DIRECT CONTACT CELL
A direct contact cell is useful for the purification of water and sterilization of organics and inorganics used in water purification systems, such as waste water reuse. Specifically, this direct contact cell is useful for the treatment of flow back and produced waters in the oil and gas industry and also the mining industry, for the destruction of pathogens, heavy metals, suspended solids, iron, cyanide fats and organic material. The direct contact electrolytic cell allows a single passage through the cell to handle flow rates of up to 42 gallons per minute. The cell provides a plurality of separate anodes disposed with the cell and cathodes in front of and behind the anodes and can be operated at high voltages.
1 . A direct contact cell for water purification, comprising:
an inlet port for injection of waste water;
a plurality of anodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are separated from each other by a predetermined distance;
one or more cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes and the one or more cathodes are positioned such that all waste water must pass through a gap between at least one anode and at least one adjacent cathode, and wherein the plurality of anodes and the one or more cathodes produce a voltage between them that electrolyzes the waste water; and
an outlet port for collection of purified water.
2 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the anodes and the cathodes are non-sacrificial.
3 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the anodes comprise a combination of noble metals.
4 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the anodes comprise a titanium substrate having an upper surface and having layers of platinum, tantalum, and niobium foils fused to the upper surface.
5 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 . wherein the anodes comprise rectangular bar shaped members
6 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathodes comprise a noble metal.
7 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathodes comprise stainless steel or titanium.
8 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathodes comprise plates having a length approximately equal to a length of the direct contact cell.
9 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance separating the plurality of anodes is about 3 to about 4 inches.
10 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the gap between at least one anode and at least one adjacent cathode is about ¼ inches.
11 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , further comprising a gas injection port for the injection of air or oxygen.
12 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , further comprising one or more secondary injection ports for the injection of chemicals or gases.
13 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , further comprising one or more secondary outlet ports.
14 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , further comprising a non-conductive rack on which the plurality of anodes are mounted.
15 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the voltage is greater than about 12 volts.
16 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the voltage is greater than about 12 volts and less than about 50 volts.
17 . The direct contact cell of claim 1 , wherein the direct contact cell accepts flow rates of up to 42 gallons of waste water per minute.
18 . A water purification system, comprising a plurality of the direct contact cells of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of direct contact cells are connected in parallel or in series.
19 . A water purification system, comprising:
a plurality of direct contact cells, wherein each direct contact cell comprises:
an inlet port for injection of waste water;
a plurality of anodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are separated from each other by a predetermined distance;
one or more cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes and the one or more cathodes are positioned such that all waste water must pass through a gap between at least one anode and at least one adjacent cathode, and wherein the plurality of anodes and the one or more cathodes produce a voltage between them that electrolyzes the waste water; and
an outlet port for collection of purified water,
wherein the plurality of direct contact cells are connected in parallel or in series.
20 . The water purification system of claim 19 , wherein the anodes comprise a titanium substrate having an upper surface and having layers of platinum, tantalum, and niobium foils fused to the upper surface.
21 . The water purification system of claim 19 , wherein the cathodes comprise stainless steel or titanium.
22 . The water purification system of claim 19 , wherein the predetermined distance separating the plurality of anodes is about 3 to about 4 inches.
23 . The water purification system of claim 19 , wherein the gap between at least one anode and at least one adjacent cathode is about ¼ inches.
24 . A method for the purification of waste water, comprising:
passing the waste water through a direct contact cell at a predetermined flow rate, wherein the direct contact cell comprises:
an inlet port for injection of the waste water,
a plurality of anodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are separated from each other by a predetermined distance,
one or more cathodes, and
an outlet port,
wherein all of the waste water passes through a gap between at least one anode and at least one adjacent cathode within the direct contact cell;
electrolyzing the waste water by a voltage passing between the plurality of anodes and the one or more cathodes; and
collecting purified water from the outlet port.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the anodes and the cathodes are non-sacrificial.
26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the anodes comprise a combination of noble metals.
27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the anodes comprise a titanium substrate having an upper surface and having layers of platinum, tantalum, and niobium foils fused to the upper surface.
28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the anodes comprise rectangular bar shaped members
29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the cathodes comprise a noble metal.
30 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the cathodes comprise stainless steel or titanium.
31 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the cathodes comprise plates having a length approximately equal to a length of the direct contact cell.
32 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the predetermined distance separating the plurality of anodes is about 3 to about 4 inches.
33 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the gap between at least one anode and at least one adjacent cathode is about ¼ inches.
34 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the direct contact cell further comprises a gas injection port.
35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising the step of injecting oxygen or air into the waste water through the gas injection port while passing the waste water through the direct contact cell.
36 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the direct contact cell further comprises one or more secondary injection ports.
37 . The method of claim 36 , further comprising the step of injecting chemicals or gases into the waste water through the secondary injection ports while passing the waste water through the direct contact cell.
38 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the direct contact cell further comprises one or more secondary outlet ports.
39 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the direct contact cell further comprises a non-conductive rack on which the plurality of anodes are mounted.
40 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the waste water is electrolyzed by a voltage greater than about 12 volts.
41 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the waste water is electrolyzed by a voltage greater than about 12 volts and less than about 50 volts.
42 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the predetermined flow rate of the waste water is up to 42 gallons of waste water per minute.
43 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of passing the purified water through one or more additional direct contact cells, wherein the direct contact cells are connected in parallel or in series.