Clarifier/thickener

Claim 2

In a clarifier of the type in which a stacked array of settling compartments is mounted substantially vertically within a vessel to provide exterior of said array along its entire vertical height within said vessel a flow stream of a mixture of a carrier liquid and suspended solids so that each said settling compartment receives a mixture of carrier liquid and suspended solids directly from said flow stream, the improvement comprising: the individual settling compartments within said stacked array, each being defined by a back plate, opposing side plates, a top plate and a bottom plate, cooperatively assembled to receive the mixture directly from said flow stream through an entryway opposite said back plate, and to receive substantially all of said carrier liquid at said back plate under clarifying flow conditions so that solids settle towards said bottom plate and then pass outwardly through said entryway to join said flow stream; and means for withdrawing said clarified liquid from a zone adjacent said back plate at a controlled rate.

Claim 3

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said entryway is defined by the edges of said side plates and bottom plate and a lip plate opposite said back plate depending from said top plate across its width, thereby to provide an entry opening with a cross-sectional area less than that of the interior of the compartment parallel said entryway.

Claim 4

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said means for withdrawing said clarified liquid comprises an orifice on a side plate communicating with said zone.

Claim 5

An improvement according to claim 3 including a conduit within said zone isolated from the interior of said compartment except for apertures through said conduit in communication with said zone exterior of said conduit, the interior of said conduit being in open communication with said orifice.

Claim 6

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said means for withdrawing said clarified liquid comprises flow control means associated with a side plate communicating with said zone.

Claim 7

An improvement according to claim 5 wherein each said unitary compartment in said stacked array includes individual said flow control means, and each of said flow control means pass clarified liquid to a collection channel adjacent the side plate with which said flow control means is associated.

Claim 8

An improvement according to claim 6 wherein the individual flow control means are selected to establish a desired flow rate within each of said compartments.

Claim 9

In a clarifier in which a stacked array of settling compartments is mounted substantially vertically within a tank so that there is provided a flow channel within said tank exterior of said stacked array along its entire vertical height, the improvement which comprises: individual compartments defined by approximately parallel top and bottom plates mounted at an incline with respect to a horizontal plane and side plates connecting said top and bottom plates to provide an entry to receive a fluid mixture of settleable substance and carrier liquid from said flow channel, such that when said mixture is introduced to said entry under hydrostatic pressure conditions it is caused to flow in a path confined within said compartment towards a zone adjacent said top plate opposite said entry, said zone being provided with a flow control device constituting means for passing clarified liquid from said zone at a rate which maintains the flow rate of said mixture within said compartment effective to permit said substance to settle from said mixture and pass out of said compartment through said entry to said flow channel.

Claim 10

In a clarifier in which a stacked array of settling compartments is mounted substantially vertically within a tank so that there is provided a flow channel within said tank exterior of said stacked array along its entire vertical height, the improvement which comprises: individual compartments defined by approximately parallel top and bottom plates mounted at an incline with respect to a horizontal plane and side plates connecting said top and bottom plates to provide an entry to receive a fluid mixture of settleable substance and carrier liquid from said flow channel, such that when said mixture is introduced to said entry under hydrostatic pressure conditions it is caused to flow in a path confined within said compartment towards a zone adjacent said top plate opposite said entry, said zone being provided with a flow control device constituting means for passing clarified liquid from said zone at a rate which maintains the flow rate of said mixture within said compartment effective to permit said substance to settle from said mixture and pass out of said compartment through said entry to said flow channel.

Claim 11

An improvement according to claim 8 wherein said flow control devices comprise orifi in at least one sidewall of each compartment.

Claim 12

An improvement according to claim 9 wherein the orifi associated with each compartment in a stacked array are selected to effect approximately identical flow rates within each compartment.

Claim 13

An improvement according to claim 10 wherein said top and bottom plates are inclined from horizontal such that the entryway is at a lower elevation than said zone.

Claim 14

An improvement according to claim 11 including a back plate connecting said top, bottom and side plates so that said zone is located adjacent the apex defined by said top and back plates.

Claim 15

An improvement according to claim 12 including conduit means within said apex, said flow control device providing fluid flow communication between the interior of said conduit and the exterior of said apex and said conduit being provided with apertures to admit clarified liquid from said zone to the interior of said conduit.

Claim 16

A clarifier including: a stacked array of settling compartments within a vessel, there being an inlet at the top of the vessel and an outlet at the bottom of the vessel so that there is defined a flow path between said inlet and outlet exterior of said stacked array; each said compartment being configured to provide an entry in open communication with said flow path so that when said vessel is filled with a fluid mixture of a settleable substance and carrier liquid, said mixture is caused to flow by hydrostatic pressure through said entryway in an ascending inclined path confined within said compartment to a zone remote from said entry; said zone including means for passing clarified liquid therefrom at a rate which maintains the flow rate of said mixture within said compartment effective to permit said substance to settle from said mixture and pass out of said compartment thorough said entry; thereby to exit said vessel through said outlet.

Claim 17

A clarifier including: a stacked array of settling compartments within a vessel, there being an inlet at the top of the vessel and an outlet at the bottom of the vessel so that there is defined a flow path between said inlet and outlet exterior of said stacked array; each said compartment being configured to provide an entry in open communication with said flow path so that when said vessel is filled with a fluid mixture of a settleable substance and carrier liquid, said mixture is caused to flow by hydrostatic pressure through said entryway in an ascending inclined path confined within said compartment to a zone remote from said entry; said zone including means for passing clarified liquid therefrom at a rate which maintains the flow rate of said mixture within said compartment effective to permit said substance to settle from said mixture and pass out of said compartment thorough said entry; thereby to exit said vessel through said outlet.

Claim 18

A clarifier according to claim 14 wherein the individual compartments are defined by approximately parallel top and bottom plates mounted at an incline with respect to a horizontal plane and side plates connecting said top and bottom plates to define said entry, and said zone is adjacent said top plate opposite said entry.

Claim 19

A clarifier according to claim 15 including a back plate connecting said top, bottom and side plates so that said zone is located adjacent the apex defined by said top and back plates.

Claim 20

A clarifier according to claim 15 further including a lip plate opposite said back plate depending from said top plate across its width, thereby to provide an entry opening with a cross-sectional area less than that of the interior of the compartment parallel said entryway.

Claim 21

A clarifier according to claim 15 wherein said means for passing clarified liquid comprises an orifice on a said side plate.

Claim 22

A clarifier according to claim 18 including a conduit within said zone isolated from the interior of said compartment except for apertures through said conduit in communication with said zone exterior of said conduit, the interior of said conduit being in open communication with said orifice.