Methods for vacuum evacuation of waste foam/gas from an electrocoagulation unit during effluent treatment

Abstract

Apparatus and method are disclosed for integrated waste foam/gas evacuation from an electrocoagulation unit. The electrocoagulation unit has a primary electrocoagulation reaction chamber with processing electrodes maintained therein. A flotation chamber is integrated above the reaction chamber and a vacuum hood is affixed over the flotation chamber. A vacuum nozzle device is connectable with a vacuum source and received through the hood and in the flotation chamber, a height adjustable foam intake provided at one end of the nozzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for vacuum evacuation of waste foam/gas from an electrocoagulation unit primary chamber comprising the steps of:
 maintaining treatment electrodes in a primary electrocoagulation reaction chamber and introducing effluent for treatment into said reaction chamber and withdrawing treated effluent from said reaction chamber;   integrating a flotation chamber above said reaction chamber;   locating a hood over said flotation chamber;   vacuuming waste foam/gas in said flotation chamber through a nozzle body connectable with a vacuum source and received through said hood in said flotation chamber;   positioning a shroud having a first intake port at one part of said nozzle body;   rotating said shroud on said nozzle body to selectively adjust height of said intake port providing height adjustable foam intake location in said flotation chamber through said nozzle body; and   outputting vacuumed waste foam/gas received through said nozzle body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising locating at least a second foam intake port opposite said first foam intake port at said shroud. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising configuring said ports as elongated slots. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating wet foam from gas phase after outputting vacuumed waste foam/gas. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of separating wet foam from the gas phase further comprises cyclonic separation at a unit connected to receive output waste foam/gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selectively locating said nozzle body in said chambers so that said nozzle body is below or partly below fluid level at said flotation chamber with said shroud intake port adjustably positionable in a foam layer just above the fluid level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selectively adjusting vacuum level applied at said chambers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selectively controlling head height and foam/gas level at said flotation chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A method for vacuum evacuation of waste foam/gas from a primary reactor chamber in an effluent treatment electrocoagulation unit comprising the steps of:
 locating a flotation area above fluid level at the primary electrocoagulation reactor chamber;   maintaining at least a partial vacuum at said flotation area;   locating a vacuum nozzle device at said flotation area and connecting said nozzle device with a vacuum source; and   adjusting height of waste foam/gas intake location through said nozzle device at said flotation area by adjusting a shroud having at least a first intake port and mounted at one part of said nozzle device to control height of said intake port relative to said fluid level.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising selectively controlling head height and foam/gas level at the reactor chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising selectively locating said vacuum nozzle device at a position below or partly below said fluid level at the reactor chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising locating at least a second foam intake port opposite said first foam intake port at said shroud. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of adjusting height of waste foam/gas intake location includes rotating said shroud on a nozzle body of said nozzle device to control height of said intake ports. 
     
     
         14 . A method for vacuum evacuation of waste foam/gas from an electrocoagulation unit primary chamber comprising the steps of:
 positioning a vacuum nozzle having with a body and a height adjustable intake port at the primary chamber so that the nozzle body is below or partly below fluid level thereat;   rotatably adjusting height of the intake port on the nozzle body so that the intake port is located in a foam layer just above the fluid level during processing; and   applying vacuum to the nozzle to remove foam and gas through the intake port.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising adjusting head height and foam layer level at the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising receiving removed foam/gas from the intake port and separating wet foam from the gas phase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising adjusting vacuum level applied to the nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of rotatably adjusting height of the intake port includes rotation of a shroud on the nozzle body, the shroud having said intake port thereat.