Adjustable particle separator system and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11406918-B2
Application number	US-201917052052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2019
Priority date	Apr 30, 2018
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

An adjustable separation system for separating particles suspended in a liquid and method of using same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to an adjustable separation system that includes an adjustable particle separation channel including: a plurality of plate electrodes; and an adjustable inclination system configured to adjust inclination of the plate electrodes through a range of angles, or an adjustable spacing system configured to adjust spacing between adjacent plate electrodes. The adjustable separation system allows the particle-laden liquid to traverse the plate electrodes within the separation channel, thereby separating the particles from the liquid while using the Boycott effect. These and other embodiments achieve separation of particles suspended in a liquid via an adjustable separation system and, optionally, without the need for manual/technician adjustments, which can result in improved efficiency, quicker separation/operating time, and reduced power consumption and cost.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable separation system for separating particles suspended in a liquid, the adjustable separation system comprising:
an adjustable particle separation channel comprising:
a plurality of plate electrodes; and
an adjustable spacing system configured to adjust spacing between adjacent plate electrodes;

wherein the adjustable separation system is configured to allow the particle-laden liquid to traverse the plate electrodes within the separation channel, thereby separating the particles from the liquid while using Boycott effect.

2. The adjustable separation system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable spacing system comprises a spacing bracket operatively connected to the plate electrodes, whereby movement of the spacing bracket adjusts the spacing between the adjacent plate electrodes.

3. The adjustable separation system of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable spacing system further comprises a movement mechanism operatively connected to the spacing bracket, and wherein the movement mechanism effects the movement of the spacing bracket.

4. The adjustable separation system of claim 1 , wherein the separation channel is an electrocoagulation separation channel, whereby the plate electrodes are configured to be alternately voltage-biased using a voltage application system, and wherein the separation of the particles from the liquid uses a combination of electrocoagulation and the Boycott effect.

5. The adjustable separation system of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise solid material.

6. A method of using an adjustable separation system for separating particles suspended in a liquid, the method comprising:
providing an adjustable particle separation channel comprising a plurality of plate electrodes, wherein the adjustable particle separation channel is part of the adjustable separation system;
adjusting spacing between adjacent plate electrodes using an adjustable spacing system, wherein the adjustable particle separation channel further comprises the adjustable spacing system; and
allowing the particle-laden liquid to traverse the plate electrodes within the separation channel, thereby separating the particles from the liquid while using Boycott effect.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the adjustable spacing system comprises a spacing bracket operatively connected to the plate electrodes, and wherein the adjusting the spacing between adjacent plate electrodes is performed via moving the spacing bracket.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the adjustable spacing system further comprises a movement mechanism operatively connected to the spacing bracket, and wherein the movement mechanism effects the movement of the spacing bracket.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the separation channel is an electrocoagulation separation channel, wherein the method further comprises applying an alternately voltage-biasing to the plate electrodes using a voltage application system, and wherein the separation of the particles from the liquid uses a combination of electrocoagulation and the Boycott effect.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the particles comprise solid material.

Assignees

• Univ Houston System

Inventors

• Alba Kamran
• Mirzaeian Nima
• Balan Venkatesh

Classifications

• B01D21/0009 Primary

  Settling tanks making use of electricity or magnetism (electric ultra filters B01D61/425; filters making use of electricity or magnetism B01D35/06; magnetic or electrostatic separation B03C) · CPC title

• C02F2103/38

  Polymers · CPC title

• C02F1/004

  using large scale industrial sized filters · CPC title

• C02F2103/32

  from the food or foodstuff industry, e.g. brewery waste waters · CPC title

• B01D21/0072

  Means for adjusting, moving or controlling the position or inclination of the contact surfaces, e.g. for optimising the particle-liquid separation, for removing the settled particles, for preventing fouling · CPC title