Separation device provided with a coalescence apparatus

Claim 1

A separation device incorporating a coalescence apparatus to enhance the efficiency of separation without substantially increasing the space occupied by the separation device, comprising: a basin having a partition extending transversely across it to define a supply chamber and a discharge chamber; a parallel plate separator having an intake end in said supply chamber and having an outflow end opening into said discharge chamber, said separator defining a passage for liquid flow from said supply chamber to said discharge chamber, said separator having an upper wall extending with an upward inclination from said vertical partition to the intake end of said separator to define an upwardly diverging wedge-shaped space in said supply chamber above said separator; parallel plate coalescence apparatus situated in said wedge-shaped space above said separator; supply means opening into a lower portion of said wedge-shaped space near its vertex, and supplying liquid to said coalescence apparatus, said coalescence apparatus communicating with said supply chamber so as to require the liquid supplied by said supply means to pass through said coalescence apparatus prior to entering said supply chamber; said coalescence apparatus promoting particle growth in the liquid supplied by said supply means so as to enhance the effeciency of said separator; and, an outlet for removing the particles from the base of said discharge chamber and an outlet for removing clarified liquid from said discharge chamber.