Foam intercept system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9771279-B2
Application number	US-201514674573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A foam intercept system and a method of using the foam intercept system are disclosed herein. The foam intercept system is useful to control levels of foam generated on the surface of effluent seawater during aeration of the effluent seawater in a seawater aeration basin. Effluent seawater contained within the seawater aeration basin may be produced in a seawater flue gas desulfurization system associated with a power plant or an aluminum production plant.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A foam intercept system comprising:
a seawater aeration basin containing effluent seawater from an associated seawater flue gas desulfurization absorber and foam generated within the seawater aeration basin;
a foam intercept device floating on a surface of the effluent seawater contained in the seawater aeration basin comprising:
a housing with an open base, an interior area defined by one or more walls above the open base, and a top opposite the open base; and
an adjustable float frame removably attached below the housing supporting the housing above the surface of the effluent seawater, with the adjustable float frame comprising mechanical adjustors and/or air valves for adjustable arrangement of the open base of the housing a distance above or just below the surface of the effluent seawater and generated foam contained in the seawater aeration basin;

dual pumps fluidly connected to the housing;
a jet pump fluidly connected to the housing; and
a foam retention tank fluidly connected to the dual pumps and the jet pump arranged for containing generated foam transported by suction from the seawater aeration basin and for containing dissipation fluid generated from dissipated and/or destroyed generated foam.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or both dual pumps are operative to suction transport the generated foam from the seawater aeration basin to the foam retention tank.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the jet pump is operative to suction transport generated foam from the seawater aeration basin to the foam retention tank.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more level detectors within the foam retention tank for transmission of data signals to a control device.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more level detectors within the foam retention tank for transmission of data signals to a control device for remote control of valves controlling transport route of generated foam to the foam retention tank.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein generated foam suctioned by one or both of the dual pumps bypasses the jet pump in transport to the foam retention tank.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein generated foam suctioned by the jet pump bypasses the dual pumps in transport to the foam retention tank.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a treatment tank for treatment of dissipation fluid transported thereto from the foam retention tank.

9. A method of using a foam intercept system comprising:
providing a seawater aeration basin containing effluent seawater from a seawater flue gas desulfurization absorber and foam generated within the seawater aeration basin;
providing a foam intercept device floating on a surface of the effluent seawater contained in the seawater aeration basin comprising:
a housing with an open base, an interior area defined by one or more walls above the open base, and a top opposite the open base; and
an adjustable float frame removably attached below the housing supporting the housing above the surface of the effluent seawater, with the adjustable float frame comprising mechanical adjustors and/or air valves for adjustable arrangement of the open base of the housing a distance above or just below the surface of the effluent seawater and generated foam contained in the seawater aeration basin;

suctioning the generated foam from the seawater aeration basin using one or both dual pumps fluidly connected to the housing;
using as needed a jet pump fluidly connected to the housing to suction generated foam from the seawater aeration basin; and
providing a foam retention tank fluidly connected to the dual pumps and the jet pump to contain generated foam transported from the seawater aeration basin via the foam intercept device and associated pumps.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting the float frame to vary the distance of the housing open base with respect to the surface of the effluent seawater.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a valve for generated foam bypass of the jet pump in transport to the foam retention tank.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a valve for generated foam bypass of the dual pumps in transport to the foam retention tank.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing one or more level detectors within the foam retention tank for transmission of data signals to a control device for remote control of valves to control transport route of the generated foam through the system.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a strainer between the housing and associated pumps for removal of debris using the strainer.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising a treatment tank for treatment of dissipation fluid transported thereto from the foam retention tank.

Assignees

• Alstom Technology Ltd
• General Electric Technology Gmbh

Inventors

• Strimple Damien Paul
• Loria James Brian
• Bogdanchik Peter Joseph
• Foster Paul

Classifications

• C02F1/40 Primary

  Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material (cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16) · CPC title

• B01D19/02 Primary

  Foam dispersion or prevention (during boiling B01B1/02; during fermentation C12) · CPC title

• C02F2209/42

  Liquid level · CPC title

• B03D1/1462

  Discharge mechanisms for the froth · CPC title

• C02F2209/008

  comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas · CPC title