Immiscible liquids separator apparatus and method

Claim 2

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough comprising a serially joined plurality of channel portions and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing at least one portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels, with each said subdivided channel portion having substantially the same transverse cross-sectional area.

Claim 3

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and (d) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; and said separator apparatus comprising: (e) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber; and (f) limiting means for constraining the flow of said fluid mixture to be at less than a certain maximum flow velocity through said separator chamber.

Claim 4

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and (d) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; and said separator apparatus comprising: (e) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber; and (f) limiting means for constraining the flow of said fluid mixture to be at less than a certain maximum flow velocity through said separator chamber.

Claim 5

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which: said fluid mixture entering said separator apparatus through said inlet has sediment mixed therein, and said separator apparatus further comprises: (a) first gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said inlet, for preventing the flow into said separator chamber of said sediment below a first gate height; and (b) second gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said holding chamber, for preventing the flow back into said separator chamber of any of said fluid mixture within said holding chamber below a second gate height, said first gate height being lower than said second gate height.

Claim 6

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; said separator apparatus including: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; and said separator apparatus further having: (e) an effluent chamber interposed between said surge control means and said outlet, said surge control means comprising a pipe connecting said separator chamber to said effluent chamber.

Claim 7

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; said separator apparatus including: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; and said separator apparatus further having: (e) an effluent chamber interposed between said surge control means and said outlet, said surge control means comprising a pipe connecting said separator chamber to said effluent chamber.

Claim 8

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said pipe has an inner diameter and a length, said length of said pipe being between three and six times said inner diameter of said pipe, and in which said pipe extends a distance of at least 1.5 times said inner diameter of said pipe into said separator chamber.

Claim 9

The separator apparatus as described in claim 5, in which the end of said pipe extending into said separator chamber has a downwardly acutely angled opening.

Claim 10

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; said separator apparatus comprising: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; said separator apparatus further having: (e) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; and said separator apparatus further comprising: (f) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber.

Claim 11

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; said separator apparatus comprising: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; said separator apparatus further having: (e) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; and said separator apparatus further comprising: (f) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber.

Claim 12

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 7, in which said fluid mixture entering said separator apparatus through said inlet has sediment mixed therein, and said separator apparatus further comprises: (a) first gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said inlet, for preventing the flow into said separator chamber of said sediment below a first gate height; and (b) second gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said holding chamber, for preventing the flow back into said separator chamber of any of said fluid mixture within said holding chamber below a second gate height, said first gate height being lower than said second gate height.

Claim 13

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 8, in which said separator apparatus further has both an influent chamber interposed between said first gate means and said inlet, and an effluent chamber interposed between said surge control means and said outlet.

Claim 14

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and said separator apparatus including; (d) inlet flow rate control means at said inlet for constraining the volume flow rate of the fluid mixture entering said inlet, said inlet flow rate control means comprising a tapered reducing nozzle, said reducing nozzle having an enlarged mouth spanning said inlet and having a narrowed throat downstream of said enlarged mouth, said narrowed throat being eccentrically downwardly offset with respect to said enlarged mouth of said reducing nozzle.

Claim 15

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and said separator apparatus including; (d) inlet flow rate control means at said inlet for constraining the volume flow rate of the fluid mixture entering said inlet, said inlet flow rate control means comprising a tapered reducing nozzle, said reducing nozzle having an enlarged mouth spanning said inlet and having a narrowed throat downstream of said enlarged mouth, said narrowed throat being eccentrically downwardly offset with respect to said enlarged mouth of said reducing nozzle.

Claim 16

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit means including a filter through which said upwardly guided fluid must pass.

Claim 17

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit means including a filter through which said upwardly guided fluid must pass.

Claim 18

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit having a vertical channel and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing said vertical channel into a number of parallel subchannels.

Claim 19

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, having a serpentine horizontal channel therethrough through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit having a vertical channel and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing said vertical channel into a number of parallel subchannels.

Claim 20

An oil-water separator apparatus for removing oil particles with a greater buoyancy than water from a flowing oil-water fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said oil-water fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus, said oil-water fluid mixture entering said separator apparatus through said inlet having sediment mixed therein; (b) an outlet through which purified water exits said separator apparatus; (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said oil-water fluid mixture flows horizontally while said oil particles rise through said oil-water fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; (d) an effluent chamber interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet; and (e) an oil holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, and in which said separator apparatus further comprises: (f) first gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said inlet, for preventing the flow into said separator chamber of said sediment below a first gate height; (g) second gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said oil holding chamber, for preventing the flow back into said separator chamber of any of said oil-water fluid mixture within said holding chamber below a second gate height, said first gate height being lower than said second gate height; (h) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said oil holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said second gate means; (i) limiting means for constraining the flow of said oil-water mixture to be at less than a certain maximum flow velocity, said limiting means including: (A) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said purified water out of said separator chamber into said outlet; and (B) inlet flow rate control means at said inlet for constraining the volume flow rate of the oil-water fluid mixture entering said inlet.

Claim 21

An oil-water separator apparatus for removing oil particles with a greater buoyancy than water from a flowing oil-water fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said oil-water fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus, said oil-water fluid mixture entering said separator apparatus through said inlet having sediment mixed therein; (b) an outlet through which purified water exits said separator apparatus; (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said oil-water fluid mixture flows horizontally while said oil particles rise through said oil-water fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; (d) an effluent chamber interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet; and (e) an oil holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, and in which said separator apparatus further comprises: (f) first gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said inlet, for preventing the flow into said separator chamber of said sediment below a first gate height; (g) second gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said oil holding chamber, for preventing the flow back into said separator chamber of any of said oil-water fluid mixture within said holding chamber below a second gate height, said first gate height being lower than said second gate height; (h) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said oil holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said second gate means; (i) limiting means for constraining the flow of said oil-water mixture to be at less than a certain maximum flow velocity, said limiting means including: (A) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said purified water out of said separator chamber into said outlet; and (B) inlet flow rate control means at said inlet for constraining the volume flow rate of the oil-water fluid mixture entering said inlet.

Claim 22

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 13, in which said surge control means comprises a pipe connecting said separator chamber to said effluent chamber, said pipe having an inner diameter and a length, said length of said pipe being between three and six times said inner diameter of said pipe, with said pipe extending a distance of at least 1.5 times said inner diameter of said pipe into said separator chamber, and in which the end of said pipe extending into said separator chamber has a downwardly acutely angled opening.

Claim 23

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 14, in which said inlet flow rate control means comprises a tapered reducing nozzle, said reducing nozzle having an enlarged mouth spanning said inlet and having a narrowed throat downstream of said enlarged mouth and being eccentrically downwardly offset with respect to said enlarged mouth.

Claim 26

The method as recited in claim 16, additionally comprising the step of filtering said removed second liquid to remove impurities.

Claim 27

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels, said horizontal channel comprising a serially joined plurality of said subdivided channel portions with each said subdivided channel portion having substantially the same transverse cross-sectional area; and (d) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; said separator apparatus further comprising: (e) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber; and (f) limiting means for constraining the flow of said fluid mixture to be at less than a certain maximum flow velocity through said separator chamber.

Claim 28

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels, said horizontal channel comprising a serially joined plurality of said subdivided channel portions with each said subdivided channel portion having substantially the same transverse cross-sectional area; and (d) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; said separator apparatus further comprising: (e) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber; and (f) limiting means for constraining the flow of said fluid mixture to be at less than a certain maximum flow velocity through said separator chamber.

Claim 29

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 18, in which: said fluid mixture entering said separator apparatus through said inlet has sediment mixed therein, and said separator apparatus further comprises: (a) first gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said inlet, for preventing the flow into said separator chamber, of said sediment below a first gate height; and (b) second gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said holding chamber, for preventing the flow back into said separator chamber of any of said fluid mixture within said holding chamber below a second gage height, said first gate height being lower than said second gate height.

Claim 30

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; said separator apparatus comprising: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; said separator apparatus further having: (e) an effluent chamber interposed between said surge control means and said outlet, said surge control means comprising a pipe connecting said separator chamber to said effluent chamber.

Claim 31

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; said separator apparatus comprising: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; said separator apparatus further having: (e) an effluent chamber interposed between said surge control means and said outlet, said surge control means comprising a pipe connecting said separator chamber to said effluent chamber.

Claim 32

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 20, in which said pipe has an inner diameter and a length, said length of said pipe being between three and six times said inner diameter of said pipe, and in which said pipe extends a distance of at least 1.5 times said inner diameter of said pipe into said separator chamber.

Claim 33

The separator apparatus as described in claim 21, in which the end of said pipe extending into said separator chamber has a downwardly acutely angled opening.

Claim 34

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; said separator apparatus comprising: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; said separator apparatus further having: (e) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; and said separator apparatus further comprising: (f) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber.

Claim 35

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; said separator apparatus comprising: (d) surge control means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for dampening fluctuations in the flow of said second liquid out of said separator chamber into said outlet; said separator apparatus further having: (e) a holding chamber downstream of said separator chamber, said holding chamber having an entrance thereinto from said separator chamber; and said separator apparatus further comprising: (f) return path means for allowing the flow of fluid from a bottom portion of said holding chamber back to said separator chamber upstream of said entrance into said holding chamber.

Claim 36

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 23, in which said fluid mixture entering said separator apparatus through said inlet has sediment mixed therein, and said separator apparatus further comprises: (a) first gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said inlet, for preventing the flow into said separator chamber of said sediment below a first gate height; and (b) second gate means, interposed between said separator chamber and said holding chamber, for preventing the flow back into said separator chamber of any of said fluid mixture within said holding chamber below a second gate height, said first gate height being lower than said second gate height.

Claim 37

The separator apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which said separator apparatus further has both an influent chamber interposed between said first gate means and said inlet, and an effluent chamber interposed between said surge control means and said outlet.

Claim 38

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; and said separator apparatus including: (d) inlet flow rate control means at said inlet for constraining the volume flow rate of the fluid mixture entering said inlet, said inlet flow rate control means comprising a tapered reducing nozzle, said reducing nozzle having an enlarged mouth spanning said inlet and having a narrowed throat downstream of said enlarged mouth, said narrowed throat being eccentrically downwardly offset with respect to said enlarged mouth of said reducing nozzle.

Claim 39

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; and said separator apparatus including: (d) inlet flow rate control means at said inlet for constraining the volume flow rate of the fluid mixture entering said inlet, said inlet flow rate control means comprising a tapered reducing nozzle, said reducing nozzle having an enlarged mouth spanning said inlet and having a narrowed throat downstream of said enlarged mouth, said narrowed throat being eccentrically downwardly offset with respect to said enlarged mouth of said reducing nozzle.

Claim 40

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow or purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit means including a filter through which said upwardly guided fluid must pass.

Claim 41

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus; (b) an outlet through which a flow or purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit means including a filter through which said upwardly guided fluid must pass.

Claim 42

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus: (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit having a vertical channel and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing said vertical channel into a number of parallel subchannels.

Claim 43

A separator apparatus for removing particles of a first liquid from a second liquid, said first liquid having a greater buoyancy than said second liquid and with said second liquid and said particles of said first liquid being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture, said separator apparatus having: (a) an inlet through which said fluid mixture enters said separator apparatus: (b) an outlet through which a flow of purified said second liquid exits said separator apparatus; and (c) a separator chamber, interposed between said inlet and said outlet, through which said fluid mixture flows horizontally while said particles rise through said fluid mixture, said separator chamber having a horizontal channel therethrough and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing a portion of said horizontal channel into a number of parallel subchannels; and said separator apparatus comprising: (d) vertical rising unit means interposed between said separator chamber and said outlet for guiding fluid, passing from said separator chamber to said outlet, upwardly before said fluid flows to said outlet, said vertical rising unit having a vertical channel and including a plurality of horizontally-spaced parallel plates subdividing said vertical channel into a number of parallel subchannels.