Multi-media stratified filtration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189723-B2
Application number	US-201515112064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2015
Priority date	Jan 23, 2014
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for treating a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons, suspended solids, and an aqueous-based liquid is provided. The systems and methods may utilize a stratified multi-media bed that includes at least one layer of a composite media comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. According to certain aspects, contacting the feed stream with the stratified multi-media bed comprises coalescing and filtering the feed stream. According to at least one aspect, the systems and methods include a draft tube positioned within the stratified multi-media bed that may be utilized for backwashing the layers of filter media.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for treating a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons and an aqueous-based liquid, the system comprising:
a vessel comprising a feed stream inlet fluidly connected with the feed stream and a treated stream outlet fluidly connected with a treated stream; and
a filter bed positioned within the vessel and comprising a first layer of filter media disposed on a second layer of filter media,
wherein at least the first layer comprises a plurality of composite media particles, each of the plurality of composite media particles comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer, and
wherein the filter media of the first layer comprises a lower density than that of the second layer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of composite media particles, each of the plurality of composite media particles of the second layer also comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer, and wherein the composite media particles of the first layer comprise a larger particle size than the composite media particles of the second layer.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second layer of filter media comprises walnut shells.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of composite media particles, each of the plurality of composite media particles of the second layer also comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer, and wherein the second layer further comprises an additive effective to provide the second layer with a greater specific gravity than the first layer.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a volume of the first layer is at least twice that of a volume of the second layer.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a draft tube located within the vessel and positioned within the first layer of filter media and the second layer of filter media;
a gas inlet in communication with the draft tube;
a source of gas in communication with the gas inlet;
a backwash fluid inlet fluidly connected to a source of backwash fluid and at least one of the first layer of filter media or the second layer of filter media; and
a contaminant outlet fluidly connected to the vessel.

7. A process for treating a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons and an aqueous-based liquid, the process comprising:
introducing the feed stream to a vessel containing a first layer of filter media and a second layer of filter media, wherein at least the first layer comprises a plurality of composite media particles, each of the composite media particles comprising a mixture of cellulose-based material and a polymer, and wherein the filter media of the first layer comprises a lower density than that of the second layer; and
contacting the feed stream with the first layer of filter media and subsequently the second layer of filter media to produce a treated stream having a concentration of hydrocarbons less than a concentration of hydrocarbons in the feed stream.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the second layer of filter media comprises walnut shells.

9. The process of claim 7 , wherein the second layer also comprises a plurality of composite media particles, each of the composite media particles comprising a mixture of cellulose-based material and a polymer, and wherein the second layer further comprises an additive effective to provide the second layer with a greater specific gravity than the first layer.

10. The process of claim 7 , wherein the feed stream further comprises suspended solids, and wherein contacting the feed stream with the first layer of filter media and the second layer of filter media produces a treated stream having a concentration of suspended solids less than a concentration of suspended solids in the feed stream.

11. The process of claim 7 , further comprising:
passing a gas through a draft tube in a direction counter a flow of the feed stream, the draft tube located within the vessel and positioned within the first layer of filter media and the second layer of filter media and forming a peripheral zone positioned between a sidewall of the draft tube and a sidewall of the vessel;
passing a backwash fluid through the first and second layers of filter media and the peripheral zone in a direction counter the flow of the feed stream; and
removing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons from the vessel.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Felch Chad L
• Lorge Eric A
• Wiercinski Shane P
• Patterson Matthew R

Classifications

• C02F2101/32

  Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil · CPC title

• B01D17/045

  with coalescers · CPC title

• C02F1/28

  by sorption (using ion-exchange C02F1/42; sorbent compositions B01J) · CPC title

• C02F2103/365

  from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries) · CPC title

• B01D17/0202

  by ab- or adsorption · CPC title