Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A process for treating flushing liquor discharged from a gas main of a coke oven to obtain an aqueous liquid substantially free of tar and solids suitable for reuse as flushing liquid in the gas main and to obtain tar having a low water and solids content, said process including the steps of: separating said flushing liquor in a preliminary gravity separator into an aqueous liquid phase substantially free of tar and solids and into a tar phase, using said aqueous liquid phase for washing gases in said gas main of a coke oven, feeding said tar phase into a circuit forming a closed loop which includes a pump and a centrifuge for three-phase clarification and separation, the circulation in said circuit being at a flow rate greater than that of said tar phase which is introduced from said preliminary gravity separator said flow rate being sufficient to provide substantially constant operating conditions within said process and said circuit functioning to provide three-phase separation of said tar phase, withdrawing clean tar which is substantially free from contaminants, from said circuit at a flowrate less than the flow rate of said tar phase in said circuit, withdrawing an aqueous liquid from the centrifuge for subsequent use in the circuit, and withdrawing a thick tar from the centrifuge out of the circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A process for treating flushing liquor discharged from a gas main of a coke oven to obtain an aqueous liquid substantially free of tar and solids suitable for reuse as flushing liquid in the gas main and to obtain tar having a low water and solids content, said process including the steps of: separating said flushing liquor in a preliminary gravity separator into an aqueous liquid phase substantially free of tar and solids and into a tar phase, using said aqueous liquid phase for washing gases in said gas main of a coke oven, feeding said tar phase into a circuit forming a closed loop which includes a pump and a centrifuge for three-phase clarification and separation, the circulation in said circuit being at a flow rate greater than that of said tar phase which is introduced from said preliminary gravity separator said flow rate being sufficient to provide substantially constant operating conditions within said process and said circuit functioning to provide three-phase separation of said tar phase, withdrawing clean tar which is substantially free from contaminants, from said circuit at a flowrate less than the flow rate of said tar phase in said circuit, withdrawing an aqueous liquid from the centrifuge for subsequent use in the circuit, and withdrawing a thick tar from the centrifuge out of the circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process for treating flushing liquor according to claim 1 including the further step of heating said tar phase to a predetermined temperature for optimum three-phase clarification and separation by said centrifuge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process for treating flushing liquor according to claim 2 wherein said tar phase is heated by said step of heating to a temperature within the range of 80° C to 98° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process for treating flushing liquor according to claim 1 wherein said centrifuge includes an imperforated basket screw centrifuge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process for treating flushing liquor according to claim 1 wherein said removing said tar surplus includes feeding clean tar from said centrifuge into an overflow tank, and controlling the discharge of clean tar from said overflow tank in response to the tar level in said preliminary gravity separator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process for treating flushing liquor according to claim 5 wherein said controlling the discharge of clean tar includes using a weir in said overflow tank to form a compartment for returning clean tar into said circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process for treating flushing liquor according to claim 1 wherein said centrifuge includes an integral pump to circulate said tar phase in said circuit.