MICROCLARIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• Main Authors: NORTON DANIEL GEORGE, GETTINGS RACHEL MARIE, GALLIGAN CRAIG PATRICK, DAVIS JASON LOUIS, NICHOLS JASON MICHAEL, PULEO CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.06.2015
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SEPARATION; SPIRITS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE; VINEGAR; WINE

A microclarification system is disclosed which can be used to separate solid particulates dispersed within a base fluid such as water. The microclarification system includes a plurality of microfluidic separator units disposed between and in fluid communication with a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold. The microclarification system enforces lamellar flow of fluid though it and as a result the rate at which particles settle is enhanced within a collection chamber associated with each microfluidic separator unit and through which the fluid being purified must pass. Each microfluidic separator unit includes a microfluidic outlet microchannel disposed between the microfluidic collection chamber and the fluid outlet manifold, and a gas-liquid flushing module configured to purge particulates from the collection chamber during a collection chamber purge cycle. Optionally, each microfluidic separator unit may include a microfluidic inlet microchannel. The system holds promise in municipal water purification among other applications.