Cross flow sedimentation device and method of use

Abstract

A rainwater treatment device may include a cross-flow sedimentation device having a treatment channel defined by a front baffle, a rear baffle, and a pair of swash plates disposed at complementary angles therebetween and placed between the front baffle and the rear baffle, the front baffle having a treatment channel opening, and the rear baffle having a treatment channel outlet. Under normal water flow, rainwater flows into the inlet and into the inlet chamber, into the treatment channel through the treatment channel opening, into the outlet chamber in a cross-flow pattern through the treatment channel outlet, causing deposits to fall off from suspension and out of the cross-flow settling device through the openings in the bottom of the pair of swash plates.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to cross-flow settling devices and methods of use. Background Art

[0002] When it rains, stormwater passes over a variety of surfaces before reaching sewers. Along the way, stormwater picks up and suspends natural and man-made pollutants, carrying them into sewers. Sewers provide a first opportunity to remove some of the pollutants in stormwater before it continues to flow into water bodies. Summary of the invention

[0003] A cross-flow sedimentation device and a method of use are disclosed.

[0004] According to an embodiment, a rainwater treatment device may include a shell having a bottom plate and a wall; an inlet formed in the wall, which receives rainwater including suspended sediments into an inlet chamber of the shell, the inlet chamber being defined by a first portion of the wall and a front baffle, the front baffle extending vertically from the bottom plate of the shell; an outlet formed in the wall, which discharges rainwater from an outlet chamber of the shell, the outlet chamber being defined by a rear baffle, a second portion of the wall and an anti-short-circuit plate; and a treatment chamber and a sediment storage area, which are defined by the front baffle, a third portion of the wall, the rear baffle and the anti-short-circuit plate, and in which a cross-flow sedimentation device is placed, the cross-flow sedimentation device having a treatment channel defined by a front baffle, a rear baffle and a first pair of inclined plates placed on a first side of a centerline of the shell and a second pair of inclined plates placed on a second side of the centerline, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates being arranged at complementary angles, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates being placed between the front baffle and the rear baffle, the front baffle having a treatment channel opening, and the rear baffle having a treatment channel outlet. Under normal flow conditions, rainwater flows into the inlet and enters the inlet chamber, enters the treatment channel through the treatment channel opening, and enters the outlet chamber through the treatment channel outlet, where the rainwater flows in a cross-flow manner, causing the sediment to fall from suspension and flow out of the cross-flow sedimentation device through the openings at the bottom of the paired inclined plates.

[0005] In one embodiment, the rainwater treatment device may further include a bypass channel, which includes an inlet weir, an outlet weir and a pair of bypass channel walls, wherein the height of the top of the inlet weir is the same as the height of the gap in the outlet weir between the bypass channel walls, but is lower than the height of the top of the outlet weir outside the bypass channel and lower than the height of the bypass channel walls, wherein when the flow exceeds the limit value, the bypass channel receives the flow exceeding the inlet weir, thereby bypassing the treatment chamber and the sediment storage area.

[0006] In one embodiment, at high flow rates, rainwater flows over the inlet weir and either enters the bypass channel, then flows through the gap in the outlet weir and into the outlet chamber and out of the housing through the outlet, or enters the floatable retention zone between the bypass channel wall and the third portion of the wall.

[0007] In one embodiment, the complementary angle may be between about 45 / 145 degrees and about 65 / 115 degrees.

[0008] In one embodiment, the width of each plate may be less than the length of the plate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the spacing between pairs of plates may be between 1 and 4 inches.

[0010] According to another embodiment, a method for removing suspended sediments from rainwater may include: (1) receiving rainwater including suspended sediments at an inlet in a wall of a rainwater treatment device, the rainwater treatment device having a shell, the shell having a bottom plate and a wall, wherein the rainwater flows into an inlet chamber defined by a first portion of the wall and a front baffle, the front baffle extending vertically from the bottom plate of the shell; (2) receiving rainwater including suspended sediments in a treatment chamber defined by the front baffle, a second portion of the wall, a rear baffle, and an anti-bypass plate, the treatment chamber having a cross-flow sedimentation device placed therein; (3) receiving rainwater including suspended sediments by the cross-flow sedimentation device, the cross-flow sedimentation device having a first portion of the wall, a rear baffle, and a first baffle placed on a first side of a centerline of the shell; A treatment channel defined by a pair of inclined plates and a second pair of inclined plates placed on the second side of the center line, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates are arranged at complementary angles, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates are placed between a front baffle and a rear baffle, the front baffle has a treatment channel opening, and the rear baffle has a treatment channel outlet; (4) passing through a cross-flow sedimentation device and at a normal flow rate, causing rainwater to flow in a cross-flow mode, so that sediment falls from suspension and flows out of the cross-flow sedimentation device through the openings at the bottom of the paired inclined plates; (5) receiving rainwater with some sediment removed in an outlet chamber defined by the rear baffle, the second portion of the wall and the anti-short-circuit plate; and (6) discharging rainwater with sediment removed through an outlet in the third portion of the wall.

[0011] In one embodiment, the method may further include receiving rainwater with sediment into a bypass channel at a large flow rate, the bypass channel including an inlet weir, an outlet weir, and a pair of bypass channel walls, wherein the height of the top of the inlet weir is the same as the height of the top of the notch in the outlet weir and is lower than the height of the top of the outlet weir and the top of the bypass channel wall, wherein when the flow rate exceeds a limit, the bypass channel receives flow through the inlet weir, thereby bypassing the treatment chamber and the sediment storage area, wherein the rainwater with sediment flows through the inlet weir and enters the bypass channel, and flows through the notch in the outlet weir and enters the outlet chamber, and flows out of the housing through the outlet. In one embodiment, at a large flow rate, some rainwater flows through the inlet weir and enters the bypass channel wall and the floatable object retention area between the third portion of the wall.

[0012] In one embodiment, the floatable objects may be retained in a floatable object retention zone.

[0013] In one embodiment, at very high flow rates, the floatable material may overflow the outlet weir and bypass channel walls into the outlet chamber.

[0014] In one embodiment, the complementary angle may be between about 45 / 145 degrees and about 65 / 115 degrees.

[0015] In one embodiment, the width of each plate may be less than the length of the plate.

[0016] In one embodiment, the spacing between pairs of plates may be between about 1 inch and 4 inches.

[0017] In one embodiment, the water treatment device can receive water (such as rainwater including suspended sediment) into the inlet chamber. The inlet chamber may include one or more diverters, which introduce all water flows reaching a specified treatment flow rate into the treatment area of ​​the treatment chamber. Then, water can flow to the treatment area of ​​the treatment chamber including a cross-flow device, which includes one or more pairs of parallel plates, the complementary angles of the parallel plates are between, for example, about 45 / 135 degrees to about 65 / 115 degrees, and there is a spacing between the tops of the plates, and the plates are suspended between two relatively spaced-apart substantially vertical weirs. Water can flow through the plates in a cross-flow mode, and water can flow out of the treatment chamber into the outlet chamber.

[0018] In one embodiment, the plates may have an axis of symmetry therebetween that is parallel to the length of the plates.

[0019] In one embodiment, the length of the panels may be greater than or equal to about four feet, the width of the panels may be less than the length of the panels, and the spacing between the panels may be between about one and four inches.

[0020] In one embodiment, water exceeding a specified flow rate can flow through the inlet chamber and over the top of the treatment chamber, wherein the treatment chamber includes a weir system designed to retain floatable objects at a flow rate above the treatment flow rate and below the excessive bypass flow rate. The weir can form a central trough, for example, with a width of about two to three feet, and can be set in a wall between the treatment chamber and the outlet chamber, which extends the width of the outlet side. For example, the top of the weir can be at least about 18 inches higher than the top of the inclined plate. Notches can be provided in the weirs on the inlet and outlet sides of the trough, which can be lower than the top of the two sides of the trough and the wall on the outlet side. Water can enter the trough at a flow rate above the designed treatment flow rate but below the excessive bypass flow rate and be directly transported to the outlet chamber.

[0021] In one embodiment, the captured sediment can be stored on the floor of the chamber. A baffle can be provided between the inlet chamber and the processing chamber, and the baffle can extend from the bottom of the inclined plate to the floor of the dome to prevent the stored sediment from moving from the inlet chamber to the processing chamber. A second baffle can extend between the sediment chamber and the outlet chamber to the floor of the dome or to the rear wall of the chamber to prevent the stored sediment from moving from the processing chamber to the outlet chamber.

[0022] According to another embodiment, a separator assembly may include an inclined unit separator having a plurality of rectangular plates disposed between opposed spaced-apart substantially vertical weirs, the plates having opposed elongated top and bottom edges and front and rear surfaces therebetween, the plates having an inclined orientation relative to a vertical axis, the plates being arranged in pairs at complementary angles with an axis of symmetry therebetween parallel to the length of the plates, the inclined orientation forming an inclined unit between a plurality of adjacent plates, the weirs including an inlet weir and an outlet weir substantially parallel to each other, the inlet weir and the outlet weir having opposed top and bottom edges and a front and rear surface therebetween;

[0023] The inclined unit separator is located in a chamber formed by opposite end walls, opposite side walls, a top and a bottom, the opposite end walls including an inlet wall having an inlet opening therein and an outflow wall having an outflow opening therein, an inlet weir and an outlet weir extending between the opposite side walls of the chamber; an inlet chamber between the inlet wall and the inlet weir; an outflow chamber between the outlet weir and the outflow wall; and a sediment collection area along the bottom of the chamber below the inclined unit separator and between the inlet chamber and the outflow chamber.

[0024] In one embodiment, the inclined panels may be arranged in pairs at complementary angles ranging from about 45 / 135 degrees to about 65 / 115 degrees with a spacing of at least about four inches between the tops of the panels.

[0025] In one embodiment, the length of the plates in the direction of flow may be greater than or equal to about four feet, the width of the plates may be less than the length of the plates, and the spacing between the plates may be between about one and four inches.

[0026] In one embodiment, the bottom edge of the first weir may extend to the bottom of the chamber and a portion of the top edge of the weir may be level with the top of the cell separator and a portion of the first weir may form a tab extending a distance above the top of the cell separator.

[0027] In one embodiment, the top of the unit separator may be substantially level with the inverts of the inflow and outflow ports.

[0028] In one embodiment, two substantially parallel plates may extend from either side of the lug in the first weir to the indentation in the second weir. The top edge of these walls may extend all the way to the top of the second weir, and these walls define an overflow path from the lug of the first weir to the indentation of the second weir. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more fully understand the present disclosure and its objects and advantages, the following description is now made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1depicts a first isometric view of a water treatment device including a cross-flow settling device according to an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2 depicts a second isometric view of a water treatment device including a cross-flow settling device according to an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 Depicted Figure 1 and Figure 2 A side view of a water treatment device;

[0033] Figure 4 Depicted Figure 1 and Figure 2 A side view of a water treatment device;

[0034] Figure 5 depicts an isometric view of a cross-flow settling device according to an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 6 A method of treating water using a water treatment device including a cross-flow sedimentation device according to an embodiment is depicted;

[0036] Figure 7 A disclosed method for bypassing a cross-flow settling device according to one embodiment is depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Embodiments are directed to cross-flow settling devices and methods of use. Embodiments can induce a cross-flow pattern of rainwater to remove sediment and use a smaller sediment drop distance when the sediment is out of suspension. For example, the sediment only needs to fall to the surface of the plate.

[0038] Figures 1 to 5 A view of a treatment device including a cross-flow sedimentation device according to an embodiment is shown. Treatment device 100 may include housing 105. Housing 105 may include an inlet 110 that may receive, for example, rainwater with suspended sediment and an outlet 115 that may discharge rainwater. Water received from inlet 110 may flow into inlet chamber 170, may flow into treatment chamber and sediment storage area 120, may flow into outlet chamber 175, and may flow out of treatment device 100 through outlet 115.

[0039] The process chamber and the sediment storage area 120 may be defined by the front baffle 130 , the rear baffle 125 , and the anti-short circuit plate 165 .

[0040] The housing 105 may include a cross-flow sedimentation device including a plurality of pairs of inclined plates 135 placed between the front baffle 130 and the rear baffle 125. In one embodiment, two pairs of inclined plates 135 may be provided, one pair on each side of the centerline of the housing 105. The pairs of inclined plates 135 may be arranged to form complementary angles therebetween, such as 45 / 135 degrees and 65 / 115, and a space may be left between the tops of the pairs of inclined plates 135. The pairs of inclined plates 135 may be suspended between the inlet weir 140 and the outlet weir 145. A bypass channel wall 155 may be provided, which together with the inlet weir 140 and the outlet weir 145 provides an area for retaining floatable objects (e.g., sediment or other materials floating on the water surface). The outlet weir 145 may be provided with a notch 150, which allows some water to flow into the inlet and outlet chambers 175.

[0041] The top of the inlet weir 140 and the top of the notch 150 can be at the same height and allow normal water flow to bypass. The top of the outlet weir 145 can be at a higher height to allow bypass in case of high flow. Some floating objects can flow to one side, while others can escape.

[0042] In the case of a large flow rate, the floatable objects will flow through the gap 150 along with the water, enter the outlet chamber 175 , and flow out of the treatment device 100 through the outlet 115 .

[0043] The water with sediment enters a pair of treatment channel openings 190 on the front baffle 130, which form a treatment channel with the pair of inclined plates 135 and the treatment channel outlet 160 on the rear baffle. The water in the treatment channel can flow in a cross-flow pattern between each pair of inclined plates 135, so that the suspended sediment is settled to the bottom of the treatment chamber and the sediment storage area 120 through the sediment outlet 180. The water with some sediment settled out of suspension can flow into the outlet chamber 175 through the treatment channel outlet 160.

[0044] The housing 105 may further include a flow diverter 185 that may be provided by the front baffle 130. In one embodiment, the flow diverter may be attached or otherwise secured to the front baffle 130. The flow diverter 185 may move the water flow from the inlet 110 to both sides of the front baffle 130 and into the treatment channel opening 190. The flow diverter 185 may also assist in capturing floatable objects, as the floatable objects may be directed to both sides of the bypass channel wall and trapped.

[0045] refer to Figure 6 , according to one embodiment, a method of removing suspended sediment from stormwater is disclosed.

[0046] In step 605, stormwater carrying suspended sediment flows into the inlet side of the stormwater treatment device into an inlet chamber where expansion reduces the velocity of the fluid.

[0047] In step 610, under normal flow (eg, within design ranges), water in the inlet chamber may flow into one or more process chamber openings and into a process channel defined by a front baffle, a pair of parallel plates, and a process channel outlet in a rear baffle.

[0048] In step 615, water flows in the process channel in a cross-flow pattern and the suspended sediment settles from the suspended state to the process chamber bottom and the sediment storage area. The sediment can fall out of the process channel through the side openings between the paired inclined plates.

[0049] At step 620, treated water may flow out of the process channel and into the outlet chamber through the process channel opening in the tailgate.

[0050] At step 725, the treated water may flow out of the outlet chamber and housing through an outlet (eg, a pipe).

[0051] refer to Figure 7 According to an embodiment, a method of bypassing a cross-flow settling device is disclosed. For example, at a large flow rate, the bypass channel and the floatable object retention area may function, and the floatable objects may be retained in the bypass floatable object retention area. However, at a very large flow rate, the entire outlet weir may be flooded, and all floatable objects may be flushed out of the floatable object retention area.

[0052] At step 705, water may enter the housing through the inlet and may flow into the inlet chamber.

[0053] In step 710, when the flow rate exceeds the design limit, the water flows through the inlet weir and enters the bypass channel and two floatable object retention areas. The bypass channel can be defined by the inlet weir, the bypass channel wall and the outlet weir. The floatable object retention area is defined by the inlet weir, the outside of the bypass channel wall, the shell wall and the outlet weir.

[0054] In step 715, at a high flow rate, water may flow through the bypass channel. Any floatable objects along with the water may be retained in the floatable object retention zone. Some water may flow out of the gap in the outlet weir and into the outlet chamber.

[0055] In step 720, water can flow out of the bypass channel into the outlet chamber by passing through the outlet weir at the end of the bypass channel. When the flow rate is large, the floatable objects in the bypass channel can flow over the gap into the outlet chamber.

[0056] At step 725, water may flow out of the outlet chamber and the housing through the outlet.

[0057] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the contents specifically shown and described above. On the contrary, the scope of the present invention includes combinations and sub-combinations of the above features, as well as changes and modifications not in the prior art. It should be further appreciated that these embodiments are not mutually exclusive.

[0058] It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein can have a wide range of utility and application. Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, many embodiments and modifications of the invention other than those described herein, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent or reasonably proposed from the invention and the foregoing description thereof.

[0059] Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail in conjunction with its exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is intended to provide a full disclosure of the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to interpret or limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any other such embodiments, adaptations, changes, modifications or equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A rainwater treatment device, comprising: a housing having a floor and walls; an inlet formed in the wall, the inlet receiving rainwater including suspended sediment into an inlet chamber of the housing, the inlet chamber being defined by a first portion of the wall and a front baffle extending vertically from the floor of the housing; an outlet formed in the wall, the outlet draining rainwater from an outlet chamber of the housing, the outlet chamber being defined by the tailgate, the second portion of the wall, and the anti-shorting plate; and a processing chamber and a sediment storage area, which is defined by the front baffle, the third portion of the wall, the rear baffle and the anti-short circuit plate, and in which a cross-flow sedimentation device is placed, the cross-flow sedimentation device having a processing channel defined by the front baffle, the rear baffle and a first pair of inclined plates placed on a first side of a centerline of the shell and a second pair of inclined plates placed on a second side of the centerline, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates being arranged at complementary angles, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates being placed between the front baffle and the rear baffle, the front baffle having a processing channel opening, and the rear baffle having a processing channel outlet; Wherein, under normal flow, rainwater flows into the inlet and enters the inlet chamber, enters the treatment channel through the treatment channel opening, and enters the outlet chamber through the treatment channel outlet, wherein the rainwater flows in a cross-flow mode, causing the sediment to fall from suspension and flow out of the cross-flow sedimentation device through the openings at the bottom of the paired inclined plates.

2. The rainwater treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising: A bypass channel comprises an inlet weir, an outlet weir and a pair of bypass channel walls, wherein the height of the top of the inlet weir is the same as the height of the outlet weir between the bypass channel walls, but lower than the height of the top of the outlet weir outside the bypass channel and the height of the bypass channel walls, wherein when the flow rate exceeds a limit value, the bypass channel receives the flow flowing over the inlet weir, thereby bypassing the processing chamber and the sediment storage area.

3. A rainwater treatment device according to claim 2, wherein under large flow rates, rainwater flows through the inlet weir and either enters the bypass channel, flows through the gap of the outlet weir and enters the outlet chamber, and flows out of the shell through the outlet, or enters the floatable object retention area between the bypass channel wall and the third part of the wall.

4. The rainwater treatment device according to claim 3, wherein at a very large flow rate, the floatable matter overflows the outlet weir and the pair of bypass walls and enters the outlet chamber.

5. The stormwater management device of claim 1, wherein the complementary angle is between about 45 / 145 degrees and about 65 / 115 degrees. The rainwater treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the inclined plates is smaller than a length of the inclined plate.

7. The rainwater treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between the paired inclined plates is between 1 and 4 inches.

8. The rainwater treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising: A flow diverter, wherein the flow diverter is positioned in the inlet chamber and directs stormwater into the treatment channel.

9. A method for removing suspended sediment from rainwater, comprising: receiving rainwater including suspended sediment at an inlet in a wall of a rainwater treatment device having a housing with a floor and a wall, wherein the rainwater flows into an inlet chamber defined by a first portion of the wall and a front baffle extending vertically from the floor of the housing; receiving said rainwater including suspended sediment in a treatment chamber defined by the front baffle, the second portion of said wall, the rear baffle and the anti-bypass plate, said treatment chamber having a cross-flow settling device disposed therein; The cross-flow sedimentation device having a treatment channel receives rainwater including suspended sediments, wherein the treatment channel is defined by the front baffle, the rear baffle, and a first pair of inclined plates placed on a first side of a centerline of the housing and a second pair of inclined plates placed on a second side of the centerline, wherein the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates are arranged at complementary angles, the first pair of inclined plates and the second pair of inclined plates are placed between the front baffle and the rear baffle, the front baffle has a treatment channel opening, and the rear baffle has a treatment channel outlet; causing the rainwater to flow in a cross-flow pattern through the cross-flow settling device at a normal flow rate, thereby causing suspended sediment to fall from suspension and flow out of the cross-flow settling device through openings at the bottoms of the paired inclined plates; receiving rainwater from which a portion of sediment has been removed in an outlet chamber defined by the tailgate, the second portion of the wall, and the anti-short circuit plate; and The rainwater freed from the suspended sediments is discharged through an outlet in the third portion of the wall.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: Under a large flow rate, rainwater with sediment is received in a bypass channel, the bypass channel comprising an inlet weir, an outlet weir and a pair of bypass channel walls, wherein the height of the top of the inlet weir is the same as the height of the top of the notch in the outlet weir, and is lower than the height of the top of the outlet weir and the top of the bypass channel wall, wherein when the flow rate exceeds a limit value, the bypass channel receives the flow flowing through the inlet weir, thereby bypassing the treatment chamber and the sediment storage area, wherein the rainwater with sediment flows through the inlet weir and enters the bypass channel, flows through the notch in the outlet weir and enters the outlet chamber, and flows out of the shell through the outlet.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein at high flow rates some storm water flows over the inlet weir and into the floatable matter retention zone between the bypass channel wall and the third portion of the wall.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein floatable objects are retained in the floatable object retention area.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at very high flow rates, floatable material overflows the notch in the outlet weir and the pair of bypass walls into the outlet chamber.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the complementary angle is between about 45 / 145 degrees and about 65 / 115 degrees.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the width of each of the inclined plates is less than the length of the plate.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the spacing between the pair of inclined plates is between about 1 inch and 4 inches.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the stormwater is directed into the treatment channel via a diverter.

Images