CLIAMS:We Claim:

1. A scum entry prevention mechanism comprising:
• a tray having walls defining an enclosure that is open at one side, said tray adapted to float over a mixture inside a reservoir and adapted to receive supernatant left at top of said reservoir after constituents of said mixture have settled;
• a bottom header at least partially disposed within said reservoir and supported by a bearing assembly disposed operatively below said tray, said bottom header adapted to be in fluid communication with said tray to receive supernatant collected in said tray;
• a down-comer comprising a plurality of tubular elements connecting said tray to said bottom header and adapted to configure fluid communication there-between to facilitate flow of said supernatant collected in said tray to said bottom header, said down-comer further adapted to swivel about said bearing assembly as level of said mixture inside said reservoir changes as decanting proceeds;
• a flap hinged to said tray and adapted to move with respect to said open side of said tray between a closed configuration in which said flap blocks said open side of said tray when settling and decanting has initiated and an open configuration in which said flap uncovers at least a portion of said open side depending upon stage of decanting and parameters associated with settling of said constituents of said mixture;
• at least one flap arm functionally coupled to said flap to facilitate moving of said flap with respect to said open side of said tray;
• at least one telescopic pulling arm functionally coupled to said down-comer and maintained parallel to said tubular elements of said down comer, wherein length of said pulling arm is adjusted by interaction of a drive with said down-comer as level of said mixture held in said reservoir changes as said decanting proceeds to govern opening and closing of the flap based on stage of the decanting and settling parameters associated with constituents of said mixture held in said reservoir.

2. The scum entry prevention mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flap is adapted to swivel with respect to said tray about a hinge to selectively close said open side of said tray.

3. The scum entry prevention mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive is an oscillating rack and pinion drive.

4. The scum entry prevention mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive is a hydraulic cylinder pull mechanism.

5. The scum entry prevention mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive is adapted to be functionally coupled to said down-comer via a hinge connection element.

Dated this 29th day of April, 2014

MOHAN DEWAN
of R. K. DEWAN & Co.
APPLICANTS’ PATENT ATTORNEY
,TagSPECI:FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a mechanical decanter system, particularly, a gravity based decanter system for handling supernatant liquid.

DEFINITION(S)

‘Supernatant’ - the clear fluid above a sediment or precipitate settled at bottom of a reservoir of a gravity based mechanical decanter system

BACKGROUND

A mechanical decanter system is used in various applications such as phase separation in case of chemical reactors wherein settled down precipitates are required to be separated and waste water treatment wherein settled down sediments or sludge are required to be separated. The mechanical decanter system is used for the separation of liquids in a mixture of liquids having different densities or for phase separation, wherein a top layer of liquid referred to as supernatant from which a precipitate or sediment has settled is removed from a reservoir. The mechanical decanter system may be a fixed type decanter or a floating type decanter. The mechanical decanter system is mounted in a reservoir holding a mixture of liquids having different densities, and generally includes a tray, a scum entry prevention mechanism or scum barrier, a down comer, an outlet to the reservoir.

The precipitate in case of a chemical liquid reaction mixture or sludge in case of waste water settles down at the bottom of the reservoir and the supernatant at the top seeps into the tray through the scum entry prevention mechanism. More specifically, the tray floats up and down with the changing liquid levels in the reservoir, the scum entry prevention mechanism generally includes a valve or a flap functionally coupled to the tray that restrains suspended solids such as surface scum, floating debris, and foam from entering the tray of the mechanical decanter system, i.e. the main function of the scum entry prevention mechanism is to ensure that scum free supernatant or clear supernatant liquid enters into the tray of the mechanical decanter system. In case of conventional scum entry prevention mechanisms, the gap between the flap and the opening configured on the tray, while the tray of the mechanical decanter system interacts with the surface of liquid held inside the reservoir decides the amount of scum entering into the tray which is proportional to the area of opening left uncovered by the flap. The scum mostly contains foam resulting from bubbling or turbulence and includes other light particles carried with the liquid.

The down comer is a tubular arrangement that forms fluid communication between the tray and outlet to the reservoir, thereby facilitating evacuation of the clear supernatant received in the tray and that is free of floatables such as surface scum, floating debris and foam from the reservoir. The outlet to the reservoir is configured on a bottom of the reservoir. In case floatables such as surface scum, floating debris and foam carried with the supernatant reaches the tubular elements of the down comer, it may block interior of the tubular elements of the down comer, thereby requiring cleaning, maintenance and interrupted operations of the mechanical decanter system, such interruptions in the operations of the mechanical decanter system are undesirable. Further, such blocking of the tubular elements of the down-comer may result in varying pressure drop in the tubular arrangement and thus cause varying outlet discharge.

Generally, the scum entry prevention mechanism includes a flap that is adapted to close an opening formed on the tray, thereby preventing floatable such as surface scum, floating debris and foam from entering the tray. Different scum entry prevention mechanisms are known in the art, for example,

The US Granted Patent US4648967A (hereinafter referred to as ‘967 US Granted Patent) discloses a decanting apparatus for a wastewater treatment reactor. The decanting apparatus of the ‘967 patent includes a clarified fluid receiver having fluid receiving ports therein, support structure for maintaining the fluid receiver at a desired level within the reactor and flap means selectively biased to occlude the ports of the receiver during mixing cycles so as to prevent entry of sludge into the receiver and to selectively allow entry of clarified fluid through the ports when the sludge is settled.

The US Granted Patent US5421995A (hereinafter referred to as ‘995 US Granted Patent) discloses a sludge blanket-clarified liquid interface detector apparatus for a wastewater treatment process. The ‘995 US patent discloses a floating decanter assembly preferably including a sludge detector light source and light sensor pair positioned in spaced apart relation on a sludge layer detector frame which is suspended in depending relation below the floating decanter assembly.

US Granted Patent 6423214 (herein after referred to as ‘214 US granted patent) discloses a wastewater treatment tank. The ‘214 US granted patent has influent gates and pre-react zone with an outwardly flared lower portion. The entry of the floatables such as surface scums, floating debris and foam into the tray and accordingly to the down comer is prevented by ensuring minimal disturbance of settled sludge blanket.

Such arrangements for preventing entry of the floatables into the down-comers are not reliable, is in-efficient and inaccurate.

However, the conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism are not efficient and fail to prevent the scum from reaching the tray as there is still possibility of scum entering into the tray due to the kind of water entry mechanism and hence the conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism fail to prevent the floatables such as surface scum, floating debris and foam from reaching the tubular arrangement of the down-comer, thereby blocking the tubular elements of the down-comer. Further, the conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism fails to dynamically adjust in accordance with different flow conditions inside the reservoir and different levels of fluid in the reservoir. Further, the conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanisms are complex, bulky, occupy more space, require regular maintenance and regular human monitoring and intervention.

Accordingly, there is thus felt a need for an entry prevention mechanism for a tray of a mechanical decanter system that eliminates the problems/ limitations associated with prior arrangements for preventing entry of floatables such as surface scum, floating debris and foam into the tubular arrangement of the down-comer of a mechanical decanter system, particularly, there is felt a need for an entry prevention mechanism that prohibits entry of scum in to a tray, thereby preventing blockage of the down comer. Further, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism that is simple in construction. Furthermore, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism that dynamically and automatically adjusts in accordance with different flow conditions inside a reservoir and different levels of fluid in the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system. Furthermore, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism that is having a compact configuration. Still further, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism for a mechanical decanter system that require comparatively less human monitoring and intervention as compared to conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism. Further, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism that is efficient and accurate. Still further, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism for mechanical decanter system that requires less maintenance as compared to conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism. Further, there is a need for a scum entry prevention mechanism for mechanical decanter system that enhances service life of the mechanical decanter system.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure which at least one embodiment is adapted to provide, are described herein below:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism for a tray of a mechanical decanter system that facilitates separation and collection of supernatant that is free of floatables such as surface scum, floating debris and foam and also free of sludge that has settled at a bottom of a reservoir.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that is constructed of high quality, corrosive resistant materials and as such is robust in construction.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that is simple in construction.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that prohibits entry of scum into a tray of mechanical decanter system, thereby preventing blockage of the down comer.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that dynamically and automatically adjusts in accordance with different flow conditions inside a reservoir and different levels of fluid in the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that reduces maintenance requirements associated with the mechanical decanter system.

Still, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that is having a compact configuration.

Again, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that requires comparatively less human monitoring and intervention as compared to conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism.

Further object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that is efficient and accurate.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that requires less maintenance as compared to conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanisms.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scum entry prevention mechanism that enhances service life of the mechanical decanter system.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY
A scum entry prevention mechanism is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The scum entry prevention mechanism includes a tray, a bottom header, a down-comer, a flap, at least one flap arm and at least one telescopic pulling arm. The tray has walls that define an enclosure that is open at one side. The tray floats over a mixture inside a reservoir and receives supernatant left at top of the reservoir after constituents of the mixture have settled. The bottom header is partially disposed within the reservoir and is supported by a bearing assembly disposed operatively below the tray. The bottom header is in fluid communication with the tray to receive supernatant collected in the tray. The down-comer comprises a plurality of tubular elements connecting the tray to the bottom header and configures fluid communication there-between to facilitate flow of the supernatant collected in the tray to the bottom header. The down-comer swivels about the bearing assembly as level of the mixture inside the reservoir changes as decanting proceeds. The flap is hinged to the tray and moves with respect to the open side of the tray between a closed configuration in which the flap blocks the open side of the tray when settling and decanting has initiated and an open configuration in which the flap uncovers at least a portion of the open side depending upon stage of decanting and parameters associated with settling of the constituents of the mixture. At least one flap arm is functionally coupled to the flap to facilitate moving of the flap with respect to the open side of the tray. At least one telescopic pulling arm is functionally coupled to the down-comer and is maintained parallel to the tubular elements of the down comer, wherein length of the pulling arm is adjusted by interaction of a drive with the down-comer as level of the mixture held in the reservoir changes as the decanting proceeds to govern opening and closing of the flap based on stage of the decanting and settling parameters associated with constituents of the mixture held in the reservoir.

Typically, the flap swivels with respect to the tray about a hinge to selectively close the open side of the tray.

In accordance with an embodiment, the drive is a rack and a pinion drive.

In accordance with another embodiment the drive is a hydraulic cylinder pull mechanism.

In accordance with one embodiment, the drive is functionally coupled to the down-comer via a hinge connection element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

An arrangement for a flap system of a mechanical decanter of the present disclosure will now be explained in relation to the non-limiting accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation depicting a scum entry prevention mechanism for a mechanical decanter system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein a flap thereof is illustrated in a closed configuration;

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of the scum entry prevention mechanism of Figure 1, wherein the flap thereof is illustrated in an open configuration;

Figure 3a illustrates a top view of the scum entry prevention mechanism of Figure 1;

Figure 3b illustrates a side view of the scum entry prevention mechanism of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates another schematic representation of the scum entry prevention mechanism of Figure 1, wherein interaction of an oscillating rack and pinion drive with respect to a down-comer for adjusting length of pulling arm which in turn governs opening and closing of a flap based on stage of the decanting and settling parameters associated with heavier constituents of a mixture held in reservoir.

Figure 5a and 5b illustrates an elevation and a side view of a scum entry prevention mechanism in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein a hydraulic drive, particularly, a hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement governs the opening and closing of the flap based on stage of decanting and settling parameters associated with constituents of a mixture held in reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The scum entry prevention mechanism for a decanter system of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. In another embodiment a scum entry prevention mechanism for a mechanical decanter system is described. The description relates purely to the exemplary preferred embodiments of the disclosed system and its suggested applications.

The system herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The mechanical decanter system includes a tray, a down-comer and a bottom header. The mechanical decanter system is disposed inside a reservoir holding mixture of liquids having different densities or liquids with suspended particulate matter or suspended solids that is required to be separated. The tray floats over the mixture of liquids having different densities or liquid having suspended particulate held inside the reservoir and as the floatables such as suspended particulate matter settles inside the reservoir, the clear supernatant left at the top of the reservoir enters the tray and from the tray is transported to the bottom header via the down comers. More specifically, there are drain ports provided in the tray for facilitating fluid communication between the tray and the down comers, thereby decanting the supernatant liquid via the down comers. The bottom header is connected to an outlet of the reservoir and from the bottom header the clear supernatant is evacuated from the reservoir. The bottom header is disposed within the reservoir. The bottom header is disposed within the reservoir and is supported by a bearing assembly. The bottom header is in communication with the tray to receive supernatant liquid.

In accordance with one of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a system for preventing entry of scum into the mechanical decanter system also referred to as the scum entry prevention mechanism 100.

Referring to Figure 1, the scum entry prevention mechanism 100 for the mechanical decanter system is illustrated, wherein a lever mechanism or a plurality of linkages are used for actuating a flap covering an opening configured on a tray of the mechanical decanter system, thereby selectively preventing the scum or other suspended particles in a mixture held in a reservoir of a mechanical decanter system from entering into the tray of the mechanical decanter system during start of the decanting.

More specifically, the scum entry prevention mechanism 100 includes a pulling arm 02, a flap arm 04, a flap 06 and an opening configured on the tray 08. The tray 08 floats over mixture of liquids having different densities or liquid having suspended solids held inside the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system. In accordance with one embodiment, the tray 08 is having an operative bottom wall, an operative top wall, a pair of opposite side walls and an operative rear wall disposed between the bottom wall and the top to define an enclosure that is open at operative front and referred to as the open front portion of the tray. However, the opening may be configured on any side of the tray 08 and that side of the tray having the opening configured thereon may be referred to as the open side of the tray 08. The flap 06 interacts with the open side the tray 08, thereby closing the open side of the tray 08 or opening configured on the tray 08 and prevents floatable and suspended solids such as scum, debris, foam and other waste from entering the tray 08 while decantation takes place. The flap 06 is hingeably connected to the tray 08 and swivels with respect to the tray 08 about hinge H to selectively close the open side of the tray 08. Particularly, the scum entry prevention mechanism 100 of the present disclosure is adapted to prevent the entry of the floatables or suspended solids into the tray 08 at the start of the decanting when settling of the suspended solids has just initiated and the suspended solids may enter the tray 08. The supernatant liquid is drained down with use of the connecting pipes C of the down comer.

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of the scum entry prevention mechanism 100, wherein the flap 06 thereof is illustrated in an open configuration. Figure 3a illustrates a top view of the scum entry prevention mechanism 100. Figure 3b illustrates a side view of the scum entry prevention mechanism 100. Referring to Figure 3a, the tray includes a plurality of apertures 12 configured thereon for facilitating connection of the tray 08 with connecting pipes C of the down-comer, thereby configuring fluid communication of the tray 08 with the connecting pipes C of the down-comer for evacuation of the clear supernatant collected in the tray 08 via the connecting pipes C of the down comer.

Referring to Figure 4, the bottom header 39 received within a bearing assembly 36. The down-comer 32 includes a plurality of tubular elements or connecting pipes C that connect the tray 08 to the bottom header 39 and facilitates flow of the clear supernatant from the tray 08 to the bottom header 39. The down-comer 32 further swivels about the bearing assembly 36 as level of the mixture inside the reservoir changes as decanting proceeds.

Figure 4 illustrates another schematic representation of the scum entry prevention mechanism 100, wherein interaction of an oscillating rack and pinion drive 28 with respect to a down-comer 32 for adjusting length of pulling arm which in turn governs opening and closing of the flap 06 based on stage of the decanting and settling parameters associated with heavier constituents of the mixture held in the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system. More specifically, the pinion drive 28 is connected to the down-comer 32 via a connection element 34, particularly, a hinge connection element that facilitate interaction between the pinion drive 28 and down-comer 32. The oscillating pinion drives the rack along a curvilinear path. The pulling arm 02 and the flap arm 04 governs the relative movement of the flap 06 with respect to the open side of the tray 08 to define the open and closed configuration of the tray 08. The flap 06 is connected to the flap arm 04, which in turn is connected to the pulling arm 02. The pulling arm 02 is functionally coupled to the down-comer 32 and is maintained parallel to the tubular elements also referred to as connecting elements C of the down comer 32, wherein length of said pulling arm 02 is adjusted by interaction of the oscillating rack and pinion drive 28 with the down-comer 32 as level of the mixture held in the reservoir changes as the decanting proceeds to govern opening and closing of the flap 06 based on stage of the decanting and settling parameters associated with heavier constituents of the mixture held in the reservoir. The pulling arm 02 pulls the flap arm 04 which in turn moves the flap 06 relative to the open side of the tray 08 about the hinge H. The pulling arm 02 is connected to the bearing assembly36 which in turn is fixed.

The flap 06 can selectively close the open side of the tray 08 for restricting the floatables from entering inside the tray 08 and accordingly, prevents the floatables from entering the down-comers connected to the tray 08 and blocking the connecting pipes C of the down comers.

The flap 06 selectively registers with the open side of the tray 08 and covers the open side of the tray 08 to block scum entry inside the tray 08, thereby preventing scum entry into down-comers of the decanter system. The flap 06 moves relative to the open side of the tray 08 to block and unblock the open side of the tray 08 and define the open and closed configuration of the flap 06. The amount of scum or suspended solid which enters the tray 08 is proportional to the area of the open side of the tray that is left uncovered by the flap 06, and so according to the stage of decanting and settling of the suspended solids inside the reservoir the opening and closing of the flap 06 is governed. More specifically, at the start of the decanting process, the tray 08 is floating on the liquid having suspended solids held inside the reservoir and the settling of the suspended solids has not yet started, at this time the flap 06 closes the open side of the tray 08 to block entry of the suspended solids inside the tray 08. As and when the settling of the suspended solids proceeds the flap 06 moves relative to the open side of the tray 08 allow clear supernatant left at the top of the reservoir to enter inside the tray 08 to facilitate evacuation of the clear supernatant from the tray 08 via the down comer 32 and the bottom header 39. More specifically, the opening of the flap 06 is governed by the flap arm 04 and pulling arm 02 and is based on the stage of the decanting and the settling velocity of the suspended particles. For example, in case the decanting has started and the settling velocity of the suspended solids is less, then the flap 06 remains closed till most of the suspended solids have settled and the flap 06 starts opening after decanting is in later stages when the suspended solids settle down. Further, in case the settling velocity is more, then the flap 06 opens quickly after start of the setting to allow the clear supernatant enters the tray 08.

The flap 06 interacting with the open side of the tray 08 of the decanter is initially in the closed position to restrict any suspended solids to enter inside the tray 08, and as the tray 08 of the mechanical decanter system descends downward inside the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system as decanting proceeds, the flap 06 of the opens gradually and is in the full open position to allow clear supernatant at the top of the reservoir to enter into the tray 08.

Figure 5a and 5b illustrate an elevation and a side view of a scum entry prevention mechanism 200 in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure , wherein a hydraulic drive , particularly, a piston cylinder arrangement 105 and also referred to as a hydraulic cylinder pull mechanism that adjusts the length of the pulling arm 102 which governs the opening and closing of the flap 106 based on stage of the decanting and settling parameters associated with heavier constituents of the mixture held in the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system. More specifically a hydraulic power pack 101, is connected to the hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement 105 and supplies actuating fluid under pressure for actuation of the hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement 105. Further, the hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement 105 is hinged to the hydraulic power pack 101 via the hinge 103. Further, the hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement 105 is connected to the connecting pipes C’ of the down-comer 132 via the hinge element 134. A bottom header 139 is received within a bearing assembly 136.

The scum entry prevention mechanism 200 is functionally and structurally similar to the scum entry prevention mechanism 100. More specifically, the oscillating rack and pinion drive 28 of the scum entry prevention mechanism 100 is replaced by the piston cylinder arrangement 105 in case of the scum entry prevention mechanism 200, while all other elements remaining the same. Particularly, the scum entry prevention mechanism 200 includes a pulling arm 102, a flap arm 104, a flap 106 and a tray 108 that are functionally and structurally similar to the pulling arm 02, the flap arm 04, the flap 06 and the tray 08 of the scum entry prevention mechanism 100 and for the sake of brevity of the present disclosure are not explained in detail.

TEST SETUP

Tests were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the decanter equipped with scum entry prevention mechanism of the present disclosure over the conventionally known decanter systems. Particularly, similar sample of mixture having initial mixed liquor suspended solids concentration inside the bioreactor of 3444 (mg/L) were processed under similar set of condition such as Aeration time - 20 minutes and settling time - 60 minutes in the decanter system equipped with scum entry prevention mechanism of the present disclosure and conventionally known drain siphoning systems respectively. More particularly, the Total Suspended Solids in the sample of mixture processed in decanter equipped with scum entry prevention mechanism of the present disclosure and the conventionally known drain siphoning systems were determined.

The following table depicts test results for Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) Study during decantation by conventional drain siphoning:

Trials TSS (mg/L)
0 min 20 mins 40 mins 60 mins
1 10 2 2 2
2 24 4 6 4

The following table depicts test results for Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) Study during decantation by conventional drain siphoning with air lock:
Trials TSS (mg/L)
0 min 30 mins 60 mins
1 7 2 2
2 10 1 3

From the above test results it is clear that the conventional drain siphoning system fail to restrict Total Suspended Solids at the start of the decanting i.e. at 0 minutes. From the above results it can be concluded that the sludge is settling in the horizontal region of siphoning pipe during aeration phase. It can be concluded from the results of later stages that there is no sludge bed disturbance during decantation.
The following table depicts test results for Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) Study during decantation by decanter equipped with scum entry prevention mechanism of the present disclosure:

Trials TSS (mg/L)
0 min 30 mins 60 mins
1 2 1 2
2 1 1 1

From the above test results it is clear that the decanter equipped with scum entry prevention mechanism of the present disclosure is effective in restricting Total Suspended Solids even at the start of the decanting i.e. at 0 minutes. From the above results it can be concluded that there is no settling in the mechanical decanter and it is not disturbing the sludge bed.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The technical advantages of the scum entry prevention mechanism of a mechanical decanter system envisaged by the present disclosure include the realization of:

• a scum entry prevention mechanism for a tray of a mechanical decanter system that facilitates separation and collection of supernatant that is free of floatables such as surface scum, floating debris and foam and also free of sludge that has settled at a bottom of a reservoir;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that is constructed of high quality, corrosive resistant materials and as such is robust in construction;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that is simple in construction;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that prohibits entry of scum into a tray of mechanical decanter system, thereby preventing blockage of the down comer;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that dynamically and automatically adjusts in accordance with different flow conditions inside a reservoir and different levels of fluid in the reservoir of the mechanical decanter system;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that reduces maintenance requirements associated with the mechanical decanter system;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that is having a compact configuration;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that requires comparatively less human monitoring and intervention as compared to conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that is efficient and accurate;

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that requires less maintenance as compared to conventionally known scum entry prevention mechanism; and

• a scum entry prevention mechanism that enhances service life of the mechanical decanter system.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.