An air filtration device to reduce / minimize / eliminate one or more types of air-borne contaminants entering inside liquid storage and / or processing vessel

Abstract

An Air Filtration Device to reduce / minimize / eliminate one or more types of air borne contaminants going into liquid storage and / or processing vessel (5) can be used in domestic, commercial, industrial, stationery, mobile / transportation applications. It helps in maintaining quality of liquid being stored and / or processed in vessel (5). It also helps in reducing the frequency of cleaning required for vessel (5) during prolonged use.

Description

[0001] AN AIR FILTRATION DEVICE TO REDUCE / MINIMIZE / ELIMINATE ONE OR MORE TYPES OF AIR-BORNE CONTAMINANTS ENTERING INSIDE LIQUID STORAGE AND / OR PROCESSING VESSEL

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION AND USE OF INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to storage of liquid in vessels and reducing / minimizing / eliminating air borne contamination taking place during its normal operation of fdling and emptying repeatedly.

[0004] The invention may be used in domestic, commercial, industrial, stationery, mobile / transportation applications.

[0005] The invention helps in maintaining the quality of liquid stored in the vessel, prevents / reduces sedimentation and / or residual build-up hence reducing frequency of required cleaning of the vessel.

[0006] PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

[0007] There seems to be no known prior art in this field.

[0008] A liquid storage and / or processing vessel, hereinafter known as ‘vessel’, pumps air in and out during it’s normal operation of emptying and filling respectively. The upper surface of liquid filled in vessel acts as a piston pushing out or pulling in atmospheric air during filling or emptying of vessel respectively. The atmospheric air contains a lot of contaminants which are pumped in the vessel. These contaminants tend to mix in liquid stored and / or processed in the vessel. Moreover, the pump used to fill the vessel also plays a part in it. If a pump is not provided with no return valve and when it shuts off it also sucks atmospheric air containing contaminants which are pumped in during next startup of pump. Overall effect is a reduction in quality of liquid stored and / or processed in vessel and / or segmentation and / or residual build-up requiring frequent cleaning of vessel.

[0009] OBJECT OF INVENTION

[0010] The principal object of this invention is to reduce / minimize / eliminate air-borne contaminants entering in the liquid stored in a vessel during its normal operation of filling and emptying. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0011] There are a lot of openings through which atmospheric air passes inside vessel during fdling and emptying of liquid stored and / or processed in a vessel. If this atmospheric air which enters the vessel is restricted to pass through a certain opening with sealing, temporary or permanent, of all other passages, the atmospheric air can be routed and fdtered through this available passages provided with an air fdtration unit. The filtration of incoming atmospheric air through one or multiple filters in filtration unit results in prevention / reduction / minimizing of air-borne contamination of liquid stored in vessel. Separate outlets with no return valves for incoming atmospheric air and outgoing air and / or liquid ensures that in case of overflow of liquid in vessel, filtration unit does not get affected by overflowing liquid. Moreover, few filters in filtration unit may need a limited exposure to atmospheric air and / or vapors / fumes emanating from liquid. The device takes care of all these different operating conditions.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0013] A vessel (5) is provided with a pump (4) discharging liquid in the vessel (5) through opening (6) as well as an opening (7) for draining / pumping out of liquid. The opening (7) is having a shutoff valve (10). On the top of vessel (5), a manhole / service hole (11) is provided with a man hole / service hole cover (12) which remains air tight during normal operation. On the upper side of vessel (5), an opening (8) is provided which is bifurcated in two parts. In one part, incoming atmospheric air is routed in through a filtration unit (9). Filtration unit (9) is having no return valves (1) and no return valve (2) placed at it’s inlet and outlet respectively such that only incoming atmospheric air is allowed to pass in vessel (5) through filtration unit (9). The other bifurcated part of opening (8) is provided with no return valve (3) which allows only outgoing air and / or liquid through it. The vessel (5) remains air tight during it’s normal operation so that air does not escapes and / or enters through other openings.

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0015] This invention is illustrated with the help of accompanying drawings.

[0016] The vessel (5) is provided with one opening (7) at lower side of vessel (5) connected with a shutoff valve (10). An opening (6) is provided at the top of vessel (5) for incoming liquid through discharge line of pump (4). Either the pump (4) will have a no return valve or it will be submerged in liquid. So, atmospheric air does not enter or inside escapes outside through discharge line (13) of pump (4) or pump (4) itself.

[0017] A manhole / service hole (11) is provided on the top of vessel (5). The construction of man hole / service hole (11) along with man hole / service hole cover (12) is such that it remains airtight during vessel (5)’s normal operation. An opening (8) at upper side of vessel (5) is provided to facilitate suction of atmospheric air and discharge of air and / or overflowing of liquid. This opening is bifurcated in two parts. One part is for routing incoming atmospheric air inside and other part for routing out outgoing air and / or overflow liquid. A no return valve (3) placed on one part of opening (8) ensures that only outward flow of air and / or liquid takes place through it. On the other part of opening (8) is attached a no return valve (2) in such a way that it allows only atmospheric air in. The suction side of no return valve (2) is attached to a filtration unit (9) having one or more types of filters for different types of contaminants. The suction side of filtration unit (9) is attached to no return valve (1). No return valve (1) allows only incoming atmospheric air in filtration unit (9). The no return valve (1), (2) and (3) actuates whenever there is a pressure difference between suction and discharge side.

[0018] BEST METHOD

[0019] The cycle of operation starts with an empty vessel (5). Before filling of vessel (5) by pump (4), the man hole / service hole (11) is air sealed with man hole / service hole cover (12). The liquid outlet valve (10) remains closed. When the pump (4) starts pumping the liquid in the vessel (5), the top layer of liquid stored in the vessel (5) starts raising which compresses the air trapped over the liquid surface in vessel (5). This compressed air escapes outside through no return valve (3) when the no return valve is actuated due to pressure difference in the vessel (5) and atmospheric air. The no return valve (1) and no return valve (2) remain closed due to higher side of pressure on discharge side of no return valve (2) and same pressure on both sides of no return valve (1). Once liquid is fdled up to a desired level, pump (4) is stopped. If the pump (4) is not stopped when the vessel (5) is fdled completely, the extra liquid pumped inside the vessel (5) starts flowing outside through no return valve (3) until pump is stopped.

[0020] As and when the liquid stored in vessel (5) is drained / pumped out through opening (7), the level of liquid in vessel (5) starts dropping resulting in drop of air pressure which is trapped over the liquid surface inside vessel (5). The drop in air pressure over the liquid surface actuates no return valve (2) to let air from filtration unit (9) to vessel (5). This further result in pressure drop inside filtration unit (9) which actuates no return valve (1) to let atmospheric air in filtration unit (9).

[0021] Since incoming atmospheric air is passing the filtration unit (9), contaminants are filtered out and clean atmospheric air enters vessel (5). It simultaneously opens no return valve (2) and no return valve (1) which results in filtered atmospheric air entering the vessel (5).

[0022] The filtration unit (9) can also work with either no return valve (1) or no 20 return valve (2). If the filtration unit (9) is having filters which need to be protected from excessive exposure to atmospheric air as well as fumes / vapours emanating from liquid stored in vessel (5) then no return valve (1) and no return valve (2) both are necessary for efficient operation of this device. In case, only excessive exposure to atmospheric air or fumes / vapours emanating from liquid is undesirable, either no return valve (1) or no return valve (2) can be used. Use of no return valves (1), (2) and (3) causes some restriction on incoming flow of atmospheric air and outgoing flow of liquid and / or air. It may necessitate use of manual or automated valve instead of no return 10 valves in some cases. The manual valves can be operated manually by an operator accordingly. Automated valves can be controlled by a controlling system.

Claims

I Claim:Claim 1: The process and a device having one or multiple filters to filter and route incoming atmospheric air to free it from one or multiple contaminants entering in a liquid storage and or processing vessel.Claim 2: Liquid storage and / or processing vessel built in such a way to allow incoming atmospheric air only through air fdtration unit / no return valves / manual valves / automated valves and outflow of air trapped inside such vessel and overflowing liquid through no return valves / manual valve / automated valves.Claim 3: Filter / filters to be used in fdtration unit of such device to reduce / eliminate / minimize air borne contamination taking place during fdling and / or emptying of liquid stored in a liquid storage and / or processing vessel.Claim 4: Valves, No Return Valves, automated valves fitted in such a liquid storage and / or processing vessel in such a way to route incoming atmospheric air through filtration unit to reduce / eliminate / minimize air bom contamination at the same time stopping flow of overflow liquid from such vessel to enter in filtration unit.Claim 5: Man hole / service hole and man hole / service hole cover made in such a way that remain air tight during filling and / or emptying of liquid storage and / or processing vessel to ensure that incoming atmospheric air enters liquid storage and / or processing vessel only through filtration unit comprising one or multiple filters and outgoing air and / or liquid flows through another opening.

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