WO2002007851A1 - Device for separating hydrocarbons from water - Google Patents

Device for separating hydrocarbons from water Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002007851A1
WO2002007851A1 PCT/NL2001/000567 NL0100567W WO0207851A1 WO 2002007851 A1 WO2002007851 A1 WO 2002007851A1 NL 0100567 W NL0100567 W NL 0100567W WO 0207851 A1 WO0207851 A1 WO 0207851A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
float
water
hydrocarbons
specific gravity
outlet
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2001/000567
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2002007851A9 (en
Inventor
Siem Jonker
Original Assignee
Kessel K.A. Techniek B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kessel K.A. Techniek B.V. filed Critical Kessel K.A. Techniek B.V.
Priority to AU2001286319A priority Critical patent/AU2001286319A1/en
Publication of WO2002007851A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002007851A1/en
Publication of WO2002007851A9 publication Critical patent/WO2002007851A9/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
    • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
    • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
    • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
    • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
    • B01D17/0211—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation with baffles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
    • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
    • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
    • B01D17/0214—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation with removal of one of the phases

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for separating hydrocarbons from water, comprising a housing which comprises at least one separating space with an inlet for a quasi-continuous flow of a water-hydrocarbon mixture and an outlet for at least one of the separated components, wherein the outlet is closable using a float valve.
  • Such a device for instance for separating petrol or oil from water.
  • the petrol is for instance separated from the water contaminated with petrol and stored in the device, while water is " drained from the device.
  • the water-hydrocarbon mixture is carried quasi-continuously into the separating space .
  • the known devices are generally embodied in concrete, wherein use is made of a spherical float valve of metal which closes the outlet to the hydrocarbons.
  • the hydrocarbons remain behind in the separating space.
  • the metal can however be corroded after a time through the action of the hydrocarbons, whereby the float valve no longer functions properly. As a consequence the water drained from the device will still contain a relatively large quantity of hydrocarbons.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a device as described above wherein the above stated drawbacks are obviated.
  • the float valve comprises a hollow float body of a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic .
  • the device according to the invention provides a device with which in simple manner hydrocarbons can be separated from the water and stored, and wherein the float valve can be used in reliable manner for a prolonged period. Because hydrocarbons are not generally water- soluble, two separate liquid layers will be formed in the separating space once the water-hydrocarbon mixture has entered the separating space via the inlet . Hydrocarbons are lighter than water, so that the layer of hydrocarbons floats on the water layer. The entrance to the outlet is herein generally situated close to the bottom of the separating space in the lower layer of liquid, the water, such that the water can be drained via the outlet .
  • the dividing line between the water and the hydrocarbons will hereby fall, whereby the layer with hydrocarbons comes into the vicinity of the entrance to the outlet.
  • the float In order to ensure that the hydrocarbons cannot leave the device via the outlet, the float must therefore close the outlet when the hydrocarbons come too close to the entrance of the outlet.
  • the float valve is equipped for this purpose such that it floats on the water but not on the hydrocarbons .
  • the entrance is closed by the float valve so that the hydrocarbons cannot leave the separating space .
  • the float valve therefore ensures here that only water is drained, and the hydrocarbons remain behind and are stored in the separating space.
  • the hydrocarbon-resistant plastic comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) .
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • the hollow float body comprises in a further suitable preferred embodiment a determined quantity of a filler material for adjusting a determined specific gravity of the float valve.
  • the filler material herein preferably comprises sand.
  • the specific gravity, and therefore the buoyancy of the float, can hereby be determined in simple and inexpensive manner.
  • the determined specific gravity of the float herein lies between the specific gravity of water and the specific gravity of the hydrocarbons.
  • the float will hereby stay afloat on water, but not on the hydrocarbons, and close the outlet to the hydrocarbons as described above .
  • the float valve can be embodied according to the present invention in any appropriate manner. A particularly effective preferred embodiment is however obtained when the float comprises a substantially cylindrical float body with at least one circular closing surface for the outlet arranged on the base of the cylindrical body.
  • the outlet is arranged in a second space separated from the separating space with an overflowable partition wall .
  • the inlet the water contaminated with the hydrocarbons herein enters the first separating space where the separation into two separate layers takes place.
  • the liquid will flow steadily via the overflowable partition wall into the second space, wherein the separation between hydrocarbons and water is maintained.
  • the partition wall herein also serves as sludge collector in that sludge possibly present in the contaminated water will settle on the bottom of the first separating space.
  • the housing, the separating space arranged in the housing, the inlet, the outlet and the partition wall are likewise made from a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Float Valves (AREA)
  • Check Valves (AREA)

Abstract

Device for separating hydrocarbons from water, comprising a housing which comprises at least one separating space with an inlet for the water-hydrocarbon mixture and an outlet for at least one of the separated components, wherein the outlet is closable using a float valve, which float valve comprises a hollow float body of a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic.

Description

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING HYDROCARBONS FROM WATER
The present invention relates to a device for separating hydrocarbons from water, comprising a housing which comprises at least one separating space with an inlet for a quasi-continuous flow of a water-hydrocarbon mixture and an outlet for at least one of the separated components, wherein the outlet is closable using a float valve.
Such a device is known for instance for separating petrol or oil from water. Here the petrol is for instance separated from the water contaminated with petrol and stored in the device, while water is" drained from the device. In known devices the water-hydrocarbon mixture is carried quasi-continuously into the separating space . The known devices are generally embodied in concrete, wherein use is made of a spherical float valve of metal which closes the outlet to the hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons remain behind in the separating space. The metal can however be corroded after a time through the action of the hydrocarbons, whereby the float valve no longer functions properly. As a consequence the water drained from the device will still contain a relatively large quantity of hydrocarbons.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device as described above wherein the above stated drawbacks are obviated.
This objective is achieved by the device according to the invention in that the float valve comprises a hollow float body of a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic .
The device according to the invention provides a device with which in simple manner hydrocarbons can be separated from the water and stored, and wherein the float valve can be used in reliable manner for a prolonged period. Because hydrocarbons are not generally water- soluble, two separate liquid layers will be formed in the separating space once the water-hydrocarbon mixture has entered the separating space via the inlet . Hydrocarbons are lighter than water, so that the layer of hydrocarbons floats on the water layer. The entrance to the outlet is herein generally situated close to the bottom of the separating space in the lower layer of liquid, the water, such that the water can be drained via the outlet . However, the dividing line between the water and the hydrocarbons will hereby fall, whereby the layer with hydrocarbons comes into the vicinity of the entrance to the outlet. In order to ensure that the hydrocarbons cannot leave the device via the outlet, the float must therefore close the outlet when the hydrocarbons come too close to the entrance of the outlet. The float valve is equipped for this purpose such that it floats on the water but not on the hydrocarbons . As soon as the water is drained and the dividing line between the water and the hydrocarbons has fallen below the entrance to the outlet, the entrance is closed by the float valve so that the hydrocarbons cannot leave the separating space . The float valve therefore ensures here that only water is drained, and the hydrocarbons remain behind and are stored in the separating space.
In a particular preferred embodiment of the device the hydrocarbon-resistant plastic comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) . This plastic is particularly suitable owing to its strength and hydrocarbon-resistant properties.
In order to enable precise adjustment of the buoyancy of the float valve, the hollow float body comprises in a further suitable preferred embodiment a determined quantity of a filler material for adjusting a determined specific gravity of the float valve.
The filler material herein preferably comprises sand. The specific gravity, and therefore the buoyancy of the float, can hereby be determined in simple and inexpensive manner.
In a further particular embodiment of the device according to the invention the determined specific gravity of the float herein lies between the specific gravity of water and the specific gravity of the hydrocarbons. The float will hereby stay afloat on water, but not on the hydrocarbons, and close the outlet to the hydrocarbons as described above . The float valve can be embodied according to the present invention in any appropriate manner. A particularly effective preferred embodiment is however obtained when the float comprises a substantially cylindrical float body with at least one circular closing surface for the outlet arranged on the base of the cylindrical body.
In order to ensure that the water can be drained via the outlet in a steady and controlled manner, in a further preferred embodiment of the device the outlet is arranged in a second space separated from the separating space with an overflowable partition wall . Via the inlet the water contaminated with the hydrocarbons herein enters the first separating space where the separation into two separate layers takes place. At a determined level of the liquid the liquid will flow steadily via the overflowable partition wall into the second space, wherein the separation between hydrocarbons and water is maintained. The partition wall herein also serves as sludge collector in that sludge possibly present in the contaminated water will settle on the bottom of the first separating space.
Although the other components of the device according to the invention can be made from diverse materials, in a particular preferred embodiment the housing, the separating space arranged in the housing, the inlet, the outlet and the partition wall are likewise made from a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic. A strong and MISSING AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION
MISSING AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION

Claims

of discharge channel 7 in which a number of inflow openings 9 are arranged close to the underside. The hollow float body 14 comprises a determined quantity of a filler material, such as for instance sand 17, for the purpose of adjusting a determined specific gravity of float valve 11 such that the specific gravity of float valve 11 lies between the specific gravity of water and the specific gravity of the hydrocarbons. The float will hereby float on the layer of water but not on the layer of hydrocarbons. When the dividing line 18 between the water layer and the layer of hydrocarbons is situated well above the openings 9 arranged in discharge channel 7 the float 11, because it floats on the water 19, will also be pushed upward to a position above openings 9, wherein entrance 10 to discharge channel 7 is opened and the water 19 can flow via openings 9 and entrance 10 into discharge channel 7 and be drained. Because the water is drained the dividing line 18, and therefore the float 11, will descend until dividing line 18 has fallen to a position just above openings 9 and float 11 will close the entrance 10 to discharge channel 7. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures the circular closing surface 15 of float valve 11 herein co-acts with the closing ring 16 to ensure a good closure of entrance 10. In order to enable filling of float body 14 with the filler material, there is further arranged on the top side of float body 14 in the embodiment shown in figure 2 a closable filling opening 21 and an eye 22 to allow simple removal of float 11 from the vertical part of discharge channel 7. CLAIMS
1. Device for separating hydrocarbons from water, comprising a housing which comprises at least one separating space with an inlet for a quasi-continuous flow of a water-hydrocarbon mixture and an outlet for at least one of the separated components, wherein the outlet is closable using a float valve comprising a hollow float body, characterized in that the hollow float body comprises a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hydrocarbon-resistant plastic comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) .
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the float body comprises a determined quantity of a filler material for adjusting a determined specific gravity of the float valve.
4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the filler material comprises sand.
5. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the determined specific gravity of the float valve lies between the specific gravity of water and the specific gravity of the hydrocarbons.
6. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the float valve comprises a substantially cylindrical float body with at least one circular closing surface for the outlet arranged on the base of the cylindrical body.
7. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the outlet is arranged in a second space separated from the separating space with an overflowable partition wall.
8. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the housing, the separating space arranged in the housing, the inlet, the outlet and the partition wall are made from a hydrocarbon-resistant plastic.
9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the hydrocarbon-resistant plastic comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) .
10. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the outlet comprises a discharge channel which comprises at least one substantially vertically running first part in which a number of openings are arranged close to the underside thereof, and wherein the float valve is arranged in the vertical part and the circular closing surface of the float valve co-acts with a closing ring arranged in the discharge channel .
11. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-10, characterized in that the device further comprises at least one closable opening arranged on the top side of the housing.
12. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-11, characterized in that the device further comprises at least one stench-trap.
13. Float for use in a device as claimed in any of the claims 1-12.
PCT/NL2001/000567 2000-07-21 2001-07-23 Device for separating hydrocarbons from water WO2002007851A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001286319A AU2001286319A1 (en) 2000-07-21 2001-07-23 Device for separating hydrocarbons from water

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1015778 2000-07-21
NL1015778A NL1015778C2 (en) 2000-07-21 2000-07-21 Device for separating hydrocarbons from water.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002007851A1 true WO2002007851A1 (en) 2002-01-31
WO2002007851A9 WO2002007851A9 (en) 2002-11-28

Family

ID=19771788

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL2001/000567 WO2002007851A1 (en) 2000-07-21 2001-07-23 Device for separating hydrocarbons from water

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2001286319A1 (en)
NL (1) NL1015778C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2002007851A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004024286A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-03-25 COLLINET-ASSAINISSEMENT, en néerlandais: 'COLLINET-WATERZUIVERING' Device for sealing a waste liquor purifying tank
EP1415696A1 (en) * 2002-10-31 2004-05-06 Javier Martin Cabre Separator for hydrocarbon containing water
WO2004111582A1 (en) * 2003-06-12 2004-12-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Float for a fill level sensor

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1136970A (en) * 1966-09-07 1968-12-18 Ici Ltd Pontoons
GB1187653A (en) * 1966-03-31 1970-04-15 Hartmut Roenneke A Process for Separating the Two Phases of an Emulsion
DE2441401A1 (en) * 1974-08-29 1976-03-11 Karl Meier Grease separator with sludge and settling compartments - in one vessel septd. by partition contg. communicating and flushing passages
US4132238A (en) * 1977-04-29 1979-01-02 Clark Earl A Automatic separator valve
DE3014204A1 (en) * 1979-12-19 1981-10-15 Nikolaus 5350 Euskirchen Hammerschmitt Separating procedure for light and heavy fluids and mud - has light fluid flushed from mud with water, for mud removal, utilising dome shaped light fluid inlet
EP0350185A2 (en) * 1988-07-07 1990-01-10 Macrotech Fluid Sealing, Inc. Fuel tank float
US5002657A (en) * 1990-05-04 1991-03-26 Botts John B Separator for oil well production fluids
FR2667514A1 (en) * 1990-10-03 1992-04-10 Duchazaubeneix Jacques Improved hydrocarbon separator
WO1997022560A1 (en) * 1995-12-19 1997-06-26 Biorem Ag Fat and oil removal installation
US5739440A (en) * 1997-02-25 1998-04-14 Environmental Remediation Equipment Inc. Method and device for removing hydrocarbons floating on water

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1187653A (en) * 1966-03-31 1970-04-15 Hartmut Roenneke A Process for Separating the Two Phases of an Emulsion
GB1136970A (en) * 1966-09-07 1968-12-18 Ici Ltd Pontoons
DE2441401A1 (en) * 1974-08-29 1976-03-11 Karl Meier Grease separator with sludge and settling compartments - in one vessel septd. by partition contg. communicating and flushing passages
US4132238A (en) * 1977-04-29 1979-01-02 Clark Earl A Automatic separator valve
DE3014204A1 (en) * 1979-12-19 1981-10-15 Nikolaus 5350 Euskirchen Hammerschmitt Separating procedure for light and heavy fluids and mud - has light fluid flushed from mud with water, for mud removal, utilising dome shaped light fluid inlet
EP0350185A2 (en) * 1988-07-07 1990-01-10 Macrotech Fluid Sealing, Inc. Fuel tank float
US5002657A (en) * 1990-05-04 1991-03-26 Botts John B Separator for oil well production fluids
FR2667514A1 (en) * 1990-10-03 1992-04-10 Duchazaubeneix Jacques Improved hydrocarbon separator
WO1997022560A1 (en) * 1995-12-19 1997-06-26 Biorem Ag Fat and oil removal installation
US5739440A (en) * 1997-02-25 1998-04-14 Environmental Remediation Equipment Inc. Method and device for removing hydrocarbons floating on water

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004024286A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-03-25 COLLINET-ASSAINISSEMENT, en néerlandais: 'COLLINET-WATERZUIVERING' Device for sealing a waste liquor purifying tank
BE1015108A3 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-10-05 Collinet Assainissement En Nee Device sealing tank liquid waste treatment plant.
EP1415696A1 (en) * 2002-10-31 2004-05-06 Javier Martin Cabre Separator for hydrocarbon containing water
WO2004111582A1 (en) * 2003-06-12 2004-12-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Float for a fill level sensor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002007851A9 (en) 2002-11-28
NL1015778C2 (en) 2002-01-24
AU2001286319A1 (en) 2002-02-05

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