GB1561696A - Creation of Inventions and Patents with Artificial Intelligence

GB1561696A – Precipitator
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GB1561696A – Precipitator
– Google Patents
Precipitator

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Publication number
GB1561696A

GB1561696A
GB2992876A
GB2992876A
GB1561696A
GB 1561696 A
GB1561696 A
GB 1561696A
GB 2992876 A
GB2992876 A
GB 2992876A
GB 2992876 A
GB2992876 A
GB 2992876A
GB 1561696 A
GB1561696 A
GB 1561696A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
liquid
tank
treated
pump
purifying
Prior art date
1976-07-19
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)

Expired

Application number
GB2992876A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

KLEENTEX KOGYO KK

Original Assignee
KLEENTEX KOGYO KK
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1976-07-19
Filing date
1976-07-19
Publication date
1980-02-27

1976-07-19
Application filed by KLEENTEX KOGYO KK
filed
Critical
KLEENTEX KOGYO KK

1976-07-19
Priority to GB2992876A
priority
Critical
patent/GB1561696A/en

1980-02-27
Publication of GB1561696A
publication
Critical
patent/GB1561696A/en

Status
Expired
legal-status
Critical
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Classifications

B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS

B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS

B03C5/00—Separating dispersed particles from liquids by electrostatic effect

B03C5/02—Separators

Description

(54) PRECIPITATOR
(71) We, K.K. KLEENTEK KOGYO, a Japanese Company of 20-12 Minamioi 6-Chome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that apatent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to a precipitator.
More particularly the invention relates to a collector apparatus for removing fine particles of foreign materials suspended and dispersed in non-conductive liquid, such as oils, by the action of an electrostatic force.
There has heretofore been known a method for electrostatically collecting fine particles contained in non-conductive liquid by creating an electric field in the liquid and intensifying field distortion. In such apparatus dielectric collecting members have been located between electrodes to which voltage is applied. However, in the conventional device, fine particles adhered to the collecting members flow away due to a violent convection resulted in the liquid by the creation of electric field, or due to the force exerted on the fine particles by the convection exceeding the electrostatic attractive force between the fine particles and the collecting members. Thus appreciable quantities of the fine particles are scattered in the liquid and do not adhere to the collecting members.
According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for electrostatically purifying nonconductive liquid of contaminant particles including a tank, anode and cathode plates disposed in an opposed relationship within said tank, inlet means in the tank for liquid to be treated, said inlet means being disposed below lower edges of said electrode plates and having apertures therein for liquid to enter the tank, a plurality of planar collecting members of porous dielectric material disposed between said electrode plates so as to be parallel with a direction of an electric field, created by said electrode plates in operation of the apparatus, and with the flow of liquid from said aperture in said inlet means, there being a precipitation space between said inlet means and bottom of said tank; a liquid feed means communicating with said liquid inlet means, a liquid outlet pipe for removing treated liquid from an upper part of said tank and a drainage pipe for discharging the liquid and precipitate remaining in said precipitation space.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the disposition relative to each other of a plurality of dust collecting members used in an apparatus made in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a similar schematic view to that of Figure 1 showing the relative disposition of a plurality of conventional dust collecting members.
Figure 3 is a graph showing dust collecting characteristics .
Figure 4 is a side view showing a general arrangement of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention.
Figure 5 is a perspective partially cutaway view of a collecting tank of the apparatus of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the tank parts being cut-away for clarity.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the tank with a cover removed.
Figure 8 is a section along line X – X of
Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the tank.
Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a cathode connecting portion.
Figures llA and llB are diagrammatic perspective views of collecting members used in the tank.
Figure 12 is a circuit diagram.
Figures 13A and 13B are diagrammatic illustrations showing alternative liquid circulation paths, and
Figure 14 is a schematic view of part of a liquid delivery pipe of a modification of the apparatus.
The graph of Figure 3 illustrates the particle collecting characteristics of collecting plate arrangements of the kind shown in
Figures 1 and 2. Curve A shows the characteristics of the collecting plate arrangement of Figure 1 in which the plates 1 are disposed parallel to the direction of an electric field, and curve B illustrates the characteristics for the plate arrangement of
Figure 2. The spacing of electrodes 2 and the pitch of the collecting plates are equal in both the cases.
The general arrangement of elements of one form of collecting apparatus is shown in
Figure 4 and as can be ssen there is provided a purifying tank 10 mounted on a wheeled truck 11. A supply pipe 12 for a liquid to be treated is connected to the lower part of the purifying tank 10 via a trochoid pump 13 and a flow control valve 14. The liquid after being purified and treated flows from the upper part of the tank 10 by means of a liquid delivery pipe 15. Power supply facilities 17 including a boosting transformer 16 are also carried on the truck 11.
The internal structure of the purifying tank 10 which is metallic and is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped container, is illustrated in Figure 5. From the inner face of opposed walls of the container are extended anode and cathode plates which are disposed in alternating sequence longitudinally of the container 10. Numeral 20 designates the anode plates, which are arranged at equal spacing on a back plate 21 to extend therefrom towards the opposite wall of the container 10. Both side edges and a lower edge of the back plate 21 are detachably supported by a holding frame 22 fixed to the inner wall of the tank 10. the holding frame 22 is made of electrically conductive material and the anode plates 20 and the tank 10 are maintained electrically at the same potential.Thus, not only the electrode plates 20 but also the inner wall of the whole tank has the function of the anode plate. In prior art apparatus the anode is usually maintained at the grounded potential.
Numeral 25 designates the plurality of cathode plates, which in similar manner to the above plates, are mounted at equal spacing on a back plate 26. As shown in
Figure 7, the anode plates 20 and the cathode plates 25 are arranged in interdigitated manner and in parallelism and at equal spacing along the length of the container 10.
Between the cathode plates 25 and the adjacent inner wall of the tank is secured an insulating plate 27 which is fixed to the tank wall. Both side edges and a lower edge of the cathode back plate 26 are detachably held by a frame 28 which is fixed to both side parts and a lower part of the insulating plate 27. The cathode plates 25 are thus electrically insulated from the tank 10 by the insulating plate 27.
A negative D.C. high voltage from the power source device 17 is applied to the cathode plates 25. A coupling means for the application of voltage is shown in Figure 10 by way of example and in the coupling shown there is provided an externally threaded cylindrical member 30 made of an insulating material. One end face of the cylindrical member 30 is bonded in watertight manner to a rear surface of the insulating plate 27 for holding the cathode plates, while the other end face extends out of the tank through a hole 31 provided in the wall thereof and is held by a clamping nut 32. A socket 33 secured to the end of an electric wire 34 is adapted to carry a contact pin 35 which fits snugly in the socket 33.The free end of the socket 33 is provided with a screw 36 in order that the wire can be connected via the socket, to a female screw which is formed on an inner surface of the cylinder 30. In contact with the free end of the contact pin 35 is a slide pin 37 whose free end passes through the insulating plate 27 to abut a rear surface of the cathode back plate 26 the slide pin 37 passes through a bush 38 located in the plate 27. At the free end of the cylinder is provided a cap nut 39.
When a voltage is applied across the cathode and the anode, electric fields in which lines of electric force are at right angles to the electrode plates are respectively formed between the cathode and anode plates and between the outermost cathode plate and the tank inner wall. Between adjacent cathode and anode plates and between the outermost cathode plate and the tank inner wall, large numbers of collecting members 40 are provided. The collecting members 40 are spaced apart by substantially equal intervals and are arranged to lie parallel to the direction of the electric fields. Each collecting member 40 is in the form of a porous sheet of fibrous material, such as a natural fibre, synthetic fibre or glass fibre having liquid permeability. The form of the collecting member 40 may be such that a plurality of single sheets having a predetermined width are supported by suitable holding means. Alternatively, the member may be formed from a single flat sheet which is folded along spaced apart parellel lines into the shape of rectangular bellows as shown in Figure 11A, or it may be formed in a shape of continuous boxes as shown Figure 11B. It is found that the efficiency of collecting fine particles is increased when the pitch of the collecting member 40 is small, for example for a few mm up to ten mm. The dielectric constant of the dust collecting member is determined by the property or dielectric constant of the fine particles to be collected and the dielectric constant of the liquid.
As shown in Figure 8, the collecting members 40 are supported by a lattice or grating 43 which is disposed below the lower ends of the electrode plates. The supporting member 43 of the collector 40 is composed of a plurality of supports 44 made of an insulating material and a pair of coupling rods 45 supporting the support bars 44.
Each support bar 44 is located substantially centrally between adjacent electrode plates, and serves to hold the lower edge of the collecting member. The ends of each coupling rod 45 are supported in brackets 46 which are fixed to the inner wall of the tank.
Support means for the collecting members other than that just described may be used.
For example the upper edge of the collecting member may be suspended from a suitable carrier if desired.
Disposed below the supporting member of the collector 43 is a T-shaped pipe 50 for conducting the liquid to be treated. The liquid conduit 50 is made from insulating material. A part 51 of the pipe 50 communicates with a liquid inlet pipe 52 and the supply pipe 12. A part 53 of the pipe 50 is located substantially along the center line of the tank 10, and is supported at its ends by brackets 54 fixed to the inner wall of the tank. The upper region of the conduit 53 is provided with a plurality of apertures 55 through which liquid can be passed into the tank. It is preferable that the apertures 55 are located almost midway between adjacent electrode plates so that the liquid passing from the apertures 55 may ascend in the space between the electrode plates.
The liquid conduit 50 is spaced, as shown at 59 in Figure 9, from a bottom plate 58 of the tank. The bottom plate 58 inclines towards one side of the tank and a discharge pipe 60 is provided at the lowest part of the bottom plate 58 to enable foreign matter from the liquid treated to accumulate in the interspace 59. Since liquid in the interspace 59 is, during use of the apparatus, scarcely influenced by convection currents in the remainder of the liquid, foreign matter after having fallen to the bottom of the tank does not recirculate into the liquid in the region of the electrodes. Furthermore, since the tank bottom 58 functions as an anode plate, the re-circulation of the foreign matter is electro-statically prevented. Accordingly, the foreign matter after having collected at the base of the tank can be efficiently discharged.
The liquid delivery port 15 located above the electrode plates is provided for discharging the liquid after having been purified and treated. A cover 64 is provided for the tank and this is fixed in a watertight manner. A box 65 for accommodating fixtures is mounted on an outer wall of the tank, if necessary. The elements 66 are reinforcements. There is provided a float controlled level switch 67 for detecting the level of liquid fed into the tank. The switch becomes effective when the liquid reaches a predetermined level.
A control panel 70, on which necessary electric components such as a power switch and various kinds of meters are disposed is located on the trolley 11. Usually, the anode plates are grounded and a negative voltage is applied to the cathode plates. An example of the power source device will be explained with reference to a wiring diagram shown in
Figure 12. Numeral 71 designates commercial A.C. power source terminals, 72 power source switches, and 73 a power source lamp. Numeral 74 designates a motor of the trochoid pump 13; 75 normal – reverse rotation change-over switches for the motor 74; 76 a normal rotation indicating lamp, and 77 a reverse rotation indicating lamp.
Numeral 78 denotes a high voltage control switch and 79 is the level switch described above. When a predetermined amount of liquid has been supplied into the purifying tank, the level switch 79 is actuated to energise a relay 80, a contactor 81 of the relay is closed and power is supplied onto the primary side of the boosting transformer 16. Numeral 82 denotes a high voltage indicating lamp. The secondary side of the transformer 16 is connected through a rectifier 83 to the cathode plates. Numeral 84 is an overcurrent relay. When an abnormal current flows between the anode and the cathode, the overcurrent relay is actuated to close contacts 85 and energize a relay 86.
Energization of relay 86 opens contacts 87 of the relay 86 so as to cut out the power supply to the transformer 16. Numeral 88 denotes an alarm indicating lamp. In this case, a relay 89 is de-energized and as a result the motor 74 is stopped. Numeral 90 represents a make contact of the relay 89, while numeral 91 represents a break contact of the relay 86.
In the apparatus described above, when the liquid to be treated is supplied into the tank, and high voltage D.C. current is applied between the electrode plates, the fine particles of foreign materials in the liquid are electrostatically attracted to the porous collecting members 40. The fine particles floating in the vicinity of the collecting members are quickly collected.
Also, fine particles carried in the liquid some distance from the collecting members are carried into the vicinity thereof by convection currents in the liquid caused by the electric field. These particles are thus also caught on the collecting members. In this manner, the fine particles of the foreign materials suspended in the liquid are almost completely removed and the liquid is purified.
The value of the applied voltage is determined by the size of the fine particles, the content of water in the liquid, and the like.
As the particles become smaller, the voltage applied becomes higher.
In the case where the liquid is circulated, the liquid is fed into the tank through the supply pipe 12, and the treated liquid is removed through the liquid delivery port 15 located in the upper part of the tank. The flow velocity of the circulated liquid in the tank is about 1 – 10 mm/second. The collecting members and the electrode plates are disposed in parallel with the direction of the flow of liquid so that they do not prevent the flow of the liquid.
There are two types of the circulation of liquid according to the position of the pump.
The type shown in Figure 13A is that the pump 13 is arranged on the side of the liquid supply pipe. In this arrangement, in order to prevent difficulties in the pump due to the existence of foreign matter in the liquid, it is necessary to fix a strainer 95 at the extreme end of the supply pipe to the pump. In consequence, the flow rate through the pump decreases as build-up of foreign matter on the strainer takes place, foreign matter thus remains in a supply tank 96. In addition, pressure in the purifying tank rises, and thus the tank must be efficiently sealed and must be of suitable strength.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 13B the pump 13 is arranged in the liquid delivery pipe 15 for the purified liquid. This arrangement has the following advantages; it is unnecessary to provide a strainer at the extreme end of the supply pipe for the liquid to be treated and foreign matter in the liquid is not left in the supply tank. Moreover, the pressure in the purifying tank does not become high. Even when sparks develop in the purifying tank on account of the electric discharge these sparks cannot reach the supply tank 96 since they are checked at the pump 13.
The liquid delivery pipe for taking out the treated liquid may be provided at the side wall of the tank as stated above. However, in this case, an air space 97 is formed in the upper part of the tank, and there may be as a result of the presence of air in the tank a fire risk due to the sparking by the electric discharge if a liquid to be treated is highly inflammable. When the liquid to be treated is highly inflammable the liquid delivery pipe 15 may be provided in the cover 64 at its upper extremity as shown in Figure 14, so that the interior of the tank can be completely filled with liquid.
As described above, according to the apparatus of this invention, since the tank itself serves as part of the electrodes, the tank volume usable for treatment is maximised and large quantities of liquid can be purified and treated with high efficiency.
Since the apparatus is of the sealed type, the handling is safe. Further, since the collecting members and the electrode plates are detachable maintenance such as the exchange and cleaning of the internal parts of the apparatus is very easy. Many such advantages are brought forth.
The use of the equipment is suitable mainly for the purifying treatment of fuel oil and machine lubricating oil. In particular the equipment is most suitable for removing minute metal grains, such as aluminum grains, which cannot be eliminated by a filter. However, it can be utilized also for any other treatment of an insulating liquid, for example, the high-degree purification treatment of a solvent. The invention has very wide applications, and plays a significant role for the prevention of environmental hazards and the savings of resources.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. An apparatus for electrostically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant particles including a tank, anode and cathode plates disposed in an opposed relationship within said tank, inlet means in the tank for liquid to be treated, said inlet means being disposed below lower edges of said electrode plates and having apertures therein for liquid to enter the tank, a plurality of planar collecting members of porous dielectric material disposed between said electrode plates so as to be parallel with a direction of an electric field, created by said electrode plates in operation of the apparatus, and with the flow of liquid from said aperture in said inlet means, there being a precipitation space between said inlet means and bottom of said tank; a liquid feed means communicating with said liquid inlet means, a liquid outlet pipe for removing treated liquid from an upper part of said tank and a drainage pipe for discharging the liquid and precipitate remaining in said precipitation space.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which said inlet means is in the form of a conduit having apertures in its upper region, said apertures being so positioned as to be located between said electrodes.
3. An apparatus for electrostatically
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Also, fine particles carried in the liquid some distance from the collecting members are carried into the vicinity thereof by convection currents in the liquid caused by the electric field. These particles are thus also caught on the collecting members. In this manner, the fine particles of the foreign materials suspended in the liquid are almost completely removed and the liquid is purified. The value of the applied voltage is determined by the size of the fine particles, the content of water in the liquid, and the like. As the particles become smaller, the voltage applied becomes higher. In the case where the liquid is circulated, the liquid is fed into the tank through the supply pipe 12, and the treated liquid is removed through the liquid delivery port 15 located in the upper part of the tank. The flow velocity of the circulated liquid in the tank is about 1 – 10 mm/second. The collecting members and the electrode plates are disposed in parallel with the direction of the flow of liquid so that they do not prevent the flow of the liquid. There are two types of the circulation of liquid according to the position of the pump. The type shown in Figure 13A is that the pump 13 is arranged on the side of the liquid supply pipe. In this arrangement, in order to prevent difficulties in the pump due to the existence of foreign matter in the liquid, it is necessary to fix a strainer 95 at the extreme end of the supply pipe to the pump. In consequence, the flow rate through the pump decreases as build-up of foreign matter on the strainer takes place, foreign matter thus remains in a supply tank 96. In addition, pressure in the purifying tank rises, and thus the tank must be efficiently sealed and must be of suitable strength. In the apparatus shown in Figure 13B the pump 13 is arranged in the liquid delivery pipe 15 for the purified liquid. This arrangement has the following advantages; it is unnecessary to provide a strainer at the extreme end of the supply pipe for the liquid to be treated and foreign matter in the liquid is not left in the supply tank. Moreover, the pressure in the purifying tank does not become high. Even when sparks develop in the purifying tank on account of the electric discharge these sparks cannot reach the supply tank 96 since they are checked at the pump 13. The liquid delivery pipe for taking out the treated liquid may be provided at the side wall of the tank as stated above. However, in this case, an air space 97 is formed in the upper part of the tank, and there may be as a result of the presence of air in the tank a fire risk due to the sparking by the electric discharge if a liquid to be treated is highly inflammable. When the liquid to be treated is highly inflammable the liquid delivery pipe 15 may be provided in the cover 64 at its upper extremity as shown in Figure 14, so that the interior of the tank can be completely filled with liquid. As described above, according to the apparatus of this invention, since the tank itself serves as part of the electrodes, the tank volume usable for treatment is maximised and large quantities of liquid can be purified and treated with high efficiency. Since the apparatus is of the sealed type, the handling is safe. Further, since the collecting members and the electrode plates are detachable maintenance such as the exchange and cleaning of the internal parts of the apparatus is very easy. Many such advantages are brought forth. The use of the equipment is suitable mainly for the purifying treatment of fuel oil and machine lubricating oil. In particular the equipment is most suitable for removing minute metal grains, such as aluminum grains, which cannot be eliminated by a filter. However, it can be utilized also for any other treatment of an insulating liquid, for example, the high-degree purification treatment of a solvent. The invention has very wide applications, and plays a significant role for the prevention of environmental hazards and the savings of resources. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An apparatus for electrostically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant particles including a tank, anode and cathode plates disposed in an opposed relationship within said tank, inlet means in the tank for liquid to be treated, said inlet means being disposed below lower edges of said electrode plates and having apertures therein for liquid to enter the tank, a plurality of planar collecting members of porous dielectric material disposed between said electrode plates so as to be parallel with a direction of an electric field, created by said electrode plates in operation of the apparatus, and with the flow of liquid from said aperture in said inlet means, there being a precipitation space between said inlet means and bottom of said tank; a liquid feed means communicating with said liquid inlet means, a liquid outlet pipe for removing treated liquid from an upper part of said tank and a drainage pipe for discharging the liquid and precipitate remaining in said precipitation space.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which said inlet means is in the form of a conduit having apertures in its upper region, said apertures being so positioned as to be located between said electrodes.

3. An apparatus for electrostatically
purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant particles as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said tank is made of a conductive material and inner wall of said tank is electrically connected to either one of said electrode plates so as to make said tank a part of said electrode and maintain said tank at a ground potential.

4. An apparatus for electrostatically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said liquid outlet pipe is provided at an upper part of the side wall of said tank.

5. An apparatus for electrostically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said liquid outlet pipe is provided at an upper surface of the cover of said tank.

6. An apparatus for electrostatically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant particles as claimed in any preceding claim, including a pump in the feed means for supplying the liquid to be treated into said tank.

7. An apparatus for electrostatically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant particles as claimed in any preceding
Claim, further comprising a pump provided in said liquid outlet pipe for the tank.

8. An apparatus for electrostically purifying non-conductive liquid of contaminant particles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 to 13 or to these
Figures with the modification of Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.

GB2992876A
1976-07-19
1976-07-19
Precipitator

Expired

GB1561696A
(en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title

GB2992876A

GB1561696A
(en)

1976-07-19
1976-07-19
Precipitator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title

GB2992876A

GB1561696A
(en)

1976-07-19
1976-07-19
Precipitator

Publications (1)

Publication Number
Publication Date

GB1561696A
true

GB1561696A
(en)

1980-02-27

Family
ID=10299476
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Application Number
Title
Priority Date
Filing Date

GB2992876A
Expired

GB1561696A
(en)

1976-07-19
1976-07-19
Precipitator

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GB1561696A
(en)

1976

1976-07-19
GB
GB2992876A
patent/GB1561696A/en
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