WO1995021675A1

WO1995021675A1 - Coalescence chamber

Info

Publication number: WO1995021675A1
Application number: PCT/AT1994/000201
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Schnabl; Vladimir Platagea
Original assignee: Stoiser U. Wolschner Betonwerk Und Baustoffe Umwelttechnik Gesmbh
Priority date: 1994-02-14
Filing date: 1994-12-21
Publication date: 1995-08-17
Also published as: AU1267095A; AT400561B; ATA28194A; DE4480651D2

Abstract

A coalescence chamber for a light liquid separator has foils (1) arranged substantially parallel to one another and in the direction on which the liquid passes through said chamber. The foils (1) divide the cross-section of the coalescence chamber available for the passage of liquid into several flow channels (5). The foils (1) are folded in a serpentine manner and secured in the region of their bends to securing plates (3) so that the foils (1) and the securing plates (3), which are fitted on two sides of the foils (1), form blocks which can be inserted into a coalescence chamber.

Description

Coalescence chamber

The invention relates to a coalescence chamber for devices for separating light liquids from water, in which separating elements made of oleophilic material which are oriented essentially in the direction of the passage of liquid through the coalescence chamber and which divide the cross section of the coalescence chamber available for the passage of liquid, which are arranged essentially parallel to one another.

Such coalescence chambers (also called coalescence chambers or coalescence filters) have the task of coalescing in small liquid separators the small droplets of light liquid floating in the waste water (primarily hydrocarbons immiscible with water, such as gasoline, diesel oil, mineral oil, etc .) to support larger droplets so that gravity separation, ie the separation of water and light liquid is quicker and more effective. In the separation chamber, which is connected downstream of the coalescence chamber, a light liquid layer forms which floats on the water contained in the separation chamber.

Various embodiments of coalescence chambers are already known. For example, known coalescence combs contain fillings made of molded polyolefin bodies (EP-A-148 444) or a bed of polyolefin chips (EP-A-264 877). However, coalescence chambers are also known which contain internals in the form of plates made of oleophilic plastic.

From DE-A-39 02 155 a wastewater treatment device is known, the coalescence chamber of which is filled with irregularly shaped polyolefin chips, such as are produced in the machining or processing of plastic parts.

From DE-A-41 03 349 a coalescence chamber of the type mentioned is known. The known coalescence chamber consists of lamella packets which are assembled in a modular design as block modules. DE-A-41 03 349 only specifies the formation of the slats in the slat packs: that the lamellae consist of oleophilic plastic and should be wave-shaped. Based on the length of the block, the lamellae of DE-A-4103349 should be inclined at an angle of 30 ° to preferably 55 °. The lamella blocks of DE-A-41 03 349 are to be flowed through from bottom to top, it being stated that holes should be provided in the lamellae which connect the individual flow sections delimited by the lamellae.

A disadvantage of the known coalescence chambers is that the coalescing effect is not always optimal and that they have to be backwashed from time to time if they are added to the coalescing chamber by sludge, which usually comes upstream of a sludge trap chamber from a coalescing chamber have so that they can develop their original coalescing effect again.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a coalescence chamber which, with a low flow resistance, has a good coalescing effect on the light liquid droplets contained in waste water.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the separating elements are foils which can be flexibly deformed under the effect of the flow of liquid through the coalescence chamber.

Due to the fact that foils are contained in the coalescence chamber according to the invention, the cross section of the coalescence chamber available for the passage of waste water is practically not reduced and nevertheless a good coalescing effect is achieved. Another advantage of the foils provided according to the invention in the coalescence chamber is that larger oil droplets formed under the coalescing effect of the foils cannot adhere to them, but rather emerge between the foils (upwards) from the coalescence chamber and that they are still contained in the waste water Solids (sludge) also adhere poorly to the foils, so that clogging of the coalescence chamber according to the invention is kept low. The fixation of solids or oil droplets is hampered in particular by the fact that the foils move slightly during operation of the system under the influence of the liquid flowing through the coalescence chamber ("flutter") and thus the foils are automatically cleaned. This cleaning can also be supported by consciously moving the foils (from time to time or constantly).

These advantages cannot arise with the plates of DE-A-41 03 349, since they are rigid plates, which results from the fact that they are wave-shaped. Even in the practical built embodiment of a separator for light liquids according to DE-A-41 03 349, the plates are rigid. They can therefore not vibrate or flutter under the influence of the liquid flowing past, so that the compressed air cleaning device mentioned in DE-A-41 03 349 is also required to clean the plates.

It is preferred in the context of the invention that the films consist of a polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. As already known, the materials mentioned achieve the coalescing effect particularly well.

In a practical and easy to implement embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the foils are formed continuously in a horizontal direction.

The handling of the foils provided in the coalescence chamber according to the invention is facilitated if the foils are attached to holding plates at their edges which run essentially parallel to the direction of flow of liquid through the coalescence chamber.

An embodiment which is simple to manufacture is characterized according to the invention in that at least one serpentine folded film is provided, the sections of which arranged between the bending or folding regions divide the cross section of the coalescence chamber available for the passage of liquid. In this embodiment, it is preferably provided that the at least one Film are attached to their bending or folding areas on the holding plates which extend essentially parallel to the direction of the passage of liquid through the coalescence chamber.

The invention also extends to the fact that the holding plates are made of plastic and that the foils or the foil are attached to the holding plates by welding or gluing. Any other type of attachment of the film (s) to the holding plates, such as stapling, is also possible.

In a practical embodiment of the invention it is provided that the foils are aligned parallel to the flow direction of liquid through the coalescence chamber or enclose an acute angle with it. As a result, the flow of liquid (waste water) through the coalescence chamber with a further intensified coalescing effect is countered by only a slight flow resistance.

In particular, if the foils are aligned parallel to the direction of flow of liquid through the coalescence chamber, an embodiment proves itself which, according to a proposal of the invention, is characterized in that the holding plates are rectangular.

If the foils are inclined to the direction of flow of liquid through the coalescence chamber, an embodiment proves itself in which it is provided that the holding plates have a parallelogram-shaped outline shape.

The arrangements ("blocks") formed from holding plates and foils provided between them and perpendicular to the holding plates or enclosing acute angles can be dimensioned so large that they fill the entire space of the coalescence chamber. However, in the sense of simplifying handling according to a proposal of the invention, it is also possible to arrange in the coalescence chamber a plurality of blocks each consisting of two holding plates and foils arranged between them. As mentioned, it can be provided according to one embodiment of the invention that the sections of the film extending between the holding plates enclose a right angle or an acute angle with the holding plates.

If several blocks of foils and holding plates are arranged in the coalescence chamber, it can be provided according to a proposal of the invention that the sections of the foil extending between the holding plates preferably have the same size, but in opposite directions, when the blocks are stacked one above the other with the holding plates Include pointing angles.

In addition to embodiments of the invention in which the films extend continuously in a horizontal direction, an embodiment is also conceivable in which it is provided that the films are formed in strips and that several strips are arranged next to one another in several rows are seen. This embodiment is distinguished by a good coalescing effect in that the larger droplets of the light liquid components that have converged easily detach from the foils, since these move easily (flutter) under the action of the flow of liquid through the coalescence chamber.

In embodiments with strip-shaped foils, it can be provided according to a proposal of the invention that the strips are spaced from one another.

In a practical and easy-to-implement embodiment of the invention it is provided that the strips are fastened to holding rods arranged transversely to the coalescence chamber and oriented essentially horizontally in the position of use. Such support rods can be provided on one or both ends of the strips made of oleophilic plastic.

An embodiment of the coalescence chamber according to the invention is easy to manufacture, in which it is provided that folded strips are provided transversely to its longitudinal extent are attached to the handrails in the area of their folding. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the strips are connected to one another, in particular welded or glued, in the region of their fold to form a loop, and that the holding rods pass through the loops.

In embodiments with folded strips, it is preferred according to the invention if both sections of the strips emanating from the folding are of essentially the same length. As a result, the area available for the coalescing effect of the foils present in the coalescence chamber is considerably enlarged.

As already mentioned, the cleaning of films arranged in the coalescence chamber in the coalescence chamber according to the invention can be facilitated by deliberately moving the films. This cleaning is preferably carried out when the coalescence chamber is at a standstill, that is to say no liquid flows through it. In order to make this possible, it can be provided according to a proposal of the invention that at least one of the holding plates is attached to a component of a light liquid separator, the distance from which the component of the light liquid separator holding the other holding plate can be changed. A corresponding embodiment is possible for the embodiment with strip-shaped foils attached to holding rods, for example by attaching one end of the holding rods to a movable component, so that the holding rods can be moved in at least one direction transverse to their longitudinal extent .

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the component is pivotally mounted in the light liquid separator.

If foils attached to holding plates are provided, an embodiment of the invention in which it is provided that hooks are provided for fastening the holding plates to components of the light liquid separator is provided, which engage between two adjacent foils and counteract from the inside the holding plates are in contact. These hooks are invented In accordance with the rule be arranged so that the hooks point upwards in the position of use.

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.

It shows:

1 in an oblique view a block of two holding plates and foils arranged between them,

2 several blocks from FIG. 1 placed side by side,

3 shows an embodiment of several blocks, in which the foils run obliquely to the holding plates,

4 compiled several blocks from FIG. 1 into a coalescence chamber,

5 shows an embodiment of a coalescence chamber in which blocks from FIG. 3 are provided in two layers with foils inclined in opposite directions,

6 shows a block, the holding plates of which are designed in parallelogram form,

7 shows several blocks from FIG. 6 placed side by side,

8 shows a coalescence chamber with blocks of FIG. 6 stacked side by side and one above the other,

9 shows an embodiment in which the film is folded in a serpentine line,

10, 11 and 12 a possible procedure when manufacturing the embodiment of Fig. 9,

13 schematically shows a light liquid separator (mineral oil separator), FIG. 14 the light liquid separator 13 with inserted film blocks,

15 shows the light liquid separator from FIG. 14, on an enlarged scale,

16 shows another embodiment of foils for a coalescence chamber and the

17 and 18 packages of foils of the embodiment shown in Fig. 16.

In principle, the invention is suitable for coalescence chambers through which liquid flows perpendicularly or obliquely to the vertical, from top to bottom or from bottom to top. The invention can be used in the same way for horizontally flowed coalescence chambers.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of films 1, which are continuous in the horizontal direction and aligned parallel to one another, are connected to holding plates 3 at their edges 2 which are aligned vertically in the position of use, e.g. welded, glued or otherwise attached. The block 4 thus formed from films 1 and holding plates 3 is inserted into a coalescence chamber of a light liquid separator, so that the space available for the passage of liquid through the coalescence chamber through the films 1 into several channels 5 which are flat in the exemplary embodiment shown is divided.

The blocks 4 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, be arranged next to one another and stacked on top of one another in a coalescence chamber, i.e. that a block 4 need not be so large that it fills the entire space of the coalescence chamber.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in terms of its basic structure, the foils 1 are aligned with the plates 3 holding them at an acute angle. The blocks 4 ′ formed in this way can also, as shown in FIG. be stacked. If, as shown in FIG. 5, blocks 4 'are also stacked one on top of the other, an embodiment in which the foils 1 in different layers of blocks 4' are inclined in opposite directions proves its worth.

The holding plates 3 for the films 1 do not have to, as in Fig.

I can be rectangular or square, but they can also have a parallelogram-shaped outline, as is shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 for the block 4 "shown there. The blocks 4" with parallelogram-shaped holding plates 3 ¹ can also, 7 and 8, stacked next to or next to and on top of each other to fill the space of a coalescence chamber.

The films 1 arranged between the holding plates 3, 3 'can be individual film blanks, each of which is attached to the holding plates 3 and 3' individually.

However, an embodiment is also conceivable in which the foils (then a foil that is continuous over at least one layer, that is to say once folded) are folded in a serpentine manner, as shown in FIG. 9. The film 1 of the embodiment from FIG. 9 is then connected in the area of its folds 6 to the holding plates 3 or 3 '(an embodiment for a block with a serpentine-folded film 1 and parallelogram-shaped holding plates 3' is shown in FIG 6 shown).

The folding of a film strip 1 into the serpentine arrangement according to FIG. 9 is particularly simple if the device and working technique, which is described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, is used.

A film strip 1 with the required length is inserted with its front end between two rows 10 and 11 of comb-like bars 12 and 13, so that the situation of FIG. 11 is achieved. Now rows 10 and

II moved relative to one another, so that the arrangement shown in FIG. 12 is finally achieved via the intermediate position of FIG. 11, in which the arrangement between the rods 13 and 12 of the hen 11 and 10 the film 1 is arranged in a serpentine pattern. If the rods 12, 13 are heatable, the film 1 can be folded into the fold or bending areas 6 with the holding plates 3 or 3 by simply pressing the holding plates 3 or 3 'onto the folding or bending areas 6 of the film 1. 3 'are welded. The rows 10 and 11 are then somewhat approximated to one another and the finished block 4 or 4 'comprising holding plates 3, 3' and film 1 can be removed.

13 shows, as far as possible schematically and with the omission of the components which are not essential for the understanding of the invention, a light liquid separator 20 with a basin 21 made of concrete or plastic, which can have a circular, elliptical or rectangular cross-section (plan view). In the basin 21 there is an inlet 22 into a sludge trap chamber 23, a space 24 which forms the coalescence chamber, and a separating chamber 25 in which light liquid separates from water. Furthermore, an outlet 26 is provided for water freed from light liquid, to which a feed line 27 (FIG. 14) is assigned within the light liquid separator, so that water can only flow from the lower region of the separation chamber 25 to the outlet 26. On walls 28 and 29, which separate the described chambers 23, 24 and 25 from one another, hooks 30 are provided pointing upwards, onto which blocks 4 and 4 ', consisting of holding plates 3 and 3', are arranged in two rows one above the other in the exemplary embodiment shown. and foils 1, can be attached. In Fig. 14 the flow of liquid through the light liquid separator 20 is symbolized by arrows.

FIG. 15 shows that the wall 29 is movable relative to the wall 28, in the exemplary embodiment shown a pivoting of the wall 29 about an axis 31 arranged in the region of the bottom of the basin 21 is shown. By moving the wall 29 towards and away from the wall 28, the foils 1 of the blocks 4 and 4 'can be moved, so that sludge attached to them, which passes from the sludge trap chamber 23 into the area of the coalescence chamber 24, is released and falls back into the sludge trap chamber 23. This movement of the foils 1 of the blocks 4 and 4 'is preferably carried out if no liquid flows through the light liquid separator 20.

Motorized movement devices can be provided for moving the wall 25 and / or the wall 28 or generally speaking at least one of the holding plates 3 or 3 'of blocks 4 which are arranged in the coalescence chamber 24. However, it is easily possible to carry out this movement, which can also be a type of "shaking", by means of a lever which is accessible through a maintenance opening (not shown) in the upper end (not shown) of the light liquid separator 20 the.

It is not imperative that the foils provided according to the invention in the coalescence chamber pass in a horizontal direction, as is shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 12.

16 to 18 show, strips 40 of foils arranged at a distance from one another can also be provided in the coalescence chamber. It is preferred that these strips 40, as shown in FIG. 16, are folded in their longitudinal center and that a loop 41 is formed in the area of the fold by the two film sections being sealed by a weld 42 or the like (adhesive or the like. Stitch) are connected. The ends 44 of the strips 40 starting from the loop 41 are preferably of the same length, although ends of the strip 40 of different lengths are also conceivable.

A holding rod 43 is inserted through the loops 41 of the strips 40 and the foils 40 are preferably fastened to the holding rod 43, e.g. welded or glued. The strips 40 are arranged on the holding rod 43 at a distance from one another, as shown in FIG. 16. The arrangement of folded strips 40 made of a polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, results in an increase in the effective surface area of the foils provided in the coalescence chamber according to the invention.

The arrays of strips 40 and handrails thus formed 43, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, are combined into packages by arranging a plurality of support rods 43 next to one another. The holding rods 43 can then be inserted directly into a coalescence chamber and attached to the walls of a light liquid separator that delimit them. However, it is also conceivable to connect the holding rods 43 to one another by means of connecting elements (not shown) to form a frame (grate) and thus to insert them as a unit in the coalescence chamber.

If the strips 40 consist of a material that is weighted (it does not float in the liquid contained in the separator), an arrangement of the strips 40 in the coalescence chamber is preferred, in which the holding rods 43 are arranged above the strips 40 as shown in Fig. 17. If the foils 40 are made of a material that is lighter than the liquid in which they are arranged, then the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 is preferred, in which the foil strips 40 move upward from the holding rods 43 stand out.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, too, a plurality of units comprising a plurality of support rods 43 and strips 40 attached to them can be arranged next to and / or one above the other in a coalescence chamber.

The preferred flow directions through a coalescence chamber are symbolized for the embodiments of FIGS. 17 and 18 by arrows 45 drawn in FIGS. 17 and 18. Of course, the flow direction in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 can also be provided obliquely, horizontally or contrary to the directions shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

In summary, the invention can be represented as follows, for example:

In a coalescence chamber for a light liquid separator, they are essentially parallel to one another and in the direction of the passage of liquid through the coalescence chamber aligned films 1 provided. The foils 1 divide the cross-section of the coalescence chamber available for the passage of liquid into a plurality of flow channels 5. The foils 1 are folded in a serpentine shape and are fastened to holding plates 3 in the region of their bends, so that the foils 1 and the holding plates 3 , which are arranged on two sides of the films 1, result in blocks 4 which can be used in a coalescence chamber.

Claims

Claims:

1. Coalescence chamber (24) for devices (20) for separating light liquids from water, essentially in the direction of the passage of

Separating elements (1, 40) made of oleophilic material which are aligned through the coalescence chamber (24) and divide the cross section of the coalescence chamber (24) available for the passage of liquid and which are arranged essentially parallel to one another are provided, characterized in that the separating elements are foils (1, 40) which can be flexibly deformed under the action of the flow of liquid through the coalescing chamber (24).

2. Coalescence chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that the films (1, 40) consist of a Polyole¬ fin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

3. Coalescence chamber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the foils (1) are formed continuously in a horizontal direction.

4. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the foils (1) on their substantially parallel to the flow direction of liquid through the coalescence chamber (24) running edges (2) on holding plates (3, 3 ') are attached.

5. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one serpentine folded film (1) is provided, the sections between the bending or folding areas (6) arranged for the passage of liquid Divide the cross-section of the coalescence chamber (24).

6. coalescence chamber according to claim 5, characterized is characterized in that the at least one film (1) is attached to holding plates (3, 3 ') on its bending or folding regions (6) which extend essentially parallel to the direction of flow of liquid through the coalescence chamber (24).

7. coalescing chamber according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the holding plates (3, 3 ') consist of plastic and that the films (1) or the film (1) on the holding plates (3, 3') through

Welding or gluing are attached.

8. coalescence chamber according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the foils (1) to the flow direction of liquid through the coalescence chamber (24) are aligned in parallel or enclose an acute angle with this.

9. coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the holding plates (3) are rectangular.

10. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the holding plates (3 ') have a parallelogram-shaped outline shape.

11. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that in the coalescence chamber (24) several consisting of two holding plates (3, 3 ') and arranged between these foils (1)

Blocks (4, 4 ', 4 ") are arranged.

12. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the foils (1) extending between the holding plates (3, 3 ') with the holding plates (3, 3') form a right angle (Fig. 1, 2) or enclose an acute angle (FIG. 3).

13. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the sections of the foils (1) which extend between the holding plates (3, 3 ') when the blocks (4') are stacked one above the other with the holding plates (3, 3 '), preferably of the same size, but pointing in opposite directions Include angle (Fig. 5).

14. Coalescence chamber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the foils (40) are strip-shaped, and that several strips (40) are provided in several rows next to each other.

15. Coalescence chamber according to claim 14, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the strips (40) have a distance from each other.

16. Coalescence chamber according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the strips (40) are attached to holding rods (43) which are arranged transversely to the coalescence chamber (24) and are essentially horizontally aligned in the position of use.

17. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that transverse to its longitudinal extension folded strips (40) are provided which are fastened in the region of their folding on the support rods (43).

18. Coalescence chamber according to claim 17, characterized in that the strips (40) in the area of their

Folding to form a loop (41) with each other (42), in particular welded or glued, and that the holding rods (43) pass through the loops (42).

19. Coalescence chamber according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that both of the sections of the strips (40) starting from the folding are essentially of the same length.

20. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the strips (40) are fixed in the region of the inlet opening for liquid in the coalescence chamber (24).

21. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that at least one of the Hal¬ teplatten (3, 3 ') on a component (29) of a light liquid separator (20) is attached, the distance from which the other holding plate (3rd ,

3 ') holding component (28) of the light liquid separator (20) is changeable.

22. Coalescence chamber according to claim 21, characterized in that the component (29) is pivotally mounted in the light liquid separator (20).

23. Coalescence chamber according to one of claims 4 to 13, 21 and 22, characterized in that hooks (30) are provided for fastening the holding plates (3, 3 ') to components (28, 29) of the light liquid separator (20), which engage between two adjacent foils (1) and lie against the holding plates (3, 3 ') from the inside.

24. Coalescence chamber according to claim 23, characterized in that the hooks (30) point upwards in the position of use.