Transportable reactor tank

• US 8,906,242 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• 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:
  US13/019,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20110186526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 210/748.01, 210/638, 210/660, 210/205, 210/177, 210/190, 210/721, 210/665, 210/702, 210/748.02, 210/243, 210/153, 166/90.1, 166/267, 422/20, 422/22, 422/127, 422/128, 422/186, 204/660
• 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 1/34 with mechanical oscillations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/36 ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• 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 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/784 Diffusers or nozzles for ozonation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved water treatment apparatus. The treatment apparatus is pressurized and operates on a continuous flow of fluids which are subjected to hydrodynamic waves, acoustic ultrasonic waves in combination with injected ozone. The treatment tank includes a tangential inlet that induces a rotating flow into the tank thereby increasing the mixing of the ozone within the effluent. The ozonated fluid is further electro chemically treated with DC current. The treatment tank provides a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling fluids as contaminated as frac water, used to stimulate gas production from shale formations, as well as other types of fluids having various levels of contaminants such as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and suspended solids. The calcium carbonate scaling tendency is reduced to an acceptable level without the use of acids, ion exchange materials, or anti scaling chemicals which is of economical and environmental significance and benefit. The treatment apparatus is modular in construction and compact in overall configuration. The modular design makes the treatment apparatus easy to install, maintain, repair, replace and transport. The treatment apparatus and associated equipment is sized and configured to be mounted within a truck trailer body.

Claims

1. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water including the steps of:

pressurizing a source of flowback water;

injecting ozone into said flowback water;

passing said flowback water with injected ozone through a hydrodynamic mixing manifold to create hydrodynamic cavitation and then into a treatment apparatus;

directing said ozonated flowback water into at least one inlet passageway of said treatment apparatus;

energizing a plurality of ultrasonic transducers within said treatment apparatus to generate acoustic cavitation within said ozonated flowback water;

energizing a plurality of anodes and cathodes within said treatment apparatus to create an electrical potential within said treatment apparatus;

conveying the flowback water exiting the treatment apparatus through an outlet segment to at least one outlet line.

2. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of:

energizing a plurality of anodes within said outlet line thereby creating an electrical potential within said at least one outlet line.

3. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of:

creating hydrodynamic cavitation within at least a portion of said at least one outlet line.

4. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of:

directing said ozonated water into a plurality of inlet passageways of said treatment apparatus.

5. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one inlet passageway introduces said ozonated flowback water tangentially into a segment of said treatment apparatus thereby inducing a rotational flow of flowback water within the treatment apparatus.

6. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 wherein said treatment apparatus includes a plurality of segments, said segments including a pair of inlet passageways, each of said inlets passageways introducing said ozonated flowback water tangentially into the segments.

7. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of electrically heating a plate adjacent each of one of said plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

8. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of mounting said plurality of anodes within said treatment apparatus with one end of each of said plurality of anodes at one end of said treatment apparatus and the opposite end of each one of said plurality of anodes at the opposite end of said treatment apparatus.

9. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of passing said ozonated water through a series of flash reactors prior to passing the ozonated water into said hydrodynamic mixing manifold.

10. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of sending oxygen through an ozone generator, said oxygen being concentrated from the air using an oxygen generator.

11. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 10, further including the step of injecting said ozone through a port formed in a nozzle of the flowback water flow path.

12. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of mounting said treatment apparatus on a skid to facilitate installation, maintenance, repair, replacement and transport of said treatment apparatus.

13. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 12, further including the step of mounting said skid in mounted on a truck trailer.

14. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of mounting an ozone generator on said truck trailer.

15. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of mounting an ultrasonic generator on said truck trailer.

16. A process for lower scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of mounting a DC power supply source on said truck trailer.

17. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 including the step of creating a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure within said treatment apparatus.

18. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 including the step of electro chemically treating the flowback water in said at least one outlet line.

19. A process for lowering scaling tendencies in flowback water as set forth in claim 1 including the step of exposing the flowback water in said at least one outlet line to hydrodynamic cavitation.