WO2005105267A1

WO2005105267A1 - Water jet filter

Info

Publication number: WO2005105267A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001666
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alister Crawford Simpson; Leslie Paul Quinnell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-01
Filing date: 2005-04-29
Publication date: 2005-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-01
Also published as: GB0409908D0; GB2413509A

Abstract

A filter which comprises a cylindrical housing (10) which is closed at its top and has a base (11). An inlet tube (12), for the inflow (I) of particle-laden air, extends through the top of the housing (10), to terminate at a point spaced above the base (11) of the filter, and below the mid-height of the housing (10). reservoir (14) is mounted on the base (11), within the housing (10), and is filled with water W. Water is injected into air inlet (10) tube (12) as a jet or spray J. The injected droplets of water attach to the particles with which the incoming air is laden and wet particles fall and settle in vessel (14).

Description

Water Jet Filter

The present invention relates to a filter for removing particles from air or other gas, and particularly to a filter which uses a jet or spray of water or other liquid for the removal of such particles. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a filter which comprises an enclosure having a port for the application of suction, a tubular inlet for an incoming flow of particle-laden air or other gas, means for injecting water or other liquid into said tubular inlet, and a vessel for collecting water or other liquid issuing from said tubular inlet . In use, the suction applied to the suction port creates a partial vacuum within the enclosure, which acts to draw particle-laden air or other gas into the enclosure. The injected water or other liquid attaches to the particles in the incoming stream of air or other gas, making these particles heavy such that, upon issuing from the tubular inlet, they fall under gravity into the collection vessel. The incoming air or gas, free of the particles, flows out through the suction port. Preferably the collection vessel or reservoir is arranged for the water or other liquid to overflow therefrom, the collected particles settling to the bottom of the vessel, and the overflowing water or other liquid being used as a source for the liquid injected into the tubular inlet of the filter. Preferably the tubular inlet is disposed vertically, its lower end being spaced above the collection vessel or reservoir. Preferably the injection means is arranged to direct the injected water or other liquid into the tubular inlet in a direction which is radial of the tubular inlet and inclined in the direction of flow of the incoming air or other gas. Preferably the injection means is arranged to inject the water or other liquid into the tubular inlet as a jet or spray, for example the injection means having a nozzle formed with one or more orifices. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a filter in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a similar side view of the filter, indicating the inlet flow of particle-laden air and the outlet flow of particle-free air; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the filter shown in Figures 1 and 2; and FIGURE 4 is a cross-section through the filter shown in Figures 1 to 3. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a filter which comprises a cylindrical housing 10 which is closed at its top and has an open bottom, the housing 10 being disposed with its open bottom mounted on and sealed to a flat base 11. An inlet tube 12, for the inflow I of particle-laden air, extends vertically through the top of the housing 10, to terminate at a point spaced above the base 11 of the filter, and below the mid-height of the housing 10. An outlet port 13, for the outflow 0 of particle-free air, is formed in the side of the housing 10, adjacent its top. An open-top vessel or reservoir 14 is mounted on the base 11, within the housing 10, and is filled with water W. The vessel 14 is circular in cross-section and has an outer diameter only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 10: at one side, however, the wall of the vessel 14 follows a re-entrant profile to provide a space S in which a submersible water pump 16 is disposed, mounted on the base 11. A tube 17 extends upwardly from the outlet of the pump 16, then bends radially inwardly and downwardly, its end being coupled into the side of the vertical air inlet tube 12 of the filter: the arrangement serves to inject water as a jet or spray J into the tube 12, in a direction radially of the air inlet tube but inclined downwardly. In use, a suction source (not shown) is coupled to the air outlet port 13 of the filter, in order to create a partial vacuum within the air-tight enclosure provided by the housing 10 and its base 11: air is accordingly drawn into the enclosure through the inlet tube 12, this air being laden with particles. The vessel 14 is pre-filled with water and the space S in which the pump 16 is located is also partly filled with water: the pump 16 pumps water up it outlet tube 18, to inject this water into the air inlet tube 12 as a jet or spray J. The injected droplets of water attach to the particles with which the incoming air I is laden, so increasing the mass of these particles: these heavy and wet particles now fall down and from the open end of the air inlet tube 23, into the vessel 14. The particles settle to the bottom of the vessel 14, whilst clean water flows over the rim of the vessel 14, acting as a weir, into the space S in which the pump 16 is located. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the water is continuously re-circulated, whilst particles from the incoming air stream are collected as a slurry in the vessel 1 .

Claims

1. A filter for removing particles from a gas, the filter comprising an enclosure having a port for the application of suction, a tubular inlet for an incoming flow of particle-laden air or other gas, means for injecting water or other liquid into said tubular inlet, and a collection vessel for collecting water or other liquid issuing from said tubular inlet.

2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the collection vessel or reservoir is arranged for the water or other liquid to overflow therefrom, the collected particles settling to the bottom of the vessel, and the overflowing water or other liquid being used as a source for the liquid injected into the tubular inlet of the filter.

3. A filter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tubular inlet is disposed vertically, its lower end being spaced above the collection vessel or reservoir.

4. A filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the injection means is arranged to direct the injected water or other liquid into the tubular inlet in a direction which is radial of the tubular inlet and inclined in the direction of flow of the incoming air or other gas.

5. A filter according to claim 4, wherein the injection means is arranged to inject the water or other liquid into the tubular inlet as a jet or spray.

6. A filter according to claim 5, wherein when the liquid is injected as a spray the injection means has a nozzle formed with one or more orifices.

7. A filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the tubular inlet extends vertically through the top of a housing which forms part of the enclosure to terminate at a point spaced above the base of the filter, and below the mid-height of the enclosure .

8. A filter according to any preceding claim, wherein an outlet port for the outflow of particle-free air, is formed in the side of the housing, adjacent its top.

9. A filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the collection vessel is mounted on a base which together with the housing forms the enclosure, said collector being within the enclosure .

10. A filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the collection vessel is circular in cross-section and has an outer diameter only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the enclosure .

11. A filter according to any preceding claim, wherein at one side, the wall of the collection vessel follows a reentrant profile to provide a space in which a submersible water pump is disposed, mounted on the base of the enclosure.

12. A method of removing particles from a gaseous source wherein a suction source is coupled to an air outlet port of a filter enclosed within an enclosure in order to create a partial vacuum within the air-tight enclosure provided by a housing and its base; air is drawn into the enclosure through an inlet tube, this air being laden with particles, water is pumped to an outlet tube, to inject the water into the air inlet tube as a jet or spray with the injected droplets of water becoming attached to the particles so said particles fall down and from the open end of the air inlet tube into a collection vessel contained within the housing.

13. A method according to claim 12, where clean water is allowed to flow over the rim of the collection vessel which acts as a weir, into a space in which the pump is located so that the water can be continuously re-circulated, whilst particles from the incoming air stream are collected as a slurry in the collection vessel.