US4098673A — Method and apparatus for removing colloidal suspe…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 148 words

In a system for removing particles from a liquid wherein the particles are of a type which receive an electrical charge in the liquid, the combination of, means providing a flow path for a stream of the liquid including an upstream zone and a downstream zone; electrical isolation means for insulating said upstream zone from said downstream zone, a first electrical conductor in said flow path at said upstream zone, a second electrical conductor in said flow path at said downstream zone, and means for connecting the positive side of a direct current source to said first electrical conductor and for connecting the negative side of said source to said second electrical conductor, whereby the particles in said stream receive a positive electrical charge when passing through said upstream zone, agglomerate when passing toward and to said downstream zone, and discharge electrical charges to said second electrical conductor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 148 words

In a system for removing particles from a liquid wherein the particles are of a type which receive an electrical charge in the liquid, the combination of, means providing a flow path for a stream of the liquid including an upstream zone and a downstream zone; electrical isolation means for insulating said upstream zone from said downstream zone, a first electrical conductor in said flow path at said upstream zone, a second electrical conductor in said flow path at said downstream zone, and means for connecting the positive side of a direct current source to said first electrical conductor and for connecting the negative side of said source to said second electrical conductor, whereby the particles in said stream receive a positive electrical charge when passing through said upstream zone, agglomerate when passing toward and to said downstream zone, and discharge electrical charges to said second electrical conductor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

A system as described in claim 1 wherein each of said electrical conductors comprises an array of grids which form a multiplicity of flow paths, whereby said stream of liquid is divided into a large number of flow paths when passing through said upstream and downstream zones.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

A system as described in claim 2 wherein said means forming said flow path comprises, a plurality of pipe sections comprising first and third pipe sections defining said upstream zone and said downstream zone, respectively, and a second pipe section positioned therebetween, said first and third sections being formed of non-conducting, high-temperature resistant material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

A system as described in claim 3 which includes, means for supplying a stream of air into said stream of liquid flowing to said upstream zone, and mixer means in the path of the air being discharged into said stream of liquid and adapted for separating the air into bubbles in said stream of liquid.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 97 words

A system as described in claim 4 which includes, bypass means having a normally closed valve therein and connected to said means for providing a flow path for carrying said stream of liquid when said valve is open, first and second valve means which are normally open and which are closed to prevent the flow of liquid to said upstream zone and form said downstream zone, respectively, and means to supply a second stream of liquid to the downstream side of said downstream zone and to discharge said second stream of liquid upstream from said upstream zone.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 55 words

A system as described in claim 1 which includes a separation tank into which said stream of liquid flows from said downstream zone and within which the agglomerated particles separate from the liquid by the action of gravity, and means providing separate flow paths from said tank for the liquid and for the agglomerated particles.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system as defined in claim 1 including means for applying a pulsating positive electrical potential to said electrical conductor in said upstream zone and a pulsating negative electrical potential to said downstream zone.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means providing a flow path includes electrical insulator conduits respectively located immediately upstream and downstream of said first and second electrical conductors.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said direct current source comprises means for applying relatively constant positive and negative voltage values to said first and second conductors respectively.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as defined in claim 7 including means located in said flow path of the liquid for upstream of said first conductors for agitating said liquid.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 113 words

A system for removing suspended materials from a liquid comprising means for providing a flow path for said liquid, said flow path including upstream and downstream zones; first and second electrical conductors respectively located in said upstream and downstream zones and insultated from each other and from adjacent parts of said system; and means for applying opposite electrical potentials to said first and second conductors, wherein particles in said liquid having a relative potential opposite to the potential of said first conductors will migrate toward the first conductor as the liquid flows through said upstream zone and then agglomerate with others of said particles as the liquid carries said particles along said path.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 113 words

A system for removing suspended materials from a liquid comprising means for providing a flow path for said liquid, said flow path including upstream and downstream zones; first and second electrical conductors respectively located in said upstream and downstream zones and insultated from each other and from adjacent parts of said system; and means for applying opposite electrical potentials to said first and second conductors, wherein particles in said liquid having a relative potential opposite to the potential of said first conductors will migrate toward the first conductor as the liquid flows through said upstream zone and then agglomerate with others of said particles as the liquid carries said particles along said path.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second conductors each comprises a body formed of a plurality of electrically conductive sheets of corrugated material operatively connected to each other to form a plurality of flow passages therebetween.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as defined in claim 11 including means for supplying a stream of air into said flow path upstream of said first conductor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system as defined in claim 13 including means located between said air supplying means and said first conductor for producing turbulence in the liquid and creating a plurality of minute air bubbles in the liquid.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 73 words

A system as defined in claim 11 including a tank operatively connected to said flow path for receiving the liquid and agglomerated particles from said downstream zone, said tank having the same electrical potential as the second conductor including a third conductor therein electrically isolated from the tank and having the same electrical potential as said first conductor, whereby the agglomerated particles are attracted to said conductor and further agglomerate with each other.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as defined in claim 15 wherein said third conductor comprises a plurality of vertically extending conductor wires.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as defined in claim 15 wherein the electrical potential applied to said third conductor is greater than the decomposition potential of water.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said conductors each comprises a plurality of spaced graphite sheets.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein the potential difference between said conductors is greater than the decomposition potential of water.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system as defined in claim 11 including said means for applying opposite electrical potentials to said first and second conductors comprise means for applying a relatively constant electrical potential and a superimposed pulsating electrical potential of the same polarity.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system as defined in claim 20 wherein the electrical potentials applied to said first conductor are positive and the electrical potentials applied to said second conductor are negative.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

A system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means providing a flow path includes electrical insulator conduits respectively located immediately upstream and downstream of said first and second electrical conductors.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 170 words

A system for removing tall oil soap particles from the black liquor formed in wood pulping processes comprising an elongated conduit providing a flow path for the black liquor including sections formed of an electrical insulator material separating said flow path into upstream and downstream zones; first and second electrical conductors respectively located in said upstream and downstream zones and supported by said insulator material; and means for applying a positive electrical potential to said first conductor and a negative potential to said second conductor whereby the anionic tall oil soap particles in said fluid migrate toward the first conductor as liquid flows through said upstream zone and anions are stripped therefrom and the resulting stripped particles then pass with the liquid to said downstream zone wherein a large portion of the stripped particles is attracted to unaffected particles and accordingly agglomerate and a smaller portion of said stripped particles is attracted to the negatively charged second conductor and their excess positive charge is neutralized and additionally agglomerate one another.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 170 words

A system for removing tall oil soap particles from the black liquor formed in wood pulping processes comprising an elongated conduit providing a flow path for the black liquor including sections formed of an electrical insulator material separating said flow path into upstream and downstream zones; first and second electrical conductors respectively located in said upstream and downstream zones and supported by said insulator material; and means for applying a positive electrical potential to said first conductor and a negative potential to said second conductor whereby the anionic tall oil soap particles in said fluid migrate toward the first conductor as liquid flows through said upstream zone and anions are stripped therefrom and the resulting stripped particles then pass with the liquid to said downstream zone wherein a large portion of the stripped particles is attracted to unaffected particles and accordingly agglomerate and a smaller portion of said stripped particles is attracted to the negatively charged second conductor and their excess positive charge is neutralized and additionally agglomerate one another.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system as defined in claim 23 including a tank for receiving liquid flowing from said downstream zone in which the agglomerated particles of tall oil soap float to the surface of the liquid for removal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 64 words

A system as defined in claim 24 including a third conductor located in said tank and being electrically isolated therefrom; said third conductor being operatively connected to said means for applying a positive electrical potential whereby tall oil soap particles in the tank are attached to the third conductor, further agglomerate with each other and float to the surface of liquid in the tank.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as defined in claim 25 including means for applying a stream of air into said flow path upstream of said first conductor.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 67 words

A system as defined in claim 26 including means located between said air supplying means and said first conductor for producing turbulence in the liquid and creating a plurality of minute air bubbles in the liquid whereby said bubbles become entrapped in the agglomerated particles of soap and increase the buoyancy of the agglomerated particles to assist their floating to the surface of liquid in said tank.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second conductors each comprise a body formed of a plurality of electrically conductive sheets of corrugated material operatively connected to each other to form a plurality of flow passages therebetween.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as defined in claim 25 wherein said third conductor comprises a plurality of vertically extending conductor wires.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the electrical potential applied between said first and second conductors is greater than the decomposition potential of water.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system as defined in claim 23 including means for applying a pulsating positive electrical potential to said first electrical conductor in said upstream zone and a pulsating negative electrical potential to said second electrical conductor in said downstream zone.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system as defined in claim 23 wherein said means providing a flow path includes electrical insulator conduits respectively located immediately upstream and downstream of said first and second electrical conductors and electrically grounded conduit means upstream and downstream of said insulator conduits, respectively.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system as defined in claim 32 said means for applying a positive and negative potential to said conductors comprises a constant current source applying constant positive and negative voltage values to said first and second conductors, respectively, relative to said grounded conduit means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 66 words

A system as defined in claim 23 comprising bypass means connecting said grounded conduit means in said upstream zone to said grounded conduit means in said downstream zone to provide a by-pass path for said colloidal particles separate from said flow path to permit a controlled amount of said colloidal particles to mingle with said particles in said flow path downstream of said second electrical conductor.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 81 words

A system as defined in claim 23 comprising piping means connected at one end to a source of said black liquor and connected at the other end to said flow path between said first and second conductors to inject a controlled quantity of said black liquor into said flow path to cause colloidal particles in said controlled quantity of black liquor to mingle with colloidal particles that have passed through said first conductor but have not yet reached said second conductor.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 110 words

In a system for agglomerating particles in a liquid, the combination of, means for providing a flow path for a stream of liquid including an upstream zone and a downstream zone, means in each of said zones for dividing the stream of liquid therein into a plurality of smaller streams, said dividing means each being formed of an electrically conductive material, said means providing a flow path including an electrically insulated section separating said upstream and downstream zones; means for applying positive potential to one of said conductors, negative potential to the other, a positive pulsating potential to said one conductor and a negative pulsating potential to said other conductor.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 110 words

In a system for agglomerating particles in a liquid, the combination of, means for providing a flow path for a stream of liquid including an upstream zone and a downstream zone, means in each of said zones for dividing the stream of liquid therein into a plurality of smaller streams, said dividing means each being formed of an electrically conductive material, said means providing a flow path including an electrically insulated section separating said upstream and downstream zones; means for applying positive potential to one of said conductors, negative potential to the other, a positive pulsating potential to said one conductor and a negative pulsating potential to said other conductor.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as defined in claim 36 wherein said means for applying said potential include a constant current source.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-07-03	1982-01-02	1982-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-07-03	1986-01-02	1986-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-07-03	1990-01-02	1990-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for removing colloidal suspensions from a liquid

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