Settler plate supports with integral outlets for individual flow channels and methods of collecting liquid from each flow channel

Abstract

Improved settlement of solids is provided, while minimizing problems in collecting clarified liquid from a clarifier, by controlling the flow of clarified liquid from a given one of many flow channels of a clarifier. Such control is by causing a substantial amount of that flow of clarified liquid to be collected immediately as that flow exits the given flow channel. Such collection of the substantial amount, if not all of that flow of the clarified liquid from the given flow channel, minimizes if not eliminates, the mixing of the flow from all of the flow channels of a clairfier. As a result, during normal settling operations the flow of the clarified liquid from the given flow channel is substantially isolated. During such normal operations, the isolated flow may be separately sampled for examination of the performance of the separate flow channel. If too many solids are present in the clarified liquid from that separate flow channel then one or both of the plates that define that separate flow channel may be removed and replaced. Servicing operations of removal and replacement of the one or both plates are performed without interrupting the normal settling operations of the other flow channels.