AU2020200509B1 - Treatment of water, waste water, sewage, or sludge - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of treating a body of water, including water, wastewater, sewage or sludge to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen therein utilizes a device with a submersible transducer responsive to an alternating electrical signal. When a signal having a particular frequency and intensity is provided to the transducer a resulting alternating magnetic signal of that frequency having magnetic flux density provides an increase in the gas exchange rate by at least 5% at a distance of at least 5 meters from the submersible transducer. 40

Description

TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE FIELD

10001] This disclosure relates to treating water, waste water, sewage and sludge and more particularly to increasing the rate of oxygen transfer between the air and bodies of water.

BACKGROUND

10002] Pollution, or contamination, of water is a serious problem throughout the world, particularly in Canada and the United States, and aquatic life is dying off. Various sources of contamination are responsible for water pollution, including industrial and municipal entities. Industrial entities may discharge liquid or two-phase (liquid/solid) waste indirectly or directly into the environment, such as into rivers and lakes, contaminating the water supply and harming the environment, fish and wildlife. Air pollution is also a problem, particularly industrial air pollution, because airborne contaminants may be collected by rainfall and runoff into bodies of water. Industrial waste may include heavy metals, hydrocarbons, generally toxic materials, and many other known and unknown contaminants. In addition, wastewater and air pollution typically emit an undesirable odor from the contaminants, which may be a result of insufficient wastewater treatment or inefficient industrial systems (e.g., inefficient combustion, chemical reactions or processes, etc.) creating such contaminants.

10003] Today, the most common waste treatment method is aerobic biological degradation, which uses microorganisms to biodegrade waste. In a wastewater treatment process, aerobic biological degradation typically involves an aeration/activated sludge process in which oxygen is added to one or more tanks containing the wastewater to be treated. The oxygen supports the microorganisms while they degrade the compounds in the wastewater. To enable the microorganisms to grow and degrade the waste and, ultimately, to reduce the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), i.e., the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms during stabilization of decomposable organic matter under aerobic conditions, in the treatment system, sufficient oxygen must be available. In many systems, additional oxygen is required to also reduce the COD (chemical oxygen demand), including ammonia, nitrous oxide and reduced sulphur compounds, levels in the effluent.

10004] Typically, waste treatment plants use mechanical or diffuse aerators to support the growth of microorganisms. Mechanical aerators typically employ a blade or propeller placed just beneath the surface of a pond, tank, or other reservoir to induce air into the wastewater by mixing. Such mixers generally have relatively low initial capital costs, but often require substantial amounts of energy to operate. United States patent 7,008,535 in the name of Spears et al. discloses an apparatus for oxygenating wastewater.

10005] Alternatively, diffused aerators introduce air or oxygen into wastewater by blowing gas bubbles into the reservoir, typically near its bottom. Diffused aerators, depending upon design, may produce either coarse or fine bubbles. Coarse bubbles are produced through a diffuser with larger holes and typically range in size from 4 to 6 mm in diameter or larger. Fine bubbles, on the other hand, are produced through diffusers with smaller holes and typically range in size from 0.5 to 2 mm in diameter. Diffused aerators typically have lower initial costs, as well as lower operating and maintenance costs, than mechanical aerators.

10006] However, more efficient apparatus and methods for oxygenating wastewater still are needed. Municipal wastewater needs typically grow as the municipality grows in population. To meet increasing needs, municipalities either expand existing wastewater treatment facilities or build additional wastewater treatment facilities instead of making their treatment facilities more efficient. Either option requires additional land and new equipment. Thus, much expense may be saved by enhancing the operating efficiency of existing facilities in response to increased demand for wastewater treatment.

10007] A municipal wastewater treatment process, for example, typically involves a primary treatment process, which generally includes an initial screening and clarification, followed by a biological treatment process, sometimes referred to as a secondary treatment process. The wastewater entering the activated sludge process may have about sixty percent of suspended solids, thirty percent of BOD, and about fifty percent of pathogens removed in the primary treatment (although in some processes primary clarification may be omitted so that the solids otherwise removed are available for food for the microorganisms working in the secondary process).

100081 The activated sludge process typically consists of one or more aeration tanks or basins in which oxygen is added to fuel the microorganisms degrading the organic compounds. After leaving the aeration tank(s) the water enters a secondary clarifier in which the activated sludge/microorganisms settle out. After passing through this activated sludge process the water typically has about 90% of the suspended solids and 80-90% of the BOD removed. The water is ready for either more advanced secondary or tertiary treatments, or for return to a natural waterway. The choice typically depends upon the effluent levels and local regulations.

10009] The owners and operators of wastewater treatment plants often search for ways to lower the cost of remaining in compliance with local, state or provincial and/or federal laws regulating such plants. One way of lower operating costs has been to pursue energy conservation measures to achieve lower operating and maintenance costs. One particular target has been the substantial electricity and other energy costs associated with the operation of conventional systems for aerating wastewater. Aeration can account for more than half of municipal wastewater treatment energy consumption. However, despite past focus on improving oxygen delivery systems to deliver higher levels of oxygen into wastewater more efficiently, there remains a need for further improvement, i.e., an apparatus and method for delivering large quantities of oxygen in conjunction with wastewater treatment applications which uses very little power.

10010] Although some of these prior art methods of treating water bodies have had some effectiveness, the cost of dredging or aeration of wastewater ponds has been prohibitively high.

SUMMARY

10011] We have discovered a way in which bodies of water such as coastal water bodies, lakes, ponds, lagoons, sludge ponds and reservoirs can be restored and brought back to life, and where aquatic species can thrive in a very short time period by increasing the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed from the air, into these bodies of water. We also believe our device can be used successfully in the ocean over a limited area. Our method treats the water directly rather than pumping oxygen into the water, much of which would be lost as the air bubbles rise through the water into the air above. By affecting water molecules in the body of water we treat allows oxygen from the air to be absorbed at a much greater rate than would naturally occur; our device can affect the mass transfer rate. The energy required to do this for a body of water such as a sewage lagoon or fish pond is negligible, well under one watt of power. Oxygenating pumps, and aeration blades consuming considerable energy, requiring maintenance, and disturbing the aquatic life and the environment are not required. Our device cannot be heard by humans and produces a net benefit to aquatic life, assisting in restoring it where it was absent or limited. Our device may be used in a sludge pond, sewage lagoon, recreational lake, drip irrigation water storage facility, an aquaculture setting or other body of water requiring remediation. Surprisingly with less than one watt of power we have measured an increase in the dissolved oxygen flux rate of more than 200% from baseline after 24 hours of treatment, a great distance away from where our device is placed in the water. The "language of water" is complex however we have found that we can influence water at its molecular level affecting water molecules near a transducer that outputs less than 1 watt of power and we have recorded this measurable uptake rate in oxygen in the body of water we are treating over 150 meters from the location where we generate this very low power signal using very low frequencies. Our understanding of the phenomenon is that water molecules in close proximity to our transducer are affected by the low energy alternating magnetic flux we provide, and they in turn affect other nearby water molecules and this chain reaction or domino effect can extend hundreds of meters. We have measured more than a two- times dissolved oxygen flux rate into water, from baseline, over 150 meters from the location where we place our device. The combination of a suitable frequency and magnetic flux density must be provided to achieve this increase in mass transfer or oxygen uptake rate by the body of water.

10012] In accordance with an aspect of this disclosure there is provided, a method of treating a body of water, wastewater, sewage or sludge having a surface area of at least 100 square feet to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen therein, comprising: at a first location within the body of water, waste water, sewage, or sludge, providing a portable, buoyant device having a signal generator housed therein; and having a submersible transducer electrically coupled to the signal generator; and, operating the signal generator to provide a low power alternating electrical signal of less than five hundred watts and preferably less than one watt the submersible transducer, wherein the submersible transducer in response to the low power alternating electrical signal produces an alternating magnetic field, wherein the alternating electrical signal is of a frequency and intensity to affect the transducer to produce a resulting alternating magnetic flux density so as to cause neighbouring or nearby water molecules influenced by the alternating magnetic flux to influence other more distant water molecules causing a chain reaction throughout a 100 square foot region wherein the effect of applying the alternating magnetic flux density to nearby water molecules increases a gas exchange rate and dissolved oxygen flux rate throughout the 100 square foot region by at least 5% within 24 hours of applying the signal.

100131 In another aspect there is provided, a method of treating a body of water, wastewater, sewage or sludge having a surface area and being at least 15 feet in length, to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen therein, comprising: at a first location within the body of water, wastewater, sewage or sludge, providing a portable, buoyant unit having a source of power coupled to a signal generator housed therein and having a submersible transducer coupled to the signal generator; actuating the signal generator to provide a low power alternating electrical signal having a first frequency and a power of less than 5 watts and preferably orders of magnitude less to the transducer, wherein the transducer is designed to produce an alternating magnetic field which emanates into the water, wastewater, sewage or sludge when placed therein in response to the low power alternating electrical signal, wherein the first frequency and power of the alternating electrical signal produces a resulting magnetic flux in the water, wastewater, sewage or sludge which causes water molecules adjacent to the transducer influenced by the alternating magnetic flux to influence other more distant water molecules causing a chain reaction at least 15 feet from the transducer, wherein alternating frequency and magnetic flux density is such as to cause a gas exchange rate increase and dissolved oxygen flux rate by at least 2 times from baseline at least 15 feet from the first location within 24 hours of applying the signal.

10014] In a broad aspect a method of treating a body of water, wastewater, sewage or sludge to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen therein, is provided which comprises: providing at a first location within the body of water, waste water, sewage, or sludge, a device having a signal generator housed therein; and having a submersible transducer electrically coupled to the signal generator; and, operating the signal generator to provide an alternating electrical signal to the submersible transducer, wherein the alternating electrical signal is of a frequency and intensity to affect the transducer to produce a resulting alternating magnetic field having a magnetic flux density so as to provide an increase in the gas exchange rate by at least % at a distance of at least 5 meters from the submersible transducer within 24 hours.

10015] Although a transducer in our preferred embodiment is a solenoid energized by a suitable signal generator, other forms of transducer may be used, such as a toroid or other suitable transducers capable of providing a particularly flux density and frequency combination that will increase the mass transfer rate within a body of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

100161 The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description of embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the disclosure:

10017] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art transducer.

100181 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a transducer.

10019] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the transducer illustrating lines of magnetic flux exterior to the coil when the transducer is powered.

10020] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the transducer.

10021] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a system for changing a property a water liquid with a magnetic field.

10022] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a multi-transducer system.

10023] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a toroid transducer.

10024] FIG. 7A is an illustration of three embodiments of transducers.

10025] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the method.

10026] FIG. 9 is a side view of the at least partially immersible (ALIPM) device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

10027] We have discovered that by energizing a transducer, in the form of an electrically insulated conductive coil formed of loops of wire with a very small amount of alternating current of under one ampere, and preferably hundreds of microamps or less, and by placing the energized coil into a liquid such as water, we can generate an alternating magnetic field emanating from the coil through the insulation that will affect the water exposed to the magnetic field by increasing the gas exchange rate and that the affected water will in turn have an effect on water liquid a great distance away, of at least 10s of meters. We believe this occurs through a contagion or domino effect, changing one or more properties of the water or liquid this large distance from the coil. We believe that since the intensity of the magnetic field and magnetic flux density is so small, that affected water molecules affect other nearby water molecules. The benefits of adjusting the gas transfer rate or other properties are numerous and have applicability to many industrial applications and more particularly to the treatment of water, waste water sewage or sludge when oxygen uptake in these water bodies is increased. Advantageously, the loop or coil transducer is insensitive to the conductivity of the water, and therefore insensitive to the pH of the liquid, thus allowing it to be used in many different liquids irrespective of conductivity or the electrical grounding environment in the vicinity of the treatment vessel.

10028] Attempts have been made to provide submerged devices which emit an electric current, or electric field into water. However, we believe that the presence of an electrical current or electric field may have a deleterious effect. Due to the presence of impurities and admixes, the electric field results in an electrical current which may be hazardous or at least unpleasant for people and other creatures, and may cause corrosion and mineral buildup of structures proximate to the device. The method disclosed herein uses a magnetic field so as to affect the liquid. The electrical current in water, if induced by an immersed device, would produce a secondary magnetic field, different from the magnetic field produced by the current within the device. Our goal is to use a magnetic field without an electric field. Any electric field that might be produced by our coil transducer is unwanted and is less than 1 V/m or significantly less and negligible. The magnetic field may be created by a coil within a transducer, while the electric field produced by the transducer is ideally zero.

10029] We have discovered that using only an alternating magnetic field, and enhancing its effect by shaping the magnetic field, we are able to change the rate of oxygen absorption of a polar liquid such as water at a distance of 40 meters and more from where we place the coil, with a very low power signal producing a low intensity alternating magnetic field, producing a desired alternating magnetic flux. We believe that, when a properly energized transducer, with a suitable electrical signal having a suitable frequency and amplitude, is placed in a water, the resulting alternating magnetic field and magnetic flux emanating from the coil affects the liquid in close proximity to the coil, changing the liquid's property near the coil. Surprisingly, the effect then expands through the liquid, often in a matter of minutes. The difference should be noted between the speed of the field propagation, i.e. the speed of light in the particular medium, and the speed of the liquid-changing effect which is significantly less than the speed of light. The discovered effect may be envisioned as a domino effect in molecules of the liquid: the magnetic field generated by the transducer affects molecules and/or intermolecular structures in the liquid proximate to the transducer. What we have discovered is that when we use a signal of suitable frequency and amplitude, the affected portion of the liquid affected by the alternating magnetic field affects another portion of molecules at some distance from the transducer, and so on. The term "domino effect" refers to a linked sequence of events, while the events are not necessarily mechanical as in case of domino tiles. The effect may be referred to as a chain reaction or a contagion effect.

100301 We have found that, when a coil is immersed in a polar liquid and energized with an alternating electrical current, the frequency of the current and thus the rate of change for the magnetic field affect the distance where a particular property of the liquid noticeably changes. In other words, some frequencies are better than others to produce a required amount of magnetic flux at a frequency that will have a desired effect increasing the rate of oxygen absorption from the air. The same has been observed for the amplitudes of the current supplied to the coil. It is important that the optimal (preferred) parameters of the current in the coil depend on the application wherein the coil is used. In particular, the optimal parameters may depend on the particular liquid and the monitored property. Nevertheless, it is crucial that the transducer including the coil affects the liquid with only magnetic field with a practically absent electric field in the water being treated ; thus the parameters of the current are tuned so as to increase the effects caused by the magnetic field. Differently, the prior art tunes parameters of transducers so as to better employ the electric field emitted from a transducer, whereas the inventors of the method disclosed herein suggest tuning parameters so as to better employ the magnetic field provided by a transducer.

100311 FIG. 1 illustrates a magnetic field provided by a (cylindrical) coil wound around a straight support 12b. Field lines 34 proximate to the coil are substantially parallel to each other and have same polarity. This portion 35 of substantially unidirectional (at a particular moment) magnetic field may provide a cumulative effect which changes a particular property of the polar liquid about where the coil is immersed. It is preferred that coil is a solenoidal coil, since the cylindrical elongate shape of the solenoid provides the magnetic field around the solenoid, the field almost parallel to the longitudinal axis of the solenoid in close proximity to the coil. The ends of the solenoid potentially have a deleterious effect since the polarities of the converging lines of magnetic flux oppose each other, so it is desirable to reduce or possibly exclude that effect. It is desirable to expand the space around the coil where the magnetic lines are close to being parallel to each other, so that more liquid may experience the cumulative effect of the magnetic field. This can be done by using a very long solenoidal coil, or by shaping the magnetic field with the help of preferably planar end pieces at the ends of the coil.

10032] Additionally, field lines within the support 12b have a different polarity. Thus, if the liquid has access to the interior of the coil, the cumulative effect will be negated. Accordingly, it is desirable to prevent the liquid from being affected by the opposite direction of the magnetic field. This may be achieved by preventing the liquid from entering the interior of the coil, e.g. placing a ferromagnetic core or any kind of support or fill within the interior of the coil, or by placing the coil within a container that prevents liquid from entering the interior region of the coil or the polar regions; however the magnetic field must be able to pass through the container. A ferromagnetic core has the effect of increasing the magnetic flux density as well as preventing the fluid from entering the interior of the coil. Any non-ferromagnetic body placed in the interior of the coil preferably extends beyond the ends of the coil so as to prevent access of the liquid to the most concentrated opposing polarities at the magnetic poles.

100331 Experiments have been conducted where a transducer was designed so as to increase the effect of a unidirectional portion of the magnetic field, while preventing another portion of the field, of the opposite polarity, from penetrating the liquid, at each particular moment. The unidirectional portion 35 of the magnetic field is understood as a spatial volume containing a portion of the magnetic field produced by the coil, wherein field lines within the volume are substantially parallel to each other at a particular moment, while may have the opposite direction at another moment.

100341 To summarize, a method of changing a property of a polar liquid includes the following steps: (A) disposing a first transducer immediately adjacent to or at least partially within the polar liquid, wherein the transducer includes a first electrically conductive solenoidal coil formed of a plurality of loops each having an interior, the loop interiors forming an interior of the coil, wherein the interior of the coil is filled, sealed, or opens out of the liquid so as to prevent the polar liquid from outside the coil from penetrating the interior of the coil, and (B) applying a first alternating electrical current to the coil so as to produce a first magnetic field about the coil, the field having a portion internal to the coil and a portion external to the coil, the external portion penetrating the polar liquid. The first alternating electrical current has a first frequency and a first amplitude such that the external portion of the first magnetic field has an effect on the polar liquid thereby changing the property of the polar liquid at a distance of at least meters from the first transducer, preferably 10 meters from the first transducer, and more preferably, the distance is at least 40 meters, and even more preferably the distance is at least 150 meters. We believe that the effect produced by the magnetic field is the domino effect discussed above. Preferably, the transducer produces no electric field outside thereof greater than 1 V/m. Even a very small electric field that may be produced by the coil is unwanted. FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of the method, wherein the method steps 810 and 820 may be performed in any order, including concurrent execution.

100351 The property of the polar liquid is an intrinsic property, such as viscosity, surface tension, equilibrium partial pressure in the gas phase of the polar liquid, maximum dissolved gas saturation concentration for a particular gas, heat of vaporization, a freezing point, or a boiling point of the polar liquid. The advantages of the method have been demonstrated for such properties as gas exchange rate through the interfacial film at the surface of the liquid and that of gas bubbles in the liquid. The inventors have grounds to believe that other properties of a polar liquid may be controlled using magnetic field as described herein. The value of the change in a particular property of the liquid depends on the nature of the property and physical mechanisms involved. In particular, at the distance of 5 meters from the transducer, the gas exchange rate of the polar liquid increases by at least 5 %.

100361 The time necessary for the change to become detectable depends on the distance from the transducer. In our experiments, changes in an interfacial mass transfer rate were noticeable after 2 min at 10 meters, were unmistakable after 6 min, and continued to grow after

96 hrs. The impact was also measurable at 150 m within 24 hrs. In general, a property of the polar liquid changes at the distance of 5 meters within 10 minutes.

10037] The alternating electrical current may have a sine profile. The frequency and amplitude of the electrical current used in the transducer depend on the particular liquid and, possibly, on the property desired to be changed. Our experiments show that some frequencies produce the change greater and/or faster than other frequencies. The found parameters are provided herein. When such parameters are not known, the system may be configured to perform a sweep through a range of frequencies, staying at a particular frequency for a predetermined interval of time, while the property of the liquid is monitored. In general, the frequency of the electrical current used to energize the transducer is greater than 100 Hz and less than 5000 Hz, and a root mean square of the amplitude is less than 3 amperes, preferably less than 500 mA, and more preferably less than 50 mA. Notwithstanding, lower and higher frequencies may be practicable.

100381 It should be understood that the method disclosed herein is practicable by simply using a coil having a plurality of turns without having a core 12a, when the interior of the coil is empty but inaccessible to the liquid, e.g. sealed. In another embodiment, a magnetically permeable core is provided. Alternatively, the core can be a plastic spool for example used to form the many turns of wire resulting in the coil. The spool may be another material, which does not deleteriously affect the transducer's performance, or there may be no spool or core present and the liquid may be prevented from entering the interior of the coil by other means.

100391 FIGs. 2 through 4 illustrate transducers whereby a property such as an interfacial mass transfer rate or other properties of a polar liquid can be changed if the transducer is provided with an alternating signal e.g. of about 2.5 kHz and having a current of about 133 microamperes. Of course, the method is not limited to this frequency or current, as these are just exemplary embodiments that provided surprisingly favourable results. We believe that frequencies between 100 Hz and 20 kHz will produce a change in a property of a polar liquid, with a preferable interval of frequencies between 1 kHz and 5 kHz.

10040] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment. A transducer 10 has a solenoidal coil 11 of electrically insulated wire wrapped around the core 12a. Here and elsewhere in the drawings, a circle with a cross indicates a cross section of a coil loop wherein a current flows into the plane of the drawing, while a double circle indicates a cross section of a coil loop wherein the current flows out of the plane of the drawing. The insulation of the wire allows a magnetic field to pass therethrough. The two ends of the coil are electrically coupled to two terminals of a signal generator (not shown), so that the alternating current can flow through the coil 11 from the signal generator and back to the signal generator. In operation an alternating electrical current in the form of a 2.5 kHz sine wave is provided to the coil 11. The root mean square (rms) of the alternating current amplitude is 133 micro amps. As is well understood, a magnetic field is generated emanating from and external to the coil 11. The transducer 10 has a core 12a made of a ferromagnetic material, for example, mild steel or stainless steel. Integral with the core are planar end pieces 14 and 16, also made of mild steel or stainless steel or other alloys, with the relative magnetic permeability of from 100 to 5000 and possibly more. The height of the coil 11 and the core 12a is h = 3.5 cm, and the diameter (max dimension) of the end pieces is W = 5 cm.

10041] FIG. 3 illustrates the magnetic lines of flux 32, which are substantially parallel due to the elongate, substantially straight shape of the core and due to the field-shaping effect of the end pieces 14 and 16 extending normally to the core. Unconstrained, the core 12b absent the polar end pieces, the magnetic lines of flux 34 are not parallel as is shown in FIG. 1. To achieve a greater effect on the liquid that the transducer is placed in, it is preferred to have substantially parallel lines of flux. The end caps 14 and 16, on the poles of the core 12a of the transducer 10 (FIGs. 2 and 3) concentrate the magnetic lines of flux 32 so that the lines of flux external to the coil 11 and core 12a are almost parallel.

10042] Turning now to FIG. 4, the transducer 10 is shown to have a height h and radius R1. Radius R2 defines the radius from the center of the metal core 12a to the outside of the coil 11 having N turns. By way of example, the height of the coil L = 3 cm, h = 3.5 cm, RI = 2.5 cm, R2 = 0.8 cm, N = 44 turns of 22 gauge single strand insulated wire. The core was made of mild steel.

10043] Experiments have been made so as to observe the impact of exposure of water to magnetic fields as described herein, on mass transfer rate across the air water interface of bubbles. Several frequency and current pairs, each producing an alternating flux density associated therewith using the coil described heretofore, have been found to provide better results than others: 2500 Hz at the current of 0.100 mA, 2700 Hz at the current of 0.099 mA, and 4000 Hz at the current of 0.140 mA. The search for preferable parameters was based on theoretical hypotheses of how the technology worked, and included adjusting parameters while the effect has been measured. More such parameters may be found by experimentation that will produce an alternating magnetic flux density to increase oxygen uptake rate from the air. It is expected that the advantageous effect may be achieved for frequency and current deviating from the particular preferable parameters by 10 Hz and 15 micro Amperes, respectively. The inventors believe that other frequency and current pairs which result in changing a property of a polar liquid at a distance of at least 10 meters may be found. It should be appreciated that the parameters of the magnetic field and the required electrical signal may vary depending on the liquid, e.g. the level and nature of contamination in water. The geometry of the vessel or water body may also affect the parameters needed to achieve the desired effect. For the embodiment shown in FIGs. 2 through 4, we have demonstrated that preventing a portion of the magnetic field interior to the coil 11 from contacting the fluid, the other portion of the magnetic field, the portion exterior to the coil 11, is able to noticeably and effectively change a property of the liquid it is submerged in. Thus either blocking the inside magnetic field or preventing the liquid from accessing the magnetic field within the interior of the coil allows the field exterior to the coil 11 to significantly change a property of the liquid. The suggested transducer design ensures that magnetic fields in these different regions do not simultaneously pass through the polar liquid or they would have a deleterious effect on each other not producing a desired change in a property of the polar liquid. Preferably the magnetic field interior to the coil of FIG. 2 is totally or substantially prevented from propagating through the liquid, in a less preferred embodiment at least 75% of the magnetic field interior to the coil 11 is prevented from penetrating the polar liquid. Relative to the portion of the magnetic field exterior to the coil, it is desirable that at least % of the magnetic field exterior to the coil and emanating from the coil, penetrate the liquid.

10044] FIGs. 2 through 4 show embodiments where a property such as interfacial mass transfer rate or other properties of the polar liquid can be changed if the transducer described is provided with an alternating signal of about 2.5 kHz and having a current of about 133 microamperes. Of course, the embodiments are not limited to this frequency or current, as these are just exemplary values that provided surprisingly favorable results. We believe that frequencies between less than 1kHz and 20 kHz will produce a change in a property of a polar liquid, with a preferable interval of frequencies between 1 kHz and 5 kHz.

10045] The aforedescribed transducers may be used in a system for changing a property of a polar liquid with a magnetic field. With reference to FIG. 5, the system includes a signal generator 910 for generating an alternating electrical signal, and at least one transducer 920, which has an electrically conductive coil 930 with an insulation which electrically insulates one loop of the coil from one another, though allows a magnetic field to pass through. No electrical current is imparted from the device to the polar fluid.

10046] The coil 930 is coupled to the signal generator 910, so that the generator 910 can provide an alternating electrical current to the coil 930, and so providing magnetic field about the coil 930.

10047] Preferably, the coil 930 is a solenoidal coil, i.e. a cylinder in the sense that it has a straight central axis and all cross sections normal to the axis have a same shape, though not necessarily a circle. By way of example, the core 12a (FIG. 3) may be a steel bar with a square cross-section. The wire wound around such a core forms a cylinder wherein a cross section resembles a square with rounded corners. The height of the cylinder may be in the range of from 3 cm to 50 cm but is not limited to this range.

10048] The coil is formed of loops of a conductive metal, such as copper, etc. The number of loops may be in the range of from about 20 to 2000 or more. The loops are electrically isolated. Each loop has an empty interior which may be filled e.g. with a support or core around which the loops are coiled. The stack of loop interiors forms an interior 960 of the coil 930. The coil interior 960 is protected from the liquid when the transducer is immersed therein so that a portion of the magnetic field internal to the coil 930 is substantially prevented from penetrating the liquid. The interior 960 of the coil 930 may befilled with some material as discussed elsewhere herein, or sealed. While FIG. 5 shows the coil 930 as having a single layer of wire, the coil 930 may be formed of one, two, or more layers of wire, a next layer looped around a previous layer. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the transducer described with reference to FIG. 5, wherein the coil 11 has two layers of wire.

10049] The transducer 920 has two end pieces 940 and 950 for shaping a portion of the magnetic field external to the coil 930 thereby causing it to penetrate the liquid. The end pieces

940 and 950 are disposed at the ends of the coil 930 transverse thereto, preferably normally, so that the force lines of the magnetic field between the end pieces are substantially parallel to the central axis of the coil 930. The end pieces 940 and 950 are electrically isolated from the coil. Each of the end pieces 940 and 950 is made of a magnetically permeable material with relative permeability of at least 100 times higher than relative permeability of the polar liquid under the treatment, preferably of a ferromagnetic material such as mild steel or stainless steel or other alloys, with the relative permeability of from 100 to 5000 and possibly more. The end pieces 940 and 950 may be planar and normal to the coil. They may be round and centered at the coil. The diameters (max measurement) of the end pieces are preferably at least half of the height of the coil which, in turn, may be 3 cm < L < 50 cm. In one embodiment the end pieces are two cones with their apexes directed at each other and their axis of symmetry coinciding with the central axis of the solenoid

10050] The interior 960 of the coil 930 may be filled with any material so as to ensure that the liquid is substantially prevented from entering the interior of the coil and, thus, is not affected by a portion of the magnetic field within the interior of the coil. Ideally 100% of liquid is prevented from entering the interior of the coil. Less preferably, 80% and less preferably 50% is prevented. Water entering the coil has a deleterious effect. In one embodiment, the interior 960 of the coil is filled with one or more non-ferromagnetic materials, i.e. materials with relative magnetic permeability less than or equal to 1 H/m.

10051] In one embodiment, the interior 960 of the coil 930 is sealed e.g. by placing the coil into a container which allows the magnetic field to pass therethrough, so that the interior 960 is not accessible by the liquid when the transducer 920 is immediately adjacent to or at least partially immersed thereto. The end pieces 940 and 950 may be outside of the container so that the liquid can be affected by a portion of the magnetic field between the end pieces. In one embodiment, the coil interior is only partially sealed, while the opening is not in contact with the liquid, e.g. the transducer 920 is disposed at the surface of the liquid.

10052] In one embodiment, the interior of the coil is filled with air or another gas, or a mixture of gases, which may support the device at the surface of the liquid. In another embodiment, there is vacuum inside the interior of the coil, which should be properly sealed.

100531 In one embodiment, the interior 960 of the coil 930 may contain a straight core formed of a material suitable for the end pieces 940 and 950, preferably a ferromagnetic material for increasing the magnetic flux density produced by the coil. The end pieces 940 and 950 may be electrically connected to the core, or integral therewith as illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the transducer 10 is an embodiment of the transducer 920. However, it is not necessary for the end pieces 940 and 950 to contact the core, though they should be disposed at the ends of the coil, in close proximity thereto and, preferably, in contact with the core. In one embodiment, the core and the end pieces are electrically isolated from the liquid.

10054] The signal generator 910 may be configured for providing a periodic electrical current with a predetermined amplitude and frequency. The current is preferably less than 3 amperes, more preferably less than 500 mA, and more preferably less than 50 mA. A feedback loop may be used to control the electrical signal in dependence upon a measured parameter. The signal generator 910 may be capable of providing a plurality of predetermined frequencies or a predefined range of frequencies, and the system may utilize a frequency determined to be optimum from the plurality of frequencies. A measuring instrument capable of measuring a parameter, such as a value of gas exchange rate, surface tension, viscosity, freezing point temperature, or partial vapor pressure, can be connected to a feedback circuit that can be used to adjust the frequency and amplitude of the signal provided to the transducer to optimize or enhance a process that requires a change in property of the polar liquid.

10055] In particular, the signal generator 910 may be configured to work in at least one of the following modes experimentally found to provide advantageous results: 2500 Hz at the current of 0.100 mA, 2700 Hz at the current of 0.099 mA, and 4000 Hz at the current of 0.140 mA. It is expected that almost the advantageous effect may be achieved for frequency and current deviating from the particular optimal parameters by +/- 10 Hz and +/- 15 uA, respectively, while the effect may be reduced to about 63% of the peak effectiveness.

100561 The transducer 920 and the signal generator 910 may be part of an (at least partially immersible) ALPIM device 970 intended to be at least partially immersed in water, waste water, sewage or sludge, pond, river, ocean, etc. Preferably, the signal generator and the transducer are housed separately and connected by a pair of wires or a coaxial cable. The separate housings may be physically coupled to form a single portable unit. In one embodiment, the coil is at least partially immersed in the liquid, while the signal generator is not immersed - it may reside on a raft whereto the coil is attached. In another embodiment, the signal generator is at least partially immersed in the liquid. Then the interior of the device 920 provides an electrically isolated space in which to house the electronics required to operate the device. In one embodiment, the ALPIM device includes floating means, such as foam flotation ballast. In one embodiment flotation is provided by trapping air or foam in the sealed container wherein the electronics are kept. Foam helps to avoid the diurnal expansion and contraction of the air with the accompanying condensation of moisture inside the electronic housing. A metallic strip through the foam may be used to permit the transmission of heat generated by the electronic circuit. The ALPIM device 970 may have an antenna for wireless communication with a control center or other transducers, and/or a GPS receiver.

10057] In one embodiment, a transducer in the form of a toroid coil 90 as is shown in FIG. 7 arranged in a full circle with its two ends electrically coupled to the signal generator so that a small alternating current can pass through the toroid 90 which in turn generates a magnetic field about the inside of the toroid. Of course the toroid should be constructed so as to allow the polar liquid to flow through the coils of the toroid itself. This can be done by providing a rigid plastic sleeve 92 which allows a magnetic field to pass therethrough formed in the shape of a toroid and feeding a length of electrically conductive wire 94 into the sleeve. The ends of the wire 94 are electrically coupled to a signal generator, not shown. The wire 94 is itself electrically insulated and allows a magnetic field generated to pass through it. The sleeve is perforated to allow affected water molecules to pass from the interior to the exterior of the toroidal coil.

10058] Since there is only a very weak external magnetic field, external to the toroid 90 itself, and predominantly all of the magnetic field is internal to region of the toroid 90 itself, the problem associated with having two opposing magnetic fields in different regions is substantially obviated. Thus another embodiment of transducer we have developed is a toroid shaped transducer, where the liquid exposed to the internal field affects liquid a distance therefrom and we can therefore change a property of that liquid by applying an alternating current at a predetermined frequency. In operation, the toroid transducer is submerged in a polar liquid and an alternating current signal in the form of a sine wave having a suitable frequency is provided to the transducer.

10059] In one embodiment illustrated in FIG 7A, a relatively long solenoidal coil 310 is partially immersed in a liquid transverse thereto, so that the top end of the coil and associated curvature of the magnetic field are above the surface 315 and practically do not affect the liquid, while the lower end of the coil and associated curvature of the magnetic field are relatively far below from the surface, thus having little effect on the near-surface layer of the liquid. Then, at each particular moment, the near-surface layer of the liquid is affected by substantially parallel field which changes the liquid's property. The coil may have a core, and may have the interior of the coil sealed at both ends or only at the bottom end leaving the upper end 320 open to the air. The transducer may be supported by a floating means, e.g. a buoy, or be attached to a wall of the vessel or body of water, etc. As in other embodiments, the liquid is prevented from entering the interior of the coil.

100601 In one embodiment, the solenoidal coil is sealed within a water-tight container 340 (FIG. 7A) fitting close along the coil and extending significantly beyond the ends of the coil, by at least 5 % and, preferably, at least 20% of a height of the coil, so as to prevent the liquid from entering the interior of the coil and the polar portions of the magnetic field. In yet another embodiment, the coil has a non-magnetic core 350 extending significantly beyond the ends of the coil, by at least 5 % and, preferably, at least 20 % of a height of the coil, for the same purpose. Of course, the transducer may be immediately adjacent to or only partially immersed in the polar liquid.

100611 In one embodiment, the ALPIM device may be moved across a body of water or other liquid, with the help of a boat, vessel or craft, preferably in a controlled manner, or supported by a buoy or raft.

10062] Referring now to FIG. 9 the ALPIM device is shown. A waterproof buoyant container 902 houses the battery, and signal generator which is coupled to the transducer 906. Solar panel 904 housed on top of container 902 is electrically coupled to the battery (not shown). The ALIPM is relatively lightweight and can easily be carried by a person and placed into the water. Housed with the container 902 is a transceiver and control circuitry so that it can be powered and switched off remotely.

100631 With reference to Fig. 6, the aforedescribed transducers may be used in a multi transducer system 200. The system includes at least two transducers 210 and 230 and a control center 250. Each of the transducers includes a coil for generating magnetic field when provided with an alternating electrical current. Preferably, the transducers are cylindrical coils and include end pieces as described above. However, other transducers may be used under control of the control center 250. Preferably, each of the transducers is electrically connected to its own signal generator. As shown in FIG. 6, a first signal generator 220 provides an alternating electrical current to the first transducer 210, and a second signal generator 240 - to the second transducer 230. In another embodiment, one signal generator provides an electrical current to two or more transducers.

10064] Turning back to FIG. 6, the transducers may be placed in a vessel or an open body of water or sludge, etc., 260. By way of example, immersive devices 201 and 202, each incorporating a transducer and preferably a signal generator, may be paced at a distance D (10 cm < D < 500m) from one another at least partially immersed in an industrial pond, river, lake or ocean. The control center 250 may be located ashore or elsewhere and communicate with the devices 201 and 202 over any communication protocol, preferably wirelessly. In one embodiment, multiple transducers may be deployed without a controller.

100651 We have discovered that by placing two same transducers, for example, two coil transducers, within a polar liquid or body of water, different effects can be obtained depending upon how the two transducers are operated. This provides a convenient way, in which a +desired property of the polar liquid may be controlled, such as viscosity, surface tension, equilibrium partial pressure in the gas phase, maximum dissolved gas saturation concentrations, heat of vaporization, and freezing or boiling point of the polar liquid.

100661 Two or more transducers may be used together and controlled from a same control center, wherein frequencies of the electrical current in the transducers are same and the first and second alternating electrical currents are in phase, having a zero degree phase relationship for increasing the change in the polar liquid. We have discovered that by using two transducers 10 provided with a same frequency alternating signal and wherein the signals are in phase, interfacial mass transfer rate was increased further than the increase provided by a single transducer. By way of example, a 16% increase in interfacial mass transfer rate provided by a single transducer was further increased to 20% when a second transducer having the same frequency and in phase was introduced; the transducers should be spaced apart a suitable distance to maximize a desired effect. For example, a plurality of transducers can be spaced along a water body such as a channel in order to change the freezing temperature of the water in the regions of the channel about which the transducers are placed. Adjusting the phase between the two signals provided to two transducers so that the two signals were out of phase, that is, offset or skewed in phase by varying amounts attenuated the desired effect. The property change lessened down to close to or about zero, in this instance the transducers having little or no effect. Notwithstanding, since skewing the phase attenuated the desired effect, tuning in manner by adjusting the phase by small offsets (gradually) is a way in which control of the desired effect can be achieved. For example a 20% increase in interfacial mass transfer rate achieved with two transducers having signals in phase, could be lessened for example to 10% by skewing the phase accordingly.

10067] Furthermore, two or more transducers may be used together and controlled from a same control center, wherein frequencies of the electrical current in the transducers differ from one another, for changing the property of the polar liquid oppositely to the change caused by one transducer alone. The opposite changes are understood as opposite with respect to a baseline of the property when the liquid has not been treated by a magnetic field. The baseline is the natural state of the liquid before the transducer(s) are turned on and affect the liquid in any manner. By way of example, one transducer may increase a particular parameter measuring a property of the liquid above the baseline characterizing the untreated liquid, while two transducers with offset frequencies will decrease the same parameter below the baseline.

100681 We have discovered that a difference in frequency between two transducers by even 1 Hz changed the effect on the polar liquid, decreasing interfacial mass transfer rate below that of untreated polar liquid rather than increasing interfacial mass transfer rate. Interfacial mass transfer rate is one of many properties that can be changed. The same effect was found with a 5 Hz offset in frequency. If we offset the phase gradually, the effect is attenuated more and more all the way down to zero. This is important as it allows us to control the intensity of the effect.

100691 Advantageously, the system disclosed herein can be placed within any liquid that will accommodate it. It can be scaled up, or down in size as required. Different industrial applications may dictate different depth of placement of our device. In most open water bodies the remediation effort is driven by the oxygen transfer on the surface of the water body. Placing one or more transducers near the water surface with a floating device to accommodate a fluctuating water level is the preferred embodiment. In contrast prior art systems which require being external to a pipe or conduit in which water flows, requires a pipe that will allow a magnetic field to penetrate and flow through without significantly affecting the field. Furthermore, such systems cannot easily be moved from one location to another. Once fixed to a pipe it typically remains in place.

10070] The transducer described heretofore or a plurality of such transducers, spaced apart and in various modes of operation, may be used for altering water conditions in a water body by increasing levels of dissolved oxygen and increasing oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in the presence of a low intensity magnetic field to favour the growth of aerobic bacteria and, if deemed desirable, added diatoms as a means of suppressing residual ammonia concentration and the growth of cyanobacteria and the like.

10071] The overabundance of cyanobacteria in stagnant waters, as a result of the eutrophication of water, is a worldwide problem, especially because of the fact that vegetative secretions of cyanobacteria can be toxic.

10072] Currently, cyanobacteria in stagnant waters of lakes and dams are disposed of by means of biomechanical equipment using float structures, built on the principles of biological reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen in water by cultivating special aquatic plants. The disadvantages of these devices are low efficiency, requirement of taking care of plant growth and limitations due to the vegetation period of plants.

10073] Accordingly, the disclosure provides a viable, cost effective system and method for significantly reducing the presence of residual ammonia, and cyanobacteria commonly known as blue-green algae, from large bodies of water where it is present. Seeding bodies of water with diatoms had been found to lessen the presence of blue-green algal blooms or red-tide algal blooms. However this treatment alone has not been found to be always reliable and effective enough.

10074] A method in accordance with this disclosure is provided for lessening the presence of residual ammonia and/or blue-green algae comprising: seeding a body of water with a population of diatoms; adding small amounts of nitrates and micronutrients if warranted by the chemical make-up of the water body, and, changing an aspect of the body of water by submerging a transducer into the water and providing a magnetic field within the body of water so that the diatoms and the nitrification bacteria in the water are "activated" in the presence of a high ORP and more dissolved oxygen than would otherwise be present in the absence of the provided magnetic field.

10075] A surprising unexpected aspect of the method disclosed herein is that a very low intensity alternating electrical signal can affect the amount of dissolved oxygen, ORP (oxidation reduction potential) and other physicochemical properties of the water and as a result the growth of aerobic bacteria, diatoms and nitrification bacteria at least 50 meters from the source of the signal. We believe this effect is a function of the domino phenomenon described heretofore, whereby certain properties of water molecules subjected to a magnetic field are changed, affecting other nearby molecules and this repeated for considerable distance.

10076] A diatom is a single-celled alga that has a cell wall of silica. Diatoms can assimilate both ammonia and nitrates in their growth. Unlike cyanobacteria, which do not have an internal membrane, nitrates can migrate through the cell membrane of diatoms and be reduced to ammonia inside the diatoms before being converted into amino acids for the growth of the diatoms and their reproduction through cell splitting. On the other hand, the presence of ammonium ions in the water is necessary for the germination of spores and heterocysts of cyanobacteria. The competition for the ammonia in the water by blue-green algae and diatoms may also be influenced by the nitrogen-phosphorous (N:P) ratio in the water.

10077] Published studies have shown the competitive uptake of ammonia and nitrates by diatoms, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and chlorophylls (green algae). Diatoms, especially the species consisting of combinations of Cyclotella meneghiniana, Synedra ulna and various species of Nitzschia have high rates of uptake of nitrates when biological oxygen demand (BOD) exceeds 5 ppm.

10078] Under the high dissolved oxygen and ORP (+50 to +350 mV) environment generated by the transducer(s), most ammonium ions are oxidized to nitrates by the aerobic nitrification bacteria present in the water body. However, when there is a heavy presence of organic sludge, it competes for the dissolved oxygen in the water as demonstrated by the repeated decline of dissolved oxygen to near zero in water bodies during the night. The presence of ammonium ions in the water bodies will likely persist until the sludge-induced competitive demand for dissolved oxygen begins to decline. Consequently, the continuing presence of blue green algae will also persist until there is sufficient dissolved oxygen and/or diatoms in the water to eliminate any significant presence of ammonia and/or phosphates in the water. Seeding the water body with diatoms alone will not be effective in consistently suppressing the growth of blue-green algae.

10079] However seeding the water body with diatoms and subjecting the water body to a magnetic field by submersing a transducer within or floating a transducer on top of the water body can lessen the amount of blue-green algae in that body of water, over time.

10080] In order to affect a water body that is to be treated, the magnetic field must be able to penetrate the water under treatment at some point, from which point the domino effect travels through the water body beyond the immediate vicinity of the transducer that introduced the magnetic field to the water. This can be achieved by generating a current dependent upon a signal produced by a signal generator. A sine wave having a predetermined frequency and amplitude is used to generate a desired signal for providing a desired current to an effector or transducer which results in a magnetic field being generated about and external to the transducer emanating from the transducer. Providing a transducer that is submerged in the liquid to be affected has numerous advantages. For example, a properly sized transducer of this type energized by an alternating signal can be used to alter a property of water in a lake, a pond, sewage lagoon, water reservoir, storm water pond and similar water bodies, a container or a pipe by being introduced directly into the liquid sample to be treated. Furthermore, a transducer of this type operates at very low power in the milliwatts range to have far reaching effects. We have discovered that a properly sized transducer in accordance with this disclosure is able to affect the amount of dissolved oxygen in water tens of meters from where the transducer is placed over time. With a transducer we used, in one instance surprisingly a signal of approximately about 133 microamperes, at a frequency of about 2.5 kHz was able to generate an effect that was measurable over 40 meters away from the point of treatment in open water.

100811 The method disclosed herein may include exposing seeded diatoms within a large body of water to a low power alternating magnetic signal using the transducer described. Depending on the residual ammonia concentration and the extent of presence of blue-green algae in the water body, the effective live diatoms concentration in the water body should be in the range of 100 - 10,000 medial counts per milliliter (ml). Subject to cost effectiveness considerations, the preferred live diatoms concentration would be 1,000 - 5,000 medial counts per ml. Nurturing a live diatoms concentration above 10,000 medial counts per ml may be preferable for water bodies requiring extensive and accelerated treatments. The high dissolved oxygen and the growing presence of the diatoms will foster a growing population offish. The growth of the diatoms and its consumption by the fish will restore a balanced ecology for the water body. Live diatoms with nitrates and/or micronutrients may be sourced from commercial suppliers, such as, Lake Savers (http://ake-savers.com/our-solution/repair/), Nualgi Ponds (https://nualgiponds.com/), etc.

10082] The body of water can be pretreated by first providing the low power signal to the water well in advance of seeding, and continuing to provide the signal for a duration of time after seeding takes place.

100831 Alternatively, if there is an absence of fish in the water body and the dissolved oxygen concentration is below 3 milligram per litre (mg/1), the body of water is preferably first treated by a transducer energized with a low power signal as described above, until the dissolved oxygen level is consistently above 3 mg/l before added live diatoms are introduced. With the continuing application of the low power signal, the preferred dissolved oxygen level should be consistently above 6 mg/l and the ORP consistently above +150 mV. After the seeding of live diatoms and when the live diatoms concentration is at least 1,000 and preferably 5,000 medial counts per ml or higher, native fish may be introduced into the water body to maintain an ecological balance.

10084] In another embodiment, the dissolved oxygen in the water body may be 6 mg/l. The transducer with the low power signal should still be deployed shortly before or after the seeding of live diatoms into the water body to maintain an ORP consistently above +150 mV and to "activate" the live diatoms and the nitrification bacteria.

100851 In a waste water lagoon where there is a continuing input of nutrients, the application of the transducer with the low power signal may be continued to maintain a high dissolved oxygen level above 3 mg/l, an ORP above +150 mV and a live diatoms concentration above 1,000 medial counts per ml.

100861 If during the treatment process, the live diatoms concentration should fall below 1,000 medial counts per ml, another seeding of live diatoms into the water body may be undertaken with the objective of consistently maintaining a live diatoms concentration of 2,000 to 5,000 medial counts per ml in the water until the targeted residual ammonia concentration and the desired control of blue-green algae have been accomplished.

10087] In another embodiment, if the live diatoms concentration of the targeted water body is above 5,000 medial counts per ml, applying the low power signal alone without further live diatoms seeding may be adequate to achieve the targeted residual ammonia concentration and control of the blue-green algae.

100881 If the targeted water body is covered by a solid sheet of ice, the deployment of the low power signal may be accompanied by an underwater air diffuser to provide an adequate source of oxygen to raise the dissolved oxygen level and the associated ORP in the water to the preferred dissolved oxygen levels above 6 mg/l and the ORP above +150 mV.

100891 In accordance with the present disclosure, a robust living aquatic environment may be maintained by using an alternating magnetic signal in a body of water to generate high dissolved oxygen and ORP across a large water surface in combination with the simultaneous seeding of diatoms and the addition of small amount of nitrates and micronutrients, if warranted, to promote the growth of the diatoms and to suppress the germination of spores of blue-green algae. A simultaneously healthy native fish population will help maintain the desirable ecological balance of the water body.

10090] In summary, we have found that by providing a properly designed transducer we are able to affect physicochemical properties of water at least 150 meters away from where the effector is placed and submerged in a large body of water irrespective of the conductivity of the water. Furthermore, this can be done using a very low power signal that can be energized from a solar panel with accompanying battery for energy storage. We believe that doing this in combination with seeding a body of water with diatoms and, if warranted, small amount of nitrates, micronutrients and a population of fish native to the area, may have a profound effect and can significantly lessen the presence of residual ammonia and cyanobacteria present in a lake, pond, stream or lagoon.

10091] Furthermore, in accordance with the method disclosed herein, multiple transducers with a combination of frequency, phase, amplitude and separation distance may be placed so as to achieve changes of a property of a polar liquid without the addition of chemicals.

10092] The polar liquid may form a river, lake, pond, lagoon, or other body of water. Applying the alternating electrical current to the transducer may result in an increase in dissolved oxygen or other dissolved gasses within the polar liquid. Diatoms may be added to the polar liquid before or concurrently with energizing the transducer, so as to lessen cyanobacteria, algal blooms, ammonia, phosphates or total nitrogen in the polar liquid over time.

10093] A polar liquid treated by the transducer(s) may be used for aquaculture, in particular, for growing aquatic animals, such as fish or shrimp. Optionally, diatoms, oxygen, and/or air may be added to the polar liquid. We believe that the method disclosed herein is beneficial in fish and/or shrimp farming. Typically shrimp farming is done in large ponds and these ponds often need to be dredged after a period of time due to fish/shrimp waste settling on the bottom of these ponds.

10094] An aspect of this disclosure relates to fish and shrimp farming. The biochemical process of digesting fish wastes in-situ is not that different from that for human sewage. Nevertheless, fish waste is often characterized by the ingredients in the fish feed. Any undesirable contaminants in the fish feed, e.g. heavy metals, inorganic chemicals, will show up in the fish wastes. Obtaining information related to the inorganic chemicals, including heavy metals, chlorides and sulfates, in the fish feed and the fish wastes to ensure that the in-situ waste digestion process would not become a pathway for the accumulation of inorganic chemicals, especially heavy metals, in the water in the fish pond can be useful.

10095] The assertion that fish would feed onfish waste is scientifically dubious, especially if fish feed pellets are available. The observation may be a confusion with the fish trying to retrieve fish feed pellets buried under the accumulated fish wastes. Consequently, the growth of the fish will be inhibited if a large portion of the fish feed, especially those in pellet form, is buried under a thickening blanket of fish waste.

10096] Ammonia, if allowed to accumulate from the continuing discharge of the fish wastes, at higher concentration will reduce the health resilience of the fish population. Using our transducer with a signal of the appropriate frequency and amplitude may help to increase the dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water not only for the fish or shrimp but also for the aerobic bacteria that will digest the fish or shrimp wastes. The elevated oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and the growing presence of the aerobic nitrification bacteria, will drive the chemical equilibrium in the water from ammonia to nitrates which will encourage the growth of phytoplanktons and zooplanktons, both of which are desirable food for the fish population. The declining ratio of fish feed to fish growth weight may be an additional benefit in the deployment of the transducers in fish ponds. The most productive water in the fish pond is not water with high clarity. A slightly brown or greenish water populated with phytoplanktons and zooplanktons is more healthy and beneficial for the growth offish and shrimps.

10097] We believe that that fish will grow faster in the presence of our energized transducer. However, the pH and the concentrations of inorganic chemicals in the water may be monitored regularly to avoid an elevated concentration of dissolved solids, e.g. sulfates and chlorides, originated from the fish feed. If the "total dissolved solids" in the water is observed to continue to rise during the in-situ digestion of the fish wastes in the presence of the energized transducer, a program of regularly bleeding a small portion of the water and replacing it with fresh sterilized water would need to be instituted to maintain a healthy growth environment for the fish population. The amount of water bleed will be determined by the rate of chemicals accumulation in the water. Preferably, the water being replenished would be sterilized using ultraviolet or hydrogen peroxide. Chlorinated chemicals for water sterilization should be avoided to minimize the introduction of chlorinated organics into the water.

10098] An alternative to bleeding the pond water regularly, especially if heavy metal contamination is an on-going concern, selected aquatic plants could be planted along the shoreline of the fish pond to remove the heavy metal and accumulated inorganic chemicals through the absorption by and growth of the aquatic plants. These aquatic "forest" would provide a spawning ground for some species of fish.

10099] If the fish species being raised require a continuing supply of live feed fish, the quality of the supply chain should be rigorously monitored to avoid the inadvertent introduction of disease and chemicals from a contaminated feed fish stock.

100100] The benefit of using our transducer is multifold. There is an increase in oxygenation of the water due to the gas mass transfer rate across the air water barrier which assists in fish/shrimp growth, and there is less requirement for draining and cleaning these fish/shrimp ponds.

100101] In one embodiment, the ALPIM devices are used for treating a body of water of sewage, wherein the polar liquid has added diatoms. Results of treatment may include reduction of undesired pathogens, enhanced aerobic microbe population, digestion of suspended solids and sludge, displacement of anaerobic microbes and the attendant foul odors, etc. The body of water may be a lake, a river, an industrial lagoon, or an ocean. Oxygen or air may be added to the polar liquid before or concurrently with energizing the transducer. The oxygen or air is provided in the form of bubbles or by mechanical agitation of the polar liquid. Alternatively or complementary to the addition of oxygen or air, diatoms may be added to the polar liquid. Our treatment enhances the ability of the water to absorb gasses in bubbles. The method could include the use of the transducer described herein and a bubbler or aerator to enhance oxygen absorption. Also, by treating the water with the transducer, greenhouse gasses, such as methane and nitrous oxide, which may bubble up from the anoxic bottom of water bodies of great depth may be more readily absorbed into the water and consumed by the thriving aerobic community and methanotrophs in the upper portion of the water bodies.

100102] In one embodiment, the ALPIM device is used for pretreatment of a polar liquid before drip irrigation, desalination, or aquaculture. The drip irrigation may be assisted by the method disclosed herein, and include the elimination of clogging by pretreatment of the water through various mechanisms; settlement of debris, digestion of debris, maturing the biological matter (wet composting) so that they do not grow in the drip irrigation system. Additionally, pathogens may be eliminated by aerobic processing of the water, and the agronomic value of the liquid may increase by changing the nutrients within the liquid and making them more readily available.

100103] The transducer described heretofore, energized with an alternating current of a preferred frequency and amplitude, can change the property of a body of water, such that the water after treatment has commercial advantages, at a fraction of the cost and energy, over most other systems that attempt to clean or filter a same body of water. In our system, the water itself is not simply filtered removing unwanted matter there within. In contrast, our transducer in operation may convert harmful bacteria and harmful algae into "liquid compost", leaving micronutrients in the water. After treating the body of water, it can be pumped or allowed to flow through a manifold / conduits to irrigation systems, most importantly drip irrigation systems. This may lessen or eliminate clogging by pretreatment of the water through various mechanisms with our device and allow settlement of debris, digestion of debris, maturing the biological matter (wet composting) so that heavy particle composted matter does not flow into the drip irrigation system. Due to the aerobic enhancement that may occur using our transducer, pathogens are suppressed via aerobic processing that occurs.

.

[001041 By using our transducer, the higher gas exchange rate will ensure a high level of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water. The high DO will suppress the growth of pathogens, most of which are anaerobic species, e.g. E-coli, Salmonella, etc., in the water. We believe that the alternating magnetic field provided by the method disclosed therein has an effect of reducing a concentration of phosphates, farm fertilizer run-offs, suspended solids, facultative bacteria, coliform, algae, zooplanktons, pests, Daphnia, or mosquito larvae. Our field data have demonstrated that the E-coli concentration in the treated water with its high DO and ORP is so low that it would meet the requirements (35 cfu/100 ml) of the 2012 U.S. EPA Recreational Water Quality. Pre-treating the water used in spray irrigation systems, will substantially eliminate the pathogen-contaminated vegetables and salads recalls in our communities. By deploying our transducer in the water body near recreational beaches, the seasonable closure as a result of localized high coliform count in the water will be eliminated. By deploying our transducer near the intake pipes of a water treatment system and the water storage tanks to maintain a water ORP above +600 mV, potable water for remote communities may be achievable without the conventional chlorination system and its associated challenges in chlorine supply logistics and high maintenance. The high DO and ORP in the treated water will accelerate the aerobic digestion of accumulated organic sludge at the bottom of the water body. By eliminating the anoxic sludge at the bottom of a water body, such as hydroelectric dam water storage reservoirs and their associated downstream lagoons, the anaerobic formation of methyl mercury from mercury contaminated soil will be eliminated.

[001051 The high DO and the high oxidation reduction potential (ORP) will encourage the chelation of metals in solution, including mercury, iron and phosphates, and render them less available for the growth of bacteria, phytoplanktons and zooplanktons in the water in the irrigation tubes. We believe that the lower water surface tension, if effected, will make it more difficult for particles, living or otherwise, to form bio-films and/or to attach to the inner surface of the irrigation tubes, and the lower water viscosity, if effected, will accelerate the settling of suspended particles, living or otherwise, in the bulk water in the reservoir, resulting in a lower concentration of suspended solids in the water being distributed through the irrigation tubes. The higher DO in the water distributed through the irrigation tubes will help to invigorate the microbial communities in the soil. These conditions will stimulate the nitrification process and the wet composting of organic matters in the soil. More healthy growth of plant root systems will result.

[001061 Another advantage of using our transducer as a pretreatment of water before allowing that water to flow through a drip irrigation system is not just that clogging of the drip irrigators is lessened or avoided, but another advantage is realized in the availability of processed liquid composting by harvesting the settled rich compost at the bottom of a lake, lagoon, reservoir or containment vessel.

[001071 In other words, spray irrigation systems, drip irrigation systems, desalination systems, recreation water bodies, community water supply systems in remote locations, or aquaculture systems may use polar liquid pre-treated using the following method. A transducer comprising an electrically conductive solenoidal coil is disposed at least partially within the polar liquid, wherein the coil is formed of a plurality of loops each having an interior, the loop interiors forming an interior of the coil, and wherein the polar liquid is substantially prevented from penetrating the interior of the coil. An alternating electrical current is applied to the coil so as to produce an alternating magnetic field about the coil, wherein a portion of the alternating magnetic field penetrates the polar liquid and the alternating electrical current has a frequency and an amplitude such that the alternating magnetic field has an effect on the polar liquid which changes a property of the polar liquid at a distance of at least 5 meters from the transducer. The property may be gas exchange rate, surface tension, viscosity, freezing point, or partial vapor pressure. The treated liquid is then provided, or allowed to flow, though pipes or conduits into a spray irrigation system, or a drip irrigation system, or a desalination system, or recreational water bodies, or a community water supply system, or an aquaculture system. The pretreatment may be performed to a liquid which forms part of a river, an ocean, a lake, a pond, or an industrial lagoon. The liquid may be water, sludge or sewage.

[001081 Advantageously, the method disclosed herein may be practiced in open bodies of water, or sewage, or other liquids, including lakes, lagoons, rivers, channels, ponds and oceans. Industrial applications include columns, tanks, industrial ponds and pipelines.

[001091 The method in accordance with this invention has several other advantages. By way of example, by maintaining a dissolved oxygen concentration of at least 1 mg/l and preferably above 3-4 mg/l in the water immediately above the sludge at the bottom of the applicable water body without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body we can suppress the formation of organometallic compounds in and/or their release into a water body from sediments and or banks contaminated with heavy metal.

[001101 Furthermore, we can to reduce or eliminate deficiency of dissolved oxygen in anoxic water bodies including but not limited to "dead zones", oxygen deficient zones or oxygen minimum zones in oceans, estuaries, bays, lakes and rivers without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the water body.

[001111 Another significant advantage to our method, is that it can with very little power in a relatively short amount of time, suppress algae blooms in water bodies, including but not limited to those of blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) and red tides (toxins generating aquatic organisms, such as Gonyaulax, Gymnodinium, Karenia, Dinophysis, etc.) by maintaining an ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) of at least +200 mV and preferably +350-500 mV in the top first metre of the water body without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body

[001121 By being able to increase and control the amount of dissolved oxygen with a simple feedback loop we can increase, measure and hold the dissolved oxygen level by controlling our device in an on-off-on-off state to a desired level. This allows us to increase the processing efficiencies of waste water treatment facilities in pulp and paper production by maintaining a dissolved oxygen concentration above 0.5 mg/l and preferably at least 1-3 mg/l throughout the water without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body.

[001131 Its use is not limited to freshwater as it can treat waste water in tailings ponds of mining operations by maintaining an ORP of at least +400 mV throughout the water body without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body.

[001141 In another aspect our method can be used to minimize arsenic contamination in rice by suppressing the release of arsenic from soil particles under oxidation-reduction potentials of +150 mV or higher in the water-saturated soil without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the water in the applicable rice fields, or suppress arsenic contamination of water bodies, including ponds, lakes, rivers, estuaries and ground water by maintaining an oxidation-reduction potential above +150 mV or higher throughout the water body without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body.

[001151 Increasing the dissolved oxygen in a water body can assist in the destruction of cyanides and cyanates in waste water and gold mining effluents with a first stage lagoon. This is done by maintaining an oxidation-reduction potentials of +400 mV in the water at a pH of 10 for a minimum average residence time of 5 hours and preferably more than 10 hours and a second stage lagoon by maintaining an ORP of +600 mV and preferably +650 to +800 mV in the water at a pH of 8.5 for an average residence time of at least 5 hours and preferably more than 10 hours, without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body.

[001161 Foul odour emission can be lessened or eliminated in water bodies deficient in dissolved oxygen by maintaining a dissolved oxygen concentration of at least 0.5 mg/l and preferably more than 2 mg/l in the water immediately above the sediments at the bottom of the applicable water body without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into the applicable water body.

[001171 Production of an organic fertilizer substantially free of facultative microorganisms from the sludge resulted from the aerobic digestion of organic wastes (sewage) generated by human and animals is produced by maintaining an ORP of at least +300 mV and preferably above +450 mV in the water immediately above the sediments at the bottom of the treatment lagoon for a period of at least 3 hours and preferably more than 6 hours for a sediment thickness of 3 cm and correspondingly longer periods for sediments of larger thickness without the use of mechanical aerators or the addition of oxidizing chemicals into applicable water body.

[001181 We believe that ubiquitous use of device described herein above can have a positive effect assisting in the reversal of climate change through the suppression of the emission of methane and nitrous oxide in anoxic zones and the improvement of bio-productivity of the surface layer of the ocean to provide a globally impactful sink for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. By deploying our transducer on the water surface over a specific water column in an anoxic zone in a water body, including but not limited to oceans, bays, rivers, estuaries and lakes, the water surface within 50 to 100 m of the device would remain saturated with DO. The higher DO and the presence of the transducer would accelerate the growth of the aerobic microbial community in the top 100 m of the water column. Subject to adequate convective mass transfer between the top and bottom of the water column, the higher DO at the top of the water column may eliminate or compress the anoxic zone further down towards the floor of the water body.

[001191 The result would be a lower rate of emission of methane and nitrous oxide from the anoxic zone. Other than as a by-product of ammonium oxidation, the formation of nitrous oxide by the microbial community is usually suppressed under aerobic conditions. Similarly, the formation of methane in the sludge at the bottom of the water body will also be suppressed under aerobic conditions and enhanced activity of methanotrophs in the water body. As the bubbles, if any, of methane rise through the water column, they will initiate convective mass transfer between the top and bottom of the water column. The convective mass transfer will also be augmented by wind and tidal movements and the activities of the fish and other aquatic animals attracted to the increasing population of phytoplanktons and zooplanktons in the water column, characterized by the higher DO and a thriving microbial community. If our operating transducer successfully compresses the anoxic zone, the rising bubbles, if any, of methane will also be transiting through a thicker water column with higher DO, ORP, a higher interfacial gas exchange rate and a thriving aerobic microbial community. There may be a larger transition zone between the anoxic layer and the rest of the water body. Previous studies have shown that a substantial proportion of the bio-oxidation of the methane was effected by the methanotrophs in this transition zone.

[001201 With the suppression, if effected, of nitrous oxide formation in the anoxic zone and the higher ORP and thriving aerobic microbial community in the top 50-100 m of the water column, the net emission of methane and nitrous oxide from the ODZ (Oxygen Deficient Zone) in the water body to the atmosphere above the water column may be reduced or eliminated.

[001211 The growing presence of fish and other aquatic species in a high DO environment will improve the biological productivity of the water column without inducing a deficiency of

DO. When photosynthesis by the algae generates super-saturated DO in the water under the sun, our device would accelerate the release of the dissolved oxygen from the water into the air and maintain a lower level of oxygen super-saturation in the water. This lower level of oxygen supersaturation under our treatment would be a lower drag or resistance for the photosynthetic reaction and help to maintain the photosynthesis kinetics and growth of the algae at the top surface layer of the water. Using our transducer by providing a suitable operational flux density and frequency would increase the photosynthesis throughout the top surface layer of the water body under the sun and increase the capacities for oxygen generation and carbon dioxide transfer from the atmosphere into and consumption by a water body, including the oceans. By deploying many of our devices we believe that our invention will assist to reverse the direction of climate change by the accelerated conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen through the accelerated photosynthesis in the oceans.

[001221 The accelerated removal of the dissolved carbon dioxide that results from the growth of aquatic species will reduce the acidity of the bulk water beneath the water surface. The improved productivity in the surface layer of the water body will accelerate the combination of atmospheric carbon dioxide with nutrients in the water body to produce a higher population growth of fish and other aquatic species.

Claims (20)

1. A method of treating a body of water, including water, wastewater, sewage, or sludge to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen therein, comprising: at a first location within the body of water, providing a first device having a signal generator housed therein and having a submersible transducer at least partially immersed in the body of water and electrically coupled to the signal generator; and, operating the signal generator to provide an alternating electrical signal to the submersible transducer, wherein the alternating electrical signal is of a first frequency and first intensity to affect the transducer to produce a resulting alternating magnetic field having a magnetic flux density so as to provide an increase in the gas exchange rate by at least 5% at a distance of at least 5 meters from the submersible transducer.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein a power of the alternating electrical signal is less than 10 watts and is applied for at least 24 hours, and wherein the gas exchange rate is the gas exchange rate between air and water, waste water, sewage, or sludge and is increased by at least 10% at a distance of meters from the transducer.

3. A method as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the first device is portable and wherein the transducer is in a waterproof housing or coated with a waterproof material that allows the alternating magnetic field to pass therethrough so as to lessen or prevent corrosion of the transducer.

4. A method of treating a body of water as defined in claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an electrically conductive solenoidal coil at least partially within the water, wastewater, sewage or sludge, wherein the coil formed of a plurality of loops each having an interior, the loop interiors forming an interior of the coil, wherein the water, wastewater, sewage or sludge is substantially prevented from penetrating the interior of the coil.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 including a solar panel for providing power to a battery wherein the battery is coupled to provide power to the signal generator.

6. A method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a magnetic field emanating from the transducer at a location 5 meters from the transducer is less than the earth's magnetic field and wherein the dissolved oxygen flux rate is more than two times baseline at said location.

7. A method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the step of adding diatoms to the water, wastewater, sewage or sludge.

8. A method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the low power alternating electrical signal is less than one watt and produces a measurable increase in the gas exchange rate of the water, wastewater, sewage or sludge from baseline at least 20 meters from the first location.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the alternating electrical signal current has a first amplitude and wherein a root mean square of the first amplitude is less than 3 amperes and the increase in gas exchange rate is at least 25% within a distance of at least 5 meters from the transducer within 24 hours of having applied the signal.

10. A method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the water, wastewater, is fed to a drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation system after it is treated.

11. A method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body of water is used for aquaculture or shrimp farming.

12. A method as defined in any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: at a second location within the body of water, waste water, sewage, or sludge, providing a second device having a signal generator housed therein; and having a submersible transducer electrically coupled to the signal generator; and, operating the signal generator to provide an alternating electrical signal to the submersible transducer, wherein the submersible transducer in response to alternating electrical signal produces an alternating magnetic field, wherein the alternating electrical signal is of a second frequency and secondintensity to affect the transducer to produce a resulting alternating magnetic field having a magnetic flux density so as to provide an increase in the gas exchange rate by at least 5% at a distance of at least 5 meters from the submersible transducer.

13. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the coil has a core therewithin having endplates made of a ferromagnetic material for shaping the magnetic field so that the magnetic field between the plates is substantially parallel to the core, wherein the endplates are electrically isolated from the coil.

14. A method as defined in any one of claims 1-13 comprising: maintaining an oxidation reduction potential of at least +200 mV in the top first meter of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to suppress algae blooms in water bodies, including blue-green algae and red tides, Gonyaulax, Gymnodinium, Karenia, Dinophysis, and other toxins generating aquatic organisms.

15. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the oxygen reduction potential is maintained at +350-500 mV.

16. A method as defined in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein oxidation-reduction potentials of +150 mV or higher are maintained in the water.

17. A method as defined an any one of claims1 to 6 wherein a dissolved oxygen concentration is maintained at a concentration of at least 0.5 mg/I in the water above the sediments at the bottom of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge.

18. A method as defined in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the transducer is responsive to an electrical signal having a power of less than 50 watts.

19. A method as defined in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the signal is a sinusoidal signal.

20. A method as defined in any of claims 1 to 19 wherein the first frequency is 2500 Hz +/- 10Hz and the first intensity of the current of 0.100 mA, or wherein the first frequency is 2700 Hz +/- 10Hz and the first intensity of the current is 0.099 mA, or the first frequency is +/- 10Hz 4000 Hz and the first intensity of the current is 0.140 mA.