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US4839043A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid-to-liquid oil absorption system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-02-26
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Granted: 1989-06-13
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Expires: 2008-02-26
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Abstract

Abstract A system for removing dissolved and undissolved oil from contaminated water which recycles and reclaims absorbing fluid. An absorbing fluid (CCl 2 FCClF 2 ) is used in a wet-spiral mixer-absorber-contactor to absorb oil contaminants in produced-water. A downflow spreader system in a processing separator separates the heavier oil absorbing fluid from the oil-decontaminated water. Unspent absorbing fluid is recycled to the absorber-contactor and the decontaminated water is released into the surrounding environment. Spent absorbing fluid is reclaimed in a distillation treatment unit where the oil is used as fuel oil or stored. The absorbing fluid's vapors are drawn off under vacuum from the distillation unit by jet eductor pump, mixed and condensed with the decontaminated water which drives the jet pump, and then redirected into the system for reuse.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul C. Broussard, Sr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 20:42
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D12/00; B01D11/00; B01D11/04; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 158 words
A system for removing dissolved and undissolved oil from contaminated water, comprising: (a) absorber means for receiving, mixing and treating said contaminated water with an absorbing fluid; (b) a source of absorbing fluid connected to said absorber means; (c) processing separator means for receiving said treated water from said absorbing means and separating oil-decontaminated water from said absorbing fluid contaminated with oil; (d) means connected to said absorber means and processing separator means for recycling unspent oil-contaminated absorbing fluid to said absorber means; (e) means connected to said processing separator for receiving spent absorbing fluid and reclaiming said absorbing fluid for further use; and, (f) means connected to said absorbing fluid reclaiming mean, said processing means and said absorber means for reintroducing reclaimed absorbing fluid into said system, said reintroducing means including an eductor jet pump driven by oil-decontaminated water discharged from said processing separator means and connected to said absorbing fluid reclaiming means and said absorber means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said absorbing fluid is of a class of fluorinated hydrocarbons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said absorbing fluid is a liquid denser than said contaminated water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said absorbing fluid is tricholorotrifluoroethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said absorber means comprises a wet spiral absorber-contactor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said wet spiral absorber-contactor comprises: (a) a cylinder; (b) a centrally located and axially disposed shaft in said cylinder and having fins spirally wrapped around said shaft; and, (c) plates attached to said fins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said processing separator means includes: (a) a vertically positioned vessel; and, (b) a spreader means positioned within said vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said processing separator means includes: (a) a horizontally positioned vessel; and, (b) a spreader means positioned within said vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for recycling unspent absorbing fluid, comprises: a fluid line and pump connected to said absorber means adjacent its inlet and said processing separator means adjacent the bottom portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for reclaiming spent absorbing fluid includes a distillation treatment vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said processing separator means includes a downflow spreader means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 161 words
A system for removing dissolved and undissolved oil from contaminated water, comprising: (a) a wet spiral mixer-absorber-contactor with absorbing fluid therein for receiving, mixing and treating said contaminated water with an absorbing fluid; (b) processing separator means for receiving said treated water from said absorber-contactor and separating oil-decontaminated water from said absorbing fluid contaminated with oil, including a downflow spreader means; (c) means connected to said absorber-contactor and said processing separator means for recycling unspent oil-contaminated absorbing fluid to said absorber-contactor; (d) means connected to said processing separator for receiving spent absorbing fluid and reclaiming said absorbing fluid for further use; and, (e) means connected to said absorbing fluid reclaiming means, said processing separator means and said absorber-contactor for reintroducing reclaimed absorbing fluid into said system, said reintroducing means including an eductor jet pump driven by oil-decontaminated water discharged from said processing separator means having a downflow spreader means and connected to said absorbing fluid reclaiming means and said absorber means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said absorbing fluid is of a class of fluorinated hydrocarbons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said absorbing fluid is a liquid denser than said contaminated water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 11 words
The system of claim 14, wherein said absorbing fluid is trichchlorotrifluoroethane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said processing separator means includes: (a) a vertically positioned vessel; and, (b) a donwflow spreader means positioned within said vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said processing separator means includes: (a) a horizontally positioned vessel; and, (b) a downflow spreader means positioned within said vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 37 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said means for recycling unspent absorbing fluid, comprises: a fluid line and pump connected to said absorber-contactor adjacent to its inlet and said processing separator means adjacent the bottom portion thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said means for reclaiming spent absorbing fluid includes a distillation treatment vessel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 201 words
A system for removing dissolved and undissolved oil from contaminated water, comprising: (a) a wet spiral mixer-absorber-contactor with trichlorotrifluoroethane as an absorbing fluid therein for receiving, mixing and treating said contaminated water and having a cylinder with a centrally located and axially disposed shaft therein, having fins spirally wrapped around said shaft and segmented plates attached to said fins; (b) a source of absorbing fluid connected to said mixer-absorber-contactor; (c) processing separator means for receiving said treated water from said absorber-contactor and separating oil-decontaminated water from said absorbing fluid contaminated with oil, said separator means including a downflow spreader means; (d) a fluid line and pump connected adjacent the bottom of said processing separator means and to said absorber-contactor adjacent to its inlet for recycling unspent oil-contaminated absorbing fluid; (e) means connected to said processing separator for receiving spent absorbing fluid and reclaiming said absorbing fluid for further use; and, (f) means connected to said absorbing fluid reclaiming means, said processing separator, and said absorber-contactor for reintroducing reclaimed absorbing fluid into said system, said reintroducing means including an eductor jet pump driven by oil-decontaminated water discharged from said processing separator and connected to said absorbing fluid reclaiming means and said absorber-contactor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said means for reclaiming spent absorbing fluid includes a distillation treatment vessel.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3810346A Cited
US4124502A Cited
US4060912A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-06-12 1992-12-12 1993-06-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-06-12 1996-12-12 1997-06-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-06-12 2000-12-12 2001-06-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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