LSS – Liquid Solid Separator

The LSS Process

The Draygon LSS system combines the advantages of several proven evaporation techniques and technologies developed to date, while similarly removing the drawbacks of prevailing equipment available on the market. For example, the wastewater is delivered into the upper chamber of the evaporator tank, from there it processes through falling film, static mixing, and direct immersion to promote “contact” evaporation. The atmosphere within the inner tank is indirectly heated via an oil heat or steam transfer jacket attached to this chamber. This effectively enables the entire volume and surface area of the inner tank to act as the chamber for evaporation. Radial (and variable speed) fans control the air exchange in the LSS, with the resultant updraft rapidly cooling the evaporate prior to exiting the unit as humidity. Since the heat is transferred via a heat transfer jacket, the whole system is classed as a “Run Dry” system, effectively achieving Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). Furthermore, during the initial atomization process, VOCs and Alkane chains are broken down into carbon and hydrogen. Hydrogen quickly reforms with oxygen molecules to produce additional water for evaporation, while carbon drops to the base of the tank for collection within the remaining residual solids.

The oil or steam surrounding the inner tank becomes a thermostatically controlled heat exchanger that allows solids to settle harmlessly on the tank floor; thus simplifying its removal. The unit’s oil bath typically operates at a maximum temperature of 650°F, with the evaporation process typically occurring below 200°F within the inner tank. This design encourages the accumulation of residual solid build up upon the base of the evaporator’s inner tank (where it is automatically removed), while providing a controlled evaporation rate and minimal maintenance issues, allowing easy continuous disposal of concentrate.