METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF A GAS OR CHEMICAL

• US 20080135493A1
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ECO Oxygen Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: ECO Oxygen Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Clidence, David A., Speece, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,754,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/741
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2323 by circulating the flow in guiding constructions or conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/32 wherein the additional components are added in a by-pass of the main flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/003 Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/22 O2
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/02 Odour removal or prevention of malodour

Abstract

A system and method for control of a gas and/or chemical for treatment of a fluid, and for monitoring the operation of such a system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a reactor for receipt of the fluid and the gas and/or chemical for dissolving, mixing, diffusing, or infusing the gas and/or chemical into the fluid, and a controller to control the flow of the fluid and the gas and/or chemical into the reactor, and to monitor the operation of the system in accordance with predetermined operating conditions. In another embodiment, the system also comprises a gas/chemical generation system for generation of the gas and/or chemical to be introduced into the reactor. The present invention permits for the control of the system based on numerous dynamic conditions to optimize operation and to minimize safety hazards.

Claims

1. A system for treatment of a fluid with a treatment additive, the system comprising:

a reactor having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet;

a fluid line having first and second valves disposed therein;

a fluid inlet connected to the first valve and to the first inlet of the reactor, and wherein the first valve controls the flow of fluid into the first inlet of the reactor;

a treatment additive inlet operatively connected to the second inlet and to a supply of the treatment additive;

a treatment additive valve within the treatment additive inlet for control of the flow of treatment additive into the second inlet of the reactor;

a fluid outlet connected to the outlet of the reactor and to the second valve, and wherein the second valve controls the flow of treated fluid from the outlet of the reactor; and

a controller operably connected to the first valve, the second valve, and the treatment additive valve for control of the flow of fluid into the reactor through the first inlet of the reactor, the flow of treatment additive through the treatment additive valve into the second inlet of the reactor, and the flow of the treated fluid through the outlet and the second valve.

2. A system for treatment of a fluid with a treatment additive, the system comprising:

a reactor having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet;

a fluid line having first and second valves disposed therein;

a fluid inlet connected to the first valve and to the first inlet of the reactor, and wherein the first valve controls the flow of fluid into the first inlet of the reactor;

a treatment additive inlet operatively connected to the second inlet and to a supply of the treatment additive;

a treatment additive valve within the treatment additive inlet for control of the flow of treatment additive into the second inlet of the reactor;

a fluid outlet connected to the outlet of the reactor and to the second valve, and wherein the second valve controls the flow of treated fluid from the outlet of the reactor;

a controller operably connected to the first valve, the second valve, and the treatment additive valve for control of the flow of fluid into the reactor through the first inlet of the reactor, the flow of treatment additive through the treatment additive valve into the second inlet of the reactor, and the flow of the treated fluid through the outlet and the second valve;

a supply of treatment additive operatively connected to the treatment additive valve; and

a treatment additive generator connected to the supply of treatment additive, the treatment additive generator capable of generating the treatment additive from at least one ingredient.

3. A method for treating a fluid with a treatment additive, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system including

a reactor having a first inlet for receipt of an amount of the fluid, at least one second inlet for receipt of an amount of the treatment additive, and an outlet for release of treated fluid therefrom, and

a controller operably connected to the first inlet, the at least one second inlet, and the outlet of the reactors;

introducing, under control of the controller, the fluid into the first inlet of the reactor and the treatment additive into the at least one second inlet of the reactor;

measuring, with the controller, the amount of treatment additive present in the treated fluid released from the reactor; and

adjusting, under control of the controller, the amount of treatment additive introduced into the at least one second inlet of the reactor in response to the amount of treatment additive measured as present in the treatment fluid.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

adjusting, under the control of the controller, the amount of fluid introduced into the first inlet of the reactor in response to the amount of treatment additive measured as present in the treated fluid.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

adjusting, under control of the controller, the amount of fluid introduced into the first inlet of the reactor and the amount of treatment additive introduced into the at least one second inlet of the reactor, both in response to the amount of treatment additive measured as present in the treated fluid.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

establishing a desired range for flow of fluid into the reactor;

measuring with the controller the amount of fluid entering the reactor;

comparing with the controller the measured amount of fluid entering into the reactor to the desired range; and

if the controller determines in the step of comparing the measured amount that the measured amount is outside the desired range, the controller adjusts the introduction of fluid into the reactor or adjusts the introduction of treatment additive into the reactor.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure within the reactor, the pressure sensor operably connected to the controller, the method further comprising the step of:

establishing the desired range pressure within the reactor;

measuring with the pressure sensor the pressure within the reactor;

comparing with the controller the measured pressure to the desired range; and

if the controller determines in the step of comparing the measured pressure that the measured pressure is outside the desired range, the controller then adjusts the introduction of fluid into the reactor, adjusts the introduction of treatment additive into the reactor, and/or adjusts the flow of treated fluid through the outlet.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a fluid inlet operably connected to the first outlet, a pump located along the fluid inlet before the first inlet of the reactor for control of the flow of the fluid into the reactor, and a monitoring device located along the fluid inlet before the pump, the monitoring device capable of measuring the flow of fluid through the fluid inlet, and the pump and monitoring device operably connected to the controller, the method further comprising the steps of:

establishing the desired range for flow of fluid through the monitoring device;

measuring with the monitoring device the flow of fluid;

comparing with the controller the measured flow of fluid to the desire range; and

if the controller determines in the comparing step that the measured flow of fluid is outside the desired range, adjusting with the pump the flow of fluid.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a monitoring device capable of measuring the level of treatment additive in the treated fluid, the monitoring device located outside the outlet of the reactor and operably connected to the controller, the method further comprising the steps of:

establishing the desired range for the level of treatment additive in the treated fluid;

measuring with the monitoring device the level of treatment additive in the treated fluid;

comparing with the controller the measured level of treatment additive in the treated fluid to the desired range; and

if the controller determines that the measure level of treatment additive in the fluid is outside the desired range, the controller adjusts the amount of fluid entering the reactor through the first inlet, the amount of treatment additive entering the reactor through the second inlet, and/or the amount treated fluid flowing from the reactor at the outlet.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a monitoring device capable of measuring the level of treatment additive in the treated fluid, the monitoring device positioned within the reactor and operably connected to the controller, the method further comprising the steps of:

establishing the desired range for the level of treatment additive in the treated fluid;

measuring with the monitoring device the level of treatment additive in the treated fluid;

comparing with the controller the measured level of treatment additive in the treated fluid to the desired range; and

if the controller determines that the measure level of treatment additive in the fluid is outside the desired range, the controller adjusts the amount of fluid entering the reactor through the first inlet, the amount of treatment additive entering the reactor through the second inlet, and/or the amount treated fluid flowing from the reactor at the outlet.

10. A method for treating a fluid with a treatment additive, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system comprising

a reactor having a first inlet for receipt of an amount of the fluid, a second inlet for receipt of the treatment additive, and an outlet for flow of an amount of treated fluid from the reactor, and

a controller operably connected to the reactor at the first inlet, the second inlet, and the outlet, the controller capable of controlling and monitoring the amount of fluid entering the reactor through the first inlet, the amount of treatment additive entering the reactor through the second inlet, and the amount of treated fluid exiting the reactor through the outlet, and the controller further operable to measure the amount of treatment additive present in the treated fluid exiting from the reactor;

establishing in the controller the desired ranges for at least one parameter related to the operation of the system;

entering into the controller the volume of fluid to be held in the reactor;

calculating with the controller the hydraulic retention time;

calculating with the controller the treatment additive uptake rate;

calculating with the controller the treatment additive demand; and

powering on the flow of fluid and treatment additive based on the calculated values.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

monitoring with the controller the values of flow of fluid, flow of treatment additive, and flow of treated fluid.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the monitored values to the desired ranges for such values; and

if the controller determines in the comparing step that one of the measured values is outside the desired range therefore, the controller adjusts the flow of fluid, flow of treatment additive, and/or flow of treated fluid.

13. A method for treating a fluid with a treatment additive, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system including

a reactor having a first inlet for receipt of an amount of the fluid, at least one second inlet for receipt of an amount of the treatment additive, and an outlet for release of an amount of treated fluid therefrom,

at least one device for collection of data related to the operation of the system, and

a controller operably connected to the reactor at the first inlet, the at least one second inlet, and the outlet, the controller operably connected to the at least one device and including means for data storage of the data collected by the at least one device, the controller capable of controlling the amount of fluid entering the reactor, the amount of treatment additive entering the reactor, and the amount of treated fluid released from the reactor;

operating the reactor with the controller; and

collecting in the means for data storage of the controller data collected by the at least one device during operation of the reactor.