Enhanced water treatment for reclamation of waste fluids and increased efficiency treatment of potable waters

• US 7,699,994 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brisben Water Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Ecosphere Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: McGuire, Dennis, Jakhete, Sanjeev
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; Cameron J
• Application Number:
  US12/184,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20090050572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 210/638, 210/151, 210/721, 210/669
• US Class Current: 210/748.01
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/004 using large scale industrial sized filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/36 ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/38 by centrifugal separation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/10 from quarries or from mining activities
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/784 Diffusers or nozzles for ozonation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/05 Conductivity or salinity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for reclamation of waste fluids. A conditioning container is employed for receipt of waste material on a continuous flow for treatment within the container by immersible transducers producing ultrasonic acoustic waves in combination with a high level of injected ozone. The treated material exhibits superior separation properties for delivery into a centrifuge for enhanced solid waste removal. The invention discloses a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling of flowback, or frac water, which has been used to stimulate gas production from shale formations. The apparatus is mobile and containerized and suitable for installation at the well site.

Claims

1. A process for treating flowback water including the steps of;

fluidly connecting a source of flowback water to a backwash filter, filtering said flowback water, separating the fluid output of said flowback water into two flow paths, directing the first flow path to an ozone contact tank and directing the second flow path to a main reactor tank, introducing ozone into said ozone contacting tank whereby the flowback water conveyed by the first flow path is exposed to ozone, conveying the flowback water from the ozone contacting tank to a manifold within said main reactor tank configured to cause hydrodynamic cavitations with said main reactor tank, positioning ultrasonic transducers with said main reactor tanks to create acoustic cavitations within said main reactor tank, conveying the flowback water from said main reactor tank to at least one centrifuge that will separate the solids out of the flowback water.

2. A process for treating flowback water as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

creating a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure within said main reactor tank.

3. A process for treating flowback water as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of;

exposing the flowback water to ultraviolet light after treatment by said at least one centrifuge.

4. A process for treating flowback water as set forth in claim 3 including the step of passing the flowback water through a plurality of media tanks containing activated carbon after exposing the flowback water to ultraviolet light.

5. A process for treating flowback water as set forth in claim 4 including the steps of;

passing the flowback water through reverse osmosis pumps and membranes to thereby produce a first output of clean flowback water and a second output of reject water for disposal.

6. A process for treating flowback water as set forth in claim 1 wherein the equipment for performing the process is installed within a standard container that can be moved from one well site to another by truck, rail or ship.