Process for clarifying an oil-solids contaminated aqueous stream

Abstract

Abstract A PROCESS FOR CLARIFYING AN OIL-SOLIDS CONTAMINATED AQUEOUS STREAM SUCH AS MAY ARISE FROM THE OPERATION OF A RAILROAD EQUIPMENT SERVICING FACILITY. A PRIMARY CLARIFIER GRAVITATIONALLY SEPARATES THE STREAM INTO SETTLED SOLIDS, A MERCHANTABLE OIL PRODUCT AND A CLARIFIED WATER STREAM. THE CLARIFIED WATER STREAM IS TREATED BY CREATING A FLOCCULATION PRODUCT FOR REMOVING SOLIDS AND OIL THEREFROM TO PRODUCE A CLEAR WATER STREAM DELIVERED TO A SUBSEQUENT UTILIZATION. SETTLED SOLIDS MAY BE RETURNED TO THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER. THE FLOCCULATION PRODUCT IS ACCUMULATED IN A SLUDGE CLEANER TO BE PERIODICALLY CONVERTED INTO WATER AND OIL PHASES. THE OIL PHASE IS RETURNED INTO THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER. THE WATER PHASE IS REFORMED INTO AN OIL-FREE FLOCCULATION PRODUCT AND SEPARATED FROM A WATER FILTRATE RETURNED INTO THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER. SOLIDS FROM THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER ARE ACCUMULATED IN A SAND CLEANER TO BE PERIODICALLY CLEANED TO SEPARATE OIL-FREE SOLIDS FROM A SOLIDS-FREE WATER-CONTINUOUS FILTRATE RETURNED TO THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER. THE REFORMED FLOCCULATION PRODUCT AND OIL-FREE SOLIDS ARE SEPARATED IN A SOLIDS DEWATERING VESSEL FROM A WATER FILTRATE RETURNED INTO THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER. THE RELATIVELY WATER-FREE SOLIDS ARE THEN DELIVERED TO A SUBSEQUENT UTILIZATION SUCH AS LAND FILL.

Inventors

• 👤 William F Burns
• 👤 Robert B Martin

Bibliographic Details