Gas Flotation Tank With Sloped Weirs And Divider Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas flotation tanks face issues with short circuiting and structural integrity due to unequal fluid levels between chambers, requiring heavy reinforcement and interconnecting pipes that can obstruct flow and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A gas flotation tank design with a series of adjacent chambers featuring sloped weirs and alternating connector ports and fluid passages to equalize fluid levels and prevent short circuiting, eliminating the need for interconnecting pipes and reducing structural requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interconnecting pipes are used to connect chambers in series, then short circuiting is prevented, but the pipe obstructs flow pattern and reduces working volume
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the interconnecting pipe from the system and replaces it with divider walls that have openings at their lower ends. This removes the obstructive element while maintaining the chamber connections, allowing flow to occur through the divider wall openings rather than through a separate pipe that would obstruct the flow pattern and reduce working volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional arrangement of the connection openings. By positioning openings at the lower ends of divider walls rather than using horizontal pipes, the flow path is redirected to the lower dimension of the tank, utilizing the vertical space more effectively and avoiding obstruction of the upper working volume where flow patterns are established.
2Reliability
If interconnecting pipe size is increased to minimize level differences, then structural risk is reduced, but flow pattern is obstructed and working volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the connection function across multiple divider walls rather than using a single large interconnecting pipe. Each divider wall contains openings at its lower end, distributing the flow path and level equalization function across multiple locations. This segmentation allows level differences to be managed through distributed small openings rather than requiring a large centralized pipe that would reduce working volume.
3Reliability
If heavily reinforced divider walls are used, then structural damage from level differences is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the level equalization function from the structural divider walls and relocates it to the openings in the divider walls. By providing controlled openings at the lower ends of divider walls, the system passively equalizes fluid levels between chambers, eliminating the need for heavily reinforced walls while maintaining structural integrity.
4Productivity
If fluid communication ports are positioned to avoid short circuiting, then separation efficiency is improved, but level differences can still cause structural damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates equipotential conditions by positioning openings at the lower ends of divider walls, which allows fluid to flow between chambers at the same hydraulic head level. This passive level equalization ensures that no significant level differences develop between chambers, protecting against structural damage while maintaining efficient separation through properly positioned communication openings.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances contaminant separation efficiency, reduces the risk of structural damage, and lowers operational and maintenance costs by maintaining equal fluid levels and preventing short circuiting, allowing for larger flow capacities and scalable tank designs.
Implementation Method 1
a rotational current is generated promoting hydrocarbon to rise to the surface of the water in the tank while forcing cleaner more purified water towards the bottom of the tank
Implementation Method 2
Gas flotation tanks are used to separate unwanted phases or contaminants such as hydrocarbons from produced water generally by allowing or facilitating the rising of the unwanted phases or contaminants to the surface of produced water
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas flotation tank is provided that includes a series of adjacent chambers which impart a rotational current therein. Each chamber is separated from a skim oil trough by a skimming weir. Each chamber comprises an alternating fluid communication device between adjacent chambers allowing fluid communication between adjacent chambers in the form of a communication port in the dividing wall between adjacent chambers and a chamber outlet in conjunction with a perforated plate and the outlet is positioned in fluid communication with the final chamber.