Computer controlled wastewater evaporator

• US 8,579,264 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aston Evaporative Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Aston Evaporative Services LLC
• Inventors: Fowles, Russell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US13/165,204
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 261/78.2, 261/26, 261/115, 261/120, 261/DIG.79, 239/550
• US Class Current: 261/26
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/048 Purification of waste water by evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/10 from quarries or from mining activities
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/365 from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/24 Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

A pontoon based evaporative system has a weather monitoring station and control algorithm to shut down or slow down the atomizing fans in certain wind conditions. The central control system can control droplet size by slowing the fans down. The watercraft is collapsible to provide a fourteen foot width while afloat to support a plurality of atomizing fans high in the air. For transport the watercraft folds down to a nine foot trailer width with the atomizing fans resting on the base. An alternate embodiment is a land based frame having the same atomizing fans and weather monitoring and control algorithm.

Claims

1. A fluid evaporator system comprising:

a watercraft having a pump to propel an evaporative fluid to an onboard heat exchanger;

said onboard heat exchanger having an evaporative fluid connection to a plurality of onboard atomizing fans;

said onboard atomizing fans each having a hydraulic actuator which expels spent hydraulic fluid to the onboard heat exchanger and then to a hydraulic power pump which provides pressure and recirculation to the hydraulic fluid;

wherein the pressurized recirculated hydraulic fluid powers the fan(s) hydraulic actuator(s);

said system further comprising a weather sensor which sends a wind signal to an algorithm of control parameters for a central controller; and

said central controller having an input device to allow a system operator to define an arc of wind direction which triggers an algorithm of control parameters for the system via the central controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a wind speed sensor which sends a wind speed signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive a maximum wind speed setpoint to trigger the algorithm to control a total water evaporization by adjusting a speed of the atomizing fans or adjust a speed of the pump.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a wind speed sensor which sends a wind speed signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive an arc of wind direction and a maximum wind speed in that arc of wind direction to trigger the algorithm to shutdown the system via the central controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a humidity sensor which sends a humidity signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive a maximum humidity setpoint to trigger the algorithm to shutdown the system via the central controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a temperature sensor which sends a temperature signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive a temperature setpoint to trigger the algorithm to shutdown the system via the central controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump further comprises a flow rate sensor which sends a flow rate signal to the algorithm of control parameter in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive a low flow rate setpoint to trigger the algorithm to shutdown the system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard atomizing fans each have a mounting bracket which can be adjusted within a radial arc.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic power pump has a variable pressure controller which can reduce the hydraulic pressure which reduces the atomizing fan speed which increases a droplet size output.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the watercraft further comprises a collapsible frame having a deployed configuration of a pair of pontoons spaced at least about thirteen feet apart and having a folded configuration of the pair of pontoons less than about nine feet apart for transport on a trailer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the collapsible frame further comprises a fold down mounting arm for an atomizing fan having a deployed configuration supporting the atomizing fan in the air and a folded configuration supporting the atomizing fan down on a base of the watercraft for transport on a trailer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the watercraft further comprises an onboard hydraulic fluid reservoir.

12. An evaporator system comprising:

a watercraft having a pump to propel a fluid from a body or fluid which floats the watercraft to a plurality of onboard atomizing fans;

said atomizing fans powered by a hydraulic actuator which expels spent hydraulic fluid to a land based hydraulic power pump;

wherein the land based hydraulic power pump pressurizes and recirculates the spent hydraulic fluid;

said watercraft having a base with a left and a right hinged arm support;

each hinged arm support supporting a pontoon having a deployed left pontoon to right pontoon width of at least about twelve feet, and having a folded up transport left pontoon to right pontoon width of less than or equal to about nine feet.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base further comprises a support assembly for an atomizing fan, said support assembly have a collapsible fan support arm that pivots from a folded mode placing the atomizing fan down near the base and pivots up to a deployed mode supporting the atomizing fan in the air.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a control system with a weather sensor to send a wind speed and direction signal to the control system, wherein an operator can designate a maximum wind speed in a wind direction arc to trigger a system algorithm to shutdown the system or control an evaporative water volume by means of slowing the pump speed and/or slowing the fan speed.

15. An evaporator system comprising:

a watercraft having a pump to propel a fluid from a body or fluid which floats the watercraft to a plurality of onboard atomizing fans;

said atomizing fans each powered by an electric motor;

wherein a land based electric power skid sends power to the atomizing fans and the pump;

said watercraft having a base with a left and a right hinged arm support;

each hinged arm support supporting a pontoon having a deployed left pontoon to right pontoon width of at least about twelve feet, and having a folded up transport left pontoon to right pontoon width of less than or equal to about nine feet.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the base further comprises a support assembly for an atomizing fan, said support assembly have a collapsible fan support arm that pivots from a folded mode placing the atomizing fan down near the base and pivots up to a deployed mode supporting the atomizing fan in the air.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a control system with a weather sensor to send a wind speed and direction signal to the control system, wherein an operator can designate a maximum wind speed in a wind direction arc to trigger a system shutdown or control an evaporative water flow.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control system can vary the speed of the atomizing fans to create various size water droplets.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the control system can vary the speed of the pump.

20. A fluid evaporator system comprising:

a frame having a pump to propel an evaporative fluid to an onboard heat exchanger;

said onboard heat exchanger having an evaporative fluid connection to a plurality of onboard atomizing fans;

said onboard atomizing fans each having a hydraulic actuator which expels spent hydraulic fluid to the onboard heat exchanger and then to a hydraulic power pump which provides pressure and recirulation to the hydraulic fluid;

wherein the pressurized recirculated hydraulic fluid powers the fan (s) hydraulic actuator (s);

said system further comprising a weather sensor which sends a wind signal to an algorithm of control parameters for a central controller; and

said central controller having an input device to allow a system operator to define an arc of wind direction which triggers an algorithm of control parameters for the system via the central controller.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a wind speed sensor which sends a wind speed signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive a maximum wind speed setpoint to trigger the algorithm to control a total water evaporization by adjusting a speed of the atomizing fans or adjust a speed of the pump.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a wind speed sensor which sends a wind speed signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive an arc of wind direction and a maximum wind speed in that arc of wind direction to trigger the algorithm to shutdown the system via the central controller.

23. A fluid evaporator system comprising:

a frame having a pump to propel an evaporative fluid to a plurality of onboard electric powered atomizing fans;

said system further comprising a weather sensor which sends a wind signal to an algorithm of control parameters for a central controller; and

said central controller having an input device to allow a system operator to define an arc of wind direction which triggers an algorithm of control parameters for the system via the central controller.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a wind speed sensor which sends a wind speed signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive a maximum wind speed setpoint to trigger the algorithm to control a total water evaporization by adjusting a speed of the atomizing fans or adjust a speed of the pump.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the weather sensor further comprises a wind speed sensor which sends a wind speed signal to the algorithm of control parameters in the central controller, and wherein the input device can receive an arc of wind direction and a maximum wind speed in that arc of wind direction to trigger the algorithm to shutdown the system via the central controller.