With the use of the MicroConeŽ, industry can take full advantage of segregating clean fluid from dirty without sacrificing floor space and without using more than one tank. The MicroConeŽ is a mixer, concentrator, and clarifier all in one. The MicroConeŽ receives dirty liquid from the tools through a tangential opening (1). As the dirty liquid enters the tank, it must quickly conform to the shape of the tank, which forces solids to the tank inside wall (2). This reaction is similar to the force we feel when traveling around a curve in our automobiles. Because of the shape of the cone and the position of the center isolation sleeve, the liquid is forced to the bottom of the tank, increasing in speed until it forms a miniature tornado. The result is a concentration of solids at the bottom of the tank. The tornado is used to agitate the bottom of the tank continuously while supplying fluid to the suction of the MicroseparatorŽ feed pump located in the center of the tank (3). The MicroseparatorŽ then returns clean fluid to the upper center section of the tank (4) where the tool feed pumps transfer fluid back to the tools (5).

The clarifying characteristics of the MicroConeŽ are quite interesting. Its working depth is considerably deeper than traditional tool fluid systems which aids clarification. More interesting, however, is the downward flow within the tank caused by the differential in flow rates between the MicroseparatorŽ pump and the tool pump. Imagine now that those solids must fight their way to the surface against flow and against gravity to reach the upper levels of the tank. If the system is shut down for some period of time, it will become a standard settling tank, much the same as industry has operated in the past. Upon start up, the tornado in the bottom of the tank will agitate settled solids and direct them to the suction of the MicroseparatorŽ feed pump.

The MicroConeŽ central fluid processing system has received US Patent # 5,639,366, all rights reserved.