Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
  • B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
  • B01D61/025—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
  • B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
  • B01D61/04—Feed pretreatment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
  • B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
  • B01D61/08—Apparatus therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
  • B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
  • B01D61/12—Controlling or regulating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D65/00—Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
  • B01D65/02—Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D65/00—Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
  • B01D65/08—Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/34—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage with mechanical oscillations
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/44—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
  • C02F1/441—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis by reverse osmosis
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/72—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/04—Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/08—Specific process operations in the concentrate stream
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/25—Recirculation, recycling or bypass, e.g. recirculation of concentrate into the feed
  • B01D2311/252—Recirculation of concentrate
  • B01D2311/2523—Recirculation of concentrate to feed side
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/26—Further operations combined with membrane separation processes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/26—Further operations combined with membrane separation processes
  • B01D2311/2611—Irradiation
  • B01D2311/2619—UV-irradiation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/26—Further operations combined with membrane separation processes
  • B01D2311/263—Chemical reaction
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/26—Further operations combined with membrane separation processes
  • B01D2311/2661—Addition of gas
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2311/00—Details relating to membrane separation process operations and control
  • B01D2311/26—Further operations combined with membrane separation processes
  • B01D2311/2676—Centrifugal separation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2317/00—Membrane module arrangements within a plant or an apparatus
  • B01D2317/06—Use of membrane modules of the same kind
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2321/00—Details relating to membrane cleaning, regeneration, sterilization or to the prevention of fouling
  • B01D2321/18—Use of gases
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2321/00—Details relating to membrane cleaning, regeneration, sterilization or to the prevention of fouling
  • B01D2321/282—Details relating to membrane cleaning, regeneration, sterilization or to the prevention of fouling by spray flush or jet flush
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/30—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation
  • C02F1/32—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation with ultraviolet light
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/72—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation
  • C02F1/74—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with air
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/72—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation
  • C02F1/76—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by oxidation with halogens or compounds of halogens
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
  • C02F2209/001—Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
  • C02F2209/003—Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
  • C02F2209/005—Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
  • C02F2209/06—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment pH
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
  • C02F2209/40—Liquid flow rate
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
  • C02F2303/20—Prevention of biofouling
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
  • C02F2303/22—Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to remediation of fluids, and more particularly, a system and method for utilizing hydrodynamic cavitation to prevent or obviate membrane fouling and/or scaling as it pertains to fluid treatment systems, generally, and to reverse osmosis (RO) systems, more specifically.
• RO reverse osmosis
• Some biological treatment techniques include bioaugmentation, bioventing, biosparging, bioslurping, and phytoremediation.
• Some chemical treatment techniques include ozone and oxygen gas injection, chemical precipitation, membrane separation, ion exchange, carbon absorption, aqueous chemical oxidation, and surfactant enhanced recovery.
• Some chemical techniques may be implemented using nanomaterials.
• Physical treatment techniques include, but are not limited to, pump and treat, air sparging, and dual phase extraction.
• RO reverse osmosis
• RO works by using a high-pressure pump to increase the pressure on the salt side of the RO and force the water across the semi-permeable membrane, leaving almost all of dissolved salts behind in the reject stream.
• the desalinated water that is demineralized or deionized is called permeate water.
• the water stream that carries the concentrated contaminants that did not pass through the RO membrane is called the reject (or concentrate) stream.
• the reject (or concentrate) stream As the feed water enters the RO membrane under pressure, the water molecules pass through the semi-permeable membrane and the salts and other contaminants are not allowed to pass and are discharged through the concentrate stream.
• the concentrate stream can be fed back into the RO system through the feed water supply and recycled through the RO system.
• the water that makes it through the RO membrane is called permeate or product water and usually has around 95%-99% of the dissolved salts removed from it.
• Reverse osmosis can remove many types of dissolved and suspended species from water, including bacteria, and is used in both industrial processes and the production of potable water. The result is that the solute is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and the pure solvent is allowed to pass to the other side.
• this membrane should not allow large molecules or ions through the pores (holes), but should allow smaller components of the solution (such as solvent molecules) to pass freely.
• the solute many times, include silica, barium and other solids.
• An example of a RO membrane is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,344, which describes an aromatic polyamide film which is the interfacial reaction product of an aromatic polyamine having at least two primary amines substituents with an aromatic acyl halide having at least three acyl halide substituents.
• Dispersants keep fine suspended solids from coagulating and coming down on the membrane surface. Proper use of dispersants can minimize fouling due to problem particulates that are difficult to pre-filter. However, dispersants have the same problems as anti-scalents.
• US Patent No. 6365101 discloses a method for inhibiting scale deposits in an aqueous system comprising a comprises at least one of polyvalent metal silicate and polyvalent metal carbonate, wherein the aqueous system has a pH of at least about 9, and wherein a mean particle size of the antiscalant is less than about 3 microns.
• a multi-media filter typically contains three levels of media consisting of anthracite coal, sand and garnet, with a supporting layer of gravel at the bottom.
• the filter media arrangement allows the largest dirt particles to be removed near the top of the media bed with the smaller dirt particles being retained deeper in the media. This allows the entire bed to act as a filter allowing much longer filter run times and more efficient particulate removal.
• Further methods also include the use of microfiltration membranes, water softeners that help exchange scale forming ions with non-scale forming ions, insertion of sodium bisulfit, and granular activate carbon.
• US Patent No. 6913694 describes aa selective membrane is a composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane in which a hydrophilic coating has been applied to the polyamide layer of the membrane, the hydrophilic coating being made by (i) applying to the membrane a quantity of a polyfunctional epoxy compound, the polyfunctional epoxy compound comprising at least two epoxy groups, and (ii) then, cross-linking the polyfunctional epoxy compound in such a manner as to yield a water-insoluble polymer.
• US Patent No. 9089820 describes a selective membrane that is a composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane having a hydrophilic coating made by covalently bonding a hydrophilic compound to the polyamide membrane, the hydrophilic compound including (i) a reactive group that is adapted to covalently bond directly to the polyamide membrane, the reactive group being at least one of a primary amine and a secondary amine; (ii) a non-terminal hydroxyl group; and (iii) an amide group.
• the hydrophilic compound includes (i) a reactive group adapted to covalently bond directly to the polyamide membrane, the reactive group being at least one of a primary amine and a secondary amine; (ii) a hydroxyl group; and (iii) an amide group, the amide group being linked directly to the hydroxyl group by one of an alkyl group and an alkenyl group.
• Cavitation generally, is the formation of vapor cavities in a liquid that creates small liquid-free zones.
• cavitation is used in a narrower sense, namely, to describe the formation of vapor-filled cavities in the interior or on the solid boundaries created by a localized pressure reduction produced by the dynamic action of a liquid system.
• decontamination may be achieved through the use of submerged jets which trigger hydrodynamic cavitation events in the liquid. These cavitation events drive chemical reactions by generating strong oxidants and reductants, and efficiently decomposing and destroying contaminating organic compounds, as well as some inorganics. These same cavitation events both physically disrupt or rupture the cell walls or outer membranes of microorganisms (such as E. coli and salmonella) and larvae (such as Zebra mussel larvae), and also generate bactericidal compounds, such as peroxides, hydroxyl radicals, etc., which assist in the destruction of these organisms. Following disruption of the cell wall or outer membrane, the inner cellular components are susceptible to oxidation.
• microorganisms such as E. coli and salmonella
• larvae such as Zebra mussel larvae
• Cavitation technology has uses in a wide variety of industrial and ecological remediation settings, including but not limited to farming, mining, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage manufacture and processing, fisheries, petroleum and gas production and processing, water treatment and alternative fuels. With such a wide field of use, companies have been increasingly eager to further develop cavitation technologies.
• Some examples include the use of rotating jet nozzles for cleaning and maintenance purposes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,384 (Hayasi, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,577 (Conn et al.).
• the apparatus of Hayashi employs a driving mechanism capable of causing the jet nozzle itself to travel upward-and-downward, to rotate and swing.
• Conn et al. describe the rotation of a cleaning head including at least two jet forming means, for cleaning the inside wall of a conduit.
• a system to prevent membrane fouling, the system for preventing membrane fouling in a fluid treatment system having at least one membrane, the system comprising a
• hydrodynamic cavitating reactor for cavitating a fluid flow prior to injecting it into the fluid treatment system and through the at least one membrane; wherein after undergoing hydrodynamic cavitation in the cavitation reactor, solid components in the fluid change their (i) molecular structure, (ii) a charge, or both, such that the components repulse each other and disperse around an edge of the membrane to prevent fouling.
• a method for preventing membrane fouling in a fluid treatment system having at least one membrane comprises hyrdrodynamically cavitating a fluid flow prior to injecting it into the fluid treatment system and through the at least one membrane; wherein after undergoing hydrodynamic cavitation in the cavitation reactor, solid components in the fluid change their (i) molecular structure, (ii) a charge, or both, such that the components repulse each other and disperse around an edge of the membrane to prevent fouling.
• This method is useful in areas such as industrial and ecological remediation settings, including, for example, municipal drinking water, de-salination, farming, mining, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage manufacture and processing, fisheries, petroleum and gas production and processing, water treatment and alternative fuels.
• the system and method is useful in settings that utilize filters having membranes that are prone to fouling, such as in reverse osmosis systems and water desalinization.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved system and method that is easy and inexpensive to construct.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid remediation system
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a fluid remediation system incorporating hydrodynamic cavitation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a step-wise flow chart for a method for performing fluid remediation incorporating hydrodynamic cavitation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a front view of the membranes used in reverse osmosis in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for cavitation- based water remediation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a use case detailing remediation in a farm using a fluid remediation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 7 shows data taken from a test case utilizing the systems and methods provided for herein to perform remediation
• FIG. 8 is a front view of the reactor plate utilized in the hydrodynamic cavitation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic of a fluid remediation system utilizing
• a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. [0040] As used herein, the term "concentrate stream” shall mean the stream of water that carries the concentrated contaminants that did not pass through the RO membrane. Reject water may also be referred to herein as the "reject stream.”
• contaminated water shall mean water molecules in combination with dissolved salts, organics, bacteria and pyrogens.
• permeate water shall mean the desalinated water that is demineralized or deionized after passing through an RO membrane. Permeate water may also be referred to herein as "product water.”
• any of the foregoing steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps and/or system modules may be inserted depending upon the needs of the particular application, and that the systems of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any of a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and is not limited to any particular computer hardware, software, middleware, firmware, microcode and the like.
• a typical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention may be embodied.
• the system and method of the present invention prevent membrane fouling and remediate fluids.
• the system is configured to change the molecular and/or structural characteristic of the organic and inorganic species of concentrate that in normal circumstances clogs or fouls membranes in filtration systems.
• the detailed elements and specific embodiments of the present decontamination system can be best appreciated by further understanding the cavitation phenomenon employed to drive the physical and chemical decontamination reactions. Due to large pressure drop in flow, microscopic bubbles grow in the regions of pressure drop and collapse in the regions of pressure rise.
• cavitation generated in any liquid environment will result in the physical disruption of contaminants, without regard to the generation of particular radicals.
• the methods and systems of this invention will be applicable for all fluid environments comprising contaminants susceptible to decomposition via the physical and/or chemical effects of the cavitation employed.
• the inventors have found that using the system and methods described herein, the concentrate changes form and does not foul the membranes of a RO membrane, as described herein.
• the inventors have also found that the system and methods are useful in other types of filtration utilizing membrane technology.
• FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a fluid remediation system incorporating hydrodynamic cavitation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is presented generally at 100.
• the system 100 defines a hydrodynamic cavitation system 158 coupled with an inlet 102, as well as various outlets 104A-E and a RO membrane 160.
• the remediation channel 101 is configured to introduce contaminated water into the system 100 along a path represented by 162, using a pump 126.
• Contaminated water passing through the remediation channel 101 may initially be raw, brown or black and may contain sediment, pollutants, and the like, and will be introduced into the hydrodynamic cavitation system 158 by the pump 126 that is coupled to the hydrodynamic cavitation system 158.
• the pump 126 is used to supply contaminated water into the hydrodynamic cavitation system 158 for processing.
• the pump 148 there is only one pump 148 which is configured to operate at a high pressure.
• the pump 148 may be operated at a different pressure to account for the concentration of different types of contaminants found within the contaminated water (e.g., arsenic, lead, radium, cadmium, and zinc). In even other optional embodiments, more than one pump 148 may be used.
• the system comprises a sensor housing 106, a first valve 108, a plurality of injector coils 110, an additive port 112, and a flow meter 114.
• this area of the system may be referred to as “pre-cavitation zone” or “mixing zone.”
• the system may further comprise a first air injector 116 and a second sensor array 118, followed by vortex plate 146 and a second air injector 120. Additional sensors (e.g., pressure sensor 124) and a second valve 122 are also shown.
• the remediation pathway 101 then continues to the outlet 104.
• this area of the system may be referred to herein as "cavitation zone” 144.
• a sensor housing 106 is positioned proximate to the inlet 102 and is communicatively coupled to the remediation pathway 101 such that the remediated contaminated water is tested and monitored prior to entering the pre-cavitation zone.
• a divergence pathway 128 and a valve 108 are provided such that a sample of the remediation fluid is off-shot for testing.
• An ingress pathway 132 is further provided for injecting the testing fluid back into the remediation channel 101 via a valve 134 (e.g., choke valve) coupled to the ingress pathway 132.
• the sensor housing 106 may comprise an array of sensors used for automation, characterization, and monitoring of the process.
• the sensor array may comprise a number of different components, including mechanical sensors, electronics, analytical and chemical sensors, control systems, telemetry systems, and software allowing the sensor to communicate with a
• PLC Programmable Logic Controller
• the sensor housing 106 may comprise mechanical sensors, flow meters to measure flow rate and pressure gauges, electronic sensors to measure a variety of parameters such as pressure, specific gravity, the presence of liquid (water level meters and interface probes), pH, temperature, and conductivity, and analytical sensors to measure chemical parameters such as contaminant concentrations.
• analytical sensors include pH probes and optical sensors used for colorimetric measurement.
• Control systems that work in conjunction with sensors comprise PLCs and other electronic microprocessor devices. Control systems are able to receive sensory inputs, process information, and trigger specific actions. These will be discussed in greater detail with relation to FIG. 9.
• a plurality of leads 136 are fluidly coupled to the remediation channel 101, the leads 136 being configured to inject certain substances into the remediation channel 101.
• the precursor compounds 140 may be pumped into or injected into the remediation channel 101 via pumps 138A-E. In the current embodiment, five pumps 138A-E are used, but in optional embodiments, more than five pumps may be used.
• the precursor compounds 140 can be feedstocks but also may comprise replaceable cartridges, and line feeds or other such like chemical inputs and for larger water flows bulk supply of the various feed stocks and precursor feed materials.
• exemplary precursor compounds 140 include compounds that may comprise halogen salts such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulfate salts, sodium, potassium and the like, introduced as solids or dissolved in water or some other solvent.
• Liquid feed stocks such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxy acids, brine solutions, chlorine solutions, ammonia solutions, amines, aldehydes, ketones, methanol, chelating agents, dispersing agents, nitrides, nitrates, sulfides, sulfates, and the like, dissolved in water or some other solvent may be employed.
• gaseous feed stocks such as ozone, air, chlorine dioxide, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, argon, krypton, bromine, iodine and the like may be employed, each of the foregoing in predetermined amounts based on the fluid remediation project goals.
• gaseous feed stocks such as ozone, air, chlorine dioxide, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, argon, krypton, bromine, iodine and the like may be employed, each of the foregoing in predetermined amounts based on the fluid remediation project goals.
• an additive port 112 is shown. Injection of dry agents may occur via manipulation of the valve 142 coupled to the additive port 112.
• the port 112 for introducing the agents into the remediation channel 101 may introduce the oxidizing agents into the flow-through channel at or near the local constriction of flow.
• the port may be configured to permit the introduction of the oxidizing agent into the fluid in the local constriction of flow. It will be appreciated that the ports may be configured to introduce oxidizing agents into the remediation channel 101 not only at the local constriction of flow, but along an area between and including the local constriction of flow and the area into the cavitation zone, where cavitation bubbles are formed.
• the cavitation zone 144 may comprise a first air injector 116 configured to inject air into the remediation channel 101, a reactor plate 146, a second air injector 120, and control valves 124 to control the proportion of flow through the cavitation zone 144 and to control the average dwell time of fluid in the remediation channel 101.
• the first air injector 116 and the second air injector 120 are configured to induce cavitation into the fluid to form vapor cavities in a liquid (i.e. small liquid-free zones, bubbles or voids), which occurs when the fluid is subjected to rapid changes of pressure that cause the formation of cavities where the pressure is relatively low.
• a liquid i.e. small liquid-free zones, bubbles or voids
• the injectors are used to enhance chemical reactions and propagate reactions due to free radical formation in the process due to disassociation of vapors trapped in the cavitating bubbles.
• a reactor plate 146 is disposed within the remediation channel 101 between the first air injector 116 and the second air injector 120.
• the reactor plate discussed in greater detail with relation to FIG. 8, is configured to induce further cavitation such that, in the cavitation zone 144, there are large quantities of micro bubbles having high volatility. When these micro bubbles collapse, instantaneous pressures up to 500 atmospheres and instantaneous temperatures of about 5000 degrees K are produced in the fluid.
• This phenomenon accomplishes several important chemical reactions: (1) H20 disassociates into OH radicals and H+ atoms; (2) chemical bonds of complex organic hydrocarbons are broken; and (3) long chain chemicals are oxidized into simpler chemical constituents, before being irradiated downstream by ultraviolet radiation, furthering the oxidation process.
• an additional valve 124 which in the current embodiment is a butterfly valve but in other embodiments may be comprised of other types of valves, is disposed of in the remediation channel 101 to drop the head pressure when needed for egress of the fluid to the outlets 104A-E.
• the valve 124 like other valves in the system, is communicably coupled to the PLC such that it is fully autonomous.
• FIG. 2 a block diagram of a fluid remediation and/or treatment system incorporating hydrodynamic cavitation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is shown generally at 200.
• a water source 102 is provide, which is either pumped to or otherwise received by a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor 204.
• hydrodynamic cavitation is discussed.
• other types of cavitation may be used with the subject system and method such as but not limited to acoustic cavitation and the like.
• hydrodynamic cavitation reactor 204 it is then received by the second fluid treatment system 208, which in this exemplary embodiment, comprises any system which utilizes filters having membranes to remediate contaminated water.
• RO may utilize, for example, membranes that are spiral wound elements which comprise a sandwich consisting of two membrane sheets with an inserted permeate carrier is glued together and a feed spacer is inserted between the opposing membrane surfaces to complete the membrane package.
• the membrane package is wound around a perforated central tube through which the permeate exits the element.
• the membranes will collect permeate which act as a "fouling layer.”
• the fouling layer typically consists of colonies of microbes, salts and inorganics such as Al, As, Ch, Co, Mg, BaS0 4 O, S, Ni, P, Si, Fe, Ba and Sr and the like.
• FIG. 3 a step-wise flow chart for a method for performing fluid remediation incorporating hydrodynamic cavitation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is presented generally at 300.
• contaminated water from a water source 302 is pumped into or received by the cavitation reactor 304.
• the RO membrane 306 receives the contaminated water that has undergone cavitation, it performs reverse osmosis and sends the filtered production water to the production storage tank 308, and the concentrate stream together with fluid that is not ready for consumption to the holding tank 310.
• the fluid settles and particulate settles to the bottom . Fluids having concentrate is then sent back to the cavitation reactor 304 where it undergoes hydrodynamic cavitation such as described herein before being reprocessed by the RO membrane 306.
• the RO membrane 306 comprises a plurality of membranes having in exemplary embodiments pore sizes range from 0.0001 ⁇ im to 0.001 ⁇ im such that is able to retain mostly ail molecules except for water and due to the size of the pores, the required osmotic pressure is significantly greater than other forms of filtration. Thus, particulate build up may occur and foul the RO membrane 306, and also, cause a loss of production capacity and increase the pressure until a failure condition, at times, may occur.
• contaminated water from the water source 302 is sent directly to the cavitation reactor 304.
• the contaminated water from the water source 302 may first undergo RO and be passed through its own RO membrane before being sent to the cavitation reactor 304.
• FIG. 4 a front view of the membranes used in reverse osmosis in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is presented generally at 400.
• membranes 402 and 404 are shown.
• Membrane 402 was run with fluids that had not gone through the cavitation processes as described herein
• membrane 404 displays a membrane that has had fluids run through it which have passed through the cavitation process as described herein.
• a fouling layer and its particulate 406 built up on the inner portions of the membrane, whereas in membrane 404, minimal fouling layer particulate built up on the outer portion of the membrane 408.
• method 500 may comprise flowing contaminated water through a remediation channel starting at an inlet, utilizing a pump to supply the water to the remediation channel, step 502
• the method 500 may further comprise injecting at least one agent into the permeate water using an injection port in fluid
• the method 500 may further comprise introducing bursts of air into the fluid using air actuator in fluid
• the method 500 may further comprise flowing fluid through a reactor plate to create a cortex, step 508.
• the method 500 may further comprise introducing bursts of air into the permeate water using air actuator at a second location in fluid communication with the remediation channel downstream from the injection port, step 510.
• the method 500 may further comprise generating at least one and more often a plurality of vortices vortex and cavitation pockets in the permeate water within the remediation channel step 512.
• the method 500 may further comprise regulating a flow of the fluid using a flow regulation valve disposed within the remediation channel and in electronic communication with the air actuator, the flow regulation valve configured to optimize pressure to increase the number of cavitation pockets within the liquid, step 516.
• the method 500 may further comprise outputting the remediated permeate water into a reverse osmosis remediation system, step 516, and outputting the permeate water from the reverse osmosis system into the production storage tank and flowing the concentrate from the reverse osmosis system into a holding tank for further reprocessing through the remediation channel and the reverse osmosis system, step 518.
• FIG. 6 an optional embodiment of a large scale commercial implementation for a remediation system utilizing cavitation, is presented generally at 600.
• This optional embodiment considers the use of multiple trains of the system described herein. By coupling multiple trains together, this allows for the highest quality of remediation by passing the concentrate generated in train a and train b through its own reverse osmosis procedure.
• This is considered to be a multistage system where the concentrate from the first two stages become the feed water to the third stage.
• the use of additional stages allows for an increase in recovery of permeate water from the system.
• more than 2 stages may be used before the concentrate is collected and processed.
• the containment water is gathered from the feed 602.
• a pump 604 pushes the contaminated water towards the reactor 606 and centrifuge 608 that comprises the hydrodynamic cavitation system.
• the solids are diverted to the solids storage tank 610 and the remaining water then sent to the train A RO membrane 614 through the pump 612, which is designed to provide enough pressure to cause reverse osmosis to occur as the water passes through the train A RO membrane 614.
• the permeate is sent to the permeate storage tank 618 via the pump 616, while the concentrate is sent to the concentrate feed 622 via the pump 620.
• Train B begins when the contaminated water is gathered from the feed 626.
• a pump 628 then pushes the contaminated water towards the reactor 630 and centrifuge 632 where hydrodynamic cavitation takes place. Solids are diverted to the solids storage tank 636 while the remaining water is sent through the pump 634 to the train B RO membrane 646.
• the pump 634 will provide enough pressure to cause reverse osmosis to occur as the water passes through the train B RO membrane 646.
• the permeate is sent to the permeate storage 640 via the pump 624, while the concentrate is sent to the concentrate feed 622 via the pump 638.
• train C will be performed.
• the reactor 642 receives the concentrate from the concentrate feed 622, which is then sent through the train C RO Membrane 648 via the pump 644.
• the pump 644 is designed to generate enough pressure to cause reverse osmosis to occur as the concentrate passes through the train C RO Membrane 648.
• the permeate generated from the pass through the train C RO membrane 648 will be sent to the permeate storage 652 via the pump 650, while the remaining concentrate will be sent to the concentrate storage 656 via the pump 654.
• FIG. 7 a table showing data taken from a test case utilizing the systems and methods provided for herein to perform remediation and cavitation, is presented generally at 700.
• the table 700 show the operating pressure on a day-by-day basis over the test period.
• Membrane operating pressure is an indicator of the amount of fouling of the membrane.
• Operating pressure was in the range of 330 to 350 psi. Pressure increased to 380 to 390 psi over the first four hours of each test and then remained steady for the remainder of the test. If the membranes were being progressively fouled, operating pressures would progressively increase over the course of the test period and would not return to baseline values at the conclusion of each test run. Operating pressures did not increase measurably over the test period, and thus the test data did not show apparent membrane fouling.
• FIG. 8 a front view of the reactor plate utilized in the system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is presented generally at 800.
• the substantially homogenously mixed stream is directed from the air injector 116 to the reactor plate 146.
• the reactor plate 146 comprises a center aperture of a predetermined size through which the fluid passes.
• Uniform striations 802 are disposed of on the face of the reactor plate 146, the number of which is predetermined based upon the use-case and are configured to evenly disperse the fluid.
• the striations 802 in some embodiments are circular rings which form respective mountains and valleys over a predetermined portion of the face of the plate.
• the striations cover approximately half of the face of the plate from the outer radius inward.
• the striations can act as seals with respect to the cavitation section.
• flanges allow the sections to be easily replicable.
• a vortex generation section 804 is disposed inwardly toward the center of the plate 146 and comprises a forward edge portion which slants first upwardly and rearwardly, and then curves in a continuous convex rearward curve, having valleys 808 and peaks 810 that blend into a substantially horizontal rearwardly extending to the upper edge portion. These peaks 810 may be referred to as "vanes.” This formation ensures that the bubbles begin forming at a size small enough to create a long range of hydrophobic forces that promotes bubble/particle attachment and creates optimum size and number of bubbles in a continually changing mixing environment.
• the reactor plate 146 enhances the amount of hydroxyl radicals generally may be capable of degrading and/or oxidizing organic compounds in a fluid, and results in significant amounts of oxidizing agents contained within and/or associated with the cavitation bubbles.
• the reactor plate 146 may be formed of a material that is relatively impervious to cavitation's, such as a metal alloy, or in some embodiments, a resilient elastomeric material.
• the reactor plate 146 may be embodied in a variety of different shapes and configurations.
• the plate may be conically shaped, including a conically-shaped surface that induces a vortex, or may be fully cyclical as shown. It should be appreciated other shapes may be employed as well to a varying degree.
• FIG. 9 a schematic of a fluid remediation system utilizing hydrodynamic cavitation together with an intelligent platform and automation hardware/software arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is shown generally at 900.
• Intelligent platform generally, relates to controls such as programmable logic controls, high performance and high- performance system (e.g., PAC Systems) controllers, having availability redundancy, expandable open architectures, upgradeable CPUs and the like.
• distributed I/O utilizing PROFINET ® to maximize efficiency and data dissemination have I/O flexibility and connect to a full range of I/O, from simple discrete to safety and process I/O.
• a PLC 902 is in electronically coupled (e.g., hardwire, wireless, Bluetooth ® , etc.) with a plurality of controllers 904, 906, 908, each being coupled to various valves and sensor arrays.
• the PLC 902 is configured to execute software which continuously gathers data on the state of input devices to control the state of output devices.
• the PLC typically comprises a processor (which may include volatile memory), volatile memory comprising an application program, and one or more input/output (I/O) ports for connecting to other devices in the automation system. Additionally, in PLCs, context knowledge about the process available on control level is lost for the business analytics applications.
• the platform may further comprise higher level software functionality in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCAD A), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• SCAD A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
• MES Manufacturing Execution Systems
• ERP Enterprise Resource Planning
• the PLC may be an "Intelligent PLC,” which comprises various components which may be configured to provide an assortment of enhanced functions in control applications.
• the Intelligent PLC includes a deeply integrated data historian and analytics functions. This technology is particularly well-suited for, but not limited to, various industrial automation settings for water remediation.
• the automation system context information may include, for example, one or more of an indication of a device that generated the data, a structural description of an automation system comprising the Intelligent PLC, a system working mode indicator, and information about a product that was produced when the contents of the process image area were generated.
• the contextualized data may include one or more of a description of automation software utilized by the Intelligent PLC or a status indictor indicative of a status of the automation software while the contents of the process image area were generated.
• the PLC is electronically coupled to a pump 124 and the fluid source 908, a sensor housing 106, a valve 910, a plurality of injector coils 110, an additive port 112 and another sensory array 114.
• An additional downline controller 904 is communicatively coupled to the PLC and in further
• the sensor array 106 is configured to retrieve all of the relevant properties of fluid and send that information to the PLC for 902. Based on the properties of the fluid the PLC is configured to direct valves 914 to release agents into the stream that support the remediation process.
• the PLC 902 in some embodiments, is loaded with predetermined information regarding the quality of the fluid.
• halogen salts such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulfate salts, sodium or potassium or the like introduced as solids, or dissolved in water, or other solvent.
• An additional sensor array 912 is provided for testing and gathering data on the treated fluid, and to ensure proper pressures and flow rate may be provided.
• First air injector 116 is in communication with an additional controller 906, which is in turn, in communication with PLC 902.
• the PLC 902 is configured to control air pressure based on the degree of cavitation required.
• the controller 906 is also in communication with the reactor plate 146 and a baffle (not shown) to rotate and tilt the reactor plate to vary the degrees of cavitation.
• a second air injector 120 and control valves 124 are in communication with the controller 906 for similar purposes.
• an additional actuator 918 may be employed, as may an optional sensor array 920 and UV reactor 922, each being connected to the controller before passing through the RO membrane 924 and becoming end use remediated water 926.
• the first and second air injectors are configured to induce cavitation into the fluid to form vapor cavities in a liquid (i.e. small liquid-free zones, bubbles or voids), which occurs when the fluid is subjected to rapid changes of pressure that cause the formation of cavities where the pressure is relatively low.
• a liquid i.e. small liquid-free zones, bubbles or voids
• the injectors are used to enhance chemical reactions and propagate reactions due to free radical formation in the process due to disassociation of vapors trapped in the cavitating bubbles.
• a reactor plate 146 is disposed within the line 101 between the first and second air injectors and is communication with the PLC 902, and the PLC 902 is configured to tilt the reactor plate 146 in various directions (e.g., 15 degrees).
• the reactor plate discussed in greater with relation to FIG. 2, is configured to induce further cavitation such that, in the cavitation zone 144, there are large quantities of micro bubbles having high volatility.
• An additional valve 124 e.g., butterfly valve, is disposed in the line to drop the head pressure when needed for egress of the fluid to outlet 104.
• the valve 124 like other valves in the system, is communicably coupled to the PLC such that it is fully autonomous.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Nanotechnology (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
• Physical Water Treatments (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-05-08 KR KR1020197036396A patent/KR20200037747A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2018-05-08 EP EP18798129.5A patent/EP3628023A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2018-05-08 JP JP2019561171A patent/JP2020518451A/ja active Pending
  • 2018-05-08 MX MX2019013261A patent/MX2019013261A/es unknown
  • 2018-05-08 WO PCT/US2018/031681 patent/WO2018208842A1/en unknown
  • 2018-05-08 CN CN201880042907.0A patent/CN111132749A/zh active Pending
  • 2018-05-08 MA MA049465A patent/MA49465A/fr unknown

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