Granted Patent B2

US 12,246,978 · App. 16/952,840 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Inventors: Julian Fisher (Dallas, TX); Randy A Galgon (Nuremberg, PA); Patrick Ryan (Minneapolis, MN); Jaren Leet (Walnut Creek, CA); Ray Stickney (Port Rowan, CA)

Assignee: Hyperion Water Technologies LLC

C02F9/00B01D53/343B01D53/76C02F1/004C02F2001/007C02F1/048C02F1/20C02F1/24C02F1/325C02F1/34C02F1/40C02F1/78C02F2101/32C02F2103/10C02F2103/365C02F2301/046C02F2303/04

Abstract

Claims (75)

1. A method for treating water, the method comprising:

supplying influent water to a multiple stage processing unit;

processing the water in each stage of the multiple stage processing unit by performing each of the steps of:

degassing the water by saturating the water with air;

stripping volatile compounds from the water;

evaporating non-aqueous phase liquid petroleum from the water;

decarbonating the water;

subliming semi-solids from the water;

resolving emulsions in the water; and

breaking colloids in the water using continuous cavitation; and

depositing and ripening petroleum solids;

wherein each stage of the processing unit is connected in series to an adjacent stage; and

wherein a portion of the water from a given stage is circulated to a fluid inlet of a subsequent stage; and

wherein gas emissions from a given stage are circulated to a gas inlet of a preceding of stage;

clarifying the water discharged from the multiple stage processing unit through floatation and sedimentation;

inactivating volatile microbes in the water discharged from the processing unit;

filtering the water discharged from the processing unit; and

combusting gaseous emissions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple stage processing unit comprises a series of six stages; and

wherein the influent water is supplied to an inlet of a first stage of the series of stages; and

wherein a portion of the water from the first stage is circulated to an inlet of a second stage; and

wherein a portion of the water from a final sixth stage of the series of stages is circulated to a clarifier for the clarifying step;

wherein control gas is supplied to the final sixth stage; and

wherein air emissions from the sixth stage are circulated to a fifth stage of the series of stages; and

wherein gas emissions from the first stage are circulated to a unit for step of combusting gaseous emissions.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

injecting ozone into the multiple stage processing system; and

skimming a residue from the water in the first stage of the processing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the filtering step comprises filtering water using a plurality of ceramic filters.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the degassing step comprises passing the water across a deflector in a venturi system and circulating the water in a degassing sump.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the stripping step comprises passing the water through a stripper having a venturi system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the stripping step comprises passing the water through a venturi system and into a sump; and

wherein the degassing step comprises circulating the water in the sump; and

wherein the evaporating step comprises forcing the water from the venturi system through a residual layer in the sump at high pressure.

8. A method for treating an influent water in each stage of a multiple stage processing unit, the method comprising:

degassing the water by saturating the water with air;

stripping volatile compounds from the water;

evaporating non-aqueous phase liquid petroleum from the water;

decarbonating the water, and killing or inactivating volatile microbes in the water.

9. The method of claim 8 where the step of decarbonating the water comprises repetitively stripping and equilibrating the total inorganic carbon specie in the water.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

clarifying the water through floatation and sedimentation; and

filtering the water.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

subliming semi-solids from the water; and

breaking the colloids in the water using continuous cavitation.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of combusting gaseous emissions.

13. A system for treating produced water, the system comprising:

a multiple stage processing unit, wherein each stage comprises:

a fluid mobilization unit comprising:

a fluid chamber having at least one partition;

a fluid inlet attached to the chamber;

a pump; and

a fluid outlet; and

a fluid processing component comprising:

a degassing sump, the sump having a water outlet;

a stripper positioned above the sump, the stripper having at least one water inlet operatively connected to the fluid outlet;

an air inlet adjacent the stripper;

a gas exhaust adapted to circulate gases from the sump to the stripper;

wherein the pump operates to move fluid from the fluid chamber to the water inlet of the processing component; and

a regenerative thermal oxidizer;

a clarifier unit;

an ultraviolet irradiation unit; and

a filtration unit;

wherein exhaust gases from a first stage of the processing unit are circulated to the thermal oxidizer; and

wherein influent water is adapted to be supplied to the fluid inlet of the first stage; and

wherein fresh air is adapted to be supplied to the air inlet of a final sixth stage of the processing unit.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the water outlet of the first stage is operatively connected to the fluid inlet of a second stage of the processing unit; and

fluid inlet of a second stage of the processing unit; and

wherein the gas exhaust of the final sixth stage is operatively connected to the air inlet of a fifth stage of the processing unit.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first stage of the processing unit further comprises a skimmer operatively connected to the sump.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the sump comprises a fluid conduit disposed proximate a base of the sump; and

wherein the fluid conduit has a first end operatively connected to the water outlet of the sump and a second end disposed in fluid communication with fluid in the sump.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the irradiation unit comprises a vent; and

wherein gases vented from the vent are circulated to the multiple-stage processing unit.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (18)