System for providing high microbiological quality cooling water to an industrial processes
First Claim
1. A system for providing high microbiological quality cooling water, wherein the system is in fluid communication with an industrial process in need of cooling, and wherein the system provides cooling water to the industrial process, the system comprising:
- a manufactured container for holding a water body comprising fresh water, brackish water, or sea water for cooling the industrial process, wherein the container is an artificial lake, lagoon, or pond having a bottom comprising a liner capable of being cleaned by a mobile suction device, the water body comprises a volume of at least 10,000 m3 and a surface area from about 50 to about 30,000 m2 per MW of cooling required by the industrial process, and the surface area of the water body is defined by the container;
a feeding line of inlet water to the container;
coordination means for maintaining the cooling water in the container within predetermined water quality parameters;
chemical application means for applying a disinfectant agent, oxidizing agent, coagulant, or flocculant to the cooling water in the container;
a mobile suction device capable of moving along the bottom of the container and suctioning a portion of the cooling water from the bottom of the container containing the settled particles;
propelling means for moving the mobile suction device along the bottom of the container;
filtration means for filtering the portion of cooling water containing settled particles suctioned by the mobile suction device;
a collecting line coupled between the mobile suction device and the filtration means;
a return line from the filtration means to the container;
a heat exchanger inlet line in fluid communication with the container and the industrial process, capable of feeding a heat exchanger of the industrial process with cooling water from the container; and
a return heat exchanger water line in fluid communication with the industrial process and the container, capable of discharging the heated cooling water from the industrial process into the container;
wherein the coordination means receives information obtained by visual inspection, an empirical method, an algorithm, or a detector regarding water quality parameters and controls activation of the chemical application means, mobile suction device, and filtration means to adjust said water quality parameters within their limits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for treating water, and using the treated water for the cooling of industrial processes is disclosed. The water is treated and stored in a large container or artificial lagoon, has high clarity and high microbiological quality. A system of the invention generally includes a containing means, such as a large container or artificial lagoon, a coordination means, a chemical application means, a mobile suction means, and a filtration means. The coordination means monitors and controls the processes in order to adjust water quality parameters within specified limits. The large container or artificial lagoon can act as a heat sink, absorbing waste heat from the industrial cooling process, thus creating thermal energy reservoirs in a sustainable manner, which can be later used for other purposes. The method and system can be used in any industrial cooling system with any type of water available, including fresh water, brackish water, and seawater.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for providing high microbiological quality cooling water, wherein the system is in fluid communication with an industrial process in need of cooling, and wherein the system provides cooling water to the industrial process, the system comprising:
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a manufactured container for holding a water body comprising fresh water, brackish water, or sea water for cooling the industrial process, wherein the container is an artificial lake, lagoon, or pond having a bottom comprising a liner capable of being cleaned by a mobile suction device, the water body comprises a volume of at least 10,000 m3 and a surface area from about 50 to about 30,000 m2 per MW of cooling required by the industrial process, and the surface area of the water body is defined by the container; a feeding line of inlet water to the container; coordination means for maintaining the cooling water in the container within predetermined water quality parameters; chemical application means for applying a disinfectant agent, oxidizing agent, coagulant, or flocculant to the cooling water in the container; a mobile suction device capable of moving along the bottom of the container and suctioning a portion of the cooling water from the bottom of the container containing the settled particles; propelling means for moving the mobile suction device along the bottom of the container; filtration means for filtering the portion of cooling water containing settled particles suctioned by the mobile suction device; a collecting line coupled between the mobile suction device and the filtration means; a return line from the filtration means to the container; a heat exchanger inlet line in fluid communication with the container and the industrial process, capable of feeding a heat exchanger of the industrial process with cooling water from the container; and a return heat exchanger water line in fluid communication with the industrial process and the container, capable of discharging the heated cooling water from the industrial process into the container; wherein the coordination means receives information obtained by visual inspection, an empirical method, an algorithm, or a detector regarding water quality parameters and controls activation of the chemical application means, mobile suction device, and filtration means to adjust said water quality parameters within their limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A cooling water system for providing cooling water to an industrial process in need of cooling, wherein the system is in fluid communication with the industrial process and wherein the system provides cooling water to the industrial process, the system comprising:
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a manufactured container for holding a water body comprising fresh water, brackish water, or sea water for cooling the industrial process, wherein the container is an artificial lagoon, lake, or pond having a bottom comprising a non-porous liner, the water body comprises a volume of at least 10,000 m3 and a surface area from about 50 to about 30,000 m2 per MW of cooling required by the industrial process, and the surface area of the water body is defined by the container; a suction device capable of moving along the bottom of the container and suctioning a portion of the cooling water from the bottom of the container containing settled particles; a filtration system comprising a cartridge filter, sand filter, micro-filter, ultra-filter, nanofilter, or a combination thereof; a collecting line operatively connecting the self-propelled suction device to the filtration system, wherein the collecting line is constructed to lead suctioned water from the suction device to the filtration system; a first return line operatively connecting the filtration system to the container, wherein the first return line is constructed to lead filtered water from the filtration system to the container; a system for applying chemicals to the water, the system comprising a pipe, a dispenser, an injector, a sprinkler, or a combination thereof; an automated system comprising a computer and sensors configured to receive information obtained by visual inspection, an empirical method, an algorithm, or a detector regarding water quality parameters, process the information, and control activation of the self-propelled suction device, the filtration system, and the system for applying chemicals to adjust the water quality parameters within predetermined water quality limits; a feeding line operatively connecting the container to a heat exchanger of the industrial process, wherein the feeding line is constructed to provide cooling water from the container to the heat exchanger; and a second return line operatively connecting the heat exchanger of the industrial process to the container, wherein the second return line is constructed to direct spent cooling water from the heat exchanger to the container. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification