Open separation device for cleaning contaminated liquids

Abstract

Open separator (1) for cleaning contaminated liquids, mounted in a collecting basin (8), consisting of a base (3), an oil separating wall (5), an overflow wall (4) and two side walls (14), characterized by that between the two side walls (14) the floor (3) starts at the level of a drain (9) on the rear wall (7) and extends with a gradient to the overflow wall (4), in front of which the oil separating wall (5) is designed so that a sufficiently large gap (6) remains between it and the base (3) and the overflow wall (4), which allows a flow of liquid, wherein the overflow wall (4) does not reach the lower edge of the drain (9).

Description

[0001] Protecting soil and water from contamination, especially by oil, is a top priority and is subject to legal regulations. For example, systems using oil-based operating fluids may only be installed indoors or operated outdoors if it is ensured that no oil can enter the environment.

[0002] The literature addresses the problem in connection with the outdoor installation of machinery. Rainwater poses the risk of combining with the machinery's lubricants and seeping into the soil. If the oil penetrates deeper layers, it can lead to groundwater contamination. Both the resulting soil contamination and the water contamination must be avoided.

[0003] DE 197 19 563 A1 describes an outdoor cooling system that can be operated without endangering the environment because a collecting device with a type of oil separator is located underneath it. The collecting tray has an oil separator wall in the area of ​​one side wall and an associated overflow wall. A drainage channel is created between the overflow wall and the side wall, in which a pipe socket is provided through which the clean water can be drained. Because the drain is located at the bottom, the oil residue floating on the water is not flushed out through the lowered pipe socket.

[0004] The disadvantage of this device is that if the water completely evaporates, small amounts of oil remain in the collecting tray. These then spread over the surface and reach the overflow wall below the oil separator. As a result of subsequent precipitation, the oil floats to the surface and can flow to the drain via the overflow. This problem was recognized in this device. To retain any remaining contaminants, an additional oil filter is proposed on the overflow wall in a further development.

[0005] For this purpose, the edge of the overflow wall is designed to catch, retain, and absorb any oil carried along. This type of oil filter must be replaced at regular intervals. This clearly demonstrates the disadvantage of this device. In addition to the relatively high design effort, regular maintenance is required.

[0006] DE 20 2012 103 849 U1 discloses a liquid retention device. Surface water is channeled from the collector via a collector drain into a downstream collecting trough and initially into a capillary channel section. This blocks the passage of any oil. Only when the liquid collected in the retention tank reaches above the height of the channel section can it flow in the opposite direction through the channel section and be discharged via a drain.

[0007] The same principle is used in EP 2 335 794 A1. What is striking is that this also requires considerable design effort. The respective containment system consists of a multitude of different baffles and guide plates. These must be installed with particular care in view of the capillarity required in the sewer.

[0008] Patent DE 102 55 750 B4 discloses a cooling system with an oil separator. The partition walls for separating oil and water are arranged to form a backwash chamber. The partition wall associated with the outlet is higher than the partition wall bordering the oil collection chamber. A slanted rain guard extends into the backwash chamber and is immersed therein. According to the main claim of the patent, the entire base area of ​​the collecting tray is covered by the housing of the machine placed on it. This also applies to the partial area of ​​the backwash chamber. According to this approach, it cannot be ruled out that oil-contaminated rainwater could enter the backwash chamber via the machine placed above the backwash chamber.In the event that the water in the backwash chamber evaporates and oil remains, this can also reach the outlet directly in the anteroom due to its surface expansion if it floats up again due to subsequent rain and spills over the bordering partition wall.

[0009] DE 10 2010 008 405 A1 describes a collecting tray positioned beneath a machine or device where leaks are expected. The collecting tray has a backwash chamber formed by at least two partition walls at a distance from the collecting tray outlet, with the backwash chamber being at least partially covered by a sloped rain guard. Furthermore, the collecting tray is equipped with a flushing wall positioned above the outer partition wall and at a distance from the floor. The disadvantage of this device is that when the water level drops, operating fluid can enter the backwash chamber, ultimately preventing a reliable separation of clean water and oil.

[0010] DE 100 24 180 B4 describes a device for collecting light liquids leaking from equipment. Specifically, it includes a collecting tray located beneath the equipment, which can collect both incoming rainwater and leaking light liquids. The collecting tray has a separator that operates according to the gravity principle. The disadvantage of this device is its complex construction, which requires that it be filled to a minimum water level before operation and that the water level must be maintained at least at this minimum level at all times.

[0011] DE 2 112 621 A discloses a collecting tray for outdoor mineral oil tanks. Such tanks present difficulties in that water from precipitation collects in the collecting tray, so that oil flowing from the tank could overflow the collecting tray and leak into the ground. Therefore, a collecting tray with a riser pipe is proposed, the lower opening of which is positioned close to the bottom of the collecting tray and the upper outlet of which terminates at a certain distance from the upper edge of the collecting tray. The disadvantage of this device is that oil flowing into a dry collecting tray also enters the riser pipe and is flushed outward via the riser pipe by subsequent rainwater.

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a device that separates oil from clean water with the least possible construction effort and does not require an additional filter.

[0013] This object is achieved by means of a device having the features of claim 1.

[0014] It shows Fig. 1 a schematic construction, Fig. 2 a graphic overview and Fig. 3 a construction in the corner of a retention basin.

[0015] The invention is constructive in Fig. 1 schematically. Fig. 2 provides a graphic overview.

[0016] The separation device 1, hereinafter also referred to as device 1 for short, is installed in a collecting basin 8 which is open at the top. The device 1 consists of a sloping base 3, a rear wall 7 with an opening for the drain 9, side walls 14, an overflow wall 4 and an oil separator 5. The device 1 is open at the top. In a preferred embodiment, a permeable cover 11 can be attached here. The sloping base 3 starts below the drain 9 provided in the rear wall 7 and runs diagonally downwards. At its lower end, the base 3 is limited by an overflow wall 4 provided here, which forms the vertical top closure to the collecting basin 8. The overflow wall 4 does not reach the lower edge of the drain 9. The oil separator 5 is provided in front of the overflow wall 4 in such a way that a flow opening 6 is created between it and the base 3.

[0017] The arrows indicate the possible flow direction 13.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the separating device 1 is provided as part of a collecting basin 8 such that one side wall 14 or both side walls 14 and / or the rear wall 7 of the separating device 1 are replaced by the side walls 15 of the collecting basin 8. In Fig. Figure 3 shows a construction in which both side walls 14 of the separator 1 are replaced by the side walls 15 of the collecting basin 8. The drain 9 is then located in one side wall 15 of the collecting basin 8.

[0019] The separation device 1 is mounted in a collecting basin 8. A hazardous machine 2, such as an air conditioning system, a dry cooler, or a chiller, is either mounted on a support stand in the collecting basin 8 or is arranged above it in such a way that it only occupies the space not occupied by the separation device 1. The separation device 1 is not built over. When it rains, rainwater runs along the machine 2 and flushes any residues of oil-containing lubricants and operating fluids into the collecting basin 8. Since the machine 2 is located outside the separation device 1, no contaminated rainwater enters it. The base plate 3 of the separation device 1 slopes towards the base plate of the collecting basin 8. The clean rainwater therefore first flows through the gap 6 between the oil separator wall 5 and the floor 3 to the overflow wall 4.Here, at the lowest point of the separation device 1, the water accumulates until it flows over the overflow wall 4 into the collection basin 8. Since the base plate of the collection basin 8 is flat, while the base 3 of the separation device 1 has a gradient, the water in the separation device 1 rises more quickly due to the upwardly open collection basin 8 and the equally open separation device 1. Therefore, when it starts to rain, clean rainwater initially flows over the overflow wall 4 into the collection basin 8. This flushes the space formed by the overflow wall 4 and the oil separator 5 in the flow direction of the collection basin 8 and frees it of any residues that may have remained. This flow direction is maintained during steady rainfall until the apex of the liquid in the collection basin 8 reaches the height of the overflow wall 4.Only then does a hydraulic equilibrium establish itself between the liquid in the collection basin 8 and the water column of the separation device 1. An exchange of liquids between the separation device 1 and the collection basin 8 no longer takes place. If further precipitation occurs, both the liquid in the collection basin 8 and the precipitation water in the separation device 1 rise at the same speed up to the level of the outlet 9. Only when the water 12 in the separation device 1 reaches the level of the outlet 9 can it flow out through the outlet 9. This changes the pressure equilibrium that had prevailed until then. As a result, liquid now flows through the gap 6 between the oil separator wall 5 and the base 3 from the collection basin 8 into the separation device 1.Due to the different density ratios of water 12 and oil, it is ensured that only the water 12 of the collecting basin 8 located below the oil layer 10 reaches the separating device 1. List of reference symbols 1 separating device, device 2 machines 3 Floor, base plate 4 Overflow wall 5 Oil septum 6 Flow opening, gap 7 Rear wall 8 retention basins 9 Procedure 10 oil layer 11 Cover 12 Water 13 Flow direction 14 Side wall 15 Side wall of the collecting basin

Claims

[1] Open separator device (1) for cleaning contaminated liquids, mounted in a collection basin (8), consisting of a base (3), an oil separator (5), an overflow wall (4) and two side walls (14), characterized by , that between the two side walls (14) the floor (3) begins at the level of a drain (9) on the rear wall (7) and extends with a slope to the overflow wall (4), in front of which the oil partition (5) is designed in such a way that a sufficiently large gap (6) remains between it and the bottom (3) and the overflow wall (4) to allow the flow of liquid, where the overflow (4) does not extend in height to the lower edge of the drain (9). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that it is provided with a permeable cover (11) at the top. [3] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the rear wall (7) is replaced by a side wall (15) of the collection basin (8). [4] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that one side wall (14) of the device (1) is replaced by the side wall (15) of the collection basin (8) or both side walls (14) of the device (1) are replaced by the side walls (15) of the collection basin (8). [5] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the side walls (14) of the device (1) are replaced by the side walls (15) of the collection basin (8) when the rear wall (7) is removed at the same time, and that the drain (9) is provided in a side wall (15) of the collection basin (8).

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