U.S. patent application number 13/552831 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-21 for system and method for cleaning hyrocarbon contaminated water.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jacob G. Appelbaum. Invention is credited to Jacob G. Appelbaum.
Application Number | 20130306573 13/552831 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49580436 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130306573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Appelbaum; Jacob G. |
November 21, 2013 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLEANING HYROCARBON CONTAMINATED WATER
Abstract
A system or method for removing undesired organic material or
particulates, such as crude oil, from water, cavitate the mixture
with air; irradiate the jet sprayed cavitated mixture with an
electron beam or an electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma
discharge to create ozone and free radicals within
air-oil-in-water-emulsion; and filter the water from the irradiated
mixture.
Inventors: |
Appelbaum; Jacob G.;
(Gainesville, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Appelbaum; Jacob G. |
Gainesville |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49580436 |
Appl. No.: |
13/552831 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61509152 |
Jul 19, 2011 |
|
|
|
61510772 |
Jul 22, 2011 |
|
|
|
61673064 |
Jul 18, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/748.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01J 19/085 20130101;
C02F 1/74 20130101; C10G 50/00 20130101; C02F 11/08 20130101; B01J
2219/0875 20130101; C02F 1/305 20130101; B01J 2219/0871 20130101;
C02F 1/34 20130101; C02F 2305/023 20130101; B01J 2219/0869
20130101; C02F 1/001 20130101; C02F 2101/32 20130101; B01J 19/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/748.01 |
International
Class: |
C02F 1/30 20060101
C02F001/30 |
Claims
1. A method for removing petroleum from water, comprising:
cavitating the petroleum/water mixture with air bubbles;
irradiating the cavitated petroleum/water mixture with an electron
beam to create ozone within air bubbles; and filtering the water
from the irradiated mixture.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the petroleum/water
mixture is cavitated by: introducing air into the petroleum/water
mixture to create air bubbles in the petroleum/water mixture;
agitating the bubblified petroleum/water mixture to reduce bubble
size: eject bubblified petroleum/water mixture a jet spray so that
jet spray is irradiated with the electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jet spray is
generated by an expansion nozzle.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jet spray is
generated by a nozzle and pressurized gas.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavitated
petroleum/water mixture is irradiated with an electron beam
sustained non-thermal discharge.
6. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:
irradiating the agitated bubblified petroleum/water mixture with an
electron beam sustained non-thermal discharge.
7. A method for treating solid waste, comprising: processing the
solid waste, using a digester, to create wet sludge; and cavitating
and irradiating the wet sludge with an electron beam to dewater the
sludge.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cavitated wet
sludge is irradiated with an electron beam sustained non-thermal
discharge.
9. A method for treating solid waste, comprising: cavitating and
irradiating the solid waste with an electron beam; processing the
irradiated solid waste, using a digester, to create wet sludge; and
cavitating and irradiating the wet sludge with an electron beam to
dewater the sludge.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cavitated solid
waste is irradiated with an electron beam sustained non-thermal
discharge.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cavitated wet
sludge is irradiated with an electron beam sustained non-thermal
discharge.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cavitated wet
sludge is irradiated with an electron beam sustained non-thermal
discharge.
Description
PRIORITY INFORMATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/509,152, filed on Jul. 19, 2011. The
entire content of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/509,152, filed on Jul. 19, 2011, is hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0002] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/510,772, filed on Jul. 22, 2011. The
entire content of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/510,772, filed on Jul. 22, 2011, is hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0003] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/673,064, filed on Jul. 18, 2012. The
entire content of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/673,064, filed on Jul. 18, 2012, is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Oil spills are a source of undesired and often devastating
pollution to the surrounding environment which needs to be cleaned
up, especially if the oil spill occurs in a body of open water.
[0005] On conventional method for cleaning up oil spills in water
is to add toxic materials to break up the oil, causing the oil to
submerge and disperse. However, although the oil spill may appear
gone, the oil has merely gone deeper and remains in the form of
oil-in-water emulsions, thereby making it more difficult to
effectively collect and clean-up oil polluted water to the point
below environmental toxicity.
[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a more efficient and
less toxic method of water remediation on-site in case of major oil
spills due to catastrophic events in the deep water oil drilling
industry, numerous smaller scale oil spills from oil tankers, in
water processing on land, both of process water from enhanced oil
recovery and shale processing, industrial and municipal wastewater
treatment, and toxic remediation of an environmentally damaged
water bodies in land.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating various
embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of a
process for cleaning up oil spills in water;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a cavitation system
and an electron beam system;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a cavitation system
and a dual electron beam system;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a cavitation
system;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a mobile cavitation/electron beam
system;
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the effective power of a
dual electron beam system with respect to a thin layer of water or
water spray (aerosol);
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a water
treatment system using a cavitation/electron beam system;
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of another example of a
water treatment system using a cavitation/electron beam system;
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a multiple electron beam
system;
[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates another example of a multiple electron
beam system;
[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a portable shielding
system for use with an electron beam system; and
[0019] FIG. 12 illustrates another example of a portable shielding
system for use with an electron beam system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] For a general understanding, reference is made to the
drawings. In the drawings, like references have been used
throughout to designate identical or equivalent elements. It is
also noted that the drawings may not have been drawn to scale and
that certain regions may have been purposely drawn
disproportionately so that the features and concepts could be
properly illustrated.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of an oil recovery system
using an electron beam system.
[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the oil/water mixture is cavitated
with air by a cavitation unit, at step S10. The cavitated mixture
is irradiated by an electron beam or an electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge, created by an electron beam
generation unit, at step S20. Thereafter, the irradiated mixture is
filtered to remove the water, at step S30.
[0023] In one embodiment, the cavitation process can be realized in
three zones or stages. In the first stage, air is introduced into
the oil/water mixture. The air may be introduced to the mixture via
heterogeneous hydraulic pump or other pressurized air delivery
device. The first stage may create bubbles within the mixtures
having a diameter from 500 to 1000 microns.
[0024] In the second stage, the mixture is agitated to split the
bubbles to smaller and smaller sizes such that the bubbles have a
diameter of about a few microns. Such small bubbles effectively
increase the surface of the bubbles, thereby allowing a greater
access of generated within the air bubbles in the course of the
irradiation process.
[0025] In the third stage, the cavitated mixture is ejected through
nozzles to add more air to the mixture and further split the
bubbles. The jetted mixture provides greater air saturation, more
effective penetration of the electron beam or electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge, and atomized explosive
bubbles.
[0026] The nozzles may be conventional expansion nozzles or air can
be added in the jetting process (generating a jet spray).
[0027] The cavitation of air with subsequent generation of ozone
within microscopic air bubbles by e-beam radiation allows more
effective decomposition of oil components dissolved in water as
well as more effective separation of oil components non-soluble in
water from the cavitated oil-in-water emulsion. This in turn allows
for up to 50% reduction of the electron beam delivered radiation
dose required for such decomposition and separation to take
place.
[0028] Cavitation device 10 of FIG. 2, cavitates the crude
oil/water mixture with air.
[0029] The cavitation process adds "gas bubbles" to the mixture,
which enable a more effective penetration of an electron beam or an
electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge.
[0030] The cavitated mixture is discharged through a set of nozzles
to create jets (20) of crude oil/water mixture. The discharging of
the crude oil/water mixture through the set of nozzles further
cavitates the mixture before the mixture is irradiated or exposed
to an electron beam or an electron beam sustained non-thermal
plasma discharge 35 generated by electron beam generator 30. It is
noted that the electron beam may be a 0.5-2.5 MeV electron
beam.
[0031] In one embodiment, the cavitation process can be realized in
three zones or stages.
[0032] In the first stage, air is introduced into the oil/water
mixture. The air may be explosively introduced to the mixture (high
temperature and pressure). The first stage may create bubbles
within the mixtures having a diameter from 500 to 1000 microns.
[0033] In the second stage, the mixture is cavitated to split both
the air bubbles and oil droplets to smaller and smaller sizes such
that the bubbles have a diameter of about a few microns and the
droplets have a diameter of a few tens of microns effectively
creating oil-in-water emulsion. Such small air bubbles and oil
droplets effectively allow a greater interface between the air and
the oil-in-water emulsion and subsequently allow greater diffusion
of e-beam generated ozone in said air bubbles into oil-in-water
emulsion.
[0034] In the third stage, the cavitated mixture is ejected through
nozzles to create liquid aerosol droplets consisting of
water-in-oil emulsion and microscopic air bubbles. The jetted
air-bubbles-oil-in-water aerosol mixture allows more effective
penetration of the electron beam or electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge through the mixture, more effective
generation of free OH radicals within the oil-in-water emulsion and
ozone within the air bubbles, resulting to more effective diffusion
of free radicals and ozone within atomized air-bubbles-oil-in-water
aerosol mixture.
[0035] The nozzles may be conventional expansion nozzles or air can
be added in the jetting process (generating a jet spray).
[0036] The cavitation of air in the oil-in-water emulsion mixture
enables up to 50% increase in efficiency of oil decomposition and
separation from oil-in-water emulsion when the electron beam alone
or in combination with an electron beam non-thermal plasma
discharge are being utilized for generating ozone and free radicals
in the mixture.
[0037] By exposing the jets (20) of cavitated mixture to the
electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge or electron
beam 35 alone, the ozone and free radicals generated in the
mixture, enables more effective breakdown of the oil particles.
[0038] Cavitation device 10 of FIG. 6, cavitates the crude
oil/water mixture with air.
[0039] The cavitation process adds "microscopic gas bubbles" to the
mixture, which enable a more effective generation of ozone inside
the air bubbles and free radicals inside the oil-in-water emulsion
by an electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge or
e-beam applied alone.
[0040] The cavitated mixture is discharged through a set of nozzles
to create jets (20) of air-bubbles in-crude oil-in-water aerosol
mixture. The discharging of the crude oil/water mixture through the
set of nozzles further cavitates the mixture before the mixture is
irradiated or exposed to two electron beams or two electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge (35 and 45). It is noted
that two electron beams are generated by two high-voltage
generators (30 and 40) and the electron beams may be a 0.5-2.5 MeV
electron beams.
[0041] In one embodiment, the cavitation process can be realized in
three zones or stages.
[0042] In the first stage, air is introduced into the oil/water
mixture. The air may be explosively introduced to the mixture (high
temperature and pressure). The first stage may create bubbles
within the mixtures having a diameter from 500 to 1000 microns.
[0043] In the second stage, the mixture is agitated to split the
bubbles to smaller and smaller sizes such that the bubbles have a
diameter of about a few microns. Such small bubbles effectively
increase the surface of the bubbles, thereby allowing a greater
interface between the oil-in-water emulsion and ozone generated
within the air bubbles in the subsequent irradiation process.
[0044] In the third stage, the cavitated mixture is ejected through
nozzles to add more air to the mixture and further split the
bubbles. The jetted mixture provides greater air saturation, more
effective penetration of the electron beam or the electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge, and atomized explosive
bubbles.
[0045] The nozzles may be conventional expansion nozzles or air can
be added in the jetting process (generating a jet spray).
[0046] The cavitation of air in the mixture enables the power of
the electron beam to be reduced, up to 50%, when being utilized for
generating ozone.
[0047] By exposing the jets (20) of cavitated mixture to the
electron beams or electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma
discharge (35 and 45), a greater amount of ozone is generated,
thereby enabling a more effective breakdown of the oil
particles.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a more detail example of a cavitation device
10. The cavitation device 10 is divided into three stages or
zones.
[0049] In the first stage or zone 12, the cavitation device 10
cavitates the oil/water mixture, with air, received by conduit
11.
[0050] The first stage or zone 12 of the cavitation device 10 adds
"gas bubbles" to the oil/water mixture.
[0051] The cavitated mixture from the first stage or zone 12 of the
cavitation device 10 is introduced into the second stage or zone 14
of the cavitation device 10.
[0052] The second stage or zone 14 of the cavitation device 10
splits the "gas bubbles" from the first stage into smaller "gas
bubbles." The small the "gas bubbles," the more effective the
penetration of an electron beam or electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge will be.
[0053] The cavitated mixture from the second stage or zone 14 of
the cavitation device 10 is discharged through a set of nozzles
(16) to create jets (17) of the oil/water mixture.
[0054] The discharging of the oil/water mixture through the set of
nozzles (16) further cavitates the mixture before the mixture is
irradiated or exposed to an electron beam or an electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dual electron beam system
which can be utilized to separate oil components non-soluble in
water from oil-in-water emulsions and/or to treat contaminated
water by decomposing oil components as well as other organic
contaminants that are soluble in water.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 5, two electron beam generators 30
are position opposite each other. Contaminated water (water/oil
mixture) enters a cavitation unit 10 where the contaminated water
is cavitated with air to create an air-bubble filled mixture. The
cavitation process breaks up the bubbles to small and smaller
bubbles so that the effective surface area of the bubbles and their
interface with contaminated water is increased.
[0057] Note that air bubbles may also exist inside the oil droplets
within the oil-in-water emulsion.
[0058] The cavitated mixture is ejected from the cavitation unit 10
through the utilization of jet nozzles (not shown) to further
facilitate the cavitation of the mixture with more air and smaller
bubbles.
[0059] As the mixture is ejected, the electron beam generators 30
irradiate the ejected mixture wherein the electron beam or electron
beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge interacts with the air
bubbles to generate ozone. The generated ozone can effectively
breakdown the oil particles within the oil-in-water emulsion. In
other words, the air bubbles act as ozone generation sites when
irradiated by the electron beam or exposed to e-beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge.
[0060] The irradiated mixture passes over a filter 75 where the oil
particulates solidified within oil-in-water emulsion in the course
of the e-beam irradiation process can be effectively separated from
the water.
[0061] It is noted that although FIG. 5 shows a horizontal electron
beam system for irradiating a vertical path of a water mixture, the
process is effective on a horizontal water path by merely rotating
the electron beam system to create a vertical electron beam
system.
[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates the effective power of a dual electron
beam system with respect to the irradiated water column.
[0063] For example, as the electron beam or electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge 45 traverses the water column 500, the
effective power of the electron beam or electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge 47 (dash/dot line) diminishes.
Moreover, as the electron beam or electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge 35 traverses the water column 500, the
effective power of the electron beam or electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge 37 (dash/dot line) diminishes.
[0064] However, by utilizing a dual beam system, as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 5, the overall effective power of the electron beams or
electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge 600
(dash/dot/dot/dash line), upon individual diminishing, remains
relatively high. Essentially, the entire column of water may
experience electron beam irradiation at 100% power when utilizing a
dual beam system. In one embodiment, the power of the electron beam
is 1.0 MeV.
[0065] As noted above, the various systems use an electron beam or
an electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge to recover
the oil from the water.
[0066] The oil/water mixture is cavitated with air by a cavitation
unit. The cavitated mixture is irradiated by an electron beam
generation unit. Thereafter, the irradiated mixture is filtered to
remove the water.
[0067] In one embodiment, the cavitation process can be realized in
three zones or stages. In the first stage, air is introduced into
the oil/ware mixture. The air may be explosively introduced to the
mixture (high temperature and pressure). The first stage may create
bubbles within the mixtures having a diameter from 500 to 1000
microns.
[0068] In the second stage, the mixture is agitated to split the
bubbles and the oil-in-water droplets into smaller and smaller
sizes such that the bubbles have a diameter of about a few microns
and effectively create an oil-in-water emulsion. Such small bubbles
and small oil droplets effectively increase the interface between
the bubbles and the oil-in-water emulsion, thereby allowing a
greater access to oil by ozone generated within the air bubbles and
free radicals generated within the water in oil-in-water emulsion
in the course of the irradiation process.
[0069] In the third stage, the cavitated mixture is ejected through
nozzles to add more air to the mixture and further split the
bubbles. The jetted mixture provides greater air saturation, more
effective penetration of the electron beam or electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge, and more effective
generation of both ozone and free radicals within the atomized
air-oil-in-water aerosol droplets.
[0070] The nozzles may be conventional expansion nozzles or air can
be added in the jetting process (generating a jet spray).
[0071] The cavitation of air in the mixture enables the process
efficiency to be increased up to 50%, when electron beam or e-beam
sustained discharge is being utilized for generating ozone within
the air bubbles.
[0072] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram system using a
cavitation/electron beam process to treat solid waste (sludge). As
illustrated, solid waste (wet sludge), which has been processed by
a digester 1000, is fed to a cavitation/electron beam unit 2000,
where the wet sludge is cavitated and irradiated with an electron
beam or an electron beam sustained non-thermal plasma discharge to
produce dewatered sludge.
[0073] The combined electron beam and cavitation treatment of wet
sludge (both municipal and industrial) results in significant
dewatering by releasing water bound inside the porous sludge
particulates, thus resulting in 50% or more dewatering compared to
non-cavitated and non-radiated sludge. This applies to both
inorganic sediment particulates and so called bio-solids from water
bound to the outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the pores of such
particles in wet sludge (2-3% of total solid content).
[0074] It is noted that the combined electron beam or electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge and cavitation treatment is
also effective in removing water from partially dewatered (20-30%
of total solid content) sludge coming from sludge dewatering
centrifuges.
[0075] It is also noted that just electron beam treatment, without
cavitation, can provide significant dewatering compared to
non-radiated sludge though to a lower extent compared with combined
e-beam/cavitation treatment.
[0076] By utilizing electron beam treatment, significant energy
savings can also be realized over conventional dewatering processes
by centrifuges, as well as, shipping costs due to the lower water
content in the sludge.
[0077] FIG. 8 illustrates another block diagram system using a
cavitation/electron beam process to treat solid waste (sludge). In
this system, a cavitation/electron beam unit 3000 is introduced
before the digester 1000.
[0078] The cavitation/electron beam unit 3000 breaks up the sludge
so that the sludge does not require the same amount of time in the
digester 1000, thereby enabling the processing of more sludge
during a given period of time.
[0079] As in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 illustrates that solid waste (wet
sludge), which has been processed by a digester 1000, is fed to a
cavitation/electron beam unit 2000, where the wet sludge is
cavitated and irradiated with an electron beam or an electron beam
sustained non-thermal plasma discharge to produce dewatered
sludge.
[0080] The electron beam and cavitation treatment of wet sludge
(both municipal and industrial) results in significant dewatering
of both inorganic sediment particulates and so called bio-solids
from water bound to the outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the
pores of such particles in wet sludge (2-3% of total solid
content).
[0081] It is noted that the electron beam and cavitation treatment
is also effective in removing water from partially dewatered
(20-30% of total solid content) sludge coming from sludge
dewatering centrifuges.
[0082] It is also noted that just electron beam treatment, without
cavitation, can provide dewatering to a lower extent.
[0083] By utilizing electron beam treatment, significant energy
savings can also be realized over conventional dewatering processes
by centrifuges, as well as, shipping costs due to the lower water
content in the sludge.
[0084] FIG. 9 illustrates a multiple electron beam system. In this
example, the mixture to be irradiated is introduced into an oval
chamber 80. The chamber 80 includes windows 90 to allow irradiation
by the electron beam generation units 30. The chamber 80 may also
include cavitators (not shown) that cavitate the mixture between
windows 90.
[0085] FIG. 10 illustrates another multiple electron beam system.
In this example, the mixture to be irradiated is introduced into a
circular chamber 85, through openings (not shown). The chamber 85
includes windows 90 to allow irradiation by the electron beam
generation units 30. The chamber 85 may also include cavitators
(not shown) that cavitate the mixture between windows 90.
[0086] FIG. 11 illustrates a portable water shielding housing 5000
having a steel door 6000 to allow an entry way for personnel. This
portable water shielding housing 5000 can be constructed to
surround an electron beam generation unit 4000 so as to shield the
environment from stray radiation.
[0087] The housing may be constructed of bladders or pillows that
can be filled on site with water to provide the shielding. The
bladders and pillows are designed to interlock together so that
when stack, the water-filled bladders or pillows create a stable
wall.
[0088] FIG. 12 illustrates a portable water shielding housing 5000,
which can be constructed to surround an electron beam generation
unit 4000 so as to shield the environment from stray radiation.
[0089] The housing may be constructed of bladders or pillows that
can be filled on site with water to provide the shielding. The
bladders and pillows are designed to interlock together so that
when stack, the water-filled bladders or pillows create a stable
wall.
[0090] By utilizing bladders and/or pillows which can be filled
with water, the empty bladders and/or pillows can be centrally
stored and easily transported to a contamination site for
construction. Moreover, by being water filled, heavy construction
equipment is not required in constructing the shield because the
empty bladders and/or pillows can be placed into their positions
before filling.
[0091] It is noted that cavitation is utilized to generate an
air-in-oil-in-water emulsion, characterized by microscopic air
bubbles and microscopic oil droplets mixed with water. The
microscopic air bubbles and microscopic oil droplets increase the
interface between all three phases within the mix so that the
generated ozone and free radicals (from the electron beam
treatment) have better access to oil molecules.
[0092] The electron beam or electron beam sustained non-thermal
plasma discharge generates ozone within the microscopic air
bubbles, as well as, generate free radicals within both microscopic
oil droplets (hydrocarbon radicals) and surrounding water (OH*, H*,
O-- radicals as well as highly reactive H.sub.2O.sub.2). The ozone
and free radicals can better attack the oil by diffusing into oil
through increased contact interface.
[0093] It is noted that cavitation also results in increased
water/sludge treatment efficiency by significantly (up to 50%)
reducing the radiation dose (the amount of energy by delivered to
mass unit of the by e-beam irradiated material) required for e-beam
water treatment.
[0094] It is further noted that an electron beam sustained
non-thermal plasma discharge can be separately initiated in
cavitated liquid prior to the cavitated liquid is discharged by jet
spraying through the nozzles. In this situation, the electron beam
sustained non-thermal discharge occurring in the cavitated liquid
(oil-in water emulsion with air bubbles) may increase the treatment
efficiency by generating ozone in the air bubbles and free radicals
in the water and oil even prior to the action of the electron beam
sustained non-thermal discharge or electron beam alone on the
jetted aerosol spray.
[0095] It will be appreciated that variations of the
above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or
alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other
different systems or applications. Also, various presently
unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations
or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled
in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the
description above.
* * * * *