Removing contaminants from a fluid stream

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing contaminants from a liquid comprising: a cylindrical vessel; a plate dividing said vessel into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said plate having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough, each of said passageways including a relatively large first opening at the lower side of said plate, and an orifice extending upwardly from saiD relatively large first opening toward the top of said plate; tubular bosses projecting upwardly from the upper side of said plate and each defining an aperture communicating with one of said orifices so that a liquid may flow through each passageway in said plate, and then through one of said bosses to the top thereof, said bosses each having an inclined outer side wall of frusto-conical configuration down which liquid may flow by gravity to the top side of said plate after passing through the respective boss to the top thereof, whereby a large surface area of a thin film of liquid is exposed as liquid flows over the collective external surface areas of said bosses without said liquid channeling by gravity to a localized accumulation; means for heating liquid flowing in a thin film down the inclined, frusto-conical side walls of the bosses to vaporize volatile components of said liquid; a discharge spout projecting from the wall of said vessel and registering with an opening therethrough immediately above said plate; a lid covering and closing the open upper end of said vessel; means detachably interconnecting said lid and plate for retaining the lid and plate in said vessel; a vapor discharge conduit secured to said lid and opening into said upper chamber; and an inlet fitting connected to the bottom of said vessel for introducing a contaminated liquid to said lower chamber.