Clarifier for water treatment
The present invention is directed to a clarifier for water treatment including a plurality of planar inclined sheets including a flexible polymeric material. Each sheet includes a hydrophobic surface. The present invention is also directed to a clarifier that includes at least one module, each module including: a plurality of vertically-oriented supports and a planar inclined sheet including a flexible polymeric material tensioned between the plurality of vertically-oriented supports. The present invention is also directed to a water collection system of a water treatment system including: a collection trough configured to receive liquid and a buoyant member configured to support the collection trough.
1. A clarifier for water treatment comprising:
a plurality of planar inclined sheets comprising a flexible polymeric material,
wherein each sheet comprises a hydrophobic surface, and
wherein the hydrophobic surface has an average surface roughness (Sa) of from 3 to 100 μm.
2. The clarifier of claim 1 , wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
3. The clarifier of claim 1 , wherein the flexible polymeric material is a hydrophobic material.
4. The clarifier of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the flexible polymeric material is a fabric treated with a hydrophobic material to form the hydrophobic surface.
5. The clarifier of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vertically-oriented supports, wherein a sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets is tensioned between the plurality of vertically-oriented supports.
6. The clarifier of claim 5 , wherein a vertically-oriented support of the plurality of vertically-oriented supports comprises an inlet opening configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough.
7. The clarifier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of planar inclined sheets are arranged parallel to one another, and each sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets is tensioned between a plurality of vertically-oriented supports.
8. The clarifier of claim 7 , wherein vertically-oriented supports tensioning a first sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets interlock with adjacent vertically-oriented supports tensioning a second sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets.
9. The clarifier of claim 7 , wherein the parallel sheets are positioned at an angle relative to the ground of from 10° to 90°.
10. A water treatment system comprising:
a basin; and
the clarifier according to claim 1 positioned in the basin, the clarifier further comprising a plurality of vertically-oriented supports, wherein each sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets is tensioned between the plurality of vertically-oriented supports.
11. The water treatment system of claim 10 , wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
12. The water treatment system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of planar inclined sheets are arranged parallel to one another.
13. The water treatment system of claim 12 , wherein vertically-oriented supports tensioning a first sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets interlock with adjacent vertically-oriented supports tensioning a second sheet of the plurality of planar inclined sheets.
14. The water treatment system of claim 12 , wherein the parallel sheets are positioned at an angle relative to the ground of from 10° to 90°.
15. The water treatment system of claim 10 , further comprising a collection system comprising a collection trough arranged at least partially above the clarifier.
16. The water treatment system of claim 15 , wherein the collection system comprises a buoyant member configured to support the collection trough.
17. A method for treating water comprising:
providing the clarifier according to claim 1 ;
flowing water to the clarifier;
collecting clarified water and/or waste material separated from the water by the clarifier.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).