Oil-water separation apparatus and oil-water separation method

Abstract

To provide an oil-water separation apparatus that has smaller size and has higher separation accuracy.SOLUTION: An oil-water separation apparatus 1 includes: a first separation tank 2 into which a liquid to be separated 91 flows; and a second separation tank 3 having a bottom surface positioned higher than a bottom surface of the first separation tank. The second separation tank also has a flow path partition plate 31 that forms a flow path which receives a first separation tank upper layer liquid overflowing from a side wall surface of the first separation tank and in which the received first separation tank upper layer liquid flows and turns around.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil-water separation device and an oil-water separation method. [Background technology]

[0002] In the fields of industrial processes and environmental conservation, oil-water separators are used to separate liquids that are a mixture of oil and water. For example, in factories that use machine tools, oil-water separators are used to remove oils such as hydraulic oil and lubricating oil that are mixed into the cutting oil and cleaning fluid (hereinafter referred to as "water-soluble coolant, etc.") used in the machine tools, and to recycle and reuse the water-soluble coolant, etc.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an oil-water separation tank which is characterized in that it is made up of a plurality of separation chambers which are partitioned in series by a plurality of vertical partition plates, has an inlet for the oil-water mixture to be treated on the most upstream tank wall, the through holes on the partition plates are positioned gradually lower from the upstream to the downstream and are arranged in a staggered pattern, and the most downstream separation chamber is provided with a discharge pipe which opens onto its bottom surface (Patent Document 1, Figures 1 and 2).

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses that a plurality of recovery chambers C1-C3 separated by a plurality of partition walls 21-23 are formed in a liquid tank 1 in which a mixed liquid of oil and a liquid having a higher specific gravity is introduced and the oil is separated by rising to the vicinity of liquid levels L1-L3, and clean liquid discharge pipes 41-43 are raised from the side walls of each of the recovery chambers C1-C3 to a predetermined height position above to determine the liquid level of each of the recovery chambers C1-C3, and the mixed liquid other than that near the liquid levels L1-L3 is overflowed as the clean liquid (Patent Document 2, FIG. 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-33872 [Patent Document 2] JP 2000-135404 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] For example, in factories where many machine tools are in full operation, water-soluble coolant mixed with hydraulic oil or lubricating oil (hereinafter referred to as "oil-water mixture") is generated on a daily basis, and there are likely to be opportunities to constantly use water-soluble coolant recycled using an oil-water separation device.

[0007] However, in factories, including local factories, that have many machine tools, it is rare that a quantity of oil-water mixture is generated on a daily basis that would be desirable to recycle and utilize. In such cases, an oil-water separation device that is permanently fixed in the factory and occupies a large amount of space is not installed, and the oil-water mixture is often discarded without being recycled.

[0008] However, from the viewpoint of sustainability, there is a demand to separate oil and water efficiently and recycle as much as possible, even when a small amount of oil-water mixture is accumulated. On the other hand, in order to recycle and utilize it, the liquid after oil-water separation needs to have sufficient quality as a water-soluble coolant, etc., and high separation accuracy is required.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an oil-water separation device and an oil-water separation method that are space-saving yet perform oil-water separation with high separation accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The oil-water separation apparatus of the present disclosure is an oil-water separation apparatus comprising: a first separation tank into which the liquid to be separated flows; and a second separation tank having a bottom surface that is higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank, and a flow path partition plate that forms a flow path into which the first separation tank upper layer liquid, which is the liquid to be separated that overflows at the side wall surface of the first separation tank, flows and through which the first separation tank upper layer liquid that has flowed in is folded back and flows.

[0011] In addition, in the oil-water separation apparatus of the present disclosure, the first separation tank may have a first communicating partition plate that leaves a portion near the bottom of the first separation tank open to form a downstream side, relative to the upstream side of the first separation tank where the liquid to be separated flows in and the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank overflows, and a first water level adjustment unit that allows the first separation tank lower layer liquid flowing into the downstream side of the first communicating partition plate to overflow and adjusts the water level, and the second separation tank may have a second communicating partition plate that leaves a portion near the bottom of the second separation tank open at the downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank, and a second water level adjustment unit that allows the second separation tank lower layer liquid flowing into the downstream side of the second communicating partition plate to overflow and adjust the water level.

[0012] In addition, the oil-water separation device disclosed herein may further include a first separated water return port that merges the first separated water that has overflowed at the first water level adjustment section with the second separated water that has overflowed at the second water level adjustment section, and a common return port that returns the second separated water and the merged first separated water.

[0013] In addition, in the oil-water separation device of the present disclosure, the second separation tank may further have an oil drain port provided on the same side wall surface as the common water return port, with the second communicating partition plate in between.

[0014] In addition, in the oil-water separation device disclosed herein, the first water level adjustment section may include a first separation tank water level adjustment pipe which is a pipe extending from near the bottom surface of the first separation tank and having its upper end at the height of the overflow downstream of the first communicating partition plate, and a first separated water container which receives the overflowed first separated water by having a side wall surface which surrounds the upper end of the first separation tank water level adjustment pipe, and a bottom surface through which the first separation tank water level adjustment pipe penetrates.

[0015] In addition, in the oil-water separation apparatus of the present disclosure, the second water level adjustment section may include a second separation tank water level adjustment pipe which is a pipe extending from near the bottom surface of the second separation tank and having its upper end at the height of the overflow downstream of the second communicating partition plate, and a second separated water container which receives the overflowed second separated water by having a side wall surface which surrounds the upper end of the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe, and a bottom surface through which the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe penetrates.

[0016] In addition, in the oil-water separation apparatus of the present disclosure, the overflow of the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank may occur through an integral side wall surface which is the adjacent side wall surfaces or the common side wall surface of the first separation tank and the second separation tank, the first communicating partition plate and the flow path partition plate each extend from the integral side wall surface, and the first separated water may merge with the second separated water by flowing into the second separation tank through the integral side wall surface on the opposite side of the first communicating partition plate from the position where the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank overflows.

[0017] Moreover, the oil-water separation device of the present disclosure may further include a cylindrical magnet placed on the upstream side of the first communicating partition plate of the first separation tank.

[0018] In addition, in the oil-water separation device of the present disclosure, each side wall of the second separation tank may be formed of a transparent material.

[0019] In addition, in the oil-water separation device of the present disclosure, the first separation tank and the second separation tank may each have a lid made of a transparent material.

[0020] In addition, in the oil-water separation device of the present disclosure, the bottom area of ​​the second separation tank may be more than twice the bottom area of ​​the first separation tank, and the water depth of the first separation tank may be more than twice the water depth of the second separation tank.

[0021] Moreover, the oil-water separation device of the present disclosure may further include a pump that is disposed in the space directly below the second separation tank and sends the liquid to be separated to the first separation tank.

[0022] The oil-water separation method disclosed herein is an oil-water separation method in which the liquid to be separated flows into a first separation tank, and the liquid to be separated, which has overflowed over the side wall surface of the first separation tank, flows into a second separation tank having a bottom surface at a position higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank, and the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank flows in a double motion in the second separation tank through a flow path formed by a flow path partition plate.

[0023] Furthermore, in the oil-water separation method disclosed herein, the first separation tank lower layer liquid that has moved to the downstream side of a first communicating partition plate that is separated by leaving a portion open near the bottom of the first separation tank overflows as first separated water, and at the downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank, the second separation tank lower layer liquid that has moved to the downstream side of a second communicating partition plate that is separated by leaving a portion open near the bottom of the second separation tank overflows as second separated water, and the overflowed first separated water and second separated water can be returned to a common return water port. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the oil-water separation device and oil-water separation method disclosed herein, oil-water separation can be performed with high separation accuracy while saving space. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] This is an oblique view from a direction where the front, left side and top of an oil-water separation device of one embodiment of the present invention can be seen. [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view of an oil-water separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the liquid flow two-dimensionally (the horizontal direction of the page is the XY direction) to explain the oil-water separation function in the first separation tank and the second separation tank. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first separation tank and a second separation tank viewed from above, for explaining the flow of liquid. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the first separation tank. [Figure 6] This is an oblique view from a direction where the front and right side of an oil-water separation device according to another embodiment of the present invention can be seen. [Figure 7] This is an oblique view from a direction where the back and left side of an oil-water separation device according to another embodiment of the present invention can be seen. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the oil-water separation device according to the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The oil-water separation device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. The arrows indicated by XYZ in the drawings indicate the directions of the coordinate axes, and are shown to make the field of view of the drawings easier to understand.

[0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view from a direction where the front, left side, and top of an oil-water separation device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention can be seen, and Fig. 2 is a front view of the oil-water separation device 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of liquid two-dimensionally (the horizontal direction of the paper is the XY direction) to explain the function of oil-water separation in the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the oil-water separation device 1 has a first separation tank 2 and a second separation tank 3. In this embodiment, the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3 are each a different rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the second separation tank 3 is in contact with a part of the side of the first separation tank 2. However, this is not limited to such a configuration, and the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3 may be a shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped, such as having some rounded corners, and there may be a distance between the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3. In the oil-water separation device 1, the liquid to be separated 91 (see FIG. 3) flows into the first separation tank 2, and the liquid after separation is discharged from the second separation tank 3. The liquid to be separated inlet 24 depicted by the dashed line in FIG. 1 is a virtual inlet for explanation, and shows an example of the position of the liquid to be separated inlet 24.

[0029] Here, the second separation tank 3 has a bottom surface at a position higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank 2, and has a flow path partition plate 31 that forms a flow path into which the first separation tank upper layer liquid 93 (see FIG. 3), which is the liquid to be separated 91 that overflows the side wall surface of the first separation tank 2, flows and turns around to flow. Here, "overflow at the side wall surface" means overflow at the upper end of the side wall surface as well as overflow through a hole (first separation tank upper layer liquid outlet 25 in this embodiment) opened in the side wall surface. Note that, in this embodiment, the flow path is formed by a single flow path partition plate 31, but for example, a meandering flow path may be formed by adding a flow path partition plate 31 that extends perpendicularly to the flow path partition plate 31 (Y direction).

[0030] Here, since the second separation tank 3 is disposed downstream of the first separation tank 2, the water level in the second separation tank 3 is lower than the water level in the first separation tank 2. In addition, since the height of the bottom surface of the second separation tank 3 is higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank 2, as a result, the water depth in the second separation tank 3 is set shallower than the water depth in the first separation tank 2. In other words, the oil-water separation device 1 is provided with the deeper first separation tank 2 and the shallower second separation tank 3 in which a flow path is formed.

[0031] Since the first separation tank 2 is deep, when the liquid to be separated 91 is an oil-water mixture, the aqueous phase with a high water content can be collected near the bottom of the first separation tank 2 in a short time, and the collected first separation tank lower layer liquid 92 (see FIG. 3) can be efficiently reused as first separated water 96 (see FIG. 3). In the shallower second separation tank 3, the first separation tank upper layer liquid 93 with a low water content is separated over a long distance and time due to differences in specific gravity through the flow paths formed by the flow path partition plate 31, so that separation can be performed with high accuracy even with a compact configuration, and the separated separated water can be reused.

[0032] With this configuration, when the liquid to be separated 91 is an oil-water mixture, the oil contained in the oil-water mixture can be efficiently removed and the separated water can be recycled. Note that the second separation tank upper layer liquid (separated oil) 95 may be recycled and utilized (alone or together with the separated water).

[0033] In the oil-water separation device 1 of this embodiment, the bottom area of ​​the second separation tank 3 can be made larger than that of the first separation tank 2, and the water depth of the first separation tank 2 can be made larger than that of the second separation tank 3. More preferably, the bottom area of ​​the second separation tank 3 can be made twice or more the bottom area of ​​the first separation tank 2, and the water depth of the first separation tank 2 can be made twice or more the water depth of the second separation tank 3. Here, the "water depth" means the (vertical) distance from the bottom of the tank to the overflow water level in each separation tank. With this configuration, the first separation tank 2 is a deeper separation tank, so that separation based on the difference in specific gravity can be performed with high separation accuracy in a shorter time, and the first separation tank lower layer liquid 92 that can be recycled as separated water can be efficiently generated. Furthermore, in the second separation tank 3, by utilizing the flow path formed by the flow path partition plate 31, separation based on differences in specific gravity can be performed over a longer distance and over a longer time, so that even with an oil-water mixture with a small difference in specific gravity, it is possible to produce the second separation tank lower layer liquid 94, which is separated water with high separation accuracy.

[0034] The first separation tank 2 may have a first communicating partition plate 21 which leaves a part near the bottom surface of the first separation tank 2 open to form a downstream side on the upstream side of the first separation tank 2 where the separated liquid 91 flows in and the first separation tank upper layer liquid 93 overflows, and a first water level adjustment unit 22 which allows the first separation tank lower layer liquid 92 flowing into the downstream side of the first communicating partition plate 21 to overflow and adjusts the water level. The second separation tank 3 may have a second communicating partition plate 32 which leaves a part near the bottom surface of the second separation tank 3 open at the downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank 3, and a second water level adjustment unit 33 which allows the second separation tank lower layer liquid 94 flowing into the downstream side of the second communicating partition plate 32 to overflow and adjust the water level.

[0035] Here, "near the bottom surface" means that it is between the liquid surface and the bottom surface and closer to the bottom surface than the center of the liquid surface and the bottom surface. The first communication partition plate 21 may be disposed at a distance from the bottom surface to form the first communication port 211, or may be a plate with a hole near the bottom surface to form the first communication port 211 at the position of the hole. The second communication partition plate 32 may also be disposed at a distance from the bottom surface to form the second communication port 321, or may be a plate with a hole near the bottom surface to form the second communication port 321 at the position of the hole. When the liquid to be separated 91 is an oil-water mixture, the first communication partition plate 21 and the second communication partition plate 32 can allow only separated water from which oil has been sufficiently removed to flow downstream of the partition plate, and the overflow configuration can determine the water level required for oil-water separation in each separation tank.

[0036] In addition, the oil-water separation device 1 may further include a first separated water return port 23 that merges the first separated water 96 that has overflowed at the first water level adjustment section 22 with the second separated water 97 that has overflowed at the second water level adjustment section 33, and a common return port 34 that returns the second separated water 97 and the merged first separated water 96.

[0037] Here, "merging" means that the first separated water 96 flows into the region through which the second separated water 97 flows, and the first separated water 96 and the second separated water 97 do not necessarily have to actually merge. In this way, by circulating the first separated water 96 and the second separated water 97 through the same common water return port 34, the number of water return ports can be made one, and separate hoses and pipes are not required for each, allowing the entire device to have a more compact configuration.

[0038] The second separation tank 3 may further have an oil drain port 35 provided on the same side wall surface as the common return water port 34, with the second communication partition plate 32 in between. Here, the oil drain port 35 may be, for example, equipped with a manual valve so as to be openable and closable, or may have other configurations, such as a shooter type with a large opening and a slope that allows the oil to be discharged even if it contains solids such as sludge. In addition, the oil discharged through the oil drain port 35 may be configured to be recycled. By discharging the separated oil 95 through the oil drain port 35, the amount of oil in the second separation tank 3 can be reduced, and therefore the separation accuracy of the second separation tank bottom liquid 94 and the second separated water 97 can be improved.

[0039] The first water level adjustment unit 22 may include a first separation tank water level adjustment pipe 221 which is a pipe extending from near the bottom surface of the first separation tank 2 and having an upper end at the height of the overflow on the downstream side of the first communication partition plate 21, and a first separated water container 222 which has a side wall surface surrounding the periphery of the upper end of the first separation tank water level adjustment pipe 221 and a bottom surface through which the first separation tank water level adjustment pipe 221 penetrates, thereby receiving the overflowed first separated water 96. Here, the side wall surface of the first separated water container 222 may be formed by the side wall surface of the first separation tank 2 or the first communication partition plate 21. The first separated water container 222 may have a first separated water return water port 23.

[0040] Here, "upper end" means the upper end of the pipe if it is an elongated pipe without any holes, and means the position of the hole if there is a hole through which the liquid in the pipe flows out. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent oil that accidentally gets into the downstream side of the first communicating partition plate 21 from being circulated into the water. The first water level adjustment unit 22 is not limited to this configuration, and can have other configurations, such as overflowing on the side wall surface of the first separation tank 2.

[0041] The second water level adjustment unit 33 may include a second separation tank water level adjustment pipe 331, which is a pipe extending from near the bottom surface of the second separation tank 3 and having an upper end at the height of the overflow on the downstream side of the second communication partition plate 32, and a second separated water container 332 having a side wall surface surrounding the periphery of the upper end of the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe 331 and a bottom surface through which the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe 331 penetrates, thereby receiving the overflowed second separated water 97. Here, the side wall surface of the second separated water container 332 may be formed by the side wall surface of the second separation tank 3 or the second communication partition plate 32. The second separated water container 332 may also have a common return water port 34.

[0042] Here, as in the case of the first water level adjustment unit 22, the "upper end" means the upper end of the pipe if it is an elongated pipe without any holes, and means the position of the hole if there is a hole through which the liquid in the pipe flows out. By forming the bottom surface (the lower surface) of the second separated water container 332, the lower edge of the second communicating partition plate 32, and the lower edge of the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe 331 on the same plane, the second separated water 97 can be efficiently collected. The second water level adjustment unit 33 is not limited to this configuration, and can have other configurations, such as providing a new partition plate extending from the bottom surface of the second separation tank 3 to allow overflow.

[0043] Here, the first separation tank upper layer liquid 93 may overflow via the integral side wall surface 8, which is the adjacent side wall surface or the common side wall surface of the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3. In this case, the first communicating partition plate 21 and the flow path partition plate 31 each extend from the integral side wall surface 8, and the first separated water 96 may merge with the second separated water 97 by flowing into the second separation tank 3 via the integral side wall surface 8 on the opposite side of the first communicating partition plate 21 from the position where the first separation tank upper layer liquid 93 overflows.

[0044] Here, the "integral side wall surface 8" may not only be a configuration consisting of a single plate material or a configuration in which a plurality of plate materials are arranged in contact with each other, but may also include the side wall surfaces of the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3 connected by a flow path configured so that the overflow of the first separated mixed liquid flows into the second separation tank 3. Since the first separated water 96 is generated via the integral side wall surface 8 at a position close to the region where the second separated water 97 is generated, it can be merged with the second separated water 97 with a simple configuration without using any additional hoses or pipes, resulting in a more compact configuration.

[0045] In addition, each side wall of the second separation tank 3 may be formed of a transparent material. By making each side wall transparent, the state of separation can be visually grasped. This makes it possible to adjust the inflow amount of the liquid to be separated 91 depending on the state confirmed by visual inspection, thereby maintaining a highly accurate state of separation. In addition, when a manual valve is provided at the oil drain port 35, it becomes easier to know the timing for opening and closing the oil drain port 35.

[0046] Next, oil-water separation in the oil-water separation device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3, which shows the liquid flow two-dimensionally and diagrammatically. First, the liquid to be separated 91 flows into the first separation tank 2 through the liquid to be separated inlet 24 (F1). Of the liquid to be separated 91, the first separation tank upper layer liquid 93, which has a relatively low specific gravity, moves upward in the first separation tank 2, overflows at the first separation tank upper layer liquid outlet 25 on the side wall surface (integral side wall surface 8) of the first separation tank 2, and flows into the second separation tank 3 (F21). The first separation tank upper layer liquid 93 that has flowed into the second separation tank 3 flows along the flow path formed by the flow path partition plate 31, and oil-water separation due to the difference in specific gravity is carried out over time (F22). At the downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank 3, second separation tank lower layer liquid 94, which contains a large amount of moisture with a relatively large specific gravity that has sunk near the bottom, passes through the second communication port 321 (F23), overflows at the second water level adjustment section 33 (F24), and is returned to the common return water port 34 as second separated water 97. Also, at the downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank 3, second separation tank upper layer liquid (separated oil) 95, which contains a large amount of oil and has a relatively low specific gravity, is drained through the oil drain port 35.

[0047] On the other hand, of the liquid to be separated 91, the first separation tank lower layer liquid 92, which contains a large amount of water having a relatively large specific gravity, passes through the first communication port 211 (F11) and overflows at the first water level adjustment section 22 (F12). The first separated water 96 that has overflowed at the first water level adjustment section 22 passes through the first separated water return port 23 on the side wall surface (integral side wall surface 8) of the first separation tank 2 (F13), merges with the second separated water 97, and is returned at the common return port 34.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3 viewed from above, for explaining the flow of liquid. As shown in this figure, in the oil-water separation device 1 according to this embodiment, when the liquid to be separated 91 flows into the first separation tank 2 (F1), the upper layer liquid 93 of the first separation tank moves counterclockwise in FIG. 6 (F21-F24) and is returned as the second separated water 97 (F2). On the other hand, the lower layer liquid 92 of the first separation tank moves clockwise (F11-F13) and is returned as the first separated water 96 (F2). The first separated water 96 separated in this way in a short path in a short time is generated next to the area (across the integral side wall surface 8) where the second separated water 97 separated in a long path over a long time is generated, so that it can be returned through the same common return water port 34 as the second separated water 97, and a more compact configuration can be achieved without using additional separate hoses or pipes. Furthermore, the oil drain port 35 can be formed on the same side as the common water return port 34, so that the output side can be in one direction, thereby realizing space saving even during use.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the first separation tank 2. As shown in this figure, the first separation tank 2 may further have a cylindrical magnet 27 placed on the upstream side of the first communicating partition plate 21 of the first separation tank 2. With this configuration, metal pieces such as sludge can be adsorbed immediately after the liquid to be separated 91 flows in, and metal solids that may be mixed in the upper layer liquid 93 of the first separation tank and the lower layer liquid 92 of the first separation tank can be removed. This allows for more accurate oil-water separation. In addition, by making the magnet 27 cylindrical, the metal pieces can be adsorbed by utilizing the wide area of ​​the cylinder side surface. In addition, by placing the cylinder so that it extends from near the bottom surface toward the liquid surface, not only sinking metal pieces but also floating metal pieces due to the adhesion of oil, air, etc. can be adsorbed. Note that large metal pieces may be separated by a strainer 7 or the like described later before flowing into the first separation tank 2.

[0050] Figures 6 and 7 are figures relating to other embodiments of the oil-water separation device 1, where Figure 6 is an oblique view from a direction where the front and right side of the oil-water separation device 1 can be seen, and Figure 7 is an oblique view from a direction where the back and left side of the oil-water separation device 1 can be seen.

[0051] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the oil-water separation device 1 of this embodiment has, in addition to a first separation tank 2 and a second separation tank 3, an air separation section 4, a pump storage section 5, a pump 6, a strainer 7, a pump upstream hose 15 and a pump downstream hose 16.

[0052] The pump upstream hose 15 is connected to the inlet of the pump 6 and to the outlet of the strainer 7. The pump downstream hose 16 is connected to the outlet of the pump 6 and to the inlet of the air separation section 4. The pump 6 is disposed in the pump storage section 5 disposed below the second separation tank 3, and by forming a negative pressure, the pump 6 sucks the liquid to be separated (e.g., an oil-water mixture) 91 from the end of a hose (not shown) connected to the strainer inlet 71 through the strainer 7 and the pump upstream hose 15. The strainer 7 removes solids such as large metal pieces, for example, sludge, from the liquid to be separated 91 flowing in from the strainer inlet 71 so as not to affect the operation of the pump 6.

[0053] The air separation unit 4 separates as much air as possible from the oil-water mixture that has flowed in from the pump 6 via the pump downstream hose 16, using a baffle plate (not shown) or the like, and causes the mixture to flow as a liquid to be separated 91 into the first separation tank 2 via the liquid to be separated inlet 24. Here, the air separation unit 4 may be configured to cause the liquid to be separated 91 to flow into the first separation tank 2 together with the separated air, or may be configured to release the separated air into the atmosphere. In FIG. 7, a common water return port nozzle 341 is attached to the common water return port 34 for attaching a hose that flows the separated water to be recycled to a target location, and an oil discharge pipe 351 is attached to the oil discharge port 35 for dropping the oil discharge into an area for storing the oil discharge.

[0054] Furthermore, in the oil-water separation device 1 of this example, the pump 6 is disposed in the space directly below the second separation tank 3. This is because the second separation tank 3 has a bottom surface at a position higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank 2, so a larger space can be secured and relatively large parts such as the pump 6 can be disposed in this space. By disposing in this manner, the entire device can be made more compact in configuration.

[0055] The first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3 may each have a first separation tank lid 26 and a second separation tank lid 36, which are lids made of a transparent material. These lids can prevent bubbles from overflowing out of the separation tanks even if a large amount of bubbles are generated in the liquid to be separated 91 or the upper layer liquid 93 of the first separation tank. In addition, since the oil-water separation device 1 is an apparatus that performs appropriate separation in a liquid state, it is preferable that there are no bubbles that interfere with the separation process. By using a lid, the bubbles do not overflow out of the separation tank and the concentration is increased, and bubbles that are close to each other tend to disappear, resulting in a reduction in bubbles and an improvement in separation accuracy.

[0056] The first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3, and the flow of the liquid flowing into them, are as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, and therefore a repeated explanation will be omitted. Here, the oil-water separation device 1 only needs to have the configuration of the first separation tank 2 and the second separation tank 3, and the other components may be replaced with any other configuration, or may not be present.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the oil-water separation device 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. As shown in this figure, a suction hose 12 connected to a strainer inlet 71 is inserted into the used coolant 17 stored in the storage tank 14. A floating mixed liquid recovery section 13 that allows the supernatant of the used coolant 17 to flow in is attached to the tip of the suction hose 12, and the supernatant of the used coolant 17 is sucked up by the suction hose 12. A water return hose 11 is attached to the common water return nozzle 341, and the separated water flowing out from the common water return port 34 is returned to the storage tank 14. Separated oil 95 flowing out from the oil drain port 35 is stored in the waste oil container 18 (via the oil drain discharge pipe 351). The example shown in FIG. 8 is just an example, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the separated water flowing out from the common return water port 34 may be stored in a separate storage tank 14, or the separated oil 95 may be recycled.

[0058] In this embodiment, the oil-water separation device is used to separate liquids having different specific gravities, but the oil-water separation device can be used to separate liquids having different specific gravities that are mixed together. In addition, the separated water is mainly recycled, but the separated oil may also be recycled. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 Oil / water separator 2 1st separation tank 21 First connecting partition plate 211 1st communication port 22 1st water level adjustment section 221 1st separation tank water level adjustment pipe 222 1st separated water container 23 1st separation water ring water mouth 24 Separated liquid inlet 25 1st separation tank upper layer liquid outlet 26 1st separation tank lid 27 Magnet 3 Second separation tank 31 Flow path partition plate 32 Second connecting partition plate 321 2nd communication port 33 2nd water level adjustment section 331 2nd separation tank water level adjustment pipe 332 Second separated water container 34 Common water outlet 341 Common water inlet nozzle 35 Oil drain port 351 Oil drain pipe 36 2nd separation tank lid 4. Air Separation Section 5 Pump storage area 6. Pump 7 Strainer 71 Strainer inlet 11 Water circulation hose 12 Suction hose 13 Floating mixed liquid recovery section 14 Reservoir 15 Pump upstream hose 16 Pump downstream hose 17 Used coolant 18 Containers for discarded oil 8 Integrated side wall 91 Separated liquid 92 The first separation tank lower layer liquid 93 The upper layer of the first separation tank 94 Second separation tank lower layer liquid 95 The upper layer of the second separation tank (separated oil) 96 1st separation water 97 Second Separation Water

Claims

1. a first separation tank into which the liquid to be separated flows; an oil-water separation apparatus comprising: a second separation tank having a bottom surface that is higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank; and a flow path partition plate that forms a flow path into which the first separation tank upper layer liquid, which is the liquid to be separated and which overflows over the side wall surface of the first separation tank, flows and through which the flowed-in first separation tank upper layer liquid is turned around and flows.

2. The first separation tank is a first communicating partition plate which separates the first separation tank from an upstream side of the first separation tank, which is a side where the liquid to be separated flows in and the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank overflows, leaving a portion near the bottom surface of the first separation tank open to form a downstream side; a first water level adjustment section that allows the first separation tank lower layer liquid flowing into the downstream side of the first communication partition plate to overflow and adjusts the water level, The second separation tank is a second communicating partition plate that separates the second separation tank at a downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank, leaving a portion near the bottom surface of the second separation tank open; 2. The oil-water separation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second water level adjustment section which allows the second separation tank bottom liquid flowing into the downstream side of the second communicating partition plate to overflow and adjusts the water level.

3. a first separated water return port for allowing the first separated water overflowing at the first water level adjustment unit to merge with the second separated water overflowing at the second water level adjustment unit; a common return port for returning the second separated water and the joined first separated water; The oil-water separation device of claim 2 , further comprising:

4. The oil-water separation device according to claim 3 , wherein the second separation tank further has an oil drain port provided on the same side wall surface as the common water return port, with the second communicating partition plate sandwiched therebetween.

5. the overflow of the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank occurs through an integral side wall surface which is an adjacent side wall surface or a common side wall surface of the first separation tank and the second separation tank; the first communication partition plate and the flow path partition plate each extend from the integral side wall surface, The oil-water separation device described in claim 3, wherein the first separated water flows into the second separation tank through the integrated side wall surface on the opposite side of the first communicating partition plate from the position where the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank overflows, thereby merging with the second separated water.

6. The first water level adjustment unit is a first separation tank water level adjustment pipe that extends from near the bottom surface of the first separation tank and has an upper end at the height of the overflow on the downstream side of the first communication partition plate; a first separated water container having a side wall surface surrounding an upper end of the first separation tank water level adjustment pipe and a bottom surface through which the first separation tank water level adjustment pipe penetrates, thereby receiving the overflowed first separated water; The oil-water separation device according to claim 2 .

7. The second water level adjustment unit is a second separation tank water level adjustment pipe that extends from near the bottom surface of the second separation tank and has an upper end at the height of the overflow on the downstream side of the second communication partition plate; a second separated water container having a side wall surface surrounding an upper end of the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe and a bottom surface through which the second separation tank water level adjustment pipe penetrates, thereby receiving the overflowed second separated water; The oil-water separation device according to claim 2 .

8. The oil-water separation device according to claim 2 , further comprising a cylindrical magnet placed on the upstream side of the first communicating partition plate of the first separation tank.

9. The liquid to be separated flows into the first separation tank, the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank, which is the liquid to be separated and which has overflowed from the side wall surface of the first separation tank, flows into a second separation tank having a bottom surface at a position higher than the bottom surface of the first separation tank; An oil-water separation method, wherein the upper layer liquid of the first separation tank flows in a double turn in the second separation tank through a flow path formed by a flow path partition plate.

10. The lower layer liquid of the first separation tank moves to the downstream side of the first communicating partition plate, which is partitioned by leaving a part near the bottom surface of the first separation tank open, and overflows as a first separated water, At the downstream end of the flow path of the second separation tank, the second separation tank lower layer liquid that has moved to the downstream side of a second communicating partition plate that is partitioned by leaving a portion near the bottom surface of the second separation tank open overflows as a second separated water, The oil-water separation method according to claim 9 , wherein the overflowing first separated water and the second separated water are returned to a common water return port.

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