SOIL CLEANING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A soil/sand cleaning reactor (10) comprises one or two cylinders (18, 20) each having a jet (28) directed towards each other or a target. The jets are immersed in water (14) in a tank (12) and a pump (42) is operated in two modes of operation. In one, both cylinders are pumped simultaneously so that streams issuing from the jets (28) collide and sand/soil particles entrained in the flow are scrubbed. In the second mode of operation the cylinders are pumped alternately. Flow from cylinder enters the other, cavitation occurring on exit of the flow from each jet and implosion occurring in the high pressure region of the other jet, such cavitation and implosion effecting scrubbing of the sand/soil particles. Alternatively, there is just one cylinder (18) whose jet is directed at a target (150). In one mode, water pumped out of the cylinder impacts the target, effecting a scrubbing action on the entrained sand/soil, while in a suction mode, bubbles formed adjacent the mouth (32) by the low pressure there cavitates in the diffuser (30), effecting a further scrubbing action.