Method for separating solid pollutants from fluids

Claim 1

The method of separating solid particles from a liquid in which they are suspended to recover at separate outlets the particles and a clarified liquid effluent, the method being performed at a preparatory stage in a first vertically oriented cylindrical body having an axially disposed electrode to which a high voltage is applied to create an electrical field with respect to the body, and being performed at a concentrator stage in a second vertically oriented cylindrical body having an axially disposed hollow filter passing therethrough, and the second cylindrical body having a first inlet entering tangentially through its outer periphery and coupled to take liquid from the outer periphery of the first body, and the second body having a second inlet entering therethrough and opening tangentially thereinto at a location near the filter and coupled to take liquid from the first body near said electrode, including the steps of: centrifuging a liquid mass containing the particles by introducing it tangentially under high pressure into said first cylindrical body to form a first vortex of the liquid around the electrode and out of electrical contact therewith, whereby the electrical field of the electrode agglomerates particles and the centrifugal force concentrates them toward the outer periphery of the first body while leaving a more clarified liquid near the electrode; withdrawing from the first body above the first vortex the lighter particle, foam, and gases which become separated from the rotating liquid; transferring liquid and particles from the preparatory stage to the first and second inlets of the concentrator stage; centrifuging the liquid and particles in said concentrator stage by whirling them inside the second body to form a second vortex of liquid around said filter and spaced therefrom, whereby the centrifugal force concentrates particles outwardly of the centrifuging liquid to leave clarified liquid near said second vortex of the centrifuging liquid; withdrawing liquid containing concentrated particles near the outer periphery of the second body and introducing it into one end of the hollow filter; withdrawing a sludge of the particles from the other end of the hollow filter; and withdrawing clarified liquid from the second body near the second vortex of the liquid.

Claim 2

The method of separating solid particles from a liquid in which they are suspended to recover at separate outlets the particles and a clarified liquid effluent, the method being performed at a preparatory stage in a first vertically oriented cylindrical body having an axially disposed electrode to which a high voltage is applied to create an electrical field with respect to the body, and being performed at a concentrator stage in a second vertically oriented cylindrical body having an axially disposed hollow filter passing therethrough, and the second cylindrical body having a first inlet entering tangentially through its outer periphery and coupled to take liquid from the outer periphery of the first body, and the second body having a second inlet entering therethrough and opening tangentially thereinto at a location near the filter and coupled to take liquid from the first body near said electrode, including the steps of: centrifuging a liquid mass containing the particles by introducing it tangentially under high pressure into said first cylindrical body to form a first vortex of the liquid around the electrode and out of electrical contact therewith, whereby the electrical field of the electrode agglomerates particles and the centrifugal force concentrates them toward the outer periphery of the first body while leaving a more clarified liquid near the electrode; withdrawing from the first body above the first vortex the lighter particle, foam, and gases which become separated from the rotating liquid; transferring liquid and particles from the preparatory stage to the first and second inlets of the concentrator stage; centrifuging the liquid and particles in said concentrator stage by whirling them inside the second body to form a second vortex of liquid around said filter and spaced therefrom, whereby the centrifugal force concentrates particles outwardly of the centrifuging liquid to leave clarified liquid near said second vortex of the centrifuging liquid; withdrawing liquid containing concentrated particles near the outer periphery of the second body and introducing it into one end of the hollow filter; withdrawing a sludge of the particles from the other end of the hollow filter; and withdrawing clarified liquid from the second body near the second vortex of the liquid.