Feedwell for an inclined plate separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017159-B2
Application number	US-202217946321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2022
Priority date	Sep 16, 2022
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A feedwell is provided for an inclined plate separator having a separation chamber containing parallel plates defining separation passages. The feedwell includes a plenum defining a plenum chamber external to the separation chamber, an upward-facing deflector surface in the plenum chamber, an inlet for discharging influent fluid onto a receiving region of the deflector surface, and an outlet for discharging the influent fluid out of the plenum and transversely into the separation chamber. The feedwell also includes parallel fins. The fins define between them plenum passages that extend from a fin end to outlet. The fin ends are disposed between the outlet and the receiving region, and are arranged in a horizontal semi-elliptical path defining a center that horizontally coincides with the receiving region.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1. A feedwell for supplying an influent fluid to an inclined plate separator comprising a separation chamber containing a plurality of internal plates extending parallel to each other in a horizontal transverse direction, vertically inclined relative to a horizontal lateral direction perpendicular to the transverse direction, and spaced apart equidistantly from each other in the lateral direction to define therebetween a plurality of internal separation passages of the separator, the feedwell comprising a plenum comprising:
(a) an internal upward-facing deflector surface;
(b) an inlet for directing the influent fluid into the chamber and downwardly on to a receiving region of the deflector surface;
(c) an outlet for discharging the influent fluid in the transverse direction from the plenum into the separation chamber of the separator, wherein the outlet extends in the lateral direction over the plurality of internal separation passages of the separator; and
(d) a plurality of internal fins extending parallel to each other in the transverse direction, vertically inclined relative to the lateral direction, and spaced apart equidistantly from each other in the lateral direction to define therebetween a plurality of internal plenum passages each corresponding to a different one of the separation passages of the separator, wherein each of the fins extends in the transverse direction from a fin proximal end to a fin distal end at the outlet, wherein the fin proximal ends are arranged on a horizontal semi-elliptical path having a center coinciding horizontally with the receiving region of the deflector surface, a major axis extending in the lateral direction, and a semi-minor axis extending in the transverse direction.

2. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the semi-elliptical path has an eccentricity (e) between 0.1 to about 0.5, wherein the eccentricity is defined by a length (a) of the major axis, and a length (b/2) of the semi-minor axis, in accordance with a relationship:

e
=

1
-

(

b
a

)

2

.

3. The feedwell of claim 2 , wherein the eccentricity is between about 0.2 to about 0.4.

4. The feedwell of claim 3 , wherein the eccentricity is about 0.3.

5. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the deflector surface is contoured, such that the elevation of the deflector surface increases in the transverse direction from the receiving region to the fin proximal ends.

6. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the plenum further comprises a plurality of internal fin extensions, wherein each fin extension extends upwardly from the deflector surface, and extends horizontally from a fin extension proximal end at the receiving region to a fin extension distal end abutting a corresponding one of the fin proximal ends.

7. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the plenum is defined in part by an upward facing, lower internal surface disposed below the deflector surface to receive influent fluid flowing off an edge of the deflector surface, and inclined downwardly toward the outlet.

8. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the plenum is external to walls that define the separation chamber.

9. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the plenum is internal to walls that define the separation chamber.

10. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the inclined plate separator comprises two separation chambers, a first separation chamber and a second separation chamber, the first and second separation chambers either abutting one another or being spaced apart in the transverse direction from one another, the first and second separation chamber each containing a plurality of internal plates extending parallel to each other in the transverse direction, vertically inclined relative to the lateral direction, and spaced apart equidistantly from each other in the lateral direction, wherein the plenum further comprises:
(a) a second outlet, spaced apart from the outlet in the transverse direction, and for discharging the influent fluid in the transverse direction from the plenum into the second separation chamber, wherein the second outlet extends in the lateral direction over the second plurality of internal separation passages of the second separation chamber; and
(b) a second plurality of internal fins, spaced apart from the plurality of fins in the transverse direction, extending parallel to each other in the transverse direction, vertically inclined relative to the lateral direction, and spaced apart equidistantly from each other in the lateral direction to define therebetween a second plurality of internal plenum passages each corresponding to a different one of the second separation passages of the second separation chamber, wherein each of the second fins extends in the transverse direction from a second fin proximal end to a second fin distal end at the second outlet, wherein the second fin proximal ends are arranged on a second horizontal semi-elliptical path having a second center coinciding horizontally with the receiving region of the deflector surface, a second major axis extending in the lateral direction, and a second semi-minor axis extending in the transverse direction.

11. The feedwell of claim 1 , wherein the plenum is positioned adjacent to the internal plates of the inclined plate separator such that upper portions of the internal plates extend above the plenum and lower portions of the internal plates extend below the plenum.

Assignees

• Syncrude Canada Ltd
• Syncrude Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Reid Kevin
• Spence Jonathan
• Makhtoumi Parinaz
• Hilderman Trevor
• Pougatch Konstantin

Classifications

• B01D21/2416

  Liquid distributors with a plurality of feed points · CPC title

• B01D21/0045 Primary

  Plurality of essentially parallel plates · CPC title