 121 with an auxiliary storage container 124, which brush, as shown more clearly in FIG. 15, hollow bristles 8103750 * ...... « -10-123 which connect to the interior of the supply container 124. It will be apparent from Figure 15 how the stripping of auxiliary materials through the pile threads 59 takes place from the hollow bristles 123.

The arrows 125 indicate the relative direction of displacement of the conditioning member 120 relative to the filter 116. The arrows 126 indicate the direction of rotation of the brush 122.

It is pointed out that the hollow bristles 123 10 can be of single or multiple tubular design.

Fig. 16 shows an embodiment in which a brush 128 is rotatably mounted within a cap 127. On the inner surface of the hood 127 feed channels 129 open, which at their other end communicate with a storage container 130 for conditioning auxiliaries. In this case, the poles or hairs 131 serve as an intermediate between the feed channels 29 and the pole wires 59.

Fig. 17 shows a greatly simplified representation of a device according to the invention, comprising a filter 132, which is flowed during operation in the direction indicated by arrows 133. Upstream of the filter 132, five electrically conductive plates 134, 135, 136, 137 and 138 are provided which are connected together and jointly to a terminal 139 of a high voltage unit 140. Conductive wires 141, 142, 143, 144 are tensioned between the plates 134 to 138 and are connected together and jointly to a second terminal 145 of the high voltage unit 140. As a result of the small diameter of the wires 141 to 144, the field strength near the wires is so high that an electric charge can be imparted to passing medium components, for example finely divided solid in a gas. As a result of this electric charge, the respective medium components are more likely to adhere to the filter 132.

It is noted that Fig. 17 is only a very schematic representation for explaining the electrostatic conditioning according to the invention. The principle construction of the device can further correspond, for example, to the first exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 18 shows a curved tube 146 in which a filter 147 is placed downstream of the bend. Upstream of the filter 147, a suction tube 148 is provided, which communicates via a hollow shaft 151 driven by a motor 149 and a transmission 150 with a suction pump 152, which is connected via a line 153 to the filter 147 upstream part of the line 146. Between the transmission 150 and the pump 152, the hollow shaft 151 connects to the pump 152 via a sealing, rotating coupling 154.

It will be clear that, as a result of the described configuration, the suction tube 148 is movable over the filter, as indicated by the arrow 155. Media components to be separated are removed from the filter 147 by suction and return to the medium mixture fed in the direction indicated by the arrow 156 upstream of the filter 147. Upstream of the filter, the concentration of the medium components to be separated thus gradually increases. When a preselected concentration is exceeded, a discharge valve 157 can be opened for discharge of mixture with a high concentration of components to be separated.

Fig. 19 shows a variant in which a drivable filter 160 rotating by a motor 159 is arranged in a tube 158. A suction pipe 162 coupled to a pump 161 serves to extract medium components 30 to be separated and to re-supply those components upstream to the mixture supplied, as explained with reference to Fig. 18. Medium discharge means with a high concentration of components to be separated are shown in FIG.

19 not shown.

FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of the suction tube 162. Since the linear velocity of filter elements relative to the suction tube is related to their radial position, for a homogeneous suction operation the 8103750 -12 suction tube 162 is provided with a towards the end of the tube 162 narrowing slot opening 163. Reference is made to Fig. 3 for explanation.

Fig. 21 shows a chamber 164 with a mixture feed stub 165, in which chamber a rotor 166 is arranged. The rotor 166 includes a hollow motor 167 via a rotatable shaft 170 transmission 168, the end of which protrudes outside the chamber 164 is supported by a sealing rotary coupling 169, to which a discharge stub 171 connects.

Disc-shaped filter cages 172, 173 are mounted on the hollow collection shaft 170, the flat end faces of which bear flat, annular filters 174, 175, 176, 177. Suction tubes 15 178, 179, 180, 181 are placed near said filters 174 to 177, all of which are connected to a suction pipe 183 connected to a suction pump 182 for discharge in the direction indicated by arrow 184 from filters 174 to -with 177 extractable, separable medium components. Arrows 185, 186 indicate the main flow direction. For the operation of the device of FIG. 21, reference is made for convenience of FIG. 19. Attention is drawn to the fact that the device of FIG. 21 is a more elaborate embodiment, in which the four filters 174 through 177 in the chamber 164 are paralleled.

FIG. 22 finally shows a rotating filter 188 consisting of a ring 190 carried by spokes 189 by a rotation shaft 187, on which filter cloth 191 is stretched. In front of the filter 188 is a stationary suction member 192, consisting of four radially arranged suction tubes 193, which open into a circular suction line 194, which can be connected by a stub 195 to a suction pump (not shown). This variant is of particular importance in the case where the filter rotates relatively slowly relative to the suction member. It goes without saying that 35 other numbers of suction pipes can also be considered. The suction pipes 193 can have the same construction as the suction pipe 162 shown in Fig. 20.

It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described. For example, filter cloth aaji can be provided on both sides with pile threads or loops. Furthermore, various combinations are possible between the various aspects mentioned and embodiments according to the invention.

8103750

Claims (19)

1. Method for separating at least one medium component from a mixture of medium components, according to which method a flow mixture is supplied to a filter under the influence of an overpressure and the medium component (s) remaining on the filter to be separated therefrom characterized in that said medium component (s) is (are) removed from the inlet side of the filter during mixture feed. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said medium component (s) is (are) removed by suction of the filter. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the "filter is conditioned. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the medium component (s) present in the mixture is (are) conditioned. 5. Device for performing a method according to any one of the preceding claims, which device comprises: (1) a space connected or connectable to a supply line; (2) a second space connected or connectable to a discharge pipe; (3) a filter disposed between the first and second spaces 25; (4) pressure means for generating an overpressure in the first relative to the second space; (5) cleaning means for cleaning the filter, characterized in that the cleaning means are placed on the supply side of the filter and are arranged for cleaning the filter during operation. 6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the cleaning rigs comprise a suction member. 7. Device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cleaning means and the filter are arranged for performing a scanning movement relative to each other. 8. Device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the filter has at least a collecting space with a relatively small permeability for the medium component to be separated and in the medium supply direction and a relatively large permeability in another direction. 9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the or each collecting space has a different shape when flowing in the medium supply direction than when flowing in a different direction. 10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the filter comprises a cloth provided with pile threads at least on the supply side. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the first and second spaces are contained in a sling tank. Device according to claim 11, characterized by drive means for causing the sling tank to swing. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized by conditioning means for increasing the effectiveness of the filter relative to the medium component (s) to be separated. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the conditioning means are adapted to condition the collecting space (s). 15. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized by means for supplying auxiliary substances. 16. Device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the conditioning means comprise a storage container for the auxiliary materials, to which connects a discharge movable over the filter. Device as claimed in claim 16, characterized by a number of tubular pole wires, which flow through for the auxiliary materials, connecting to the interior of the storage container. 18. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the conditioning means are adapted to condition the medium component (s) to be separated in the mixture. 19. Device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the conditioning means are arranged for supplying an electric charge to the medium component (s) to be separated. 8103750