U.S. patent application number 15/581889 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-17 for method and device for concentrating dissolved solids in flowback and produced water from natural gas wells.
The applicant listed for this patent is Heartland Technology Partners, LLC. Invention is credited to Craig Clerkin, Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch.
Application Number | 20170233262 15/581889 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53006144 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170233262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duesel, JR.; Bernard F. ; et
al. |
August 17, 2017 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONCENTRATING DISSOLVED SOLIDS IN FLOWBACK
AND PRODUCED WATER FROM NATURAL GAS WELLS
Abstract
A wastewater concentrator a liquid evaporator assembly, a
gas-liquid separator, an exhaust assembly, and a flowback water
concentrating system. The flowback water concentrating system
includes a settling tank fluidly connected to the gas-liquid
separator and a supernatant liquid concentration sensor for
measuring a concentration of dissolved solids in the supernatant
liquid in the settling tank.
Inventors: |
Duesel, JR.; Bernard F.;
(Goshen, NY) ; Rutsch; Michael J.; (Pittsburgh,
PA) ; Clerkin; Craig; (Stoughton, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Heartland Technology Partners, LLC |
St. Louis |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53006144 |
Appl. No.: |
15/581889 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14533613 |
Nov 5, 2014 |
|
|
|
15581889 |
|
|
|
|
61900152 |
Nov 5, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/179 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/26 20130101;
C02F 2103/10 20130101; C02F 2001/007 20130101; C02F 2103/365
20130101; C02F 1/10 20130101; C02F 2209/05 20130101; C02F 2209/10
20130101; B01D 1/305 20130101; C02F 2201/008 20130101; C02F 2101/32
20130101; B01D 1/14 20130101; B01D 1/0058 20130101; C02F 1/048
20130101; C02F 2303/14 20130101; C02F 2201/002 20130101; C02F 1/16
20130101 |
International
Class: |
C02F 1/04 20060101
C02F001/04; B01D 1/30 20060101 B01D001/30; B01D 1/00 20060101
B01D001/00; B01D 1/14 20060101 B01D001/14; C02F 1/16 20060101
C02F001/16; C02F 1/10 20060101 C02F001/10 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A device for concentrating dissolved solids in flowback water
from natural gas wells, the device comprising: a liquid evaporator
assembly; a gas-liquid separator fluidly connected to the liquid
evaporator assembly; an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the
gas-liquid separator; a settling tank fluidly connected to the
gas-liquid separator; and a concentrated supernatant liquid sensor
disposed in the settling tank for measuring a concentration of
dissolved solids in the supernatant liquid in the settling
tank.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a slurry
concentration sensor in the settling tank for measuring a
concentration level of suspended solids in the slurry in the
settling tank.
16. The device of claim 14, wherein the settling tank further
comprises a stirring rod.
17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a rake operatively
attached to the stirring rod.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the stirring rod rotates at
between 1 RPM and 10 RPM.
19. The device of claim 14, wherein an inner surface of the
settling tank comprises an inner epoxy liner.
20. The device of claim 14, wherein the inner epoxy liner is
approximately 30 mil thick.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S.
Patent Application No. 61/900,152, filed Nov. 5, 2013, the entirety
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The disclosure generally relates to methods and devices for
concentrating wastewater and more particularly to methods and
devices for concentrating dissolved salts in flowback and produced
water from natural gas wells.
[0004] Background
[0005] Natural gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas having
many beneficial uses. Natural gas is an emerging world-wide energy
source that may be used for electrical generation and vehicle
propulsion, among other uses. Natural gas is also useful as a
chemical feedstock in the manufacture of plastics and other organic
chemicals. Natural gas is most often found deep underground and
thus, must be extracted by drilling a well. After the well is
drilled, the natural gas seeps into the well bore, where it can be
removed and stored for refining and future use.
[0006] As more easily accessible natural gas formations are mined
out, natural gas producers are turning more and more to natural gas
rich rock formations, such as shales, which have a matrix
permeability that is too low to allow gas to flow through, or out
of, the formation. Hydraulic fracking was developed to access
natural gas contained in these formations. Hydraulic fracking
involves pumping large volumes of water, often under pressure, into
these formations in an attempt to create small cracks in the rock
formation, which allow the natural gas to flow back into the well
bore, where it can be extracted. Once the rock formation is
fracked, the natural underground pressure may be sufficient to
force the natural gas into the well bore. Alternatively, to enhance
natural gas collection, additional water may be forced into the
well under pressure to increase the down bore pressure, which
causes natural gas to displace into the well bore more quickly.
[0007] One way to enhance down bore pressures is to increase the
density of the liquid that is pumped down the well. Most often,
density of the fracking water is increased by mixing salt into the
water until the water is close to, or at, the saturation point for
the salt. The particular salt also influences the final density of
the fracking water. Artificially increasing the density of the
fracking water in this manner, while accomplishing the main goal of
increasing downbore pressure, is relatively expensive, which
increases the costs of extracting the natural gas, often far beyond
the point of economic feasibility.
[0008] The natural, or enhanced, down bore pressures also cause
some of the fracking water (known as flowback water) to also seep
back into the well bore. Additionally, naturally occurring ground
water may also seep into the well bore (after a certain amount of
time, this type of water is called produced water). Because the
flowback waters and produced waters were in contact with mineral
formations deep underground, these two types of wastewater contain
many types of dissolved solids (such as salts) and suspended
solids, such as silica, which must be processed in accordance with
environmental regulations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a wastewater concentrator
assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the wastewater
concentrator assembly along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a schematic piping and instrumentation diagram
generally along the cross-sectional elevation of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the wastewater
concentrator assembly along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the wastewater concentrator
assembly connected to a flowback water or a produced water
concentration system; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a storage tank of
the flowback water or produced water concentration system of FIG.
4;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Generally, the methods and devices described herein address
two problems in the hydraulic fracking natural gas industry. The
methods and devices described herein reduce the volume of flowback
and produced water by evaporating a portion of the water, which
reduces transportation costs and treatment costs for the remaining
concentrated liquid. The methods and devices described herein also
concentrate dissolved solids, such as salts, that are present in
the flowback and produced water, which results in beneficial
increases in the density of the concentrated flowback and produced
waters, so that the concentrated flowback and produced waters may
be re-used as fracking liquids, which further reduces treatment
costs while enhancing down bore fracking pressures. A further
benefit of the methods and devices described herein is that the
concentrated flowback and produced waters (which may be referred to
hereinafter as "concentrated brines") may function as anti-freeze
during cold weather fracking operations or during cold weather
natural gas extraction operations. Finally, heavy concentrated
brines may be used as capping fluids during oil well drilling to
prevent blow up when an oil pocket is punctured. In the disclosure,
the term "heavy concentrated brines" refers to brine liquids having
a density of more than 8 lb/gal.
[0016] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one
embodiment of a wastewater concentrator assembly 18 including a
wastewater concentrator 20 being carried on a mobile hauling
platform 22, such as a truck bed or a trailer, as a single unit.
The wastewater concentrator 20 can be hauled as a substantially
single unit on the mobile hauling platform 22 on highways and
service roads and may be set up for operation either on the hauling
platform or may removed from the hauling platform 22 as a single
unit and be installed in a permanent or semi-permanent arrangement
at a remote operating site, such as an industrial plant, mine site,
petrochemical or natural gas extraction site, and the like. In
other embodiments, the wastewater concentrator 20 may be
transported in multiple pieces, or even as individual components
that may be assembled at the operating site. In addition, the
wastewater concentrator 20 is sizable to have an effective
treatment capacity of up to forty thousand gallons per day or more
without requiring substantial modification to the basic design
disclosed herein. The wastewater concentrator 20 in some
arrangements includes many aspects and design details of the
wastewater concentrators described in detail in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/705,462 filed, Feb. 12, 2010, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
[0017] The mobile hauling platform 22 may preferably be a
semi-trailer, such as a standard double-drop semi trailer, having
an upper level carrying surface 22a and a lower level carrying
surface 22b defining a recessed portion 22c below the upper level
carrying surface. However, the mobile hauling platform 22 may be
any hauling platform with wheels or tracks, for example, that is
adapted to be drawn or moved by a truck, tractor, team of oxen, or
other such mobile pulling unit capable of carrying the wastewater
concentrator 20 on roads and over ground. Alternatively, for
example, the mobile hauling platform 22 could be a flat bed truck.
In some optional arrangements, the wastewater concentrator is
carried by a first mobile hauling platform, such as a semi-truck
trailer, and accessories are carried by one or more additional
mobile hauling platforms, such as by two additional semi-truck
trailers. In an optional arrangement, a permanent wastewater
concentrator unit may be formed by integrating a skid 34 to a
standard single drop trailer, wherein the skid and trailer frame
are permanently secured together into a single unit, such as by
welding or fasteners.
[0018] The wastewater concentrator 20 includes a liquid evaporator
assembly 24, an entrainment separator or demister in the form of a
gas-liquid separator 26, and an exhaust assembly 28. The gas-liquid
separator 26 is operatively connected with the liquid evaporator
assembly 24, and the exhaust assembly 28 is operatively connected
with the gas-liquid separator 26. The wastewater concentrator 20
also includes an air pump 30, such as an induction fan, and a power
source 32, such as an electric or pneumatic motor, arranged to
drive the air pump 30. The skid 34 may carry and support the
components of the wastewater concentrator 20 as a single unit in
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Together, the liquid
evaporator assembly 24, the gas-liquid separator 26, and the
exhaust assembly 28 form a confined gas flow path P, wherein gases
and/or entrained wastewater flow along the confined gas flow path P
through the wastewater concentrator 20 from the liquid evaporator
assembly 24 through the gas-liquid separator 26 and out the exhaust
assembly 28 to the surrounding atmosphere and/or other discharge
ports.
[0019] The skid 34 may take any form sufficient to allow the
wastewater concentrator 20 to be lifted as a single unit off of the
mobile hauling platform 22 and onto an operating platform at an
operating site by, for example, a crane. In a preferred
arrangement, the skid 34 forms a generally planar horizontal
support frame 36 formed of beams 36a, such as steel I-beams,
C-section beams, tubing, and the like, in a rectangular shape
sufficient to surround an outer peripheral footprint of the liquid
evaporator assembly 24, the gas-liquid separator 26, and the
exhaust assembly 28. The beams define at least a central opening
38, and preferably define several openings through the horizontal
support frame 36. The horizontal support frame 36 preferably is
disposed at least below the liquid evaporator assembly 24, the
gas-liquid separator 26, the air pump 30, and the power source 32,
each of which is preferably secured to the horizontal support frame
36, either directly or indirectly by intermediate supports, such as
support frames 39a, 39b, and 39c. The horizontal support frame 36
in the depicted arrangement includes four peripheral I-beams,
including of two long beams and first and second end cross-beams
connected to form a rectangle having a long dimension aligned with
a longitudinal axis of the liquid evaporator assembly 24,
gas-liquid separator 26, and exhaust assembly 28; first, second,
and third longitudinally spaced apart cross-beams extending
orthogonal to the longitudinal axis between the first and second
end cross-beams and disposed under the gas-liquid separator; and
first and second laterally spaced apart longitudinal runners
extending from the second end cross-beam to the adjacent third
cross-beam under the exhaust assembly 28. The skid 34 is arranged
to be removably supported by the mobile hauling platform 22, for
example with the horizontal support frame 36 disposed on the upper
level 22a of the mobile platform 22.
[0020] The support frames 39a, 39b, and 39c support and connect the
liquid evaporator assembly 24, gas-liquid separator 26, and exhaust
assembly 28, respectively, to the horizontal support frame. In the
arrangement depicted in the drawings, the support frame 39a is in
the form of a table having a top and four legs, wherein the liquid
evaporator assembly 24 rests on the top, and the four legs are
connected to the first end cross-beam and the adjacent first
cross-beam of the support frame 36. The support frame 39b is in the
form of a rectangular upper frame and four legs disposed over the
central opening 38, wherein the upper frame is connected to an
underside periphery of the gas-liquid separator 26, and the four
legs are connected to the first cross-beam and second cross-beam of
the support frame 36. The support frame 39b does not have a top and
a sump of the gas-liquid separator projects downwardly through the
rectangular upper frame and the central opening 38 as described
hereinafter. The support frame 39c is in the form of a rectangular
frame formed of I-beams, wherein the air pump 30 and power plant 32
are connected to the rectangular frame and the rectangular frame is
connected to the first and second longitudinal runners, the second
end cross-beam, and the adjacent third cross-beam.
[0021] The skid 34 preferably also includes a lift frame 40
extending above the horizontal frame formed, for example, of
columns and cross-beams of steel members, such as I-sections,
C-sections, tubing, and the like. The lift frame 40 in the depicted
arrangement includes four vertical columns 40a extending upwardly
from an outer periphery of the horizontal support frame 36;
longitudinal beams and cross-beams 40b that form a rectangular
frame and connect the vertical beams; and corner braces 40c at one
or more of the intersections between a longitudinal beam 40b, a
cross-beam 40b, and a vertical column 40a. The vertical columns 40a
preferably are located around the outer periphery of a significant
portion of at least the liquid evaporator assembly 24 and
gas-liquid separator 26, as shown in the drawings, thereby forming
a scaffolding surrounding at least the same. The lift frame 40 is
in some arrangements used to support a hoist, as described
hereinafter, and may be constructed after the skid 34 is set in
place at an operating location.
[0022] The skid 34 may be made of any materials suitable for
supporting the wastewater concentrator 20 as a movable unit as
described herein, such as steel, and connected, for example, by
welds, bolts, and/or rivets. Preferably, the skid 34 is sized and
arranged to be hauled on a semi-truck trailer on highways. In one
arrangement, as depicted in the drawings, the skid 34 has a length
along the longitudinal axis of approximately thirty nine feet
(11.89 m), a width of approximately ten feet four inches (3.15 m),
and a height of approximately twenty feet (6.10 m).
[0023] The liquid evaporator assembly 24 is arranged to receive
wastewater and evaporate water from the wastewater into a stream of
gas, such as hot waste gas from the exhaust of another process. The
liquid evaporator assembly 24 preferably includes a venturi
evaporator, which evaporates the water by mixing the wastewater and
gases and passing the mixture through a venturi section that
rapidly reduces the static pressure of the mixture and further
mixes the wastewater and gases an amount sufficient to cause rapid
evaporation of the water from the wastewater. As best seen in FIG.
2, the liquid evaporator assembly 24 includes a mixing chamber 42
connected with a venturi assembly 44, which together define a first
portion P1 of the confined gas flow path P.
[0024] The mixing chamber 42 has a gas inlet 46 arranged for
connection with one or more sources of gases, and two opposing
slanted side walls 48a, 48b that at least partly define and narrow
the first portion P1 of the confined gas flow path from the gas
inlet 46 toward the venturi assembly 44. Thus, the confined gas
flow path P has a first cross-sectional area on an inlet, or
upstream side of the slanted walls 48a, 48b and a second, smaller
cross-sectional area on a venturi, or downstream side of the
slanted walls. The mixing chamber 42 is preferably elevated above
the venturi assembly 44 and may be adapted to be coupled with a
supply manifold 50 (FIG. 2A) that collects heated gas from one or
more separate sources of heated exhaust gases. In the arrangement
depicted in the drawings, the gas inlet 46 has a cylindrical tube
section 46a, a transition section 46b that transitions from a
circular cross-section to a rectangular cross-section that exhausts
into an elongate rectangular tapered trough section defined partly
by the slanted side walls 48a, 48b that extend between two side
walls.
[0025] A plurality of injection nozzles 60 project into the trough
section of the mixing chamber 42 downstream of the gas inlet 46 and
upstream of the venturi section 44. Each injection nozzle 60 is
connected with a supply of wastewater, such as concentrated
wastewater from wastewater return pipes 61 disposed on opposite
exterior sides of the trough section, and is arranged to inject the
wastewater into the mixing chamber 42 directly against one of the
slanted side walls 48a, 48b. The wastewater return pipes 61 in a
preferred arrangement carry re-circulated concentrated wastewater,
such as partially concentrated wastewater drawn from the gas-liquid
separator 26. Each injection nozzle 60 includes a nozzle section
that is pointed downwardly toward, and adapted to inject the
wastewater against, the adjacent slanted side wall 48a or 48b.
Injecting the wastewater against the slanted side walls 48a, 48b
precludes (or reduces) the development of fine droplets prior to
entry of the gas/liquid mixture into the venturi assembly 44. This,
in turn, prevents complete drying of fine droplets (which could
cause fouling problems) because once the fine droplets are formed
in the venturi assembly 44, complete drying is minimized or
eliminated due to the limited residence time and the fast approach
to adiabatic saturation temperatures. Moreover, any dry particulate
that may be formed is scrubbed off of the side walls due to the
high velocities in the venturi assembly 44. Preferably, the nozzle
section is connected to the wastewater return pipe 61 by a liquid
supply conduit, which in some instances extends horizontally from
the wastewater return pipe 61. In some arrangements, either the
nozzle section extends downwardly through a horizontal wall of the
mixing chamber or the liquid supply conduit extends horizontally
through a sidewall of the mixing chamber 42. In other arrangements,
the lowest distal end of the nozzle section may be flush with the
horizontal wall of the mixing chamber. The nozzle section may be
formed of an open ended tube, and the liquid supply conduit may be
formed of another tube that has an inside diameter less than an
inside diameter of the open ended tube. In a preferred arrangement,
the liquid evaporator assembly 24 includes four of the injection
nozzles 60, two directed against each of the opposing slanted side
walls 48a, 48b, and each nozzle section has an inside diameter of
between approximately 10 mm and 0.5 mm and preferably approximately
2.5 mm (1 inch). However, fewer or more injection nozzles may used.
Optionally, the nozzles 60 and/or the nozzle sections are removably
secured to provide for easy removal, maintenance, and
re-installation.
[0026] Nozzle shrouds 65 optionally are arranged to protect the
nozzles 60 from direct contact with the heated gases from gas inlet
46. Because the heated gases may have very hot temperatures, such
as of several hundreds of degrees Celsius, direct contact with the
nozzles may cause excessive scaling of salts on the nozzles 60 and
thereby lead to plugging and/or otherwise cause decreased
functionality. Preferably, the nozzle shrouds 65 are disposed
between each nozzle 60 and the direct stream of heated gases and
arranged to deflect the direct stream of heated gasses from
impinging against the nozzles 60. For example, the shrouds 65
depend or extend downwardly from the horizontal wall of the mixing
chamber between the nozzle section and the opening between the gas
inlet 46 and the mixing chamber 42. Preferably, each shroud 65
extends downwardly past the lowest distal end of the nozzle
section.
[0027] In a preferred option, raw or un-concentrated wastewater,
i.e., wastewater that has not been treated by the portable
wastewater concentrator 20, is supplied to the confined gas flow
path P at a location upstream from the nozzles 60. In one
arrangement, the raw wastewater is injected into the confined gas
flow path P with one or more feed nozzles 63 (FIG. 3). The feed
nozzles 63 are located to inject the raw wastewater into the gas
inlet 46 or into the manifold. The raw wastewater injected with the
feed nozzles 63 in some instances may quench the hot gasses from
the heat sources 52. Quenching includes cooling the hot gasses and
entraining the raw wastewater into the flow of hot gasses prior to
reaching nozzles 60 and/or entering the mixing chamber 42. In some
arrangements, the feed nozzles 63 are arranged to inject the raw
wastewater as droplets to increase quenching.
[0028] The venturi assembly 44 receives the mixture of gas and
wastewater from the mixing chamber 42 and includes an adjustable
throat 58 arranged to allow selective variation of the
cross-sectional area of the venturi to increase or decrease the
velocity of the gases and thus the pressure drop across the throat.
The cross-sectional area of the adjustable throat 58 may be
increased or decreased in any available manner, such as with one or
more movable orifice plates 68. In one arrangement, the orifice
plate 68 is formed by a baffle that is pivotable around a hinge
between a first position that closes the throat 58 and a second
position that opens the throat 58. The orifice plate 68 may be
pivoted by any actuator (not shown) sufficient to controllably move
the baffle between the first and second positions, such as a gear
and/or lever arm functionally connected with a linear actuator, a
rotary actuator, a manual positioning actuator, and/or a servo
motor. In the depicted arrangement, the throat 58 is formed of a
narrow rectangular duct section attached to the narrowest portion
of the trough section of the mixing chamber and an outwardly
tapered rectangular duct section extending from a downstream side
of the narrow rectangular duct section. The orifice plate 68 is a
rectangular plate that pivots around an axis, such as a rod or
hinge, extending along one side of the long dimension of the narrow
rectangular duct section forming the throat 58. Although only one
orifice plate 68 is shown in the drawings, larger units, such as
units designed to process 40,000 gallons or more per day, may
include two movable orifice plates 68 across the throat 58, for
example disposed on opposite sides of the throat 58 and arranged to
close by moving toward each other and to open by moving away from
each other.
[0029] The mixing chamber 42 and the venturi assembly 44 are
preferably oriented generally vertically, as shown in the drawings,
with the mixing chamber disposed above the venturi assembly, which
in some arrangements provides for even distribution of wastewater
across the cross-sectional area of the first portion P1 of the
confined flow path P. The liquid evaporator assembly 24 as shown
also includes an elbow duct section 66 connected to the downstream
side of the outwardly tapered rectangular duct section of the
venturi assembly 44 and connected to the gas-liquid separator 26.
The elbow duct section 66 is arranged to conduct the mixture of
gases and wastewater from the venturi assembly 44 into the
gas-liquid separator 24. The elbow duct section 66 rests on and is
supported by the top the support frame 39a. In the depicted
arrangement, the mixing chamber 42, the venturi assembly 44, and
the elbow duct section 66 have generally rectangular
cross-sectional forms. However, the mixing chamber 42, the venturi
assembly 44, and the elbow duct section 66 may have other shapes
and arrangements.
[0030] A flooded elbow is formed at the bottom of the elbow duct
section 66 by a sump 67 located where the duct changes direction
from a vertical air flow path to a horizontal air flow path. The
sump 67 is formed by a shallow recess at the bottom of the vertical
section of the elbow duct section 66 and includes a raised lip 69
or weir between the sump 67 and an inlet 74 into the gas-liquid
separator 26. As mixed wastewater and gasses flow from the venturi
44, the abrupt change in direction of the mixture from the vertical
to the horizontal, such as approximately a 90 degree angle, causes
at least some heavier droplets of wastewater to collect in the sump
67. As wastewater collects in the sump 67, the level of the
collected wastewater rises until the collected wastewater overflows
the raised lip 69 and runs down the inlet 74 into the sump 80 of
the gas-liquid separator. Thus, the sump 67 forms a preliminary or
first stage water removal. The collection of wastewater in the sump
67 may also reduce erosion of the interior surface of the elbow
duct section 66 that may otherwise be caused by entrained suspended
solids, such as precipitated particles, within the high velocity
flow of gasses and wastewater.
[0031] The gas-liquid separator 26 includes a body 70 defining an
enclosed separation chamber, such as a demister chamber 72, the
inlet 74 that receives the mixture of gases and wastewater from the
venturi assembly, an exhaust outlet 76 that is connected with the
exhaust assembly 28, and a sump 80 disposed at a bottom of the
body. The gas-liquid separator 26 defines a second portion P2 of
the confined gas flow path P, which extends through the demister
chamber 72 from the inlet 74 to the exhaust outlet 76. The body 70
has a generally rectangular polyhedron shape surrounding the
demister chamber 72, having a rectangular top panel, and opposing
rectangular side walls extending down from opposite side edges of
the top panel. Each of the inlet 74 and the exhaust outlet 76 has a
truncated pyramidic shape, having top, bottom, and opposite side
walls, each of which tapers or slopes outwardly from the respective
inlet and outlet toward the demister chamber 72. When assembled in
a preferred operating position, the inlet 74 and the exhaust outlet
are aligned substantially horizontally along a longitudinal axis X
through the body 70.
[0032] One or more, and preferably three demister panels 78a, 78b,
and 78c are disposed inside the demister chamber 72 and arranged to
separate wastewater entrained in the gases from the gases.
Preferably, the demister panels 78a-c are disposed across the
confined gas flow path P with each forming a tortuous gas flow path
through demister chamber 72 to separate entrained wastewater
droplets from the gases. In the depicted embodiment, for example,
the second portion P2 of the confined gas flow path P extends along
the substantially horizontal longitudinal axis X from the inlet 74
to the exhaust outlet 76, and the demister panels 78 are aligned
generally orthogonally to and across the longitudinal axis. The
demister panels 78b, 78c closest to the exhaust outlet 76 are
preferably chevron demisters and are aligned vertically and
orthogonally across the second portion P2 of the confined gas flow
path. The chevron demisters are carried by a generally rectangular
peripheral support frame that extends around a peripheral side edge
of each chevron demister. The demister panel 78a closest to the
inlet 74 is preferably formed of half-tube sections, similar to
common sheet-piling sections, that are vertically oriented and
horizontally spaced apart and overlapping, carried by a support
frame. The half-tube sections are slanted or sloped between
approximately two degrees and fifteen degrees from the vertical.
The support frame includes vertical side posts on opposite ends of
the half-tube sections, and a support member, such as a horizontal
rod that extends between the vertical side posts. Preferably, each
demister panel 78a-c has a generally planar peripheral form factor
and spans the entire area across the demister chamber 72 between
the side walls and top wall of body 70 to force the gases and
entrained wastewater to go through each demister panel to ensure
maximum separation of entrained wastewater from the gases. Each of
the demister panels 78a-c preferably is assembled to be moved as a
single unit, with each demister panel carried by the support frame
for easy installation into and removal from the demister chamber
72, for example as describe hereinafter.
[0033] A screen 79, such as an elongate metal grate, is disposed
inside the gas-liquid separator 26 immediately below the bottom of
the demister panel 78a. The screen 79 is arranged to prevent large
particles knocked down by the demister panel 78a, such as trash or
cinders, from falling into the sump 80 and subsequently being
sucked through the sump pump 102. The screen 79 extends completely
from the left to right side walls of the body 70 and is supported
from the sump by, for example, a brace 79a.
[0034] A top access opening 82 is formed in the top wall of the
body 70 directly above each demister panel 78a-c to allow each
demister panel to be installed and removed vertically through the
top wall, by a hoist or crane, for example. Each top access opening
82 preferably is covered with a removable hatch 84, such as a door
or panel, bolted or otherwise latched to the body, or preferably,
retained in a closed position by a quick-release latching system 85
that can be quickly locked and unlocked, such as pivotable latches
and cam locks, and/or spring latches, without requiring disassembly
of the locking mechanism. Each top access opening 82 is shaped
complementary to the respective demister panel 78, such as by
being, for example, in the shape of a long narrow rectangular slot
having a width slightly larger than a width of the respective
demister panel 78 and a length slightly longer than a length of the
respective demister panel. Thus, for example, the top access
openings 82 shown in the drawings extend completely to each
opposite side wall of the body 70.
[0035] A plurality of access doors 86 are disposed in side walls of
the body 70, the inlet 72, and the exhaust outlet 74 to provide
ready access to all regions of the interior of the gas-liquid
separator 26. The access doors 86 are releasably retained in a
closed position by the quick-release latching system 85 that can be
quickly locked and unlocked, such as pivotable latches and cam
locks, and/or spring latches, without requiring disassembly of the
locking mechanism. The access doors 86 are preferably sized to
allow easy ingress and egress of a person into and out of the
gas-liquid separator 26.
[0036] A wash water system is included as part of the gas-liquid
separator 26 to easily wash scale and/or other accumulated solids
off of the demister panels 78. In one exemplary arrangement, as
best seen in FIG. 2A, feed pipes 88 extend into the demister
chamber 72 and feed wash water to a number of nozzles 90 that are
arranged to spray the wash water onto the demister panels 78. The
feed pipes 88 are connected with a source 89 of wash water (not
shown), preferably the raw wastewater, and one or more pumps (not
shown) may be connected with the feed pipes to pump the wash water
to the nozzles 90 to spray the demister panels 78. Optionally, at
least one of the feed pipes 88 in one arrangement also is arranged
to provide wash water to the mixing chamber 42 to wash the internal
area of the mixing chamber and/or to supply the feed nozzles
63.
[0037] The sump 80 defines the bottom of the gas-liquid separator
26, and preferably is defined by a bottom of the body 70 directly
below the demister chamber 72. The sump 80 is arranged to collect
wastewater that has collected in the sump 67 of the elbow duct
section 66, on the inner walls of the demister chamber 72, and on
the demister panels 78, such as by being disposed directly below
the demister panels 78 so that wastewater collected on the demister
panels 78, the sump 67, and the inner walls of the demister chamber
72 can drip downwardly under the force of gravity and be collected
in the sump. The sump 80 projects downwardly from the body 70
through the central opening 38 of the horizontal support frame 36
and below the skid 34 and may be scaled up or down as needed to
accommodate treatment capacities of more than approximately twenty
thousand gallons per day, and preferably between at least twenty
thousand and sixty thousand gallons per day, and in one preferred
embodiment up to at least approximately forty thousand gallons per
day and more. The sump 80 is shaped and arranged to collect
wastewater from the sump 67 and all regions of the demister chamber
72 and preferably has slanted or sloped walls extending downwardly
from around the entire outer periphery of the demister chamber,
such as having the form of an inverted cone or a truncated inverted
pyramid with four sloped walls, a front wall 92 closest to the
inlet 74, a rear wall 94 closest to the exhaust outlet 76, and two
side walls 96, 98 spanning from the front wall to the rear wall,
extending downwardly from the bottom of the body 70 directly below
the demister panels 78. The truncated inverted pyramid form also
preferably includes a bottom wall 100 connecting the bottom ends of
the sloped side walls 92, 94, 96, 98. At least one, and preferably
each, sloped wall 92, 94, 96, 98 forms an angle between 0 degrees
and 90 degrees from the horizontal longitudinal axis X of the
gas-liquid separator 76. For example, the front wall 92 is sloped
at an angle of between approximately thirty five degrees and sixty
five degrees from the horizontal longitudinal axis X, and more
preferably an angle of approximately fifty five degrees. Each of
the rear wall 94 and two side walls 96, 98 is preferably sloped at
an angle between approximately forty five degrees and approximately
fifty five degrees, and more preferably at an angle of about forty
five degrees from the horizontal longitudinal axis X. The bottom
wall 100 of the sump 80 preferably defines a lowest hydraulic point
in confined gas flow path P through the wastewater concentrator 20,
and a submersible sump pump 102 is disposed on the bottom wall 100
at the bottom of the sump 80. The submersible sump pump 102 pumps
wastewater that collects in the sump 80 through a recirculation
system that returns the collected wastewater to the injection
nozzles 60 for recirculation through the liquid evaporator assembly
24. In a preferable mode of continuous operation, a slipstream of
the submersible pump 102 discharge may be withdrawn from the
concentrator 18 system at a controlled rate to maintain a desired
equilibrium level with regard to a degree of concentration of the
feed wastewater.
[0038] In one arrangement, the sump 80 is secured to the demister
chamber 72 such that the sump 80 may be removed, such as for
transportation, and/or attached at the operating site, such as when
the wastewater concentrator 20 is set up for operation at an
operating site. The sump 80 may be releasably attached in any
manner sufficient to allow selective attachment and removal. Some
exemplary releasable attachment mechanisms include releasable
fasteners, such as bolts or clamps, or with releasable interlocking
mechanisms, such as bayonet-type locking mechanisms, or other
similar releasable interlocking mechanisms. In one arrangement, the
sump 80 is attached to the demister chamber 72 at the operation
site with fiberglass. In another arrangement, the sump 80 is
removably secured to the demister chamber 72 with a flexible joint,
such as a rubber boot. Removably securing the sump 80 to the
demister chamber 72 may be particularly useful for larger capacity
units, such as a wastewater concentrator sized to process 100,000
gallons of wastewater per day or more. Thus, the releasable
attachment mechanisms may make scaling the size of the wastewater
concentrator 20 easier and more adaptable.
[0039] Turning again to FIG. 2A, the recirculation system includes
a recirculation pipe system 104 that returns collected wastewater
back to the nozzles 60 via the wastewater return pipes 61, and the
sump pump 102 to pump the wastewater through the recirculation pipe
system 104. The recirculation pipe system 104 includes a main
return pipe 104a, which connects to a pipe 104b extending into the
sump 80 through the side wall 96 and to a pump lifter pipe 104c or
a hose connected to the sump pump 102. The main return pipe 104a
connects to the wastewater return pipes 61 to feed the concentrated
wastewater back to the nozzles 60.
[0040] A secondary return pipe 104d branches off from the main
return pipe 104a and connects with a flowback water or produced
water concentrating system 105, which will be further described
with reference to FIG. 5. In one arrangement, the flowback water
concentrating system 105 may be arranged to further concentrate the
flowback water and to separate suspended solids into a thickened
slurry before further processing in a batch treatment plant.
Thickened slurry is the result of settling suspended solids which
are primarily the result of forced precipitation within the
concentrator system 118. The flowback water concentrating 105 may
include one or more storage tanks or settling tanks in which
suspended solids are allowed to settle out of and be separated from
the concentrated flowback water. The liquid portion of the
concentrated flowback water, which includes high concentrations of
dissolved solids, such as dissolved salts, may be drawn off for
further use as injection water for injection wells, or other
similar uses.
[0041] At least one drain port 106 is preferably disposed at the
bottom of the sump, such as through the side wall 98 and/or through
the bottom wall 100, in order to facilitate removal of accumulated
sludge or slurry from the sump. The drain port 106 may be a flanged
outlet pipe stub as shown in the drawings arranged for connection
to removal piping or any other removal system. The drain port 106
may be connected by appropriate pipes and pumps with other
ancillary processors, for further separation of solids from
liquids. In some arrangements, the drain port 106 includes a valve
to allow selective removal of sludge or slurry, and the drain port
is arranged for connection with a removal vehicle, such as a vacuum
truck or waste holding tank.
[0042] A plurality of stub pipes 107 extend into the sump 80
through the sloped side walls 92, 94, 96, 98 for intake and/or
discharge of raw or concentrated wastewater or other liquid between
the sump 80 and other processors. In one arrangement, at least one
stub pipe 107 is connected with a collection pipe 107a that draws
liquid condensate from the bottom of the elbow 66; at least one and
preferably two stub pipes 107 are connected with collection pipes
107b that connect to respective upper and lower drains from the
exhaust assembly 28; a stub pipe 107 is connected with a return
pipe 104e from the flowback water concentrating system 105; and a
stub pipe 107 is connected with a return bypass line 107c from the
main return pipe 104a. In other embodiments, the return pipe 104e
may be diverted to a collection point for the concentrated flowback
water, as will be described further hereinafter. Optionally,
anti-foaming agents may be added to the concentrated wastewater,
for example through a line 107d connected with the return bypass
line 107c from a mixer 109.
[0043] An overflow drain 107e is located through the body to
maintain the top level 160 of wastewater at or below the desired
height. Preferably, the overflow drain 107e is located at a level
arranged to form a liquid seal along a baffle or skirt below the
bottom of at least one, and preferably all of the demister panels
78a-c to be formed and/or maintained during operation.
[0044] A float or skimmer tray 108, such as a shallow pan or tray,
is disposed on the one side wall of the body 70 at a level expected
to be a top water line as defined by the sump pump 102 or other
means. The skimmer tray 108 drains to an overflow pipe, which in
some arrangements is connected with the recirculation pipe system
104 to return any overflow for reprocessing through the portable
wastewater concentrator 20.
[0045] The exhaust assembly 28 in a preferred arrangement includes
the air pump 30 and the power source 32. The air pump 30 is
operatively connected with the confined gas flow path P to draw the
gases through the liquid evaporator assembly 24 and the gas-liquid
separator 26 and out the exhaust assembly 28 to the surrounding
atmosphere. The air pump 30 may be operatively arranged in any
location sufficient to effectuate movement of gases along the
confined gas flow path P as described. In a preferred arrangement
shown in the drawings, the air pump 30 includes a centrifugal fan
with a shroud 110 that surrounds fan blades 111 and has an inlet
that connects with the exhaust outlet 76 of the gas-liquid
separator 26 and an outlet that connects with an optional exhaust
stack 112 (shown in FIG. 4). The shroud 110 defines a third portion
P3 of the confined gas flow path P from the inlet to the outlet.
The power source 32 may be any power source sufficient to rotate a
drive shaft that is attached to the air pump 30 and arranged to
drive the fan blades, such as a gas or diesel internal combustion
engine, a steam engine, an electric motor, a servo motor, a water
paddle wheel, etc. Preferably, the power source 32 is arranged to
drive the fan blades 111 at selected different speeds in order to
be able to control the velocity and/or flow volume of gases along
the confined gas flow path P at least as described herein below. In
the depicted arrangement, the power source 32 is located adjacent
to the fan 30 opposite the gas-liquid separator 26 and drives a
shaft 114 that is arranged to rotate the fan blades 111. The
exhaust assembly 28 may further include additional ducts (not
shown) to partly define the third portion P3 of the confined gas
flow path P from the gas-liquid separator 26 to the exhaust stack
112 as desired for particular special arrangements and other design
criteria peculiar to a particular application.
[0046] The exhaust stack 112 may take any form sufficient to direct
exhaust from the outlet of the shroud 110 to the atmosphere, such
as a vertical cylindrical shape shown in the drawings, and is
separable from the shroud 110 and the remaining portions of the
exhaust assembly 28. In a preferred arrangement, the exhaust stack
112 is not carried by the skid 34, but rather is carried separately
from the portable wastewater concentrator 20 and attached to the
outlet of the shroud 110 at the operation site by any convenient
means, such as with bolts or by welding. The exhaust stack 112 may
be supported by a support surface separate from the skid 34.
[0047] A crane 116 is supported by the lift frame 40 above the top
access openings 82 and arranged to install and remove the demister
panels 78 through the upper portals top access openings 82. The
crane 116 in one arrangement is in the form of an overhead or
gantry crane and includes a support beam 118, such as an I-beam,
C-section beam, or box beam, supported by opposite cross-beams 40b
over the upper portals and carrying a lift 120, such as a pulley, a
cable hoist, or other lifting mechanism. The support beam 118 may
be movable along the cross-beams 40b, by being supported on
trolleys or other moveable support system for example, to allow the
support beam 118 to travel along the cross-beams 40b from the inlet
74 of the gas-liquid separator 26 to the exhaust outlet 76. The
lift 120 may be supported by the support beam 118 and may also be
movable along the cross-beams 40b by another movable support
system, such as trolleys (not shown). Thereby, the lift 120
preferably is movable along two crossing axes defined by the
cross-beams 40b and the support beam 118 to be positioned over all
areas of at least the gas-liquid separator 26 and more preferably
also over at least portions of the liquid evaporator assembly 24.
In the depicted arrangement, the support beam 118 is oriented
substantially perpendicular to the second portion P2 of the
confined gas flow path P and moves along the cross-beams 40b
substantially parallel with the second portion of the confined gas
flow path. Optionally, each demister panel 78 includes a projection
122, such as a T-member or hook, arranged to be inserted into a
track 124 defined along the support beam 118 and the projection 122
slides along the track 124 when the demister panel 78 is removed
from the respective top access opening 82. The track 124 is
preferably aligned transverse to the second portion P2 of the
confined gas flow path P. The track 124 includes an open end 126
arranged to receive and release the projection 122 near, such as
directly above, the top access opening 82, and the projection 122
preferably includes a roller 128, such as one or more caster
wheels, that are received within the track 124 and facilitate
moving the demister panel 78 transversely along the track. In
another arrangement, the crane 116 is in the form of a jib crane
(not shown). In this arrangement, the support beam 118 forms a boom
that is arranged to rotate horizontally over the top of at least
the gas-liquid separator 26. The support beam 118 of the jib crane
may be supported directly from one of the beams 40b of the lift
frame 40 or may be supported by a vertical support, such as one of
the columns 40a or a separate column (not shown), and arranged to
rotate about the vertical support.
[0048] Referring now particularly to FIG. 4, the wastewater
concentrator 20 is illustrated operatively assembled at an
operation site and located on a support surface, such as a concrete
pad 130 on the ground, that includes a recess, such as a trough
132, arranged to receive the portion of the sump 80 that projects
below the skid 34. Appropriate covering, such as grating, may cover
portions the trough 132. The skid 34 rests directly on and is
supported by the concrete pad 130 and preferably maintains the
remaining components of the wastewater concentrator 20 elevated
above the top surface of the concrete pad 130. The exhaust stack
112 rests on the concrete pad 130 directly adjacent to the skid 34.
Additional accessory structures, such as an access stair 134 and
access platforms 136 and 138 also may be attached to the wastewater
concentrator 20 at the operation site in any convenient manner,
such as welding or bolting. The access stair 134 is arranged to
allow an operator to climb from the concrete pad 130 to the access
platform 136, which preferably is located over the top of the
gas-liquid separator 26 and below the crane 116, to provide ready
access to the top access openings 82 and the removable hatches 84.
The access platform 138 is arranged to provide access to the liquid
evaporator assembly 24, such as by providing a walking platform
surrounding the venturi assembly 44 at a height sufficient to
provide easy access to the injection nozzles 60. Other access
structures may be included, such as additional walk ways, ladders,
and platforms. Structures such as the access stairs 134, access
platforms 136 and 138, the exhaust stack 112, and the header
connection assembly 50 are preferably attached to the wastewater
concentrator 20 at the operation site after the skid 34 has been
placed in the intended operating location, such as on the concrete
pad 130. These structures are preferably pre-formed to be easily
attached by any method that requires a minimum of construction
effort on site, such as with bolts, clips, and/or welding.
[0049] The flowback water concentrating system 105 may be located
on the concrete pad 130 proximate the wastewater concentrator 20.
In other embodiments, the flowback water concentrating 105 may be
located on the skid 34 and transported with the wastewater
concentrator 20 as a single unit. The flowback water concentrating
system 105 includes a settling tank 300 and an optional thickened
slurry storage tank 302 that are fluidly connected to one another
by a connecting pipe 304. The settling tank 300 is fluidly
connected to the sump 80 by an inlet pipe 306, which directs
concentrated liquid from the sump 80 to the settling tank 300. The
concentrated liquid is further separated and concentrated in the
settling tank 300 where suspended solids settle toward the bottom
leaving concentrated supernatant liquid toward the top of the
settling tank 300, the supernatant liquid containing substantially
reduced amounts of suspended solids and concentrated amounts of
dissolved solids. A portion of the liquid constituent may be drawn
off and fed back to the sump 80 through return line 306 for further
evaporation/concentration. In other embodiments, a portion of the
liquid constituent may be drawn off and stored for further use, for
example, as fracking water, as will be described further
hereinafter, when the liquid constituent reaches a desired
dissolved solids concentration. A thickened portion of the slurry
may be fed to the storage tank 302 through the connecting line 304
for storage and/or further disposal. The flowback water
concentrating system 105 will be discussed in more detail below
with respect to FIG. 5.
[0050] A control panel 140 is preferably included as part of the
wastewater concentrator 20, such as by being secured to the skid
34, with power supply and control wiring for various components
that require electrical power or other electrical wiring, such as
the air pump 30, sump pump 102, movable orifice plate 68, crane
116, and control systems. The control panel 140 preferably also
includes any hydraulic controls and/or other controls for other
various portions of the portable wastewater concentrator 20. The
control panel 140 is preferably pre-connected to the various
components so that the no significant wiring or connects need to be
made after the wastewater concentrator 20 arrives at an operation
site. The control panel 140 in some arrangements includes a main
power hook-up for connection to electrical power supplied at the
operation site. In other arrangements, the control panel 140 is
adapted to receive electrical and/or hydraulic power from
generators and/or hydraulic pumps, respectively, powered by the
power source 32 and attached as part of the wastewater concentrator
20.
[0051] Turning now to FIG. 5, a portion of the flowback water
concentrating system 105 is illustrated in more detail. As
discussed above, the settling tank 300 is fluidly connected to the
sump 80 of the wastewater concentrator 20 by an inlet pipe 306 and
an outlet pipe 308 may be fluidly connected to a holding tank (not
shown) for storing concentrated liquid (i.e., heavy brine). A pump
may deliver concentrated liquid from the sump 80 to the settling
tank 300 periodically or continually when a desired dissolved
solids concentration of the concentrated liquid is reached. In one
embodiment, the desired concentration may include between 50% and
70% total solids with between 20% and 40% suspended solids. The
concentrated liquid enters the settling tank 300 through an inlet
310. Once inside the settling tank 300, suspended solids settle
towards the bottom of the settling tank 300 forming a solids-liquid
boundary 312. Below the solids-liquid boundary 312, settled
suspended solids may make up more than 80% of the slurry while
above the solids-liquid boundary 312, the concentrated supernatant
liquid is substantially free of suspended solids.
[0052] Although the slurry below the solids-liquid boundary 312 is
primarily made up of combined dissolved and suspended solids, a
significant amount of liquid may still be present. An optional
stirring rod 314 and rake 316 rotate within the settling tank 300
at a relatively slow rate, preferably between 1 RPM and 10 RPM,
more preferably between 1.5 RPM and 5 RPM and even more preferably
between 1.5 RPM and about 3 RPM. Stirring the slurry below the
solids-liquid boundary 312 gently agitates the slurry, and more
particularly agitates the suspended solid particles within the
slurry, causing the suspended solid particles to settle further
towards the bottom of the settling tank 300 thereby ensuring that
the supernatant liquid above the solids-liquid boundary 312 remains
substantially free of suspended solids, thereby further
concentrating the solids in the slurry below the solids-liquid
boundary 312. Generally, the solids below the solids-liquid
boundary 312 are further concentrated to more than 90% solids and
less than 10% liquid.
[0053] On the other hand, the supernatant liquid above the
solids-liquid boundary 312 is substantially free of suspended
solids (e.g., less than about 5% suspended solids) while being
concentrated with respect to dissolved solids (such as salts). The
supernatant liquid above the solids-liquid boundary 312 may be
concentrated to a density of 10 lb/gal or more, and more
particularly to a density of 12 lb/gal or more and more
particularly to a density of 14 lb/gal or more, depending on the
type of salt dissolved in the supernatant liquid.
[0054] The settling tank 300 may include a supernatant liquid
concentration sensor 401 that measures the concentration of
dissolved solids in the supernatant liquid. Similarly, the settling
tank 300 may include a slurry concentration sensor 403 that
measures a concentration of total suspended solids in the slurry
below the solids-liquid boundary 312. The liquid concentration
sensor 401 and the slurry concentration sensor 403 may be
operatively connected to a controller (not shown), which may
control a concentrated liquid valve 405 and a concentrated slurry
valve 407, to control removal of the concentrated liquid and/or the
concentrated slurry from the settling tank 300.
[0055] Once a desired level of solid concentration is reached,
slurry from below the solids-liquid boundary 312 may be pumped or
otherwise delivered to the storage tank 302 through the
concentrated slurry valve 407.
[0056] In one preferred embodiment, the settling tank 300 may be
approximately 16 feet tall, having a diameter of approximately 10
feet, with design specifications allowing storage of approximately
8,000 gallons at up to 1.6 specific gravity (13.34 lb/gal), or
more. The settling tank 300 may have an open top for operating at
atmospheric pressures. The inside of the settling tank 300 may
include a protective epoxy liner for protecting the settling tank
300 from corrosion or other damage from e.g., salt solutions and
other damaging compounds. In one embodiment, the epoxy liner may be
approximately 30 mil thick. An outside of the settling tank 300 may
include a dual layer protective coating having a first layer of
approximately 6 mil thick epoxy and a second layer of approximately
2.5 mil thick acrylic polyurethane. An agitator gear box 318 may be
connected to a motor, such as an electric motor 320, to drive the
stirring rod 312. The electric motor in one embodiment may be a 2
HP 460 V, 3 phase, 60 HZ TEFC motor that delivers approximately
70,400 in-lb of maximum torque at approximately 2 RPM. The agitator
gear box may include a heavy duty single reduction, single
planetary gear, balance weight driven assembly.
[0057] In one embodiment, the concentrated supernatant liquid in
the settling tank may be concentrated to approximately 10 lb/gal
when the primary dissolved solid is sodium chloride. In another
embodiment, the concentrated supernatant liquid in the settling
tank may be concentrated to approximately 12 lb/gal when the
primary dissolved solid is calcium chloride or magnesium chloride.
In any event, the concentrated supernatant liquid may be used as
heavy brine to increase down bore pressures in natural gas wells or
to act as an anti-freeze for fracking water during cold weather
operations. In yet other embodiments, the heavy brine may be used
to increase down bore pressures in injection wells or oil recovery
wells. In yet other embodiments, the heavy brine may be used as a
capping fluid to prevent blow outs in oil wells when the oil well
punctures an oil pocket.
[0058] The methods and devices for concentrating dissolved solids
described herein may be useful for concentrating dissolved solids
in many different applications. In some uses, the methods and
devices can provide environmental benefits by concentrating
potentially harmful compounds that are reused in hydro-fracking
operations, thereby returning the potentially harmful compounds to
their locations of origin, far below the earth's surface and well
below any aquifers that are used by the human population.
Additionally, the methods and devices described herein reduce
operating costs of hydro-fracking operations by reducing the amount
of heavy brines that must be purchased during cold weather
operations.
[0059] Numerous modifications to the present methods and devices
will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the
foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be
construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of
enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and
to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights
to all modifications which come within the scope of the present or
any future claims are reserved. All patents, patent applications,
and other printed publications identified in this foregoing are
incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.
* * * * *