US 12,140,139 B2
Gravity flow filtration of hydrocarbons from an oil-in-water emulsion
William J. Gannon, Northford, CT (US); David Tomlinson, Cheshire, CT (US); and Paul Melaccio, Clinton, CT (US)
Assigned to SOLIDIFICATION PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC., Northford, CT (US)
Filed by Solidification Products International, Inc., Northford, CT (US)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/687,930.
Application 17/687,930 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/490,781, filed on Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,673, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196012 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. F04B 53/20 (2006.01); B01D 17/04 (2006.01); B01D 39/16 (2006.01); B01D 39/20 (2006.01); F04B 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 53/20 (2013.01) [B01D 17/047 (2013.01); B01D 39/1623 (2013.01); B01D 39/2017 (2013.01); F04B 15/02 (2013.01); B01D 2239/0421 (2013.01); B01D 2239/1208 (2013.01); B01D 2239/1291 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gravity-fed system for the filtration of synthetic ester-based fluids from an emulsion, comprising:
a barrier (10′) having a sump pump barrier housing (12′) with an open top, the housing (12′) including:
an inlet (41′) extending through an upper side wall of the housing (12′) permitting ingress of fluid to be filtered into the interior of the housing (12′);
a barrier canister (20′) containing a hydrocarbon adsorption media capable of absorbing/adsorbing hydrocarbons/sheen present in fluids while simultaneously allowing water to pass therethrough, is disposed within the housing (12′);
a false bottom (31′) disposed beneath the barrier canister (20′) and within the housing (12′);
a polishing filter housing (30′) having a polishing filter cartridge (34) disposed therein is disposed within the false bottom (31′), the polishing filter cartridge (34) containing a hydrophilic composition capable of removing synthetic ester-based fluids having a surface tension dissimilar to water, the hydrophilic composition having a surface energy greater than or equal to 35 dynes per centimeter;
a polishing filter conduit (32′) in fluid communication with an interior volume of the housing (12′) beneath the barrier canister (20′) and an inlet of the polishing filter housing (30′); and
a first conduit (40′) for the introduction of a flow of fluid into the sump pump barrier housing is in fluid communication with the inlet (41′);
wherein, fluids passing through the barrier canister (20′) drain into polishing conduit (32′) and flow into and through the polishing filter housing (30′), accomplishing removal of synthetic ester/sheen from volumes of water and synthetic ester emulsions, by gravity, without an electric pump to push the fluid through the barrier (10′), such that filtered fluid exiting the polishing filter housing contains less than 5 ppm of said synthetic ester-based fluids.