Methods and systems for heating and manipulating fluids
Systems and methods are provided for heating and manipulating a fluid comprising a closed loop heating assembly thermally coupled to a fluid manipulation assembly.
1. A method of removing water from a water-containing mixture, comprising:
operating at least one tank at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure;
transferring heat from a working fluid to a first portion of the water-containing mixture to heat the first portion to a first temperature;
separating the first portion into liquid and water vapor in the at least one tank;
transferring heat from at least a portion of the liquid from the tank to heat a second portion of the water-containing mixture to a second temperature less than the first temperature;
mixing at least some of the liquid from the tank with the second portion to create the first portion; and
extracting water vapor from the at least one tank.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one tank at less than atmospheric pressure comprises creating a vacuum within the at least one tank with a pump.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the working fluid in a closed-loop heating cycle.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the working fluid in a closed-loop heating cycle comprises heating the working fluid with an open flame boiler.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising combusting flare gas in the open flame boiler.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring heat from the water vapor to condense the water vapor to liquid water.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising using heat from condensing the water vapor to liquid water to evaporate at least some of the liquid water.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a value of a property of the liquid; and
removing liquid from the at least one tank when the value meets a pre-determined criteria.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining a value of a property of the liquid comprises determining density of the liquid.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a level of liquid within the at least one tank.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling the amount of the second portion mixed with the liquid from the at least one tank based on the liquid level within the tank.
12. A method for removing water, comprising:
operating a tank at less than atmospheric pressure;
heating a working fluid in a closed-loop heating cycle;
heating a first volume of a water-containing mixture to a first temperature by transferring heat from the working fluid to the first volume;
separating the first volume into a liquid phase and a gas phase in the tank;
determining a liquid level in the tank;
determining a property of the liquid;
heating a second volume of the water-containing mixture to a second temperature less than the first temperature by transferring heat from the liquid phase;
mixing at least some of the second volume with the liquid phase to create the first volume;
controlling the amount of the second volume mixed with the liquid phase based on the liquid level;
removing liquid from the tank when the property of the liquid meets a pre-determined value; and
removing water vapor from the at least one tank.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein operating the at least one tank at less than atmospheric pressure comprises coupling a vacuum pump to the at least one tank.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein heating the working fluid in a closed-loop heating cycle comprises heating the working fluid with an open flame boiler.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising combusting flare gas in the open flame boiler.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transferring heat from the water vapor to condense the water vapor to liquid water.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using heat from condensing the water vapor to liquid water to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid water.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining a property of the liquid comprises determining density of the liquid.