Separating device

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a separating device, and in particular, to a separating device used in a reacting tank, for separating solid, gas, and liquid from polluted water in the reacting tank.

2. Description of the Related Art

As shown in FIG. 1 , a separating device, conventionally utilized in wastewater treatment, is often disposed in an anaerobic sludge tank 1 . Wastewater, entering the tank 1 , is decomposed under anaerobic conditions, producing biogas which includes methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. The gas rises with the upflow sludge through a guiding area 2 to a gas collecting area 3 . The rest of the solid-liquid mixture enters a solid-liquid area 4 through a gap G. A slanting plate 5 separates the solid and the liquid, keeping solid material in the solid-liquid area 4 . The liquid then overflows to a weir 6 .

In the conventional separating device, a scum weir (not shown) disposed in the gas collecting area releases gas. However, the conventional separating device has an enclosed gas collection area. Problems such as when to discharge the scum, and how to completely discharge the scum frequently arise. Additionally, openings for the liquid to flow through are required, affecting overall intensity.

The invention provides a separating device. The separating device is used in a tank to separate solid, gas, and liquid from polluted water, and comprises a first panel, and a plurality of first dividers. The first panel is disposed in the tank, and comprises a first body and a plurality of first tubes. The first body has a plurality of first openings. The first tubes, connected with the first openings, are disposed under the first body. The first dividers, corresponding to the first tubes, are horizontally disposed under the first tubes. A gap is formed between each first divider and each first tube. The first tube projects to the first divider, forming a projecting perimeter within the first divider.

A solid-liquid separation area is formed above the first panel, a gas collecting area is formed between the first panel and the first dividers, and a reacting area is formed under the first dividers.

The separating device further comprises a slanting plate, disposed in the solid-liquid separation area.

The separating device further comprises a weir, disposed in the solid-liquid separation area, above the slanting plate.

The separating device further comprises a bucket, communicating with the gas collecting area, collecting gas and scum from the tank.

The separating device further comprises a first tube, communicating with the gas collecting area.

The separating device further comprises second tube, communicating with the solid-liquid separation area.

The separating device further comprises a distribution tank, communicating with the solid-liquid area via the second tube.

The separating device further comprises a pump, disposed on the second tube.

The separating device further comprises a third tube, via which the distribution tank communicates with the reacting area.

The separating device further comprises a second panel, and a plurality of second dividers. The second panel, disposed in the tank, comprises a second body, a plurality of second tubes, and a collecting tube. The second body has a plurality of second openings and a third opening. The second tubes, connected with the second openings, are disposed under the second body. The collecting tube, connected with the third opening, is disposed above the second body. The second dividers, corresponding to the second tubes, are horizontally disposed under the second tubes. A gap is formed between each second divider and each second tube. The second tube projects to the second divider, forming a projecting perimeter within the second divider.

The first gas collecting area communicates with the second gas collecting area by the collecting tube.

The tank has a height between 15 and 25 meters.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional separating device and an anaerobic sludge tank;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of an embodiment of a separating device and a tank of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing a first pipe and a first divider in FIG. 2A ;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a first panel in FIG. 2A ;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second panel in FIG. 2A ; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a variant embodiment of the separating device and the tank of the invention.

FIG. 2A depicts a separating device of an embodiment of the invention. The separating device is used in a tank 10 containing wastewater. The tank 10 is an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) tank, having a height between fifteen and twenty five meters. The separating device comprises a first panel 11 , a plurality of first dividers 11 A, a second panel 12 , a plurality of second dividers 12 A, a colleting tube 12 B, a slanting plate 13 , two weirs 14 , a bucket 15 , a distribution tank 16 , a pump P, a first pipe a, a second pipe b, and a third pipe c. It should be noted that in FIG. 2A , only two first dividers 11 A and two second dividers 12 A are shown.

In the tank 10 , the first divider 11 and the second divider 12 comprise a demarcation line, dividing the tank 10 into different sections. A solid-liquid separation area S-L is defined above the first panel 11 , and a first gas collecting area G 1 is defined between the first panel 11 and the first dividers 11 A. A first reacting area R 1 is defined between the first dividers 11 A and the second panel 12 . A second gas collecting area G 2 is defined between the second panel 12 and the second dividers 12 A. A second reacting area R 2 is defined under the second dividers 12 A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first panel 11 . The first panel 11 is disposed in the tank 10 , and comprises a first body S 1 and a plurality of first tubes T 1 . The first body S 1 has a plurality of first openings O 1 , the number, the sizes, and shapes of the sections of which are not limited. The first tube T 1 connects with the first opening O 1 , and the first tube T 1 is beneath the first panel 11 . The first divider 11 A is disposed in respect to the first tube T 1 , and below the first tube T 1 . Each first divider 11 A comprises a periphery extending radially to the corresponding first tube T 1 . A gap d 1 is maintained between the first tube T 1 and the first divider 11 A (referring to FIG. 2B ).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the second panel 12 disposed in the tank 10 , and below the first panel 11 , comprising a second body S 2 , a plurality of second tubes T 2 , and a third opening O 3 (referring to FIG. 2A ). The second body S 2 has a plurality of second openings O 2 , wherein the number, the sizes, and shapes of which are not limited. The second tube T 2 connects with the second opening O 2 , and is disposed beneath the second body S 2 . The second divider 12 A is disposed in respect to the second tube T 2 , and below the second tube T 2 . A gap d 2 is kept between the second tube T 2 and the second divider 12 A. The collecting tube 12 B connects with the third opening O 3 , and is disposed above the second body S 2 , wherein the first gas collecting area G 1 communicates with the second gas collecting area G 2 by the collecting tube 12 B. It should be noted that while one collecting tube 12 B and one third opening O 3 are shown, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The number, the sizes, and shapes of the collecting tube 12 B and the third opening O 3 are designed according to demand.

Referring to FIG. 2A again, the slanting plate 13 is disposed in the solid-liquid separation area S-L. Two weirs 14 are disposed on inner walls of the tank 10 , respectively, above the slanting plate 13 , although disposition of the weirs 14 is not limited thereto.

The bucket 15 communicates with the first gas collecting area G 1 by the first pipe a, wherein the first pipe a is disposed near the first panel 11 . The distribution tank 16 communicates with the solid-liquid separation area S-L by the second pipe b, and the pump P is disposed on the second pipe b. An end of the second pipe b extends to the solid-liquid separation area S-L, between the slanting plate 13 and the first panel 11 . The distribution tank 16 communicates with the first and second reacting areas R 1 , R 2 by the third pipe c, respectively.

Waste water in the tank 10 is a mixture comprising solid, gas, and liquid, which is received in the second reacting area R 2 of the tank 10 . The mixture flows up from the second reacting area R 2 , through the bottom of the second panel 12 A, and toward the sides of the second panel 12 A. A portion of gas is collected in the second gas collecting area G 2 , and enters the first gas collecting area G 1 through the collecting tube 12 B. Remaining mixture continuously flows to the first reacting area R 1 through the gap d 2 between the second panel 12 A and the second tube T 2 . When the mixture reaches to the bottom of the first panel 11 A, it moves toward the sides of the first panel 11 A. Remaining gas in the mixture is collected in the first gas collecting area G 1 . Remaining mixture then flows to the solid-liquid separation area S-L through the gap d 1 between the first divider 11 A and the first tube T 1 .

The gas collected in the first gas collecting area G 1 carries some solid scum. The gas and the scum along the under surface of the first panel 11 enter the bucket 15 through the first pipe a. Gas is exhausted out of the bucket 15 , with the solid scum remaining. A window can be disposed on the bucket 15 to observe accumulation of the solid scum in the bucket 15 . After a certain amount of solid scum is accumulated in the bucket 15 , a valve (not shown) of the first pipe a is closed temporarily, such that the bucket 15 does not communicate with the first gas collecting area G 1 . Thus, the solid scum can be removed from the bucket 15 .

The mixture in the solid-liquid separation area S-L continuously moves upward through the slanting plate 13 . The solid in the mixture is blocked by the slanting plate 13 , and precipitates on the first panel 11 . The liquid then flows through the slanting plate 13 , outflow through the weirs 14 .

In the solid-liquid separation area S-L, the combined liquid and the solid precipitate on the first panel 11 is pumped through the second pipe b by the pump P, to the distribution tank 16 . The mixture in the distribution tank 16 is recycled to the bottom of the first and second reacting areas R 1 , R 2 through the third pipe c.

The superficial velocity of gaseous material increases with the height of the tank, reducing concentration of the sludge. Accordingly, when the superficial velocity of gaseous material reaches a certain limits, gas in the tank must be released from the reacting area. In the embodiment, the tank 10 has a certain height, such that two sets of panel 11 , 12 and two sets of corresponding divider 11 A, 12 A are disposed in coordination with the tank 10 . However, disposition is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 5 , a single set of the panel 11 ′ and the corresponding divider 11 A′ can be disposed in the tank 10 ′, with other parts the same as the above embodiment.

The separating device of the invention can be simply constructed, especially when assembled as a module. Not only is construction cost successfully reduced, but problems releasing the scum are overcome. Additionally, the volume of the anaerobic tank is efficiently utilized.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.