Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Page 1
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEPARATION OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS FROM
WASTE FLUID
Dunne
This invention is in the field of waste water and other similar and various
fluid treatment
applications, and more specifically provides a method and apparatus for the
highly
efficient removal of sedimentary or suspended solid waste from raw waste
fluids.
Background:
This invention generally speaking relates to a method and apparatus for the
removal of
solid matter from water or other fluids, by the introduction of one or more
chemicals into
the fluid under pressure to coagulate the solid materials. Following
coagulation of the
solid materials, provided that the raw fluid under pressure is not unduly
disturbed, the
solid materials will settle out of the fluid for removal, and the clarified
fluid can be drawn
off the system.
At the present time, most methods of the treatment of waste water or other
effluent for
the removal of solids contained therein are mainframe biological treatments.
These
systems are costly and highly inefficient, due in part to any deficiencies
created by shock
loadings which destroy the biological components of the treatment strain or
the like.
Numerous other attempts have been made in the prior art other than mainframe
biological
treatment systems, to endeavor to produce a fluid treatment system which will
compete
with the performance of a biological approach, at lower costs. These have
typically not
been all that successful.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
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One example of a prior patent in this area was Canadian Patent Serial No.
2267677,
entitled "Fluid Treatment System", to the same inventor. That patent was
generally
speaking directed to a method and apparatus for the removal of suspended
solids from
water or other effluent similar to the present time ¨ the raw fluid was placed
in a
pressurized equalization chamber for a first stage settling of solid particles
therefrom, and
then pumped into a second pressurized chamber. That system was commercially
expensive to produce, in part by virtue of the use of two pressurized vessels,
and also had
certain limitations as to its efficacy dependent upon the type of raw fluid to
be treated.
The prevalence of raw fluid in many types of industrial applications and
locations,
requiring solids extraction or removal therefrom, is suggestive of the high
commercial
need for a cost effective and reasonably portable system to perform this
function. If there
were a way to build a system more cost effective and simpler in design, and
which could
provide enhanced efficacy in additional applications, it is believed that such
a system or a
method would be commercially accepted. As well, if there were systems that
provided
maximized efficacy with minimized cost in comparison to mainframe biological
systems,
this would also be considered to be a commercial benefit.
Summary of the Invention:
It is the object of the present invention to provide a system which can be
used to remove
suspended solids from raw waste fluid, such as waste water or the like, in a
more efficient
and reliable and less costly manner than the methods currently available.
The further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus or
method which
could be used to replace or supplement a mainframe biological system, and/or
which
would provide enhanced efficacy and minimize production cost for the system
and
equipment over prior art systems.
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The invention, a system for the clarification of raw fluid containing
suspended solids by
separation of the raw fluid into clarified fluid and settled solids,
accomplishes its
objectives comprising firstly a vertically oriented unpressurized settling
tank which is
capable of receiving raw fluid from a raw fluid source. The vertically
oriented
unpressurized settling tank would have a top and a bottom, and a sludge
discharge
located at the bottom thereof through which settled solids settled therein
could be
removed from the settling tank. The second component of the invention is a
vertically
oriented pressurizable clarification vessel which also has a top and a bottom,
and which
also has a raw fluid injection inlet located along a side of the vessel
between the top and
the bottom. There is also a clarified fluid discharge at the top of the
clarification vessel,
and a settled solids discharge at the bottom of the clarification vessel.
A conduit has an intake end connected to a settling discharge of the settling
tank near the
top of the settling tank, and an injection end of the conduit is connected to
the raw fluid
injection inlet on the clarification vessel.
There is also a controllable raw fluid injection valve within the conduit,
through which
raw fluid can be injected into the clarification vessel from the settling
tank. The portion
of the conduit between the settling tank discharge and the raw fluid injection
valve is the
non-pressurized intake portion of the conduit, for discussion purposes, and
the portion of
the conduit between the raw fluid injection valve and the raw fluid injection
inlet on the
clarification vessel is the pressurized injection portion thereof.
The next component of the system, which is a controllable pressure control
fluid
discharge valve connected to or integral with the clarified fluid discharge on
the
clarification vessel. Clarified fluid can be discharged from the clarification
vessel
through this fluid discharge valve.
A controllable pressure control solids discharge valve is also connected to
the
clarification vessel, at or integral with the settled solids discharge, and
through which
settled solids can be discharged from the clarification vessel. Finally,
injection means to
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inject raw fluid from the settling tank through the raw fluid injection valve
are also
included.
In operation of the system, the clarification vessel will be filled with raw
fluid by the
injection of raw fluid from the settling tank through the conduit, more
specifically by
pressuring raw fluid through the raw fluid injection valve by the injection
means.
Suspended solids will settle to the bottom of the clarification vessel, at
this point being
settled solids for discharge through the solids discharge valve to the non-
pressurized
solids downstream. Clarified fluid from which suspended solids have settled
will be
discharged from the fluid discharge valve to a non-pressurized fluid
downstream. The
selected operating pressure of the clarification zone defined by the
clarification vessel
between the raw fluid injection valve, the fluid discharge valve and the
solids discharge
valve will be maintained during the injection of raw fluid or the discharge of
clarified
fluid or settled solids therefrom. Maintenance of a selected and relatively
constant
pressure within the clarification vessel during operation is key to the
efficacy of the
system and method of the present invention.
The system can be operated in many ways to maintain the operating pressure of
the
clarification zone. It is specifically contemplated that the operating
pressure of the
clarification zone can be maintained by cooperation of the raw fluid injection
valve, the
fluid discharge valve and the solids discharge valve during the injection of
raw fluid or
the discharge of clarified fluid or settled solids from the clarification
vessel. These
valves could be operated manually by an operator, or could be actuated in
conjunction
with each other by a computerized control system so as to allow for most
appropriate
discharge of clarified fluid or settled solids waste while new raw fluid is
injected into the
clarification vessel, etc.
In some embodiments of the system of the present invention, actuation of the
fluid
discharge valve to discharge clarified fluid from the clarification vessel
would be done at
the same time that the raw fluid injection valve was actuated, so as to inject
sufficient
volume of additional raw fluid into the clarification vessel to maintain the
operating
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pressure therein, as clarified fluid is drawn off through the fluid discharge
valve to the
downstream non-pressurized fluid area. Similarly, actuation of the solids
discharge valve
to discharge settled solids from the bottom of the pressurized clarification
vessel could be
done at the same time and in conjunction with the actuation of the raw fluid
injection
valve, so as to actuate the raw fluid injection valve and inject sufficient
volume of
additional raw fluid into the clarification vessel to maintain operating
pressure therein
while settled solids are drawn off the bottom of the clarification vessel
again to the non-
pressured solid discharge downstream.
As outlined above, the injection means, the raw fluid injection valve, the
fluid discharge
valve and the solids discharge valve could be manually controlled by an
operator, for a
basic or serial operation of the system. Alternatively and more desirably, the
system
could be automated by joint control of the injection means, raw fluid
injection valve,
fluid discharge valve and solids discharge valve, so as to maintain as closely
as possible
constant pressure at the desired pressure level within the clarification zone,
during the
operation of the system and based on injection of raw fluid which is partially
clarified
from the settling tank.
The system may also include a programmable valve controller which was capable
of
individually controlling the actuation of the injection means as well as the
opening or
closing of each of the raw fluid injection valve, the fluid discharge valve
and the solids
discharge valve, to maintain constant operating pressure in the clarification
vessel during
operation. A programmable valve controller such as this is the likely most
desirable
embodiment of the system although manually operated embodiments are also
obviously
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The system of the present invention could accomplish its objectives of
allowing for the
separation of suspended solids from a raw waste fluid or effluent, by
operation in either a
batch mode or a continuous feeding and discharge mode. In a continuous feeding
and
discharge mode, raw fluid would be injected into the clarification vessel at
the same time
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as clarified fluid is discharged therefrom, or at the same time as settled
solids are ejected
from the bottom of the clarification vessel.
Some other embodiments of the system of the present invention would include
the
incorporation of interior fighting into the injection portion of the conduit,
so that the raw
fluid passing therethrough on injection into the clarification vessel was more
aggressively
mixed or agitated in advance of the placement or entry of that raw fluid into
the
clarification vessel. In place or in addition to the placement of interior
fighting in the
injection portion of the conduit, the injection portion of the conduit might
also be
designed to consist of a plurality of tubular sections of varying diameters,
which could
exert a venturi mixing effect on raw fluid passing there through. These
venturi sections
in the injection portion of the conduit again may be straight walled inside,
or may include
interior fighting or other protuberances to more aggressively mix or to
enhance the
venturi effect upon the raw fluid passing there through.
The injection portion of the conduit would likely be configured to be
positioned
horizontally in relation to the vertically positioned clarification vessel.
The system might be further modified by adding at least one injector to the
injection
portion of the conduit by which one or more chemical or floccing agents could
be
injected into raw fluid passing there through before entry into the
clarification vessel, for
the purpose of enhancing the flocking or settlement activity of sediment from
the raw
fluid in the clarification vessel.
Varying types of operating pressures could be used in the clarification vessel
but it is
specifically contemplated that for many types of raw fluid or effluent an
operating
pressure of the clarification vessel in the range of 10 to 20 pounds per
square inch would
be desirable.
The injection means would most likely be a pump which was used to inject raw
fluid into
the injection portion of the conduit.
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The system might also additionally include an overflow line which was
connected from
near the top of the settling tank back to the raw fluid source to allow for
the recirculation
of raw fluid in the non-pressured first tank in the system. One or more
grinding pumps
might also be displaced within the settling tank or in front of the injection
means, to
allow for the grinding of suspended solids within the raw fluid.
In addition to a system for the clarification of raw fluid containing
suspended solids,
there is also disclosed a method of accomplishing same. The method comprises
first
providing a fluid clarification system comprising of a vertically disposed
nonpressurized
settling tank capable of receiving raw fluid for clarification from a raw
fluid source, said
settling tank having a top and a bottom and a sludge discharge located at the
bottom
thereof through which settled solids from raw fluid settle therein can be
removed from
the settling tank; and a vertically oriented pressured clarification vessel
having a top and
a bottom, the clarification vessel also having a raw fluid injection inlet
located along a
side of a vessel between the top and the bottom, a clarified fluid discharge
at the top of
the vessel and a settled solids discharge at the bottom of the vessel.
The settling tank and the clarification vessel would be connected by a conduit
which has
an intake end and an injection end. The intake end of the conduit would be
connected to
the settling tank at a settling discharge near the top of the settling tank,
and the injection
end of the conduit would be connected to the raw fluid injection inlet on the
clarification
vessel. A controllable raw fluid injection valve would also be provided within
this
system within the conduit through which raw fluid could be injected into the
clarification
vessel from the settling tank, the portion of the conduit between the settling
discharge and
the raw fluid injection valve being the non-pressured intake portion and the
portion of the
conduit between the raw fluid injection valve and the raw fluid injection
inlet being the
pressurized injection portion.
A controllable pressure control fluid discharge valve would also be connected
to or
integral with the clarified fluid discharge, through which clarified fluid
could be
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discharged, and a controllable pressure control solids discharge valve would
be connected
toor integral with the settled solids discharge, through which settled
suspended solids
could be discharged from the clarification vessel. Finally, there would be
within this
apparatus injection means, such as a pump or the like, to inject raw fluid
from the settling
tank through the raw fluid injection valve into the clarification vessel up to
operating
pressure.
In the method, the clarification vessel would be filled with raw fluid by
actuating the
injection means to inject raw fluid into the vessel from the settling tank
through the
conduit, until the desired operating pressure in the clarification vessel was
reached.
Following settling of settled solids from the raw fluid contained within the
clarification
vessel, additional raw fluid would be injected into the clarification vessel
through the raw
fluid injection valve and the conduit, while maintaining the desired operating
pressure in
the clarification vessel by discharging clarified fluid to a non-pressurized
fluid
downstream by actuating the fluid discharge valve or discharging settled
solids to a non-
pressured solids downstream by actuating the solids discharge valve. In either
case the
operating pressure within the clarification vessel would be maintained while
the
settlement and removal method for settled solids from the raw fluid, which was
first
settled partially in the settling tank, would be accomplished in accordance
with the
remainder of the method.
The operating pressure of the clarification vessel is maintained by the
cooperation of the
raw fluid injection valve, the fluid discharge valve and the solids discharge
valve, the
remaining injection of raw fluid or the discharge of clarified fluid or
settled solids
therefrom. For example in actuation of the fluid discharge valve to discharge
clarified
fluid from the top of the clarification vessel, the raw fluid injection valve
could be
actuated to inject sufficient volume of additional raw fluid into the
clarification vessel to
maintain operating pressure therein. Similarly, by actuation of the solids
discharge valve
at the base of the clarification vessel to discharge settled solids therefrom,
the raw fluid
injection valve could be actuated along with the injection means to inject
sufficient
volume of raw fluid into the clarification vessel to maintain operating
pressure as well.
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The injection means, the raw fluid injection valve, the fluid discharge valve
and the solids
discharge valve could be manually controllable by an operator, or could be
automated,
for example by the incorporation of a programmable valve controller capable of
individually controlling the actuation of the injection means as well as the
opening or
closing of each of the raw fluid injection valve, the discharge valve and the
sludge valve,
to maintain the constant operating pressure in the clarification vessel during
operation.
The system could be operated in this method either in batch or continuous
feeding mode.
Continuous feeding mode would be most desirable. In continuous feeding mode,
raw
fluid could be injected into the clarification vessel at the same time as
clarified fluid or
solids are discharged therefrom.
The method could also be further enhanced by providing aggressive mixing
activity to be
exerted upon the raw fluid on injection into the clarification vessel. This
might be
accomplished either by placing interior fighting inside of the conduit to mix
the raw fluid
passing there through, or even configuring the injection portion of the
conduit to be
comprised of a plurality of tubular sections of varying diameters which would
exert a
venturi mixing effect upon raw fluid passing there through.
Chemical or other floccing agents could be injected into raw fluid passing
through the
injection portion of the conduit by at least one injector to allow for the
aggregation of
solids and the better settlement therefrom. Many different types of operating
pressures
could be practiced in the method of the present invention but it is
specifically
contemplated that operating pressure in the clarification zone of the
clarification vessel
would be in the range of 10 to 20 pounds per square inch.
The raw fluid could be ground by at least one grinding pump in advance of
entry into the
settling tank or while in the settling tank, to grind the suspended solids
therein.
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A method and system as outlined above will represent a substantial enhancement
over the
state of the art both in terms of cost efficiency of manufacture of systems of
this type as
well as for the purpose of treatment of specific particularly toxic or
difficult to clean raw
fluids or effluents requiring the removal of suspended sediments therefrom.
Both downstream fluid processing as well as downstream sterilization or
further use for
treatment of solids recovered from the fluid separation process could be
conducted in
various types of either pressurized or non-pressurized systems, beyond the
point of
discharge from the settling tank or clarification vessel. The method and
process of the
present invention provide for superior cleaning of waste water or other raw
fluids, and the
removal of suspended sediments therefrom, more reliably and with a more cost
efficient
and mechanically efficient equipment footprint than other systems currently in
use in the
industry.
By altering the chemical agents injected into raw fluid before entry into the
clarification
vessel, different types of suspended sediments and raw fluids can be treated
and
efficiency of the system maximized in terms of the suspension of solids being
mitigated,
and the solids being settled off from the clarified fluid to be discharged
therefrom.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numerals, and where:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the system of the present
invention;
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Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the system of the
present
invention, demonstrating the venturi configuration of the conduit and the
placement of a grinding pump within the settling tank;
Fig. 3 is a schematic of one embodiment of an automated valve controller in
accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps in one embodiment of the method
of
the present invention; and
Fig. 5 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps in an alternate embodiment of
the
method of the present invention, in which the raw fluid is ground in advance
of
injection into the clarification vessel.
Detailed Description of the Invention:
The present invention is a system and method for the removal of suspended
solids from
effluent or other raw fluids or waste water. The system would be used to
separate
approximately solid fractions from waste water or other similar fluids ¨ the
solid fraction
in many cases might consist of a combination of grit and sludge, and in other
cases might
comprise more toxic chemical or other types of solids or waste within that
water or other
fluid.
While the invention and this application speak specifically to the use of this
system and
method for the cleaning and recovery of suspended solids from waste water and
similar
effluent it is also foreseeable that other types of raw fluid or effluents
might be cleaned
using the same type of a treatment system and method.
System architecture:
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Figure 1 demonstrates one embodiment of the system 1 of the present invention
for the
clarification of raw fluid containing suspended solids, by separation of the
raw fluid into
clarified fluid and settled solids. The three key components are a
nonpressurized settling
tank 6, the pressurized venturi mixing in conduit 18 and a pressurized
clarification vessel
11, as outlined in further detail below.
There is firstly shown a vertically oriented nonpressurized settling tank 6.
The settling
tank 6 is capable of receiving raw fluid 2 from a raw fluid source 7. The raw
fluid source
could be a pump, well, pipeline or other access to raw fluid 2 being pumped or
made
available to the unpressurized settling tank 6 from a raw fluid storage
resource area.
The settling tank 6 has a top 8 and a bottom 9. At the bottom 9 of the
settling tank 6
there is a sludge discharge 10. Settled solids 5 can be discharged through the
sludge
discharge 10. The sludge discharge 10 would likely comprise a valve or other
access
means by which settled solids or sludge could be accessed and pushed out of
the settling
tank 6 at appropriate times.
The second component shown is a vertically oriented pressurizable
clarification vessel
11, which also has a top 12 and a bottom 13. The clarification vessel 11 also
has a raw
fluid injection inlet 14 which is located along one side 15 thereof, at which
raw fluid 2
can be injected into the clarification vessel 11.
The clarification vessel 11 would also have a clarified fluid discharge 16
located at the
top end 12 thereof. The clarified fluid discharge 16 would be an egress
through which
clarified fluid could be evacuated to a nonpressurized downstream. The
clarification
vessel also includes a settled solids discharge 17 at the bottom 13 thereof.
The settled
solids discharge 17 would be an egress by which settled solids which were
settled out of
raw fluid processed in the system could be evacuated from the clarification
vessel to a
nonpressurized solids downstream.
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The settling tank 6 and the clarification vessel 11 are connected by a conduit
18. The
conduit 18 has an intake end 19 and an injection end 20. The intake end 19 of
the conduit
18 is connected to a settling discharge 21 of the settling tank 6, near the
top 8 of the
settling tank 6, and the injection end 20 of the conduit 18 is connected to
the raw fluid
injection inlet 14 on the clarification vessel 11. Raw fluid 2 from which
partial solids
have been settled out within the settling tank 6 could move from the settling
tank 6 to the
clarification vessel 11 through the conduit 18.
The next element which can be seen in this Figure is a controllable raw fluid
injection
valve 22 within the conduit 18, through which raw fluid 2 can be injected into
the
clarification vessel 11 from the settling tank 6 and which defines the
beginning of the
pressurized clarification zone for the mixing and clarification of the raw
fluid. The raw
fluid injection valve 22 is important as a means to provide a break between
the
pressurized and unpressurized zones of the system of the present invention ¨
the portion
of the conduit 18 which is between the raw fluid injection valve 22 and raw
fluid
injection inlet 14 is the pressurized injection portion 24.
Also shown are injection means 27, which are a means by which the raw fluid 2
can be
injected from the settling tank 6 through the raw fluid injection valve 22
into the
clarification zone defined by the clarification vessel 11 and the injection
portion 24 of the
conduit. The injection means 27 would most likely be a pump although there
could be
other circumstances in which other types of mechanical assistance could be
used to
pressurize the raw fluid 2 through the raw fluid injection valve 22 into the
injection
portion 24 of the conduit 18.
Also shown is a controllable pressure control fluid discharge valve 25, which
is
connected to the clarified fluid discharge 16 on the clarification vessel 11.
It is through
this fluid discharge valve 25 that clarified fluid 4 can be discharged from
the clarification
vessel 11 to the nonpressurized downstream for clarified fluid. In addition to
the fluid
discharge valve 25, there would also be a controllable pressure control solids
discharge
valve 26 which is connected to the settled solids discharge 17 on
clarification vessel 11,
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through which settled solids 5 can be discharged from the clarification vessel
11. Both
valves 25 and 26 are contemplated to be pressure control valves, since upon
appropriate
configuration and adjustment of these types of valves they can assist in the
maintenance
of appropriate pressure within the clarification vessel 11. Maintenance of a
desired
operating pressure within the clarification vessel 11 is a key element of the
method
herein.
In operation of the system, the clarification vessel 11 would be filled with
raw fluid 2 by
the injection thereof from the settling tank 6 through the conduit 18.
Suspended solids 28
would settle to the bottom of the clarification vessel 11, being settled
solids 5 for
discharge through the solids discharge valve 26 to a nonpressurized solids
downstream.
Clarified fluid 4 from which suspended solids 28 have settled can be
discharged from the
fluid discharge valve 25 to a nonpressurized fluid downstream.
The selected operating pressure within the clarification zone 29, which is
defined by the
clarification vessel 11 between the raw fluid injection valve 22 through to
the fluid
discharge valve 25 and the solids discharge valve 26 would be maintained
during the
injection of raw fluid 2, or during the discharge of clarified fluid 4 or
settled solids 5 from
the clarification vessel 11. The operating pressure within the clarification
zone 29 would
be maintained by cooperation of the raw fluid injection valve 22, the fluid
discharge
valve 25 and the solids discharge valve 26, during the injection of raw fluid
or the
discharge of clarified fluid or settled solids from the clarification vessel
11. These valves
could be operated manually to work in cooperation with each other, or might in
other
embodiments be actuated by a programmable valve controller. In the embodiment
shown
in Figure 4, a basic embodiment in which manual operation of the valves is
contemplated
is shown.
To recover clarified fluid from the clarification vessel 11, the fluid
discharge valve 25
could be actuated to allow for the discharge of clarified fluid from the
clarification vessel
11. At the same time, the raw fluid injection valve 22 would be actuated,
likely in
conjunction with the injection means 27, to inject sufficient volume of
additional raw
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
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fluid into the clarification vessel 11 to maintain the desired operating
pressure within the
clarification zone. Upon the completion of the evacuation of the desired
quantity of
clarified fluid from the clarification vessel 11, closure of the fluid
discharge valve 25, and
the raw fluid injection valve 22 in conjunction therewith would result in
continued
operation of the solids settlement method within the clarification vessel, to
maintain the
selected operating pressure.
Similarly if it is desired to discharge settled solids from the bottom of the
clarification
vessel 11, the raw fluid injection valve 22 would be actuated along with the
solids
discharge valve 26, to effectively push settled solids out of the bottom of
the clarification
vessel 11.
The system could either be operated manually or automated in such a way that
it could
run in batch mode, whereby the raw fluid injection valve 22 would be actuated
from time
to time along with the injection means 27 to push an entire new batch of raw
fluid into
the clarification zone 29, and at the same time the complete quantity of
available clarified
fluid would be removed from the clarification vessel by at the actuation of
the fluid
discharge valve 25, and then at the same time or following the closure of that
fluid
discharge valve 25 the solids discharge valve 26 can be opened to push out
some or all of
the settled solids present within the clarification vessel.
It will also be understood however that in certain embodiments of the method
and system
of the present invention rather than running in a batch mode, when the
appropriate
operating parameters were determined the system could simply be fed
continuously by
allowing for the continuous modest injection of raw fluid through the raw
fluid injection
valve, and at the same time potentially leaving open or allowing for the
pressure control
activation of the fluid discharge valve to allow for the continued evacuation
of clarified
fluid to the nonpressurized clarified fluid downstream, and the ability to
occasionally
actuate the settled solids discharge valve 26 to again push out some of the
settled solids
present within the clarification vessel 11.
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Both the settling tank 6 and the clarification vessel 11 would likely have
conical bottoms.
However a conical bottom in either of the settling tank 6 of the clarification
vessel 11 will
be understood to not be a mandatory element and different bottom shapes or
profiles on
these units would not depart from the scope and intention hereof.
Also shown in this Figure is interior fighting in the conduit 18 to apply
venturi mixing
forces to the raw fluid passing therethrough.
Referring next to Figure 2 there is shown a second embodiment of the system of
the
present invention, with a number of key additional functions ¨ specifically
the system
which is demonstrated in this Figure includes a programmable valve controller
as well as
a plurality of chemical injectors in the conduit, and a grinding pump within
the settling
tank, as outlined in further detail below.
This Figure, in contrast to the system embodiment shown in Figure 1
demonstrates the
incorporation of a grinding pump 31 into the settling tank 6 for the purpose
of grinding
up the settled solids within the raw fluid 2 ¨ by rendering raw fluid with
reasonably
uniform particle size the method of the present invention is best practiced.
The grinding
pump or pumps 31 could be located within the settling tank 6 or elsewhere in
relation to
the settling tank 6, before the entry of raw fluid 2 into the settling tank 6
closer to the raw
fluid source, or even upon the discharge of raw fluid in a partially settled
form from the
settling tank 6 it may be desired to either conduct a first or supplemental
grinding of the
raw fluid at that time and a raw fluid grinding pump could be introduced at
that point in
the system as well.
Also shown in this embodiment is a programmable valve controller 32, connected
to the
raw fluid injection valve 22, the injection means 27, the fluid discharge
valve 25 and the
solids discharge valve 26. Depending upon the type of equipment that was
present on
each of those valves, the programmable valve controller 32 might be able to
exercise
different types or degrees of control upon those valves and their actuation.
For example
in the case of an open or closed valve configuration, the control which could
be exercised
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
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by the program valve controller 32 might be more binary in nature where it
could
effectively turn the valve on or turn the valve off. Alternatively and more
likely it is
contemplated that the valves would each be variable in control and that the
programmable valve controller 32 could control the amount of opening and
actuation of
each of these valves in cooperation with each other, dependent upon the
outcome desired
¨ for example if it was desired to push solids from the settling point at the
base of the
clarification vessel 11 out of the clarification vessel 11, the fluid
discharge valve 25
might be locked shut, and the solids discharge valve 26 allowed to push a
maximum
portion of settled solids off of the bottom of the clarification vessel while
new raw fluid 2
was injected through the raw fluid injection valve 22. Alternatively it might
be the case
that the solids discharge valve 26 would be completely closed and the fluid
discharge
valve either opened to a specific degree or allowed to operate in a pressure
control mode
to automatically allow for the evacuation of a certain level of clarified
fluid from the
clarification vessel 11, based upon the injection of new raw fluid 2 via the
conduit 18. In
certain cases the controller might also actuate all three valves at the same
time if it was
desired to effectively try to in a serial injection format continually draw
off clarified fluid
and settled solids from the clarification vessel 11 during operation of the
system and the
method. The programmable valve controller 32 would also be connected to
necessary
sensors 40 to determine or monitor the operating pressure in the clarification
zone.
It may be desired to inject one or more chemical agents into the raw fluid 2
as it enters
into the clarification vessel 11. There are a number of ways to do this ¨ in
the prior art,
chemical or floccing agents were injected into the settling tank 6 which was
also
pressurized and they were mechanically mixed into the raw fluid. In this case
what is
contemplated as a novel enhancement is the injection of those agents through
one or more
chemical injectors 33 in the conduit 18 after the raw fluid injection valve 22
¨ ie. the
injection of these agents would take place inside the pressurized zone.
Configuration of
the remainder of the injection portion of the conduit 18 to provide for a
maximized
venturi mixing effect on the raw fluid passing therethrough would result in a
very good
mixing of the chemical agents into the raw fluid 2 in advance of its entry
into the main
body of the clarification vessel 11.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 18
As outlined above, it is desired to provide a conduit 18 which will maximize
the venturi
mixing effect exerted upon the raw fluid 2 passing therethrough into the
clarification
vessel 11. There are a number ways of accomplishing this although what is
specifically
contemplated as a reasonably simple manufacturing approach is to manufacture
the
conduit 18 out of a plurality of tubular sections of varying diameters, such
that fluid
passing therethrough would be agitated and mixed. The plurality of tubular
sections of
varying diameters 34 are shown in this Figure. Also shown in this Figure in
dotted relief
is the incorporation of interior fighting 35 into some or all of the sections
of the conduit
18, which would further mix the raw fluid 2.
Cooperation of the valves:
Two key elements of the method of the present invention are the fact that a
constant
operating pressure is maintained within the clarification zone 29 defined by
the
clarification vessel 11 and the injection portion of the conduit 18, as well
as the fact that
the three valves, namely the raw fluid injection valve 22, the fluid discharge
valve 25 and
the solids discharge valve 26 are operated in cooperation with each other to
allow for the
maintenance of that standardized or selected operating pressure within the
clarification
zone 29 while allowing for the ongoing injection of new raw fluid 2 into the
clarification
zone 29 and the drawing off of clarified fluid and settled solids therefrom.
The fluid discharge valve 25, and the solids discharge valve 26, are both
pressure control
valves ¨ that is to say that they can each be configured to open and allow the
egress of
fluid or solids therethrough when a particular pressure is reached on one side
of the valve.
By using pressure control valves for these two components, they could be
configured to
automatically open and allow the discharge of certain amounts of solids or
fluids from the
clarification vessel 11, as new raw fluid 2 was injected. In addition to them
being
pressure control valves however, it is also specifically contemplated that
these valves
could be actuated or adjusted.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 19
It is specifically contemplated that the raw fluid injection valve 22 would
not be a
pressure control valve, but certain other embodiments of the system and method
of the
present invention might replace either the fluid discharge valve 25 or the
solids discharge
valve 26 with a standard non-pressure control valve and those embodiments are
also
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The actual programmable valve controller 32 itself would be any type of a
control system
or programmable logic controller which could be adjusted or operated by the
operator of
the remainder of the system of the present invention and which could be
connected to
actuate the valves and the injection means ¨ the desired operating parameters
can either
be hard programmed into the system or could be adjusted by the operator during
operation. The programmable valve controller 32 would likely in addition to
controlling
three valves also interface and control the injection means, wherein if the
injection means
is a pump, the injection means/pump could automatically be turned on when it
was going
to be desired to inject raw fluid into the remainder of the system past the
raw fluid
injection valve 22, and the pump could be turned off when it was not desired
to be
running.
Automated valve controller:
Figure 3 shows a schematic of one possible embodiment of a programmable valve
controller 32 which could be used in accordance with the present invention.
The valve controller 32 is operatively connected to the raw fluid injection
valve 22, the
fluid discharge valve 25, the solids discharge valve 26, the injection means
27 and at least
one pressure sensor 42, to provide appropriate control signals to the valves
and injection
means to inject raw fluid into the clarification zone 29 from the settling
tank 6, and to
maintain constant operating pressure within the clarification zone 29 while
raw fluid is
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 20
injected and clarified fluid is discharged from the fluid discharge valve 25
or solids are
discharged from the solids discharge valve 26.
The valve controller 32 would also be interfaced with at least one pressure
sensor 42
located within or capable of sensing the pressure within the clarification
vessel 11 and
clarification zone 29. The valve controller 32 is capable of ascertaining the
operating
pressure within the clarification zone 29 by receiving a signal or pressure
indication from
the at least one pressure sensor 42, and then actuating the injection means 27
and the raw
fluid injection valve 22 to inject raw fluid into the pressurized
clarification zone 29 based
.. upon the pressure reading of the at least one pressure sensor 42 to obtain
or maintain the
desired pressure within the clarification zone 29. If the pressure in the
clarification zone
29 exceeds the desired pressure level, the fluid discharge valve 25 and/or the
sloids
discharge valve 26 could be actuated to discharge volume from the
clarification zone 29
and reduce the pressure therein to the desired level.
The at least one pressure sensor 42 can be any of a variety of sensors that
are configured
to produce an discharge signal that varies depending on the pressure that the
sensor senses.
Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate the most appropriate type of
pressure sensor
42 that is useful with the present system. More than one pressure sensor 42
might be used
at different locations within the clarification zone 29 in certain embodiments
as well.
Connection of the at least one pressure sensor 42 to the valve controller 32
is shown via a
control bus 43 in the Figure. In some embodiments the control bus may comprise
an
electrical wire connecting the pressure sensor 42 and the controller 32. In
some
embodiments the control bus can comprise a wireless signal that is transmitted
from the
pressure sensor 42 to the controller 32. Those of skill in the art will
recognize that where
wireless transmission is employed the discharge signal from the pressure
sensor will be
passed to a transmitter that then wirelessly passes the signal to the
controller 32. In such
cases the controller 32 will have receiving means configured to receive the
wireless signal
.. from the pressure sensor transmitter.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 21
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the key components of one embodiment of the
valve
controller 32 of the present invention. The controller 32 can comprise a
transceiver module
44, configured to receive pressure information from the pressure sensor 42,
either by a
wired or wireless bus connection as discussed above. The transceiver module 44
is able to
produce a variety of discharge signals, for example a signal to a display 45
or actuation
signals to actuate the injection means 27, the raw fluid injection valve 22,
the fluids
discharge valve 25 or the solids discharge valve 26. When in use, an operator
can
determine the pressure within the clarification zone by referring to the
display 45. An
operator can adjust the pressure control selector 46 in order to select a
desired pressure, or
the operating pressure might be hard programmed into the controller memory of
the
controller 32. The pressure control selector 46 and/or temperature display 45
can be
designed to provide warning indications if the actual pressure in the
clarification zone are
outside a pre-determined acceptable range relative to the selected or desired
pressure.
The raw fluid injection valve 22, the injection pump/means 27, the solids
discharge valve
26 and the fluid discharge valve 25 are all shown demonstratively connected
via control
bus connections 43 to the controller 32 as well.
The pressure control sensor 42 provides a discharge signal to the transceiver
module 44.
The transceiver module processes the discharge signal from the pressure sensor
42 and
uses that information in order to actuate the injection means 27 and the raw
fluid
injection valve 22 to inject raw fluid into the pressurized clarification zone
29, if the
pressure is too low. If the pressure in the clarification zone 29 exceeds the
desired
pressure level, the fluid discharge valve 25 and/or the solids discharge valve
26 could be
actuated to discharge volume from the clarification zone 29 and reduce the
pressure
therein to the desired level. When fluid injection to the clarification zone
29 is not
required, the controller 32 can deactivate the injection means/pump 27.
It will be understood that there are many different types of design approaches
which
could be taken here and all such approaches which would have the same result
of
controlling these three valves and the injection means to practice the
remainder of the
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 22
invention that is to say to inject raw fluid into the pressurized
clarification vessel and
maintain the pressure within that vessel while additional raw fluid is
injected or solids or
clarified fluid or discharge therefrom, are all contemplated within the scope
of the present
invention.
General method overview:
Referring first to Figure 4 there is shown a flowchart of a first embodiment
of the
clarification method of the present invention, which would be practised in
accordance
with an embodiment of the system of the present invention approximately in
accordance
with that shown in Figure 1. At the start of the method, shown at step 4-1,
the system
would be actuated to start the clarification of raw fluid. The settling tank 6
would be
filled with raw fluid 2. This would be done by pumping or other entry of raw
fluid 2
from the raw fluid source into the settling tank 6. Testing the fullness of
the settling tank
6 is shown at step 4-2 in the Figure. If the settling tank 6 was not full,
additional
pumping of raw fluid 2 into the settling tank 6 would be done as shown at step
4-3 until
the settling tank 6 was full or at a desired operating level.
Raw fluid 2 would be maintained within the settling tank 6. Once it was
desired to move
to the next step of the method, as shown by the logic or decision block at 4-
5, it was
decided that solids needed to be removed from the settling tank 6, the sludge
discharge 10
could be actuated, shown at step 4-6, for the removal of settled solids at 4-7
therefrom.
Following the removal of settled solids from the bottom of the settling tank
6, the sludge
discharge 10 could be closed, shown at step 4-8, and the method could
continue.
At such point in time as there was settled raw fluid which was ready for
further
clarification contained within the settling tank 6, shown at step 4-9, that
fluid could be
injected into the clarification zone 29. Injection of the partially settled
raw fluid from the
settling tank 6 into the clarification zone 29 via a conduit 18 and the
injection means etc.
is shown at step 4-10.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 23
As the system was pressurized and on an ongoing basis, it would be desired to
reach the
desired operating pressure within the clarification vessel 11. Reaching the
desired
operating pressure is shown at step 4-11 in this Figure. Once the desired
operating
pressure is reached, it would be maintained throughout the operation or cycle
of the
system.
It is contemplated that there would be a particular dwell time which would be
desirable
for the settling of solids from raw fluid within the clarification vessel 11.
This dwell time
frame is shown at step 4-12. The dwell time frame would be something of a
moving
target where the system was being serially fed. It will be understood by the
operator at
the time that a particular desired dwell time or speed of operation of the
system even in
serially fed embodiment could be determined based upon determining from the
type of
fluid being clarified, and the amount of solids to be settled etc. what the
approximate
amount of time or operational speed is that could be used to arrive at a
result of the
desired amount of settled solids evacuated therefrom and properly clarified
fluid being
ready for evacuation are discharged from the clarification vessel 11.
During operation of the system as solids have settled to the base of the
clarification vessel
11 in sufficient quantity that they need to be removed, shown by a logic test
block at 4-
13, the solids discharge valve 26 would be actuated, shown at step 4-14 in
conjunction
with the raw fluid injection valve 22 and the injection means 27, whereby
additional raw
fluid would be injected into the clarification vessel and based on the
pressure within the
vessel, the settled solids from the base of the vessel 11 would be pushed out
of the vessel
11 through the solids discharge valve 26.
Once a sufficient quantity of settled solids was discharged from the
clarification vessel
11, shown at step 4-16, the solids discharge valve 26 could be deactivated,
and similarly
the injection means 27 and the raw fluid injection valve 22 operated in such a
way or
terminated in such a way that again the desired operating pressure is
maintained within
the clarification vessel 11, and the ongoing clarification of fluid would
continue.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 24
Similarly, while raw fluid was being clarified within the clarification vessel
if there was
clarified fluid which was ready for evacuation from the clarification vessel,
to which we
direct the reader to step 4-17 in the Figure, the fluid discharge valve 25
would be
activated, along with the injection means 27 and the raw fluid injection valve
22 ¨ shown
at step 4-18 and 4-19. This would result in the injection of fresh raw fluid
into the
clarification vessel 11 and the evacuation of clarified fluid from the top of
the
clarification vessel 11 through the fluid discharge valve 25 to the
nonpressurized clarified
fluid downstream. When the clarified fluid had all been removed or it was
desired to
return the clarification vessel to the settlement and dwell state, the fluid
discharge valve
25 and the raw fluid injection valve 22 could be turned off, potentially along
with the
injection means 27, to allow for the continued settlement of solids at the
maintained
desired pressure within the clarification vessel 11.
Either when operating in batch mode or in the serial feed mode, this treatment
loop would
be continued, shown at step 4-21 until it was desired to terminate the system
¨ for
example if maintenance was required, the raw fluid source is depleted or the
like. At that
point in time, the system shutdown is shown at step 4-22.
It is specifically contemplated that the system of the present invention would
in a most
desirable mode operate based on a serial feed approach, such that the system
could
simply be continuously operated for a complete working session. Dependent upon
the
necessary pressure required to evacuate desired quantity of clarified fluid
from the
clarification vessel 11, or pressure required to push settled solids out
through the solids
discharge valve 26, the appropriate amount of injection of raw fluid and
pressure could
be exerted upon the environment within the clarification zone 29 by the
injection means
27 and the raw fluid injection valve 22. Again it will be understood that
these valves
could be manually actuated by an operator, but in an ideal circumstance a
programmable
valve controller 32 such as is shown in Figure 5 and Figure 2 and 3 is the
likely
preference.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 25
Referring next to Figure 5 there is shown a flow chart of an alternate
embodiment of the
method of the present invention. The method shown in this particular flowchart
is a
method practised more likely in relation to a physical embodiment of the
system
according more with that shown in Figure 2 versus Figure 1 ¨ i.e. with a
plurality of
.. chemical injectors 33 in the conduit 18, and at least one grinding pump 31
in the settling
tank 6.
Referring to this Figure, there is shown the pumping of raw fluid 2 into the
settling tank 6
at step 5-3. Raw fluid within the settling tank 6 is ground using a grinding
pump 31,
shown at step 5-4. That grinding pump 31 might operate on an ongoing basis or
be
actuated from time to time dependent upon the desired practice or the
remainder of the
method.
Raw fluid 2 would be taken from the raw fluid source and following grinding
would be
held in the settling tank 6. That is shown at step 5-5. Solids could be
removed, from
their settlement location at the base of the settling tank 6 as required and
as shown in
steps 5-6 through 5-9 in this Figure. At that point in time as the raw fluid 2
contained
within the settling tank 6 was ready for further clarification it could be
injected into the
clarification zone 29.
Moving past the settling tank 6, raw fluid from the settling tank 6 would be
injected into
the clarification zone 29 therein, shown at step 5-11. As outlined elsewhere
herein, the
injection of raw fluid 2 from the settling tank 6 towards and into the
clarification vessel
11 would take place through the conduit 18. In this particular case, one or
more chemical
agents would be injected into the raw fluid within the conduit 18 and more
specifically
within the injection portion of the conduit 18 through one or more injectors.
This is
shown at step 5-12. The one or more chemical or floccing agents which are
injected into
the conduit 18 would be mixed with the raw fluid therein, simply by the travel
and
comminution of the agents with the raw fluid into the clarification vessel 11,
most
completely and aggressively if there were venturi mixing aspects and
components for
configuration to the remainder of the injection portion of the conduit 18.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 26
The treatment loop which is shown within the clarification vessel 11 in this
Figure is
similar to that of Figure 4 ¨ following injection of one or more agents into
the raw fluid at
5-12 the introduction of that blended raw fluid into the clarification vessel
11 itself for
settling and the subsequent withdrawal of clarified fluid and settled solids
therefrom
would operate in the same way as the method outlined in Figure 4.
Venturi mixing of raw fluid:
As outlined, it is explicitly contemplated that the application of a venturi
mixing effect on
the raw fluid on injection into the clarification zone will result in the
maximum
uniformity and comminution of the raw fluid, resulting in the ability to
generate most
efficiently the two fractions of the raw fluid from the clarification vessel
being the settled
solids and the clarified fluid. Venturi mixing effect is applied to the raw
fluid simply by
the appropriate shaping and construction of the conduit between the settling
tank and the
clarification vessel. Various types of venturi mixing mechanisms will be
understood to
those skilled in the art of fluid transfer systems. In a most basic
embodiments, it is
explicitly contemplated that the venturi effect could be achieved by
manufacturing the
injection portion of the conduit in a way that it was comprised of a plurality
of tubular
sections each of which had varying diameters. Pushing the partially clarified
raw fluid
from the settling tank through this venturi conduit would result in the
application of
agitation and mixing forces to the fluid resulting in the most uniform
suspension of the
solids therein. The venturi effect can be further enhanced by the placement of
internal
fighting or protuberances inside of the conduit, which would result in further
aggressive
mixing activity being applied to the fluid passing therethrough without the
need for
specific or mechanical mixing force to be applied thereto.
It is explicitly understood that any type of a modification to the conduit
between the
settling tank in the clarification vessel, including those which might have
the object of
introducing internal fighting or other types of protuberances into the conduit
for the
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 27
purpose of applying a venturi mixing effect to fluid passing therethrough, and
even
including manufacturing portions of the conduit sections of varying diameter,
all will
result in the maximum mixing and uniformity of the fluid on injection into the
clarification zone.
Grinding of raw fluid:
As outlined it may be desired to grind the raw fluid to break up the solids
that might be
suspended therein into a more standard-sized particle. Numerous approaches to
grinding
the fluid will be understood and are outlined elsewhere herein. These might
include the
placement of a grinding pump inside of the settling tank, or alternatively a
grinding pump
might even be used on the inlet to the settling tank such that the raw fluid
is grounded as
it is introduced into the settling tank. One or more grinding pumps might be
used. All
such approaches to this will be understood to be contemplated the scope of the
present
invention. In addition, other approaches than the use of a grinding pump might
be used
to similarly break up or comminute the suspended solids in the raw fluid.
The system embodiment shown in Figure 2, and the method embodiment shown in
Figure
5 include a grinding pump and a grinding step, which would result in the
grinding of the
raw fluid within the settling tank. Again as will be understood by those
skilled in the art,
various types of grinding or shattering actions or activities to be undertaken
to break up
the suspended solids within the fluid and provide them in a more uniform
suspension in
the raw fluid so that they can more easily be settled about from the clarified
fluid in
accordance with the exercise of the system and method herein.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides
those
already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts
herein. The
inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
scope of the
appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the
claims, all
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
Page 28
terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with
the context.
In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as
referring
to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that
the
referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or
combined with
other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
In addition, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine
modification the
present invention can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and
application.
It will also be obvious to those of skill in the art that there are various
ways and designs
with which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention. The
illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the
invention, but
to provide examples of the apparatus and method to enable those of skill in
the art to
appreciate the inventive concept.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-10
