Electrocoagulation reactor

Abstract

An electrocoagulation reactor is provided for treating waste water and removing contaminants therefrom. The reactor is typically a six-sided rectangular water-tight housing which has an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. There are a multiplicity of charged plates located parallel to one another within the housing. Adjacent plates are typically oppositely charged and water will pass between the plates as it flows through the reactor. The electric field between the plates will help encourage coagulation of waste matter which then may be removed from the waste water downstream of the electrocoagulation reactor.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for treating water, the system comprising:
 a multiplicity of reactor plates;   a cartridge adapted to removably receive a multiplicity of the plates therein and maintain the plates in parallel alignment;   a cell tank adapted to receive the cartridge with reactor plates loaded therein such that the cartridge is substantially inside the cell tank when received, wherein the cartridge may be removed from the cell tank to replace one or more reactor plates, the cell tank having an intake pipe and a discharge pipe;   a pump adapted to convey a quantity of water from a distant location to the intake pipe and into the cartridge; and   an electrical conduit adapted to convey an electrical signal to the reactor plates to subject water moving between the plates to an electric field.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is configured such that water flowing therethrough moves upwards between the plates. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge has first wall and a second wall, the first wall shorter than the second wall such that water flows over the top of the first wall after moving upwards between the plates. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the cell tank includes a portion for receiving the water flowing over the top of the first wall. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation loop for taking a portion of the water in the output pipe and reintroducing it to the inlet pipe. 
     
     
         6 . They system of  claim 5 , wherein the recirculation loop comprises a positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the recirculation loop includes a pipe for joining the outlet pipe and for joining the inlet pipe downstream of the pump. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cell tank has an open top and the receipt and removal of the cartridge are accomplished through the open top. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cell tank in series with the first cell tank. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a multiplicity of slots dimensioned to receive a reactor plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cell tank includes a sump portion adapted to gather waste from the water. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising handling straps adapted to engage the cartridge and to assist in handling of the cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plates have a shorter height than others of the plates. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water clarifier adapter to clarify the water discharged from the cell tank. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrocoagulation reactor downstream of the cell tank, the electrocoagulation reactor adapted to subject the water discharged from the cell tank to an electric field.