Liquid contaminant removal using bubbles of predetermined size and density

Abstract

Contaminants in a liquid are removed using bubbles containing ozone and / or other gas in a method having steps that include multistage shearing and venturi injection to increase dissolution of gases into the liquid, and the generation of bubbles introduced to the liquid by one or more of cavitation, vortex management, shear degradation, and ultrasonics. The liquid may be water, the contaminants are at least one of organic and inorganic contaminants, and the bubbles preferably have a diameter of 125 nanometers a density ratio of about 2.5 * 108 bubbles / cm3. A system that may be used for this method includes one or more pumps; optionally one or more settling tanks; optionally one or more dosing stations; an injector to introduce a gas to the fluid; an Ultrafine bubble (UFB) generator to produce UFB's; optionally one or more sensors; optionally a safety system; and optionally a controller.

Description

LIQUID CONTAMINANT REMOVAL USING BUBBLES OF PREDETERMINEDSIZE AND DENSITYINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 618,939, filed January 9, 2024, entitled LIQUID CONTAMINANT REMOVAL USING BUBBLES OF PREDETERMINED SIZE AND DENSITY, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein and relied upon.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to fluid / liquid treatment, more specifically removing contaminants from fluids / liquids, such as water.

[0003] Liquids, such as water, may contain contaminants that need to be removed. Contaminants in liquid may include organic and / or inorganic contaminants. Examples of organic contaminants include, but are not limited to, varietals of algae (blue - green or cyanobacteria), pesticides, herbicides, residual pharmaceuticals, bacteria, coliforms, viruses, oils, hydrocarbons, poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), glyphosate and other organic chemicals. Examples of inorganic contaminants include, but are not limited to, phosphorous, manganese, iron and potassium and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, nickel, zinc and cadmium.

[0004] Many water treatments for the removal of organic compounds such as algal blooms, micro-organisms, parasites, bacteria, viruses, pharmaceuticals, pesticides etc., are highly specific to the contaminant. For example, copper sulfate is used specifically for removing algae. Current studies from both governmental agencies, such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and accredited highly trusted institutions, such as Ohio State University, have shown that there are more organic contaminants in polluted waters such as the Great Lakes, streams, and rivers that are not characterized and tracked than the ones that have been characterized. Some of these are as harmful or more harmful than toxic strains of Escherichia coli and Cryptosporidium.

[0005] Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), World Vision, United Nations, and the World Economic Forum have stated that water is the next crisis on our planet. Many countries, such as Angola, Niger, The Guinea’s, Congo, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cypress, Oman, Qatar, and Uganda, have current water crisis, and the list is growing daily. WHO estimates that roughly one third of people globally do not have access to basic serviceswith respect to water. This includes water for drinking, sanitation, and handwashing. Over 2 billion people do not have access to a safe drinking water source.

[0006] The existing solutions for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from water have targeted the hospitality industry with respect to clean up. For example, resort areas have made efforts to remove blue green algae to make swimming safe and to remove the smell of the ponds / sloughs at golf courses. However, much of the focus is on optics rather than generating healthy clean water. The existing solutions do not significantly impact water sources, aquafers, and rivers. Moreover, the existing solutions do not significantly clean up water sources that are deadly and / or toxic and do not change the landscape of water globally. The existing solutions for removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from water do not significantly remove toxins from sewage, animal waste, or stagnant water bodies. Currently, there is no simple and affordable existing solution to remove contaminants to provide clean, safe water that meets safe drinking water standards.

[0007] The discussion in this section is intended to provide background information related to the present disclosure and does not constitute an admission of prior art.SUMMARY

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of removing a contaminant from a fluid, the method comprising: introducing a gas in the fluid; generating, by an ultrafme bubble generator, bubbles containing the gas in the fluid, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of about 125 nm, and a density ratio of about 2.5 * 108bubbles / cm3or more; and the bubbles remove the contaminant from the fluid.

[0009] In some embodiments, the gas is selected from the group consisting of ozone, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide, air, and mixtures thereof.

[0010] In some embodiments, the bubbles are generated by one or more of cavitation, vortex management, shear degradation and ultrasonics.

[0011] In some embodiments, the fluid is from a source selected from the group consisting of a reservoir, a lake, a pond, a lagoon, flowing water supplied by an aquafer, a pump, a well, and combinations thereof.

[0012] In some embodiments, a pressure and flow across the ultrafme bubble generator is controlled by a choke or flow restrictor.

[0013] In some embodiments, a solid and / or a waterborne animal is removed from the fluid.

[0014] In some embodiments, the solid is selected from the group consisting of sediment, rust, an organic solid material, microplastics, scale, and combinations thereof.

[0015] In some embodiments, the waterborne animal is selected from the group consisting of freshwater shrimp, bugs, and combinations thereof.

[0016] In some embodiments, an additive is added to the fluid.

[0017] In some embodiments, the additive is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, alum, iron compounds, sodium hypochlorite, activated carbon, polyphosphates, hydrogen peroxide, surface tension modifiers, and mixtures thereof.

[0018] In some embodiments, the fluid is mixed to dissolve the additive and the gas in the fluid.

[0019] In some embodiments, one or more steps selected from the group consisting of removing residual gas from the fluid, filtering the fluid, adding an additional additive, and softening the fluid are included.

[0020] In some embodiments, the contaminant is selected from the group consisting of varietals of algae, pesticides, herbicides, residual pharmaceuticals, bacteria, viruses, microorganisms, oils, poly and perfluoroalkyl substances, glyphosate, feces and fecal contaminant, fecal by-products, pathogens, wastewater streams, and mixtures thereof.

[0021] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for removing contaminants in a fluid, the system comprising: one or more pumps configured to move the fluid through the system; optionally one or more settling tanks configured to remove solids and / or inorganic substances from the fluid; optionally one or more dosing stations configured for adding one or more additives to the fluid; an injector configured to introduce a gas to the fluid; an Ultrafine bubble (UFB) generator configured to produce UFB’s for removing the contaminants from the fluid; optionally one or more sensors configured to monitor, control, and / or manage the system; optionally a safety system configured to remove one or more residual gases; and optionally a controller configured to record, store, and / or analyze data from the optional one or more sensors and to manage adjustments to the system.

[0022] In some embodiments, the one or more pumps are one or more selected from the group consisting of centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, peristaltic pumps, and diaphragm pumps.

[0023] In some embodiments, the one or more settling tanks each comprise a mixer, a baffle, a gas / fluid separator valve, a solid removal valve, an inlet, and an outlet.

[0024] In some embodiments, the one or more dosing stations each comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of a container, a pump, an inlet, an outlet, and a mixer.

[0025] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of removing a contaminant from a fluid, the method comprising: adding a surface tension modifier to the fluid; introducing a gas in the fluid, wherein the surface tension modifier facilitates dissolution of the gas in the fluid, and the gas comprises ozone; generating bubbles containing the gas in the fluid, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of about 125 nm and a density ratio of about 2.5 * 108bubble s / cm3or more; and removing the contaminant from the fluid by the bubbles.

[0026] In some embodiments, an additive is added to the fluid, wherein the additive precipitates an inorganic substance from the fluid.

[0027] In some embodiments, the additive comprises an iron compound, and the iron compound precipitates phosphorous from the fluid.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for water contaminant removal using bubbles of predetermined size and density, the system having processes, equipment, water passages and / or piping and plumbing to interconnect its components according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates another example system for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from a contaminated water source according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates an example settling tank, which may be incorporated in the example system illustrated in FIG. 1, for removing solids and small water-borne animals including, but not limited to, snails and shrimp according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates an example dosing or additive station where secondary additives are utilized to optimize the example system illustrated in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates an example gas safety system for removing residual harmful gases, which may be incorporated into the example system illustrated in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative example system for water contaminant removal where isolation of the contaminated fluid utilizing a batching or partial batching process ensures the fluid meets certain chemical and biological standards before being released back to its intended environment such as a waterway, wastewater stream or holding reservoir according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative example system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] The examples set out herein illustrate certain non-limiting embodiments, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims in any manner.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described and discussed in more detail in terms of some specific embodiments and examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements or parts throughout unless otherwise referenced. The presently disclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter will come to the mind of one skilled in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

[0037] As used herein, the singular form of a word includes the plural, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The plural encompasses the singular and vice versa. Thus, the references "a," "an" and "the" are generally inclusive of the plurals of the respective terms. For example, while the present disclosure has been described in terms of “a” layer, “a” substrate, “a” cell, and the like, more than one of these and other components, including combinations, can be used.

[0038] The term “about” indicates and encompasses an indicated value and a range above and below that value.

[0039] The words "comprise," "comprises," and "comprising" are to be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively. Likewise, the terms "include," "including" and "or" should all be construed to be inclusive, unless such a construction is clearly prohibited from the context. A disclosure of an embodiment defined using the term "comprising" is also a disclosure of embodiments "consisting essentially of’ and "consisting of’ the disclosed components. The phrase "consisting of’ excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified.

[0040] The term "and / or" used in the context of "X and / or Y" should be interpreted as "X," “Y,” or "X and Y."

[0041] As used herein, the term “combination thereof’ included in any Markush-type expression means a combination or mixture of one or more elements selected from the group of elements disclosed in the Markush-type expression and refers to the presence of one or more elements selected from the group. The term “combinations thereof includes every possible combination of elements to which the term refers.

[0042] As used herein, the expression “between” is inclusive of end points.

[0043] Furthermore, all numerical ranges herein should be understood to include all integers, whole or fractions, within the range. Moreover, any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein, and these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range. For example, a disclosure of from 1 to 10 should be construed as supporting a range of from 1 to 8, from 3 to 7, from 1 to 9, from 3.6 to 4.6, from 3.5 to 9.9, and so forth. When ranges are given, any endpoints of those ranges and / or numbers within those ranges can be combined with the scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] As used herein, “including,” “such as,” “for example,” and like terms mean “including / such as / for example but not limited to.”

[0045] As used herein, the term "example," particularly when followed by a listing of terms, is merely illustrative, and should not be deemed to be exclusive or comprehensive. Any embodiment disclosed herein can be combined with any other embodiment disclosed herein unless explicitly indicated otherwise.

[0046] As used herein, the term “ultrafme bubbles” or “UFB” means bubbles having a diameter smaller than 1 micrometer or 1000 nanometers, according to the International Organization for Standards (ISO).

[0047] The present disclosure provides methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for remediation of contaminated liquids, water, soil, groundwater, sewage, tailings ponds, lagoons, waste, and other water and soil contamination generally caused by anthropogenic activities, although not limited thereto. The methods, systems, devices and apparatuses provided here may be used to treat an extensive range of contaminations in fluids caused by both organic and inorganic chemicals. The methods, systems, devices and apparatuses provided here are indiscriminate with respect to contaminants. The contaminants do not have to be categorized, known, or identified. Through controlled processes and surface tension management, the methods, systems, devices and apparatuses provided herein produce healthy, clean water, inwhich there are little or no chemicals other than H2O, there are no organics or living beings, and the bond angle, molecular energy and specific heat are normal accepted scientific levels for H2O.

[0048] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a system configured to remove contaminants in a fluid. The system may comprise one or more pumps configured to move the fluid through the system; one or more settling tanks configured to remove solids and / or inorganic substances from the fluid; optionally one or more dosing stations configured for adding one or more additives to the fluid; an injector configured to introduce a gas to the fluid; one or more Ultrafine bubble (UFB) generators (also referred to as “UFB reactors”) configured to produce UFB’s for removing the contaminants from the fluid; optionally one or more sensors configured to monitor, control, and / or manage the system; a safety system configured to remove one or more residual gases; and a controller configured to record, store, and / or analyze data from the optional one or more sensors and to manage adjustments to the system.

[0049] The one or more pumps may be one or more selected from the group consisting of centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, peristaltic pumps, diaphragm pumps, and other pumps selected on one or more basis, including but not limited to system output and economics. An example of an additional pump would be a grinder pump where the fluid being treated may contain solids from sewage or other solids found in a slaughterhouse. The grinder pump reduces the solids to 0.5 cm in size or less. This is necessary to ensure other components in the system do not get plugged during operation such as the venturi. When batch processing is necessary, moving the fluid from the isolation tank back to the system can be achieved with a high-volume low-pressure pump such as a diaphragm or centrifugal pump. The one or more pumps in the system move the fluid through the system.

[0050] The one or more settling tanks are configured to remove solids and / or inorganic substances from the fluid. Each settling tank may include a tank body, which is the main container, which can be cylindrical or rectangular, holds the liquid and solids. The tank is often made of materials like stainless steel or plastic to resist corrosion and wear.

[0051] Each settling tank may include one or more impellers. These are rotating devices inside the tank that create turbulence to keep solids suspended in the liquid. Common types include axial flow impellers, radial flow impellers, and hydrofoil impellers.

[0052] Each settling tank may include one or more baffles, which are vertical plates attached to the tank walls to prevent the liquid from swirling and to improve mixing efficiency. They help create a more uniform flow pattern.

[0053] Each settling tank may have at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The inlet allows the liquid and solids to enter the tank, while the outlet is designed to remove the mixed solution. An additional outlet may be positioned to facilitate the removal of settled solids.

[0054] Each settling tank may include one or more scrapers or rakes. These are mechanical devices located at the bottom of the tank to collect and periodically remove settled solids. They ensure that solids do not accumulate and hinder the mixing process.

[0055] Each settling tank may include a sloped or conical bottom. The bottom of the tank is often sloped or conical to facilitate the collection and removal of settled solids. This design helps direct solids towards the outlet or scraper system.

[0056] Each settling tank may include one or more control systems. These systems monitor and adjust the mixing parameters, such as impeller speed and flow rates, to optimize the mixing process and ensure efficient solids removal.

[0057] These components of the settling tank work together to ensure effective mixing and separation of solids and inorganic substances from liquids, making the process efficient and reliable.

[0058] The one or more dosing stations are configured for adding one or more additives to the fluid. Each dosing station may include one or more storage tanks. These tanks hold the additives before they are dosed or added into the main fluid stream. They may be equipped with level sensors to monitor the amount of additive available.

[0059] Each dosing station may include one or more dosing pumps. These pumps are designed to inject precise amounts of additives into the fluid. Common types include diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps, and piston pumps, each chosen based on the specific requirements of the application of the dosing station and the physical state of the additive being solid, liquid or gas.

[0060] Each dosing station may include one or more flow meters. These devices measure the flow rate of the additives being dosed. They ensure that the correct amount of additive is being introduced into the fluid stream.

[0061] Each dosing station may include one or more mixing chambers. After the additives are introduced, the fluid passes through a mixing chamber where thorough mixing occurs to ensure uniform distribution of the additives.

[0062] Each dosing station may include one or more control systems. These systems regulate the operation of the dosing pumps and flow meters. They can be programmed to adjust the dosing rate based on real-time data and process requirements.

[0063] Each dosing station may include one or more piping and valves. The piping system connects all components and includes valves to control the flow of additives and prevent backflow.

[0064] Each dosing station may include one or more safety features. These may include pressure relief valves, alarms, and emergency shut-off systems to ensure safe operation and prevent over-dosing or leaks.

[0065] These components of the dosing station work together to provide accurate and reliable dosing of additives, ensuring the desired chemical composition and properties of the final fluid.

[0066] The injector is configured to introduce a gas to the fluid. The injector may include a motive fluid inlet nozzle, which is where the high-pressure gas enters the injector. The nozzle is designed to accelerate the gas to a high velocity.

[0067] The injector may include a mixing chamber. After the gas enters through the inlet nozzle, it mixes with the fluid in this chamber. The design of the mixing chamber may be crucial for ensuring thorough mixing and efficient gas dispersion.

[0068] The injector may include a converging -diverging outlet nozzle, which helps to further mix the gas with the fluid and control the flow rate. The converging section accelerates the mixture, while the diverging section helps to stabilize the flow and reduce pressure.

[0069] The injector may include one or more control systems. These systems regulate the flow rates and pressures of both the gas and the fluid to ensure optimal mixing and injection. They may include sensors and automated controls to maintain consistent performance.

[0070] The injector may include piping and valves. The piping system connects all components and includes valves to control the flow of gas and fluid, preventing backflow and ensuring precise injection.

[0071] These components work together to provide accurate and efficient gas injection into the fluid, making the process reliable and effective for various applications.

[0072] The one or more UFB generators (or reactors) are configured to produce UFB’s for removing the contaminants from the fluid. Each UFB generator may include inlet and outlet pipes, which allow the fluid to enter and exit the generator. The inlet pipe often includes a mechanism to introduce gas into the fluid stream, and this mechanism may include the injector or may be additional to the injector.

[0073] Each UFB generator may include one or more mixing chambers where the fluid and gas mix. The design of the one or more chambers is crucial for creating the turbulent flow needed to generate the UFB’s. The chambers often have precise shapes and stages to maximize bubble formation.

[0074] Each UFB generator may include one or more nozzles, which create the conditions necessary for bubble formation. The one or more nozzles often use a combination of vortex formation and abrupt changes in pipe diameter to produce the bubbles.

[0075] Each UFB generator may include a gas injection system which introduces gas into the fluid at controlled rates and pressures. The gas can be air, oxygen, ozone, or other gases depending on the application.

[0076] Each UFB generator may include one or more control systems which regulate the flow rates, pressures, and other parameters to ensure optimal bubble generation. They may include sensors and automated controls to maintain consistent performance of the UFB generator.

[0077] Each UFB generator may include an optional ultrasonic cavitation to use ultrasonic waves to enhance bubble formation and stability, which can produce small bubbles and improve the efficiency of the generator.

[0078] These components of the UFB generator work together to create a high density of UFB’s.

[0079] The UFB’s generated by the UFB generator may have a size or mean diameter of from about 70 to about 300 nm, preferably from about 70 to about 160 nm, and most preferably about 100 to about 125 nm. The size or mean diameter of the generated UFB’s may be at or about 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, or 300 nm. The size or mean diameter of the generated UFB’s may be within a range formed by selecting any two numbers provided herein or in the range from about 70 to about 300 nm, such as from about 80 to about 100 nm, from about 100 to about 150 nm, etc.

[0080] The UFB’s generated by the UFB generator may have a density ratio (number of bubble s / volume) of from about 0.5 * 108to about 3.5 * 108bubbles / cm3, preferably from about 1.5 * 108to about 3.5* 108bubbles / cm3, and most preferably from about 2.5* 108bubbles to about 3.0* 108bubbles / cm3. The density ratio of the UFB’s may be at or about 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, or 3.0 * 108bubbles / cm3. The density ratio of the UFB’s may be within a range formed by selecting any two numbers provided herein or in the range from about 0.5 * 108to about 3.5 * 108bubbles / cm3, such as from about 1.0 * 108to about 2.0 * 108bubbles / cm3, from about 2.0 * 108to about 2.5 * 108bubbles / cm3, etc.

[0081] UFB’s under 125 nm are preferred with the foregoing density ratios and may be complemented by other technology as discussed below.

[0082] The generation of the UFB’s is directly proportional to the ability of the generated fluid to remove organic and inorganic contaminants. The more UFB’s are generated and the smaller the generated UFB’s are, the more energy these UFB’s have to destroy and remove the contaminants.

[0083] The one or more sensors are configured to monitor, control, and / or manage the system. The one or more sensors may be selected from the group consisting of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow rate sensors, vibration sensors, fluid property sensors such as pH sensors, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) sensors, Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) sensors, and combinations thereof.

[0084] For example, pressure sensors or transducers provide information to the controller. These pressure transducers are placed strategically to ensure there is flow and pressure required to generate the venturi effect and draw in the gas. In addition, the design of the UFB generator requires a specific pressure range to ensure proper generation of the UFB’s, in terms of both size and density.

[0085] Additional sensors may be used to protect the system. For example, a thermocouple or resistance temperature detector can be used to monitor the operational temperature of various components in the system. If a temperature change is detected on a pump, it can indicate that a pump component is starting to fail, and it will trigger preventative maintenance procedures to ensure continuous operation of the system. Monitoring various components, such as the temperature of the ozone generator, is necessary to ensure the unit continues to operate efficiently. Piezoelectric accelerometers can also be used to measure dynamic frequencies in pump operation to indicate changes in the pump operation that indicate a component is failing.

[0086] Operational sensors can also be important when a certain chemical or biological output is necessary for the system to produce. One example is an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor. Another example is a pH sensor. This is an indication of the level of organics or contaminants in the water. Water being returned to a waterway, being recycled in an industrial process or pre-treated for potable use has specific requirements based on the application. Desired operational output can be set, dosing systems can be used to adjust parameters, such as pH, and the system will deliver the programmed output.

[0087] The safety system is configured to remove one or more residual gases. The safety system may include a gas scrubber. This device removes unwanted gases from the fluid by passing it through a scrubbing solution or material that absorbs or reacts with the gases. Common types include wet scrubbers, dry scrubbers, and packed bed scrubbers.

[0088] The safety system may include one or more activated carbon filters. These filters use activated carbon to adsorb and remove residual gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the fluid. They are highly effective for a wide range of contaminants.

[0089] The safety system may include one or more degassing membranes. These membranes allow gases to permeate through them while retaining the liquid. They are used to selectively remove specific gases from the fluid.

[0090] The safety system may include one or more pressure relief valves. These valves release excess pressure from the system to prevent over-pressurization, which can be caused by the accumulation of gases.

[0091] The safety system may include one or more gas detectors and sensors. These devices continuously monitor the concentration of gases in the fluid and the surrounding environment. They trigger alarms and control systems if gas levels exceed safe limits.

[0092] The safety system may include one or more control systems, which may be automated systems that regulate the operation of the scrubbers, filters, and other components to ensure optimal performance and safety. They can adjust flow rates, pressures, and other parameters based on real-time data.

[0093] The safety system may include one or more ventilation systems. These systems ensure that any gases released from the fluid are safely vented to the atmosphere or directed to a treatment facility. Proper ventilation is crucial to prevent the buildup of hazardous gases.

[0094] These components of the safety system work together to provide a comprehensive safety system for the removal of residual undesirable gases from a fluid, ensuring both efficiency and safety.

[0095] The controller is configured to record, store, and / or analyze data from one or more sensors and to manage adjustments to the system. The controller may be connected to one or more sensors, which measure various parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), pH, Chemical Oxidation Demand (COD), viscosity, and other parameters necessary to ensure the system output meets the requirements. Common types include thermocouples, RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors), pressure transducers, flow meters, and ORP sensors.

[0096] The controller may include a processor for signal conditioning, which involves amplifying, filtering, and converting the raw signals from the sensors into a form suitable for further processing. It ensures that the data is accurate and noise-free.

[0097] The controller may include an Analog -to-Digital Converter (ADC). The ADC converts the conditioned analog signals from the sensors into digital data that can be processed by the controller.

[0098] The controller may include a microcontroller or processor. This is the brain of the controller, responsible for processing the digital data, executing control algorithms, and managing data storage and communication.

[0099] The controller may include one or more memory components for data storage, such as RAM and non-volatile storage (e.g., flash memory) to store the recorded data for analysis and historical reference.

[0100] The controller may include a user interface, which may be a display screen, touch panel, or computer interface that allows users to monitor real-time data, configure settings, and view historical data.

[0101] The controller may include one or more communication interfaces. These interfaces (e.g., Ethernet, USB, RS-485) enable the controller to communicate with other systems, such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, for remote monitoring and control.

[0102] The controller may include one or more control outputs. The controller can send control signals to actuators, valves, or other devices to adjust the process based on the sensor data and control algorithms.

[0103] The controller may include a power source. A reliable power source is essential to ensure continuous operation of the controller and its components.

[0104] These components of the controller work together to provide a comprehensive system for monitoring and controlling various process parameters, ensuring efficient and accurate operation.

[0105] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for removing contaminants in water using gas encapsulated ultrafme bubbles of a specified size and density that enable reduction and elimination of both organic and inorganic contaminants in water. The specific size and density are controlled by the levels of gas injected into the water at a certain temperature, rate and pressure. Gas to liquid ratios approaching saturation are ideal to ensure maximum density of the UFB’s in the fluid. In addition, the UFB generator delivers specified size of the UFB’s based on the flow rate and pressure through the generator.

[0106] Contaminated water including contaminants may be drawn from the water source and moved from the water source to a settling tank. Water source may be a reservoir, lake, pond, lagoon, or flowing water supplied by an aquafer, pump, or well etc.

[0107] In the settling tank, solids and / or small waterborne animals may be removed from the contaminated water. The solids being removed may include sediment, such as particles like sand, silt, and clay that are suspended in water, often originating from soil erosion or runoff; rust, such as iron oxide particles that can enter water from corroding pipes and infrastructure; organic materials, such as leaves, twigs, and other plant debris that can be washed into water bodies; microplastics, such as tiny plastic particles from decomposed plastic waste or synthetic fibers; scale, such as mineral deposits that can form in pipes and water heaters. The small waterborne animals may include, for example, freshwater shrimp and bugs.

[0108] The contaminated water then may be moved through one or more dosing stations, where one or more additives are added to the water. The number and type of dosing stations and additives are determined by the desired result and / or application. For example, chlorine may be used for disinfection, effectively killing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens and also oxidizing iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, making them easier to remove. Alum (aluminum sulfate) may be used as a coagulant, helping to aggregate suspended particles, making them larger and easier to remove through sedimentation or filtration. Sodium hypochlorite may be used for disinfection and bleaching, effectively killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Activated carbon may be used to adsorb organic contaminants, improving taste, odor, and overall water quality. Polyphosphates may be used to prevent scale formation and corrosion in pipes by sequestering calcium and magnesium ions. Hydrogen peroxide may be used to remove organic and inorganic contaminants, including iron and manganese. Iron may be used to remove phosphorous.

[0109] A surface tension modifier may be used to reduce the size and increase the quantity of the UFB’s generated downstream. Changing the surface tension changes the energy required to produce the UFB’s. The smaller the UFB, the greater the internal energy (pressure) and the more significant the interaction with organic contaminants of the UFB. UFB production is highly affected by the dissolution and gas to liquid ratio. Increased gas to liquid ratios up to gas saturation levels increase the UFB density. This means there are more UFB’s to interact with the contaminants in the fluid or water.

[0110] The contaminated water then may be moved to an injector, where a gas is introduced into the contaminated water. The gas may be one or more selected from the group consisting of ozone, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide, air, and stream. In some embodiments, the gas is selected from the group consisting of ozone, oxygen, nitrogen, and mixtures thereof.

[0111] The contaminated water then may be moved to one or more mixing stations. In the one or more mixing stations, the contaminated water, which may include one or more additives added in the one or more dosing stations and / or the gas added in the injector, may be mixed rigorously to facilitate or improve dissolution of the added additives and / or gas in water, to reduce the gas bubble size, and to create a more homogeneous fluid for further processing downstream.

[0112] Downstream of the one or more mixing stations, there may be a pump to pressurize the contaminated water with additives and / or gas dissolved herein to further dissolve the gas therein. This pump may or may not be incorporated into the system and method provided herein depending on the generated pressure drops from previous components of the system or steps of the method. Every process and component consume some energy which translates into a pressure loss in the fluid being pumped. Ultimately, the UFB generator requires a certain pressure and flow rate to ensure the development of UFB’s of a certain size and density. To deliver the required pressure and flow rate to the UFB generator, this pump may be placed in series upstream of a UFB generator to bring the pressure and flow rate back to the necessary levels for the UFB generator to operate at peak efficiency generating small bubbles at a high density.

[0113] The water then is moved to the UFB generator, where UFB’s are generated in the water. The UFB’s may be generated by one or more of cavitation, vortex management, shear degradation, and ultrasonics.

[0114] Cavitation occurs when rapid changes in pressure within a liquid lead to the formation of small vapor-filled cavities or bubbles. These bubbles form when the local pressure drops below the vapor pressure of the liquid, causing it to vaporize. The bubbles formed during cavitation are typically very small and unstable. They grow and collapse rapidly, creating intense localized energy. This energy can break down larger bubbles into ultrafme bubbles. One common method to generate UFB’s is ultrasonic cavitation. High-frequency sound waves are used to create pressure variations in the liquid, leading to the formation and collapse of bubbles. This method is effective in producing a large number of UFB’s. Another method involves passing the liquid through a constriction, such as a venturi or an orifice plate. The rapid change in velocity and pressure causes cavitation, leading to the formation of UFB’s.

[0115] In vortex management, a vortex is created when a liquid flows through a constriction or a specially designed nozzle. This vortex is a swirling motion of the liquid that can generate areas of low pressure. By introducing a gas into the vortex, the low-pressure areas cause the gas to break into tiny bubbles. The design of the nozzle or constriction is crucial in controllingthe size and density of these bubbles. The key to generating UFB’s is to precisely manage the conditions within the vortex. This includes the velocity of the liquid, the pressure changes, and the way the gas is introduced. Properly designed systems can produce bubbles smaller than 1 micron in diameter, namely UFB’s. Some systems may use a loop flow design, where the liquid and gas mixture is cycled through multiple stages of vortex formation. This enhances the efficiency of bubble generation and ensures a high concentration of UFB’s.

[0116] Shear degradation is a process used to produce ultrafme bubbles (UFB’s) by applying intense shear forces to a liquid. When a liquid is subjected to high shear forces, such as those generated by a high-speed mixer or a homogenizer, the liquid experiences rapid changes in velocity. These forces can break down larger bubbles into much smaller ones. The intense shear forces cause the liquid to stretch and deform, creating areas of low pressure where gas can be introduced. The gas is then broken into tiny bubbles due to the high shear stress. The newly formed UFB’s are stabilized by the surrounding liquid. The small size of these bubbles helps them remain suspended in the liquid for extended periods. After the UFB generator, the water may be moved through a safety system for removing residual undesired gases. For example, if ozone was injected previously into the water, any free ozone still in the gas phase is undesired and may be removed in the safety system.

[0117] Following the safety system, the water may be passed through another settling tank to remove any solids and debris generated during the process or by the system. In the settling tank, inorganic substances can also be captured, removed, and / or recovered, such as arsenic, lead, mercury, zinc, nickel, nitrates and nitrites, fluoride, mercury, chromium, cadmium, and phosphorus, etc. The inorganic substances may be recycled and / or reused in other processes.

[0118] The water may then be moved to one or more processing stations, which may include one or more filters to filter the water; add additional additives, such as chlorine and / or chloramines, to the water; and / or soften the water by one or more of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, chelation, lime softening, electrodialysis, and magnetic water softening, etc.

[0119] The cleaned water may then be returned to the original water source where the UFB’s in the water may continue to remove organic contaminants therein. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaned water may be sent to an end user.

[0120] The contaminants in water that can be removed by the method provided herein may be organic and / or inorganic contaminants, such as varietals of algae (blue - green or cyanobacteria), pesticides, herbicides, residual pharmaceuticals, bacteria, viruses, oils, poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), glyphosate and other chemicals.

[0121] Homogeneity or the process of being homogeneous is critical to the ability of the system to deliver a consistent, high density small size UFB’s. Continuous shearing, mixing and turbulence through the use of flow changes produced by static mixers and flash reactors which produce homogenous output with short contact time and turbulence by dividing and recombining the fluid. These mixers are energy efficient and low maintenance.

[0122] The methods, systems, devices and apparatuses provided herein may be combined with a complimentary technology. For example, electropositive manipulation can be included for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); and filtration or electrocoagulation may be used for the reduction of microplastics for efficiencies and cost reduction of the final water product. The complimentary technology may be incorporated into any part of the system where it generates the best output. For example, the system and method provided herein may precede most complementary technologies as the potential energy from the UFB’s mixed in the fluid tends to enhance most other technologies, for example, electro coagulation for the ultimate removal of PFAS chemicals. Electro coagulation as a technology on its own is expensive to build, and its operational costs and maintenance are prohibitive in complex fluids such as landfill leachates. The system and method provided herein can cost effectively remove the contaminants from a complex fluid that would otherwise result in high operational costs for electro coagulation. In addition, electro coagulation requires high energy, and the effluent stream with UFBs in the method provided herein provides potential energy that can be utilized in the electro coagulation processes to eliminate microplastics and PFAS at a lower operational cost.

[0123] Batching or partial batching may be required to meet certain standards. This utilizes tankage or short-term storage where the contaminated fluid is isolated or partially isolated and released when certain parameters are met. Examples of parameters include a pre-determined Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) level, Chemical Oxidation Demand (COD) levels, a pH level, or a combination of these, and / or other parameters. A tank or other storage or a reservoir may be included downstream of the UFB generator to isolate the fluid, and an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor may be used to measure the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the fluid. If the ORP meets a preset standard, then the fluid may be released to the user. If the ORP is lower than the preset standard, the fluid may be cycled back through the system until the desired ORP level is achieved. This is important where varying levels of organic contamination may be treated in, for example, a fecal lagoon or a landfill.

[0124] The addition of chemicals such as iron compounds can be used to precipitate out targeted inorganics such as phosphorous caused by nutrient pollution. The nutrient pollutionprovides nutrition to harmful algal blooms (HAB’s such as cyanobacteria that are toxic. The removal of phosphorous generates long term solutions for the elimination of HAB’s in our waterways. Multistage shearing areas, such as static mixers or flash reactors 60, can be used to increase dissolution of the gas into the water and increase the gas / water ratio as desired for a preferrable degree of dissolution.

[0125] Proprietary injection principles for engaging the Coanda, Venturi, and Bernoulli principles can be implemented to generate high levels of gas to liquid ratios approaching gas saturation. UFB’s are generated from dissolved gas in the fluid. When a low or negative pressure (vacuum) is generated utilizing the above principles, the UFB’s are produced. The system is designed to achieve gas saturation in the fluid to maximize the density of the UFBs. Those skilled in this art understand how changes in wettability, pressure, rate and stress in the liquid enhance the density and size of the UFBs.

[0126] The Coanda effect is a phenomenon in fluid dynamics where a fluid jet, such as air or water, tends to stay attached to a nearby surface rather than following a straight path. When a fluid jet flows close to a curved or flat surface, it creates a low-pressure area between the jet and the surface. This pressure difference causes the jet to "stick" to the surface. As the fluid jet moves along the surface, it entrains (pulls in) surrounding fluid, further enhancing the attachment to the surface. The Coanda effect helps in the separation of particles from water by directing the flow along specific paths.

[0127] The Venturi effect is a fluid dynamics phenomenon where the pressure of a fluid decreases as it flows through a constricted section of a pipe or tube . When a fluid flows through a narrow section of a pipe, its velocity increases due to the conservation of mass. According to Bernoulli's principle, as the fluid's velocity increases, its pressure decreases. The reduction in pressure at the narrow section can be used to measure fluid flow rates or to create a vacuum. This vacuum is used to draw a gas or liquid into the main fluid stream.

[0128] In the following description of the implementations shown in FIGS. 1-6, positioning and orientation and relevant terms, as used herein, such as upward and downward, distal, and proximal are relative, not limiting, and referenced in relation to the illustrated and / or described devices and components as per the relationship in each implementation.

[0129] Referring now to FIG. 1, an example system 100 includes a component 10 which may be piping or plumbing properly sized to accommodate flow rate and pressure as required by application of the system. The component 10 may or may not include piping, elbows, tees, valves, gauges and other widely used, off the shelf, plumbing components.

[0130] Components 41 - 49 are pumps designed for the application required within the system and may be one or more of centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, peristaltic pumps, diaphragm pumps, and other pump designs, as selected on one or more basis, including but not limited to system output and economics.

[0131] Component 200 is the control system for the system depicted in FIG. 1. Data from components 15, such as pressure, flow rate, temperature, Oxidation Reduction Potential, and pH are logged and retained for further analysis by the control system 200.

[0132] Components 15 in FIG. 1 may be manual and / or electronic sensors for pressure, flow rate, temperature and other parameters as required by the application to control and manage the system. Several additional components 15 may be placed throughout the system 100.

[0133] The information gathered from the sensors ensures the system remains healthy and in proper working order. For example, Piezoelectric accelerometers can be used to measure dynamic frequencies in pump operation to indicate changes in the pump operation that indicate a component is failing. Current sensors can be used to ensure startup and shutdown happen in a safe and reliable process. For example, the oxygen concentrator starts and when the current is sufficient across the current sensor, a signal is sent to start up the ozone generator. This prevents damage to the ozone generator. Additionally, adjustments to the system, for example maintaining a set Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), are also managed by the control system 200. Temperature sensors can be utilized on all electrical components. Changes in temperature tend to indicate impending failure.

[0134] Components 15 may or may not be directly involved in the optimization of system 100. Components 15 may be placed to ensure the system can be maintained with minimal downtime due to failures at key components.

[0135] The control system has data logging and data storage. Therefore, the system can have remote monitoring capabilities depending on client needs and location. The remote monitoring may send data packets back to a central operation where anomalies such as temperature changes trigger investigation. When operational parameters are outside normal ranges, a maintenance process will be initiated for onsite analysis and repair of the system as necessary. For example, system 100 may be operated to monitor temperature on the pumps. When the temperature of a pump is no longer within predetermined parameters, the pumps will be replaced before system 100 fails to operate.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 1, fluid primarily comprising water with various contaminants, both organic and inorganic, is drawn from the contaminated water source 5. The water source 5 may be a reservoir, lake, pond, lagoon, or flowing water supplied by an aquafer, pump, well etc.

[0137] Continuous focus on homogeneity is preferred through the process under which system 100 is operated to ensure preferred generation of UFB’s of the preferred size and ratio of number / volume, so that there is a desirable degree of interaction with contaminants found in the fluid that need to be efficaciously treated for the removal of the contaminants . Where dosing stations 30 are utilized, homogeneity downstream ensures a preferred degree of exposure, utilization, and amount of the dosed material injected into the system 100.

[0138] Pump 41 moves the fluid from the contaminated source and delivers it to a settling tank 20, where solids and small water borne animals (e.g., freshwater shrimp, bugs) are removed from the fluid to prevent plugging downstream and reduce the organic load spikes, allowing the system 100 to react and effectively remove the contaminants. The primary flow in the settling tank utilizes centrifugal force which forces the denser substances to the bottom similar to a centrifuge.

[0139] The fluid then flows through one, two, several, or no dosing stations 30 in FIG. 1. These dosing stations, if included in the system 100, allow for the addition of additives, such as alum, iron compounds, sodium hypochlorite, active carbon, graphene, polyphosphates, hydrogen peroxide, and surface tension modifiers. The number and type of dosing station(s) are determined by the desired result. An example is iron for reacting with phosphorous to recapture and repurpose the phosphorous. Another example is a surface tension modifier to reduce the UFB size and increase the quantity or density of the UFB’s. Examples of surface tension modifiers that reduce surface tension include surfactants, alcohols, or insoluble impurities such as oil, grease, dirt, etc. Surface tension modifiers that increase surface tension include salts, sugars and other highly soluble substances, etc.

[0140] Pump 42 then moves the fluid to the venturi 50 where the gas is drawn in via the venturi effect from module 150. This module 150 delivers the gas. The gas may be at least one of ozone, oxygen, nitrogen, or other trace gases. Alternate gases such as carbon dioxide or chlorine dioxide may be used depending on the application and the required results. Additional gases may be used to enhance nutrients and nutrient uptake for plants. For example, nitrogen and oxygen can be used in hydroponics particularly to initialize seed germination.

[0141] The fluid then passes through one or more mixing stations 60 designed to generate a more homogenous blend, reduce bubble size, and further dissolve the gases in the fluid. For example, the one or more mixing stations may include a static mixer, where various baffles and blades force fluids to divide and recombine in various shearing processes generating turbulence and encouraging blending and homogeneity. As another example, the one or more mixingstations may include flash reactors which require short contact time and introduce turbulence and mixing of fluids.

[0142] Incorporation of pump 43 in system 100 may be desired to increase pressure and further dissolve the gases to meet the design criteria of the UFB generator for pressure and flow rate.

[0143] The fluid is then moved through the UFB generator 70. The UFB generator 70 may utilize one or more methods of generating UFB’s to achieve the required results. This may include but is not limited to cavitation, vortex management, shear degradation and ultrasonics.

[0144] The fluid is then passed through a finishing process starting with a safety system 80 for removing residual undesired gases. For example, free ozone still in the gas phase is an undesired gas and may be removed in the safety system 80. The fluid is then passed through another settling tank 20 to remove any solids and debris generated by the system. In this settling tank 20, inorganic substances, such as phosphorous, can be captured and recovered. The recovered phosphorous and other inorganics can be recycled and reused in the production of fertilizers. The resulting fluid can be returned to the water source 5, which is subjected to further organic contaminant reduction based on the net properties of the generated UFB’s in the resulting fluid that is returned to the water source. It is preferred that up to about five percent (5%) of the total fluid contained in the water source 5 should pass through the system 100 to achieve removal of organic pathogens. The fluid passing through the system becomes a carrier of the ozone encapsulated UFB’s into the contaminated water body 5. Due to the chemical and physical nature of the ozone encapsulated UFB’s, they are buoyancy neutral and move throughout the water body via Brownian motion. Alternatively, the treated fluid can be passed out of system 100 after being processed by the settling tank 20. Depending on the application, further processing 90, such as filtration, addition of chlorine and / or chloramines, and softening, may be desirable before the treated fluid is passed out of system 100 to end user.

[0145] FIG. 2 illustrates another example of the system 100 that generates UFBs and removes organic and inorganic contaminants from the water source 5. Pump 41 draws contaminated fluid or water from a reservoir or water source 5, which can be a tank, pond or other containment system. Pump 41 then delivers the contaminated fluid to the venturi or injector50 where a gas is drawn in utilizing the venturi principle to the main fluid stream. The gas / liquid fluid is now delivered to the UFB generator 70 where the ultrafine bubbles are formed. The treated fluid is then returned to the contaminated water reservoir 5 or released to the end user. All other components in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 that are in addition to the components in FIG. 2 maybe optional and may be included individually or in combination to improve the safety, efficiency and control of the system outputs.

[0146] Referring now to FIG. 3, an example settling tank 20 is depicted. Fluid enters via component 10 near the bottom of tank 21. The fluid flows through mixer 22 and is inj ected into the tank. Baffles 23 and 24 continue to agitate the fluid. The gas / fluid separator valve 25, allows gases that are released in tank 21 to exit the tank without releasing any liquid. Valve 26 is used to remove the sediment, solids and small water borne animals after the tank has processed the fluid. The processed fluid exits tank 20 through component 10 near the top of the tank and passes through Component 15 to gather data such as pressure, flow, and / or temperature.

[0147] Referring now to FIG. 4, an example dosing station 30 is depicted. The dosing station 30 allows for the addition of additives to the system to achieve a desired result, such as precipitating phosphorous using an iron compound injected at dosing station 30, etc. The additives may be in any state - solid, liquid or gas. The state of the additive determines the style and type of the dosing pump 34.

[0148] The additive may be stored in a container 32. The additive is moved by pump 34 in a controlled fashion and injected into the main line where the fluid, primarily water, is undergoing treatment. The injection, based on the additive state, may be under pressure or utilize an injection assist such as a venturi. The additive is injected into component 10 (e.g., piping, plumbing). A static or dynamic mixer 36 may be included to enhance the homogeneity of the mixture of the fluid and the additive. Component 15 may gather data such as pressure, flow, and / or temperature.

[0149] Selective combinations of gases, including but not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen, and / or ozone, may be utilized and may be combined with additives at dosing station 30, such as salts, metals and surface tension modifiers, to manipulate and enhance the destruction and removal of organic contaminants and enhance the processing of inorganic contaminants, such as chelating, combining, flocculating, and precipitating inorganic contaminants, by the system 100.

[0150] Beneficial results are prophetically anticipated by practicing the present disclosure. Some of the following benefits are achieved by the indiscriminate nature of organic reduction and elimination. Some of the following benefits are enabled herein by use of the additives introduced at dosing station 30, including but not limited to: (i) phosphate removal and potential recovery by injecting an iron compound via dosing station 30 to precipitate the phosphorous and enabling the phosphorous precipitate to be extracted in the settling tank; (ii)heavy metal removal and potential recovery using adsorption processes in the settling tank; (iii) smaller ultrafine bubble formation using surface tension modifiers to change the energy requirements needed to generate UFB’s of a certain size and density, where the smaller the bubble, the more powerful the reaction; (iv) downstream reduction of chemicals and additives to generate potable water as the system reduces and eliminates the pathogens and toxins in the contaminated water, and thus the amount of sterilization chemicals, such as chlorine and chloramines, which can have detrimental health concerns can be reduced and potable water requirements are still met; (v) the ability to engage in molecular breakdown of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when combined with complementary technologies such as electro coagulation, as well as reduction of other chemicals such as residual pharmaceuticals that have detrimental effects on Humankind and the fauna and flora found in ecosystems globally; (vi) reduction of microplastics, which may require additional treatment such as reverse osmosis to completely remove; (vii) reduction of hormones, pesticides and herbicides found in potable drinking water will assist in the reset of natural development of children; (viii) reduction of harmful contaminants that can impact the health of our population and reduce the strain on medical systems; and (viiii) outputting clean, cost effective water to benefit health and mortality rates.

[0151] Referring now to FIG. 5, an example safety system 80 is depicted. The safety system 80 may be implemented for the removal of residual undesirable gases. The treated fluid flows into container 82 at a point toward the bottom of the container. The container has a gas fluid separator valve 84 to allow any free gas to escape to the top of the container. The gas then passes through a desiccant / catalyst chamber 86. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, Carulite 200™, a granular chemical catalyst made from a combination of oxides and used to destroy ozone off-gas produced in corona treating applications, may be used to reduce or remove ozone converting the toxic ozone to oxygen.. The remaining treated fluid leaves the container 82 through component 10 near the top of the container 82.

[0152] FIG. 6illustrates an example using a batch or partial batch system 110 where the initial contaminated water source 5 has organic loading levels greater than what can be eliminated by a single pass through the system 100. The initial contaminated water source 5 provides the fluid to fdl the batch or partial batch reservoir 110 which can be a tank, pond, or other containment system. The valve from the contaminated water source is closed once the batch reservoir has the appropriate water content. The contaminated water is then cycled through the system 100 until the chemistry and biology of the water reaches pre-determined levels. Sensors, such as Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH sensors, can beutilized to measure the required parameters. When the pre-determined parameters are met, the water can then be released to the end user, back to the watershed or put back into the original contaminated water source 5.

[0153] Referring now to FIG. 7, another example system 500 is illustrated. System 500 depicts three pressure transducers. A first (1st) pressure transducer 15 may be located before a venturi 50 to ensure preferred pressure ranges in the flow of water before turning on a supply of ozone, and both the input and the output pressures may dictate the suction of gas into the liquid flow. A second (2nd) pressure transducer 15 may be located after the venturi gas flow 50. A third (3rd) pressure transducer 15 may be located after the UFB generator 70. For the purpose of obtaining preferred bubble sizes, each UFB generator may have a back pressure in a range from about 15 psi to about 70 psi. The optimal back pressure can be determined by optimizing the UFB size and density for the system. This back pressure is generated with a choke or flow restrictor 75 to restrict the flow and increase the back pressure on the exit of the UFB generator 70 to a pre-determined value.

[0154] Referring again to FIG. 7, the centrifugal pump 42 is considered the feed pump or the pump that draws in the liquid to be treated. Feed liquid can be either flowing fluid or reservoir fluid that is drawn into the feed pump 42 via the net positive suction head (NPSH) of the pump. Injection of the dosing fluid can be located before the feed pump 42, after the feed pump or at the feed pump depending on the treatment process, equipment location and spacing. The feed pump pressurizes the venturi (or injector) 50 where the gas (e.g., ozone, oxygen, nitrogen or other) is introduced as required to accomplish the preferred results of the system depicted in FIG. 7.

[0155] As fluid homogeneity is key to approaching gas saturation in the liquid, static mixers or flash reactors can be installed before, after or both before and after the feed pump 42. This increases the UFB’s’ density and minimizes the UFB’s’ bubble size.

[0156] The venturi 50 in FIG. 7 utilizes venturi principles designed to yield a pressure drop sufficient to draw a gas into the primary fluid stream. The pressure drop may be managed to ensure a predetermined desired combination of gas entry, homogeneous mixing, and gas dissolution due to pressure and turbulent mixing. Utilization of a static mixer between the feed pump 42 and centrifugal pump 43, as shown in FIG. 7, can generate chaotic movement and turbulence to enhance homogeneity of the fluid.

[0157] One or more dosing chemicals may be used with the system 500 illustrated in FIG. 7. An example is an iron compound that precipitates phosphorous, which can then be removed in the settling tank. This reduces the nutrient loading in water bodies where Harmful AlgalBlooms (HAB’s) grow, providing a solution for HAB reduction. The phosphorous can be recovered and repurposed into fertilizers.

[0158] While consistent designs increase viability in manufacturing, the system and process provided herein may be modified to achieve a desired output of the system.

[0159] The system and method provided herein may utilize a biomimicry model, which may produce dissolved oxygen only as the chemical byproduct. Disinfection Byproducts (DBP’s), can be prevented by injection of hydrogen peroxide in a dosing station 30. If necessary, prevention of such DBP’s is easier than management of the produced chemicals.

[0160] The reactive chain in the system and method provided herein involves both physics and chemistry when the UFB’s interacts with an organic pathogen. This process is a combination of ozonolysis combined with the production of hydroxy radicals and the chemistry chain produces peroxides, surfactants and other chemical chains which ultimately leaves increased dissolved oxygen in the water.

[0161] The system and method provided herein may ensure that the pressure generated by the feed and boost pumps are in a range from about 20 psi to about 75 psi, to thereby reduce both net operational cost and initial capital cost as compared to other systems for water containment removal which typically operate at higher, more costly pressures.

[0162] The system and method provided herein generates a homogenous solution and ensures gas dissolution to thereby ensure consistent generation of UFB’s due to complete mixing before UFB generation.

[0163] The system and method provided herein are efficient in mixing to ensure UFB production and lower operating cost.

[0164] Historical and existing water cleaning processes that use UFB’s usually “gas off’ or lose up to half (e.g., about 50%) of the gas due to inefficient mixing which reduces net UFB production and increases operating cost. Processes were built with a more is better concept versus an engineered analysis of actual gas / liquid saturation levels. Therefore, production of excessive gases such as ozone is costly and inefficient. Additionally, those systems: (i) are not efficient in management of toxic gases such as free ozone gas, which are a significant part of their processes and thereby increase the capital cost as well as the operational cost and maintenance; and (ii) are not operationally competitive systems for costs-of-operation such that they may not be able to be commercialized due to one or more of high operational costs (OPEX), failure, and downtime.

[0165] Further, the system and method provided herein may protect and enhance environmentally delicate species, such as copepods and the mesocosm, by setting andmonitoring operational parameters, thereby enhancing the ecosystem. Additionally, testing by esteemed universities and governmental agencies skilled in this art have determined that reduction of dominant species such as cyanobacteria accelerates the reset of the natural flora and fauna.

[0166] While there has been illustrated and described what are presently considered to be example features, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter without departing from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may also include all aspects falling within the scope of appended claims, and equivalents thereof.

[0167] The various steps or acts in a method or process may be performed in the order shown or may be performed in another order. Additionally, one or more process or method steps may be omitted, or one or more process or method steps may be added to the methods and processes. An additional step, block, or action may be added in the beginning, end, or intervening existing elements of the methods and processes. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways and / or methods for various implements.

[0168] In the preceding detailed description, numerous specific details have been set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods and systems that would be known by one of ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.

[0169] Various features and characteristics are described in this specification to provide an understanding of the composition, structure, production, function, and / or operation of the present disclosure, which includes the disclosed compositions, coatings, and methods. It is understood that the various features and characteristics of the present disclosure described in this specification can be combined in any suitable manner, regardless of whether such features and characteristics are expressly described in combination in this specification. The Inventors and the Applicant expressly intend such combinations of features and characteristics to be included within the scope of the present disclosure described in this specification. As such, the claims can be amended to recite, in any combination, any features and characteristics expressly or inherently described in, or otherwise expressly or inherently supported by, this specification.Furthermore, the Applicant reserves the right to amend the claims to affirmatively disclaim features and characteristics that may be present in the prior art, even if those features and characteristics are not expressly described in this specification. Therefore, any such amendments will not add new matter to the specification or claims and will comply with the written description, sufficiency of description, and added matter requirements.

[0170] While the present disclosure provides descriptions of various specific aspects for the purpose of illustrating various aspects of the present disclosure and / or its potential applications, it is understood that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present disclosure herein should be understood to be at least as broad as claimed and not as more narrowly defined by particular illustrative aspects provided herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of removing a contaminant from a fluid, the method comprising: dissolving a gas in the fluid; generating, by an ultrafme bubble generator, bubbles containing the gas in the fluid, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of about 125 nm, and a density ratio of about 2.5 * 108bubbles / cm3or more; and the bubbles remove the contaminant from the fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of ozone, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide, air, and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bubbles are generated by one or more of cavitation, vortex management, shear degradation and ultrasonics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is from a source selected from the group consisting of a reservoir, a lake, a pond, a lagoon, flowing water supplied by an aquafer, a pump, a well, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing a solid and / or a waterborne animal from the fluid.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising controlling a pressure and flow across the ultrafme bubble generator by a choke or flow restrictor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the solid is selected from the group consisting of sediment, rust, an organic solid material, microplastics, scale, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the waterborne animal is selected from the group consisting of freshwater shrimp, bugs, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding an additive to the fluid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, alum, iron compounds, sodium hypochlorite, activated carbon, polyphosphates, hydrogen peroxide, surface tension modifiers, and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising mixing the fluid to dissolve the additive and the gas in the fluid.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising one or more steps selected from the group consisting of removing residual gas from the fluid, filtering the fluid, adding an additional additive, and softening the fluid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is selected from the group consisting of varietals of algae, pesticides, herbicides, residual pharmaceuticals, bacteria, viruses, oils, poly and perfluoroalkyl substances, glyphosate, and mixtures thereof.

14. A system for removing contaminants in a fluid, the system comprising: one or more pumps configured to move the fluid through the system; optionally one or more settling tanks configured to remove solids and / or inorganic substances from the fluid; optionally one or more dosing stations configured for adding one or more additives to the fluid; an injector configured to introduce a gas to the fluid; an Ultrafme bubble (UFB) generator configured to produce UFB’s for removing the contaminants from the fluid; optionally one or more sensors configured to monitor, control, and / or manage the system; optionally a safety system configured to remove one or more residual gases; and optionally a controller configured to record, store, and / or analyze data from the optional one or more sensors and to manage adjustments to the system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more pumps are one or more selected from the group consisting of centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, peristaltic pumps, and diaphragm pumps.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more settling tanks each comprised of some or all of a mixer, a baffle, a gas / fluid separator valve, a solid removal valve, an inlet, and an outlet.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more dosing stations each comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of a container, a pump, an inlet, an outlet, and a mixer.

18. A method of removing a contaminant from a fluid, the method comprising: adding a surface tension modifier to the fluid; introducing a gas in the fluid, wherein the surface tension modifier facilitates dissolution of the gas in the fluid, and the gas comprises ozone; generating bubbles containing the gas in the fluid, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of about 125 nm and a density ratio of about 2.5 * 108bubbles / cm3or more; and removing the contaminant from the fluid by the bubbles.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising adding an additive to the fluid, wherein the additive precipitates an inorganic substance from the fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the additive comprises an iron compound, and the iron compound precipitates phosphorous from the fluid.

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