Particle separator

Claim 2

Apparatus for removing contaminants, including particulate matter, from a water runoff stream comprising: a separation vault for receiving the runoff stream; said vault having an entrance for the runoff stream thereto; and including: a primary skimmer at said entrance for preventing floating objects from entering the vault; a holding chamber at the base of the vault for catching and holding particulate matter as the particulate matter drops out of the runoff stream; at least one plate module, having plural corrugated plates spaced apart from one another therein for providing a support for bioslime for aerobic and then annerobic treatment of the runoff stream; and a final skimmer located at the rear of said vault, including a final skimmer plate for directing floating objects and a floating hose for removing floating objects from said runoff stream.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a collection system for collecting runoff including a receiving pond for receiving runoff, and screening material at the entrance of the pond for pre-screening large particles.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 which further includes a first electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field along a stretch of said pond.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said screening material includes a geotextile fence arrayed across an end of said pond to remove particulate matter from the runoff.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a second electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field about said separation vaul entrance.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vault includes a chemical injector for injecting a precipitation/flocculation-causing chemical into the runoff stream.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 which includes an air injection system for injecting air into runoff contained in said vault in the vicinity of the aerobic treatment plates.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding chamber includes an eduction mechanism for removing particulate matter which is collected in said holding chamber.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vault has an exit point and includes a filter located across said exit point for finally filtering particulate matter from the runoff stream.

Claim 11

Apparatus for removing contaminants, including particulate matter, from a water runoff stream comprising: a collection system for collecting runoff including a receiving pond for receiving runoff from said collection system; a separation vault for receiving the runoff stream; said vault having an entrance for the runoff stream thereto; and including: a primary skimmer at said entrance for preventing floating objects from entering the vault which extends below the surface of said receiving pond; a v-shaped holding chamber at the base of the vault for catching and holding particulate matter as the particulate matter drops out of the runoff stream; at least one plate module having plural corrugated plates spaced apart from one another therein for providing a support for bioslime for aerobic and then anaerobic treatment of the runoff stream; a final skimmer located at the rear of said vault including a final skimmer plate for directing floating objects and a floating hose for removing floating objects from said runoff stream; and an exit point for allowing egress of the runoff stream from said vault.

Claim 12

Apparatus for removing contaminants, including particulate matter, from a water runoff stream comprising: a collection system for collecting runoff including a receiving pond for receiving runoff from said collection system; a separation vault for receiving the runoff stream; said vault having an entrance for the runoff stream thereto; and including: a primary skimmer at said entrance for preventing floating objects from entering the vault which extends below the surface of said receiving pond; a v-shaped holding chamber at the base of the vault for catching and holding particulate matter as the particulate matter drops out of the runoff stream; at least one plate module having plural corrugated plates spaced apart from one another therein for providing a support for bioslime for aerobic and then anaerobic treatment of the runoff stream; a final skimmer located at the rear of said vault including a final skimmer plate for directing floating objects and a floating hose for removing floating objects from said runoff stream; and an exit point for allowing egress of the runoff stream from said vault.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said collection system includes screening material at the entrance of the pond for pre-screening large particles, said screening material including organic bales having fiberglass matting thereabout.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 which further includes a first electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field along a stretch of said conduit.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 which includes a second electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field about said separation vault entrance.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said vault includes a chemical injector for injecting a precipitation/flocculation-causing chemical into the runoff stream to facilitate the removal of phosphorous compounds from the runoff stream.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 10 which includes an air injection system for injecting air into the spaces between said aerobic plates.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said vault includes an eduction mechanism for removing particulate matter which is collected in said holding chamber, said eduction mechanism including a slotted pipe located adjacent the bottom of said holding chamber and having a connection thereto external of said vault.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 10 which includes a filter located externally across said exit point for finally filtering particulate matter from the runoff stream.

Claim 20

Apparatus for removing contaminants, including particulate material, from water runoff from streets and ground surfaces comprising: a collection system for collecting runoff, including: a receiving pond for receiving runoff from said collection system including a geotextile pre-screening fence arrayed about an entry end of said receiving pond to remove large particulate matter from the runoff; a first electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field along a stretch of said pond; a separation vault for receiving the runoff stream; said vault having an entrance for the runoff stream thereto; said vault including: a primary skimmer at said entrance for preventing floating objects from entering the vault, said primary skimmer extending below the surface of said pond when said pond is at a level sufficient to direct water into said vault entrance; a second electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field about said entrance; a chemical injector for injecting a precipitation/flocculation-causing chemical into the runoff stream to promote the removal of phosphorous compounds from the runoff stream; a holding chamber at the base of the vault having a substantially v-shaped base for catching and holding particulate matter as the particulate matter drops out of the runoff stream; an eduction mechanism for removing particulate matter from said holding chamber, said eduction mechanism including an eductor pipe located adjacent the bottom of said holding chamber and having slits on the bottom half thereof, and having a connection external of said vault to facilitate pumped removal of particulate matter from said holding chamber; at least one plate module having plural corrugated plates spaced apart from one another therein for providing a support for bioslime for aerobic and then anaerobic treatment of the runoff stream; an air injection system for injecting air into the spaces between said aerobic plates; a final skimmer located at the rear of said vault including a floating hose for removing waste oil from said runoff stream; a runoff-stream exit point; and a filter located externally across said exit point for finally filtering particulate matter from the runoff stream.

Claim 21

Apparatus for removing contaminants, including particulate material, from water runoff from streets and ground surfaces comprising: a collection system for collecting runoff, including: a receiving pond for receiving runoff from said collection system including a geotextile pre-screening fence arrayed about an entry end of said receiving pond to remove large particulate matter from the runoff; a first electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field along a stretch of said pond; a separation vault for receiving the runoff stream; said vault having an entrance for the runoff stream thereto; said vault including: a primary skimmer at said entrance for preventing floating objects from entering the vault, said primary skimmer extending below the surface of said pond when said pond is at a level sufficient to direct water into said vault entrance; a second electrostatic field generator for generating an electrostatic field about said entrance; a chemical injector for injecting a precipitation/flocculation-causing chemical into the runoff stream to promote the removal of phosphorous compounds from the runoff stream; a holding chamber at the base of the vault having a substantially v-shaped base for catching and holding particulate matter as the particulate matter drops out of the runoff stream; an eduction mechanism for removing particulate matter from said holding chamber, said eduction mechanism including an eductor pipe located adjacent the bottom of said holding chamber and having slits on the bottom half thereof, and having a connection external of said vault to facilitate pumped removal of particulate matter from said holding chamber; at least one plate module having plural corrugated plates spaced apart from one another therein for providing a support for bioslime for aerobic and then anaerobic treatment of the runoff stream; an air injection system for injecting air into the spaces between said aerobic plates; a final skimmer located at the rear of said vault including a floating hose for removing waste oil from said runoff stream; a runoff-stream exit point; and a filter located externally across said exit point for finally filtering particulate matter from the runoff stream.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said plate module includes a series of plates, each plate being oriented between 50° and 70° from the horizontal and having corrugations therein which are approximately about 1/2" deep ×23/4 long, and wherein fiberglass separators are provided to space said plates apart by a predetermined distance.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 18 which includes a waste oil container for receiving and holding waste oil, and which further includes environmentally acceptable means for removing waste oil from said waste oil container.