Liquid concentrator

Abstract

A liquid concentrator having an evaporator assembly and a cyclonic separator includes features designed to improve the performance of the liquid concentrator. A settling chamber is separated from a sump of the cyclonic separator. A liquid inlet opening into a mixing chamber of the evaporator injects wastewater at low pressures. Features to aid in the cleaning of the liquid concentrator include easy open doors and clean water injection ports for cleaning interior portions of the liquid concentrator.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A liquid concentrator comprising:
 an evaporator assembly defining a mixing corridor having a mixing chamber arranged to receive wastewater and gas and an evaporator section connected with the mixing chamber arranged to mix the wastewater with the gas and evaporate liquids from the wastewater;   a cyclonic separator operatively connected with the evaporator section and arranged to receive the mixed wastewater and gas and to separate the gas and the evaporated liquids from solids and the wastewater; and   a conduit arranged to transfer the wastewater separated in the cyclonic separator to a liquid inlet opening into the mixing chamber, wherein the liquid inlet comprises a low-pressure injection port, wherein the low-pressure injection port injects wastewater at a pressure of about ten psig or less.   
     
     
         14 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 13 , wherein the low-pressure injection port injects the wastewater at a pressure of about five psig or less. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 14 , wherein the low-pressure injection port injects the wastewater at a pressure of about two psig. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 13 , wherein the low-pressure injection port includes a spray nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 13 , wherein the low-pressure injection port does not have a spray nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 17 , comprising a baffle arranged to deflect wastewater entering the mixing chamber through the low-pressure injection port. 
     
     
         19 . A liquid concentrator comprising:
 an evaporator assembly arranged to mix wastewater with gas and evaporate liquids from the wastewater   a cyclonic separator arranged to receive the mixed wastewater and gas from the evaporator assembly and to separate the gas and the evaporated liquids from solids and the wastewater; and   a door covering an opening into the cyclonic separator, the door attached to the cyclonic separator with a hinge, and a latch for latching the door in a closed position covering the opening.   
     
     
         20 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 19 , wherein the latch comprises a quick-release latch. 
     
     
         21 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 19 , comprising a seal arranged to form a seal between the door and the cyclonic separator. 
     
     
         22 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 19 , wherein the opening is sized to receive a person therethrough. 
     
     
         23 . A liquid concentrator comprising:
 an evaporator assembly arranged to mix wastewater with gas and evaporate liquids from the wastewater; and   a cyclonic separator arranged to receive the mixed wastewater and gas from the evaporator assembly through an inlet adjacent a top end of the cyclonic separator, an exhaust outlet at the top end of the cyclonic separator, and a pipe on the inside of the cyclonic separator extending from the exhaust outlet to an open bottom end located below the inlet, wherein the mixed wastewater and gas travels downwardly from the inlet to the open bottom end of the pipe and then up an inside of the pipe to the exhaust outlet, whereby the gas and the evaporated liquids are separated from solids and the wastewater,   
     
     
         24 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 23 , further comprising a fan arranged to draw the gases from the inlet through the cyclonic separator and the pipe. 
     
     
         25 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 24 , wherein the fan is disposed inside the pipe. 
     
     
         26 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 25 , wherein the pipe is oriented vertically and aligned with an axis of the cyclonic separator. 
     
     
         27 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 23 , wherein the cyclonic separator comprise a tubular vessel and a sump at a bottom end of the tubular vessel, the sump having a cone-shaped bottom. 
     
     
         28 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 27 , further comprising a liquid transfer conduit that transfers wastewater from the sump to the evaporator assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The liquid concentrator of  claim 28 , wherein the sump has a larger diameter than the tubular vessel.