Oil-water separation system
By introducing an oil-water separation system into the spray tower, and utilizing a unique flow channel design and liquid separator structure, the problem of poor oil-water separation in traditional spray towers has been solved, achieving efficient oil-water separation and water resource recycling, and reducing operating costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN RUIGESHENG EQUIP CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
In the process of oil-water separation, the impact of the spray water in traditional spray towers affects the oil-water stratification, resulting in poor separation and limiting the overall performance of the tower.
An oil-water separation system was designed, including a spray tower, a collection tank, an oil-water separator, a separation tank, and a floating oil collector. Through the flow channel design of horizontal separation section, torsional reversal section, and vertical stratification section, efficient separation is achieved by utilizing the density difference of oil droplets. The floating oil collector is installed in the separation tank to collect floating oil, and the water separator is used to recycle water resources.
It achieves efficient oil-water separation, improves water resource utilization, reduces operating costs, and reduces water waste, resulting in good environmental and economic benefits.
Smart Images
Figure CN120117699B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the fields of wastewater treatment, liquid separation and resource recycling, and specifically to an oil-water separation system. Background Technology
[0002] In the field of gas purification, spray towers (also known as atomizing towers) are common devices used to wash solid and liquid impurities in exhaust gases. Their working principle involves the contact between the gas and liquid phases to achieve the absorption and washing of pollutants. The internal structure of a spray tower is relatively simple, without packing material; only nozzles are installed inside the tower to atomize the liquid. During operation, the oily mist flows from bottom to top, contacting the atomized spray water in a counter-current manner, thereby completing the mass transfer and separation process.
[0003] Traditional spray towers are equipped with a collection tank at the bottom to collect the spray water and any oil mixed in it. The oil-water mixture separates into layers within the collection tank due to their density differences. Typically, the collection tank has two outlets: an upper outlet for oil and a lower outlet for water, to separately discharge the separated oil and water.
[0004] However, in actual operation, it was found that the continuous flow of spray water into the collection tank caused droplets to constantly impact the water surface. This impact severely affected the oil-water separation effect, making the performance of traditional spray towers unsatisfactory in this crucial oil-water separation process, thus limiting their overall performance. Therefore, a more efficient oil-water separation system is urgently needed to solve this problem. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the aforementioned deficiencies or defects in the prior art, the present invention provides an oil-water separation system that can separate oil-water mixtures within a spray tower, thereby enabling resource recycling.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an oil-water separation system, comprising:
[0007] The spray tower has a liquid collection tank at its bottom, and the outlet of the liquid collection tank is connected to an oil-water separator.
[0008] The oil-water separator includes a cylindrical outer wall with multiple partition plates inside, forming a flow channel extending from the inlet to the outlet between the partition plates; the oil-water separator includes a horizontal separation section, a torsional reversal section, and a vertical stratification section from the inlet to the outlet.
[0009] The partition plates of the horizontal separation section are set horizontally, and the flow channel is wide in the left and right direction and narrow in the up and down direction;
[0010] The partition plate of the torsion reversal section gradually twists from a horizontal state to a vertical state;
[0011] The vertically layered partition plates are set vertically, and the flow channels are narrow in the left and right directions and wide in the up and down directions;
[0012] Separating tank: The outlet of the oil-water separator is connected to the separating tank, and a floating oil collector is installed at the top of the separating tank at the liquid level.
[0013] In some implementations, the outlet of the collection tank is connected to a water pump, which in turn is connected to a water distributor. The water distributor contains a water storage chamber, and the inlet of the oil-water separator is connected to the water storage chamber of the water distributor.
[0014] In some implementations, a guide plate is provided inside the water storage chamber, and the liquid in the water distributor flows into the various channels of the oil-water separator in a laminar flow state through the guide plate.
[0015] In some embodiments, a backwash drain is provided at the bottom of the water distributor.
[0016] In some embodiments, the separating tank includes a separating trough, an overflow trough, and a water storage tank; the outlet of the oil-water separator is connected to the separating trough, and the floating oil collector is located at the top of the separating trough; the separating trough and the overflow trough are connected by a water passage hole, forming a communicating vessel; the water passage hole is located in the lower half of the separating trough; the top of the overflow trough has an overflow port, and the water flowing out of the overflow port enters the water storage tank; the water storage tank is provided with the outlet of the separating tank.
[0017] In some implementations, the oil-water separation system also includes a spray tank. The outlet of the separator is connected to the inlet of the spray tank, and the outlet of the spray tank is connected to the spray head inside the spray tower.
[0018] In some embodiments, the oil-water separator is arranged horizontally, with its outlet located in the upper half of the separating tank. The water passage is positioned below the outlet of the oil-water separator.
[0019] In some embodiments, the oil collector is an oil collection tank or an oil skimmer.
[0020] In some embodiments, the oil-facing surface of the separator is made of an oleophilic material.
[0021] In some implementations, the length of the horizontal separation segment is greater than that of the vertical layer segment.
[0022] An oil-water separation system applying the above-mentioned technical solution of the present invention has the following effects:
[0023] This invention incorporates an independent oil-water separation system outside the spray tower, allowing the oil-water mixture collected in the spray tower's collection tank to be directly fed into this system for separation. The oil-water separator, as the core component, features a unique internal structural design that ensures efficient and precise separation.
[0024] The oil-water separator is divided into multiple liquid channels by partition plates, and the design of these channels fully considers the physical properties of oil and water. In the horizontal separation section, the partition plates are set horizontally, making the channels wider in the left-right direction and narrower in the up-down direction. This layout allows oil droplets to quickly rise and contact the partition plates due to their density advantage, forming an oil layer or large oil droplets, greatly shortening the distance that oil droplets have to travel to reach the partition plates.
[0025] The separator plate in the torsion reversal section gradually twists from a horizontal to a vertical position, and the flow channel also deforms from a lateral extension to a vertical extension. During this process, the oil layer and large oil droplets continuously accumulate upwards along the lower surface of the inclined separator plate, promoting further oil-water separation.
[0026] In the vertically stratified section, multiple channels are spaced apart in the left-right direction. At this point, the oil in the channels has accumulated at the top, while the water is at the bottom. When the liquid flows out of the oil-water separator outlet, the upper layer is oil and the lower layer is water, achieving clear oil-water stratification.
[0027] The separated oil will naturally float to the top of the separatory tank, forming an oil slick. The oil slick collector at the top of the separatory tank can easily collect this oil. The water at the bottom can be recycled. This design not only improves water resource utilization and reduces water waste, but also lowers overall operating costs and is beneficial to environmental protection. Attached Figure Description
[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the oil-water separation system of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 2 This is a side view of the oil-water separator of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the initial section of the middle AA section, i.e. the horizontal separation section, with a portion of it enlarged;
[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the middle BB, i.e., the end of the horizontal separation section, with a portion of it enlarged;
[0032] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the initial segment of the CC section, i.e., the torsional reversal segment, with a portion of it enlarged.
[0033] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the middle section of the DD (mid-section of the torsional reversal segment), with a portion of it enlarged.
[0034] Figure 7 yes Figure 2 The middle section is a cross-sectional view of the end EE of the torsional reversal segment, with a portion of it enlarged.
[0035] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 The cross-sectional view along the middle FF, i.e., the vertically layered section, with a portion of it enlarged;
[0036] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the separatory tank.
[0037] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures
[0038] 1-Spray tower, 1a-Liquid collection tank, 1b-Air inlet, 1c-Air outlet;
[0039] 2-Water pump;
[0040] 3-Water distributor, 3a-Backwash drain outlet;
[0041] 4-Oil-water separator, 4a-Horizontal separation section, 4b-Twist reversal section, 4c-Vertical stratification section, 4d-Outer wall, 4e-Separator plate, 4f-Flow channel
[0042] 5-Separation tank, 5a-Separation trough, 5b-Overflow trough, 5c-Water storage tank, 5d-Water passage hole; 5e-Overflow port
[0043] 6-Oil slicker collector;
[0044] 7-Spray water tank. Detailed Implementation
[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.
[0046] In this invention, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "upper" and "lower" generally refer to the orientation in the assembled and used state. "Inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer sides relative to the outline of each component itself.
[0047] It should be noted that the spray tower 1 is the target of the oil-water separation system of the present invention, meaning that the oil-water separation system of the present invention can be used in the spray tower 1. Of course, the technical solution of the present invention can also be used in equipment of the same type as the spray tower 1. This article will use the spray tower 1 as an example to introduce the technical solution of this application.
[0048] The spray tower 1 structure includes a tower body, an air inlet 1b, a spray layer, a packing layer, and an air outlet 1c. The spray layer is equipped with high-efficiency nozzles, which can evenly spray the spray liquid onto the oil mist, increasing the gas-liquid contact area and capturing oil droplets in the oil mist. A collection tank 1a is located at the bottom of the spray tower 1 to collect oil-containing liquid. The liquid drips into the collection tank 1a, forming an oil-water mixture. The collection tank 1a can be designed as a cone shape with a large upper space and a small lower space, with the outlet of the collection tank 1a located at the top of the cone. The outlet of the collection tank 1a is connected to a water pump 2, which extracts the oil-water mixture and transports it to a water distributor 3. The selection of the water pump 2 is determined based on the processing capacity and system resistance of the spray tower 1; it must be corrosion-resistant and have stable operation to adapt to the working conditions of the spray tower 1.
[0049] The present invention provides an oil-water separation system including an oil-water separator 4. The oil-water separator 4 is one of the core components of this system, used to separate oil-water mixtures. The oil-water separator 4 is arranged horizontally and mainly consists of a cylindrical outer wall 4d and a partition plate 4e. Depending on its function, the oil-water separator 4 can be divided into a horizontal separation section, a torsional reversal section, and a vertical stratification section from one end to the other.
[0050] The cylindrical outer wall (4d) is made of stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant and high-strength, enabling stable operation over long periods and resisting corrosion and erosion from oil-water mixtures, thus ensuring the equipment's service life. The front and rear ends of the cylindrical outer wall (4d) are the inlet and outlet, respectively. Flanges are used at the inlet and outlet for easy connection to other equipment.
[0051] One side of the separator 4e (the lower surface of the horizontal separation section, extending to the end of the separator 4e) is made of an oleophilic material or has an oleophilic coating on its surface, such as oleophilic polypropylene fiber. The separator 4e of the horizontal separation section is set horizontally, forming a flow channel 4f that is wide from left to right and narrow from top to bottom. Oil droplets easily float to the separator 4e and aggregate into an oil layer or large oil droplets.
[0052] The partition plate 4e of the torsion reversal section 4b gradually twists from a horizontal state to a vertical state. The flow channel 4f deforms from a lateral extension to a vertical extension, and the oil layer and large oil droplets accumulate upward along the lower surface of the inclined partition plate 4e.
[0053] The vertically layered section 4c has a vertically set partition plate 4e, forming a flow channel 4f that is narrow from left to right and wide from top to bottom. Oil accumulates at the top of the flow channel 4f, while water is located at the bottom.
[0054] The spacing of the separator 4e is designed to be 10-30mm to ensure that the oil-water mixture flows and separates fully in the flow channel 4f, while avoiding blockage and short-circuiting.
[0055] refer to Figures 3-8 The gap between the partition plates 4e is the flow channel 4f.
[0056] The flow channel 4f of the horizontal separation section 4a is wider on the left and right sides and narrower on the top and bottom (see attached). Figure 3 , 4 The oil droplets have a short rising distance, allowing them to quickly contact and accumulate with the separator 4e. (Twist and reversal section (attached)) Figure 5 , 6 The flow channel 4f (7) changes with the twisting of the partition plate 4e, causing the oil droplets to continuously accumulate during their ascent. Vertical stratification section 4c (attached) Figure 8 The flow channel 4f is narrow on the left and right sides and wide at the top and bottom, providing clear space for the stratification after oil-water separation, with oil on the upper layer and water on the lower layer.
[0057] In one embodiment of this application, the length of the horizontal separation section 4a is set to be greater than that of the vertical stratification section 4c. This is because the oil-water mixture exhibits different morphologies in the horizontal separation section 4a and the vertical stratification section 4c. In the horizontal separation section 4a, oil sludge is suspended and dispersed in the water as small oil droplets, while in the vertical stratification section 4c, oil droplets mainly exist as large-diameter oil droplets or oil layers. According to Stokes' law, the radius (r) of an oil droplet is proportional to the square root of its rising velocity (v), meaning that larger oil droplets rise faster.
[0058] Since smaller droplets are less likely to separate into layers with water, the length of the horizontal separation section 4a is set to be greater than that of the vertical stratification section 4c. The liquid (oil-water mixture) flows for a longer time in the horizontal separation section 4a, allowing small oil droplets to converge at the top of the flow channel 4f, thus forming large-diameter oil droplets or an oil layer. Then, in the vertical stratification section 4c, the small oil droplets have formed large-diameter oil droplets or an oil layer. Large-diameter oil droplets rise quickly and easily separate into layers with water; therefore, the length of the vertical stratification section 4c can be set shorter, i.e., shorter than that of the horizontal separation section 4a.
[0059] The length of the torsion reversal section is determined by the liquid velocity, the Reynolds number of the liquid, and the width of the flow channel 4f, and the liquid should be kept in a laminar flow state in the torsion reversal section 4b as much as possible.
[0060] like Figure 1 and Figure 9 As shown, the water and oil that have been separated into layers in the oil-water separator 4 need to flow to different destinations in the separator tank 5.
[0061] After oil and water separate into layers in the oil-water separator 4, they flow into the separating tank 5. An oil floater 6 is installed at the top of the separating tank 5 to collect the floating oil, which is then pumped away through a pipe. The lower layer of the separating tank 5 is water. If water is directly pumped from the lower part of the separating tank 5 through the outlet, the flow rate control is extremely demanding, resulting in large fluctuations in the liquid level and affecting the normal operation of the oil floater 6.
[0062] Therefore, this application optimizes the design of the separating tank 5. A partition is installed inside the tank to divide it into a separating tank 5a, an overflow tank 5b, and a water storage tank 5c. The separated liquid first enters the separating tank 5a, and an oil collector 6 is installed at the top of the tank to collect floating oil. The separating tank 5a and the overflow tank 5b are connected by a lower water passage 5d, forming a communicating vessel. Without considering the density difference between the floating oil layer and water, the liquid levels in the separating tank 5a and the overflow tank 5b should be the same. Since the density of the floating oil layer is slightly less than that of water, the liquid level in the separating tank 5a will be slightly higher than that in the overflow tank 5b. An overflow port 5e is provided at the top of the overflow tank 5b, from which water flows into the water storage tank 5c, and is then pumped away from the water storage tank 5c. In this way, the flow rate of the pumped water will not affect the liquid levels in the separating tank 5a and the overflow tank 5b. An adjustable baffle can be installed at the overflow port 5e to adjust the liquid level at the overflow port 5e.
[0063] The outlet of the oil-water separator 4 is located in the upper half of the separating tank 5a. Preferably, the upper edge of the outlet of the oil-water separator 4 is level with the liquid surface of the separating tank 5a, or the outlet of the oil-water separator 4 is slightly lower than the liquid surface of the separating tank 5a, so as to reduce the floating distance of the oil and accelerate the formation of a floating oil layer in the separating tank 5a. The position of the water passage hole 5d is lower than the outlet of the oil-water separator 4 to prevent oil droplets from passing through the water passage hole 5d.
[0064] The water separator 3 is an important component of the oil-water separation system, mainly consisting of a tank, a water storage chamber, a guide plate, and a backwash drain 3a.
[0065] The tank body is made of carbon steel or stainless steel, possessing sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand internal pressure and water flow impact, ensuring stable operation of the equipment. An internal water storage chamber is provided within the tank. This chamber temporarily stores the oil-water mixture transported from the collection tank 1a, providing a stable flow rate for subsequent oil-water separation. A guide plate is installed inside the water storage chamber; its shape and angle are optimized to ensure uniform distribution of the liquid entering the chamber and that it flows into the various channels 4f of the oil-water separator 4 in a laminar flow state, avoiding turbulence and eddies, reducing oil droplet resuspension, and improving separation efficiency.
[0066] The backwash drain 3a is located at the bottom of the water distributor 3 to periodically discharge impurities and sediments inside the water distributor 3, prevent blockage, and ensure the normal operation of the water distributor 3.
[0067] The spray water tank 7 is used to store the spray water required by the spray tower 1. The outlet of the separator 5 is connected to the inlet of the spray water tank 7, and the outlet of the spray water tank 7 is connected to the spray head inside the spray tower 1. The spray water tank 7 also has an inlet, which is directly connected to the water source.
[0068] Figure 9The structure of an oil slicker 6 is shown. The oil slicker 6 can be either an oil slicker collection tank or an oil skimmer. Taking an oil slicker collection tank as an example, a baffle is installed on the side wall of the oil slicker collection tank. The height of the baffle is adjustable, and the speed at which oil sludge enters the oil slicker collection tank is controlled by adjusting the height of the baffle. The upper edge of the top plate must be kept horizontal, and the top of the baffle must be higher than the boundary layer between the oil slick and the water in the separating tank 5a.
[0069] The technical solution of this invention uses a water separator 3, an oil-water separator 4, and a liquid separation tank 5 to separate the wastewater (oil-water mixture) generated by the spray tower 1 into oil and water. The separated purified water is stored in the spray water tank 7 for recycling back to the spray tower 1. Therefore, the technical solution of this invention not only realizes the recycling of water resources and significantly reduces production water consumption, but also reduces wastewater discharge, thereby improving environmental benefits and effectively reducing the operating costs of enterprises.
[0070] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present invention, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
[0071] This invention, through the meticulously designed components and their coordinated operation, achieves efficient separation of oil-water mixtures and the recycling of water resources in the spray tower 1. This system not only effectively solves the problem of poor oil-water separation performance in traditional spray towers 1, but also significantly reduces water waste and operating costs, demonstrating good environmental and economic benefits and playing a significant role in promoting the sustainable development of related industries.
[0072] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the present invention will not describe the various possible combinations separately. Furthermore, various different embodiments of the present invention can also be arbitrarily combined, as long as they do not violate the spirit of the present invention, and should also be regarded as the content disclosed by the present invention.
Claims
1. An oil-water separation system, characterized by, include: The spray tower (1) has a liquid collection tank (1a) at its bottom, and the outlet of the liquid collection tank (1a) is connected to the oil-water separator (4). The oil-water separator (4) includes a cylindrical outer wall (4d), and multiple partition plates (4e) are provided inside the outer wall (4d). A flow channel (4f) extending from the inlet to the outlet is formed between the partition plates (4e). The oil-water separator (4) includes a horizontal separation section, a torsion reversal section and a vertical stratification section from the inlet to the outlet. The horizontal separation section has a horizontally set partition plate (4e) and a flow channel (4f) that is wide in the left and right direction and narrow in the up and down direction. The partition plate (4e) of the torsion reversal section gradually twists from a horizontal state to a vertical state, and the flow channel (4f) is transformed from a horizontal extension to a vertical extension. The vertically layered partition plate (4e) is set vertically, and the flow channel (4f) is narrow in the left and right direction and wide in the up and down direction; Separating tank (5), the outlet of oil-water separator (4) is connected to the separating tank (5), and a floating oil collector (6) is installed at the top liquid surface of the separating tank (5). The surface of the separator (4e) on the oil-facing side is made of an oleophilic material, and the length of the horizontal separation section is greater than the length of the vertical layering section.
2. The oil-water separation system of claim 1, wherein, The outlet of the liquid collection tank (1a) is connected to the water pump (2), and the water pump (2) is connected to the water distributor (3). The water separator (3) is equipped with a water storage chamber, and the inlet of the oil-water separator (4) is connected to the water storage chamber of the water separator (3).
3. The oil-water separation system of claim 2, wherein, A guide plate is installed inside the water storage chamber. The liquid in the water separator (3) flows into each flow channel (4f) of the oil-water separator (4) in a laminar flow state through the guide plate.
4. The oil-water separation system of claim 2, wherein, The bottom of the water distributor (3) is provided with a backwash drain (3a).
5. The oil-water separation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid distribution tank (5) includes a liquid distribution tank (5a), an overflow tank (5b), and a water storage tank (5c); The outlet of the oil-water separator (4) is connected to the liquid separation tank (5a), and the floating oil collector (6) is set at the top of the liquid separation tank (5a); the liquid separation tank (5a) and the overflow tank (5b) are connected through the water passage hole (5d), and the two constitute a communicating vessel; the water passage hole (5d) is set in the lower half of the liquid separation tank (5a); the top of the overflow tank (5b) has an overflow port (5e), and the water flowing out of the overflow port (5e) enters the water storage tank (5c); the water storage tank (5c) is provided with the outlet of the liquid separation tank (5).
6. The oil-water separation system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The oil-water separation system also includes a spray tank (7), the outlet of the separator (5) is connected to the inlet of the spray tank (7), and the outlet of the spray tank (7) is connected to the spray head inside the spray tower (1).
7. The oil-water separation system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The oil-water separator (4) is arranged horizontally, and the outlet of the oil-water separator (4) is located in the upper half of the liquid separation tank (5a); The water passage (5d) is located below the outlet of the oil-water separator (4).
8. The oil-water separation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oil collector (6) is an oil collection tank or an oil skimmer.