SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE

• US 20110036308A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ex-Tar Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ex-Tar Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: BETZER-ZILEVITCH, Maoz
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 122/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/1853 coming in direct contact with water in bulk or in sprays
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 37/54 De-sludging or blow-down devices F22B37/565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 5/005 with rotating drums

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for generating a mixture of steam and combustion gas in a direct contact rotating steam generator, using high solids content water, and without waste liquid discharge. The invention includes removing the solids with controllable water content in a stackable form. The system includes a longitudinally rotatable and controlled pressure enclosure being mounted at a slope and having a steam producing section, a water injection section and a discharge section. The enclosure can include a mixing and mobilizing rotating element to enhance the mixture and the heat transfer. The system can have an additional wet section to scrub contaminates and produce saturated steam. The system can be integrated with an enhanced oil recovery facility or with an open mine oil facility that generates non-segregate tailings to consume their discharge liquid waste and generate steam, heat and a stable solids waste.

Claims

1. A system for generating a mixture of steam and combustion gas through direct contact, using high solids content water and without waste liquid discharge, said system comprising:

a longitudinally rotatable drum, being mounted at a slope and under a controllable pressure and having a combustion gas supply section, a heat exchange section, and a discharge section, said discharge section being placed opposite said combustion gas supply section;

an inlet in said combustion gas supply section of the rotatable drum;

an outlet at an end of the rotatable drum;

a means for injecting water at a highest point of the rotatable drum; and

a means for discharge located at the lower end of said rotatable drum.

2. The system of claim 1 for generating a mixture of steam and combustion gas, further comprising:

a means for collecting and extracting the solids, said means for collecting and extracting being rotatable and positioned perpendicular to an end of the rotatable drum.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said combustion gas is generated internally by the combustion of carbon or hydrocarbon with oxygen containing gas inside the drum.

4. An apparatus for generating steam and stackable solid waste, said apparatus comprising:

a rotatable steam generating enclosure, being pressurized and having a water injection section, a steam producing section and a solids discharge section, said steam generation section being placed at a middle of the rotatable enclosure, the rotatable enclosure having an injection means for water;

an outlet at an end of said rotatable steam generating enclosure; and

a means for spraying water on said portion of said solids discharge section.

5. The apparatus for generating steam and stackable solid waste, according to claim 4, further comprising:

a means for collecting and extracting the solids, said means for collecting and extracting being rotatable and positioned perpendicular to an end of the rotatable enclosure.

6. A method for generating steam, combustion gas and stackable solids without liquid waste discharge, said method comprising of the following steps:

introducing combustion gas into an enclosure, said enclosure being under a controllable pressure, comprising means to enhance heat transfer, and having a water injection inlet, a steam producing section and a steam discharge outlet;

injecting low quality water, like non-segregated tailings, lime softener sludge or sewage water into the enclosure through said water injection inlet;

mixing said water containing solids to generate steam in said enclosure, wherein combustion gas heat inside the enclosure heats any liquid to a stage where the liquid is changed into solids or a stable slurry; and

recovering gas from the enclosure for water and heat energy extraction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid and solids flows in parallel direction to the combustion gas flow direction.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid and solids flows in opposite direction to the combustion gas flow direction.