Upflow gas eductor induced air floatation separator

Claim 1

An upflow separator apparatus for treating a contaminated liquid stream comprising: a. a substantially cylindrical, gas tight fluid flow chamber, defining a lower liquid flow portion and an upper gas collection portion; b. means for introducing a first flow of contaminated liquid into said liquid portion of said chamber; c. an outlet line for flowing clarified liquid from said chamber; d. baffle means dividing said chamber into a plurality of aeration chambers, said chambers in fluid flow communication with one another; e. means for educting gas through said contaminated liquid in each of said aeration chambers, comprising: i. a clarified liquid inlet line; ii. a gas inlet line, said gas being educted into said eductor means by the flow of clarified liquid in said liquid line; iii. header means, further comprising first and second spaced apart plate members emitting a mixture of said educted gas and liquid therebetween for achieving maximum upward dispersion of gas bubbles through the contaminated liquid in each of said aeration chambers; and iv. said means for educting gas protruding from the floor portion of each of said aeration chambers; f. a single channel extending substantially the length of said gas collection portion transverse said baffle means for receiving and collecting contaminants removed from said liquid portion into said gas collection portion; g. means for recirculating said gas collected within said upper gas collection portion by normal eduction, comprising a gas flow line in fluid communication with said upper gas collection portion and said means for educting gas into said liquid flow; h. means in fluid communication with said channel for siphoning said contaminants from said channel as a result of a predetermined signal; and i. means for recirculating a portion of clarified liquid from said outlet line back into said chamber through said educting means.

Claim 5

A method for separating oil and gas contaminants from water, which comprises the following steps: a. providing a cylindrical, gas tight main fluid chamber said chamber defining a lower fluid flow portion and an upper gas containing portion; b. dividing said fluid chamber into at least two aeration portions in fluid communication therebetween; c. injecting a first flow of contaminated water into said main fluid chamber; d. flowing said contaminated water through said first and second aeration portions; e. providing gas educting means in each of said aeration portions; f. simultaneously providing a second fluid flow through said gas educting means for educting gas upward into each of said aeration portions for moving said contaminants from the water flow; g. providing a single contaminant collection channel extending substantially the length of said chamber above the water level in said fluid chamber; h. increasing the water level in said fluid chamber to a level adjacent said contaminant collection channel, forcing said contaminants upwards along the wall of said cylindrical chamber toward said channel; i. collecting said contaminants in said contaminant collection channel; j. siphoning said collected contaminants in the top portion of said chamber; k. flowing contaminant-free water out of said chamber following the aeration process; and l. circulating said educted gas from each of said aeration chambers during said process.

Claim 6

A method for separating oil and gas contaminants from water, which comprises the following steps: a. providing a cylindrical, gas tight main fluid chamber said chamber defining a lower fluid flow portion and an upper gas containing portion; b. dividing said fluid chamber into at least two aeration portions in fluid communication therebetween; c. injecting a first flow of contaminated water into said main fluid chamber; d. flowing said contaminated water through said first and second aeration portions; e. providing gas educting means in each of said aeration portions; f. simultaneously providing a second fluid flow through said gas educting means for educting gas upward into each of said aeration portions for moving said contaminants from the water flow; g. providing a single contaminant collection channel extending substantially the length of said chamber above the water level in said fluid chamber; h. increasing the water level in said fluid chamber to a level adjacent said contaminant collection channel, forcing said contaminants upwards along the wall of said cylindrical chamber toward said channel; i. collecting said contaminants in said contaminant collection channel; j. siphoning said collected contaminants in the top portion of said chamber; k. flowing contaminant-free water out of said chamber following the aeration process; and l. circulating said educted gas from each of said aeration chambers during said process.