Liquid treatment process and system

Abstract

A system and process for treating liquid are disclosed. The liquid treatment process comprises flowing a stream of heated liquid through an evaporative-cooling component and simultaneously, flowing an air stream through the evaporative-cooling component. The air stream is arranged to flow in a direction counter-flow to that of the stream of the heated liquid, thereby transferring heat from the heated liquid to the air stream to form a stream of chilled liquid and a flow of vapor. The flow of vapor is transported through a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane, away from the evaporative-cooling component towards a vertical wetland comprising vertical-wetland media. The flow of vapor is transported through the vertical-wetland media in the direction of an environment. Plant life and / or sorbents are supported by the vertical-wetland media.

Description

LIQUID TREATMENT PROCESS AND SYSTEMCross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims priority from US application No. 63 / 740,722 filed 31 December 2024 and entitled INTEGRATED HEAT-REJECTION SYSTEM AND WATER AND MINERAL MANAGEMENT THEREIN which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. For purposes of the United States of America, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of US application No. 63 / 740,722 filed 31 December 2024 and entitled INTEGRATED HEAT-REJECTION SYSTEM AND WATER AND MINERAL MANAGEMENT THEREIN.Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention pertains to processes and systems for treating liquid, in particular, those that can provide heat rejection.Background

[0003] Cooling towers are commonly used in industrial, commercial, and residential settings to dissipate excess heat generated by various processes, including HVAC systems, power generation, direct liquid cooling, data centers, thermoelectric power plants, district and building chilled water plants, and industrial manufacturing and chemical processes. Wet cooling towers and evaporative fluid cooler operate on the principle of evaporative cooling, where hot water is distributed over fill material inside the tower, allowing it to come into contact with air. A portion of the water evaporates and absorbs heat from the remaining water, effectively lowering its temperature. The cooled water is recirculated back into the system for cooling.

[0004] Evaporative cooling technologies, such as cooling towers, are used for their energy efficiency compared to other methods of heat rejection used in industry, especially in high heat-density environments. The thermodynamic advantage of evaporative heat rejection translates to substantial energy savings. High water use is an ongoing concern with adoption in some regions.

[0005] The evaporative cooling process consumes water through evaporation and concentrates minerals, biological growth, and contaminants that can harm the environment when discharged. Additionally, scaling of the evaporative-cooling system will occur due to the minerals in the recirculating water. This scaling is generally mitigated through blowdown, which is the steady removal of recirculated water. The evaporative-cooling process, therefore, requires the treatment and discharge of recirculated water. The blowdown rate is expressed as a percentage of the incoming makeup water, and it is typically around 10% to 20%.

[0006] This high water consumption and discharge in cooling towers requires the industry to innovate ways to minimize water loss by reducing non-evaporative losses (e.g., blowdown and drift) or using alternative water sources (e.g., greywater) instead of utility water. Several existing technologies and strategies can decrease makeup water use and water loss in cooling towers. These include water recycling systems, zero-liquid discharge systems, desalination technologies (e.g., reverse osmosis), advanced reuse water treatment systems (e.g., mechanical vapour recompressions (MVR) and multi-stage flash (MSF) evaporators and crystallizers), drift eliminators, low-flow nozzles, hybrid cooling systems, smart control systems, and regular maintenance.

[0007] There is a need for improved processes and systems for treating liquid such as blowdown water that require heat rejection, in particular those that are energy efficient and requires reduced water consumption and eliminate liquid waste discharge.Summary

[0008] Aspects of the invention pertain processes and systems for treating a liquid, in particular, liquid which requires heat rejection such as blowdown water. The liquid treatment processes and systems of the present invention provide efficient heat rejection when coupled with liquid cooling systems for buildings and / or other processes that require heat rejection. The described processes and systems provide a scalable solution for cooling buildings and / or other processes or applications which require cooling.

[0009] In some embodiments, the liquid treatment process comprises flowing a stream of heated liquid through an evaporative-cooling component and simultaneously, flowing an airstream through the evaporative-cooling component. The air stream is arranged to flow in a direction counter-flow to that of the stream of the heated liquid, thereby transferring heat from the heated liquid to the air stream to form a stream of chilled liquid and a flow of vapor. The flow of vapor is diffused through a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane, away from the evaporative-cooling component towards a vertical wetland comprising vertical-wetland media. The flow of vapor is transported through the vertical-wetland media in the direction of an environment. The stream of chilled liquid is discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component.

[0010] In some embodiments, a liquid treatment system comprises a vertical wetland comprising wetland media which is adapted to support the growth of one or more plants and / or sorbent media, an evaporative-cooling component configured to transfer heat from a stream of heated liquid to an air stream supplied therethrough, thereby generating a stream of chilled liquid and a flow of vapor, and a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane separating the vertical wetland and the evaporative-cooling component. The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane is adapted to transport energy through conduction and the advective flow of heat via water vapor generated at the evaporative-cooling component to the vertical wetland.

[0011] A heating means may be fluidly connected to an outlet of the evaporative-cooling component for heating the chilled liquid discharged from the evaporative-cooling component to generate a stream of re-heated liquid. A first circulation stream may be arranged to fluidly connect an outlet of the vertical wetland to an inlet of one or both of the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component. The first circulation stream is adapted to circulate a flow of re-use liquid discharged out of the vertical wetland to the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component. A second circulation stream may be arranged to fluidly connect an outlet of the evaporative-cooling component to an inlet of the heating means, and to fluidly connect an outlet of the heating means to the inlet of one or both of the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component. The second circulation stream is adapted to circulate the flow of the chilled liquid discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component to enter the heating means, and to circulate the stream of re-heated liquid discharged out of the heating means to the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component.

[0012] The described methods and processes for treating liquid advantageously integrateone or more of the following: evaporative cooling, a living green wall, a water management system, a water filtration system, and an automated system of valves and instruments. This integrated approach enables efficient cooling, plant growthand mineral uptake, in-line water treatment, and / or filtration of blowdown and rainwater in some example applications. The system may utilize a network of instrumentation and / or electrical controls to facilitate the operation of the system, and the effective management of water and minerals without routine human intervention.

[0013] The described methods and processes may advantageously enable the re-use of water through mineral uptake and filtration, the re-use of rainwater, and to mitigate the following common issues that have limited the deployment of evaporative cooling (e.g., cooling towers) where water usage and / or scarcity is a concern:- Discharge of wastewater and associated permits, regulations and water-treatment costs.- Compliance with environmental regulations governing water use, cooling device maintenance, and water treatment chemicals.- Beautification of the built environment and reduction of the Urban Heat Effect, improving acceptance of evaporative-cooling infrastructure in urban areas.- Managing corrosion and scaling through blowdown water treatment.- Water quality management and mitigation of biological pathogens (e.g., Legionella). - Reduced makeup (i.e. , utility water) water requirements and operational costs.

[0014] Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments of the invention are described below.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid treatment system according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example installation of the Figure 1liquid treatment system to a structure according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example installation of the Figure 1 liquid treatment system. The Figure 3 example installation includes a closed-loop liquid stream arranged to exchange heat with the liquid streams in the evaporative-cooling component according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example installation of the Figure 1 liquid treatment system to a structure according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example installation of the Figure 1 liquid treatment system to a structure according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example installation of the Figure 1 liquid treatment system to a structure according to an example embodiment of the invention.

[0022] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flows of liquid and vapor into and out of the Figure 1 liquid treatment system according to an example embodiment of the invention.Detailed DescriptionDefinitions

[0023] As used herein, the term “embedded instrumentation” or “instrumentation” refers to temperature, flow, pressure, imaging, and / or other water-quality or chemistry monitoring instrumentation that is embedded into the described system for monitoring one or more of the following parameters: total dissolved solids, total suspended solids; relative humidity; temperature; pH; turbidity; biochemical oxygen demand; and / or chemical oxygen demand. Instruments are embedded into the system in contact with fluids. Transducers may be provided to connect these instruments to a central electronic control system.

[0024] As used herein, the term “electrical controls system” refers to an integrated automation system that involves various components, including PLCs, DCS, HMIs, SCADA systems, VFDs, sensors, actuators, machine vision software and hardware, LLMs or other artificial intelligence, machine learning, and / or data processing software or APIs, and infrastructure components, including communication networks, power distribution, and / or backup systems, that work together to ensure efficient operation, monitoring, and control of the processes within and associated with the described liquid treatment system.

[0025] As used herein, the term “heat exchanger” refers to a device or chiller system which facilitates thermal energy transfer between an external heat rejection load and the described liquid treatment system. In some example embodiments, a heat exchanger is configured to heat the chilled water that the described system has cooled. The heated water may then be returned to the described system for cooling.

[0026] As used herein, the term “primary filtration” or “primary filtration unit” refers to a water-treatment unit configured to filter the influent to remove total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and / or harmful organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or pests, in the liquid flowing from the re-use liquid tank(s) or basin(s) to thechilled fluid tank(s) or basin(s).Example Embodiments

[0027] Referring to Figures 1 to 7, in one embodiment the system of the invention is a liquid treatment system 10. The liquid treatment system 10 is a heat-rejection system operable to manage an external heat-rejection load. An “external heat-rejection load” refers to the heat that necessitates dissipation from a system or process due to external sources, such as ambient temperature, sunlight, or heat generated by nearby equipment, chemical processes, physical processes, and / or computing. The described system 10 may be configured to remove excess heat to maintain optimal operating conditions and / or prevent overheating of the external system or process. The described liquid treatment system 10 is configured to additionally manage the liquid (e.g., water) and mineral concentrations present in the feeds supplied to the system.

[0028] The liquid treatment system 10 comprises an evaporative-cooling component 12, avertical wetland 14 and a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 separating the evaporative-cooling component 12 from the vertical wetland 14. In some embodiments, the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 is sandwiched between the evaporative-cooling component 12 and the vertical wetland 14 such that a distance between the evaporative-cooling component 12 and the vertical wetland 14 is the thickness of the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16. In some embodiments, the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 is arranged to be in direct contact with only one of the evaporative-cooling component 12 and the vertical wetland 14. In some embodiments, a porous structure may be oriented between, or sandwiched between, the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 and one or both of the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 and the vertical wetland 14. A side of the vertical wetland 14 opposite to the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 may be exposed to an environment. In such embodiments, the plants that are supported by the vertical wetland 14 may be exposed to the environment and thus oriented toward and exposed to outdoor air, sunlight and / or wind.

[0029] The vertical wetland 14 comprises a vertical-wetland media. A suitable verticalwetland media may comprise a fabric, felt, matrix, framework, biosorbent, physio-sorbent, chemi-sorbent, MOF, and / or molded thermoplastic material that are suitable for promoting the growth of and / or providing support for plant life and / or sorption of minerals from water. In some embodiments, a suitable vertical-wetland media has an inherent porosity is a sorbent that enables the liquid (e.g., water) that is not taken up by the plant life to pass therethrough in the direction of the environment and sequesters minerals from the liquid through adsorption and / or absorption.

[0030] The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 comprises a material that is adapted to allow vapor to pass therethrough. The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 may be adapted to prevent liquid (e.g., water) from penetrating therethrough. A suitable material may comprise a fabric, film, membrane, and / or composite material. A suitable material for use as the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 may comprise microscopic pores that are sized specifically to block water droplets and to allow water vapor molecules to pass through by means of diffusion and / or evaporation.

[0031] The evaporative-cooling component 12 is configured to cool heated liquid by evaporative heat transfer as the heated liquid is arranged to counter-flow with air that is forced through the component 12. The evaporative-cooling component 12 comprisesevaporative-cooling media embedded therein. An “evaporative-cooling media” may comprise a splash, film, hybrid, grid, random, or block fill material, or a combination thereof to promote evaporation and / or heat dissipation. A suitable material for use as the evaporative-cooling media is one which enables fluids to flow over and / or through it to maximize the surface area of water and air interaction while minimizing airflow resistance. An air supply 18 is fluidly connected to the evaporative cooling system 12. The air supply 18 is connected to direct an air stream into the evaporative cooling system 12. A fan, blower or the like (not shown) is optionally connected to force the air stream through the evaporative cooling system 12. The air stream may comprise ambient air.

[0032] In some embodiments, the air stream is arranged to enter the evaporative-cooling component 12 at a first end 20 and to exit the evaporative-cooling component 12 at an opposing second end 22. The first end 20 may be a bottom of the evaporative-cooling component 12. The second end 22 may be a top of the evaporative-cooling component 12. In some embodiments, the heated liquid is arranged to enter the evaporate cooling component 12 at the second end 22, i.e. , at the end of the evaporative-cooling component 12 opposite to which the air stream enters the evaporate cooling component 12, such as at the top of the evaporative-cooling component 12. The chilled liquid is arranged to exit the evaporative-cooling component 12 at the first end 20, i.e., at the end of the evaporative-cooling component 12 at which the air stream enters the evaporate cooling component 12, such as at the bottom of the evaporative-cooling component 12. The heated liquid enters the evaporate cooling component 12 and is cooled by the evaporative and convective heat transfer as it counterflows with the air, thereby rejecting heat to the environment through the air exiting the evaporative-cooling component 12 and / or through the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16.

[0033] In some embodiments, a heating means 26 is fluidly connected to the evaporative-cooling component 12. A circulation stream 21 fluidly connects an outlet 28 of the evaporative-cooling component 12 to an inlet 34 of the heating means 26, and fluidly connects an outlet 36 of the heating means 26 to an inlet 30 of the evaporative-cooling component 12 and / or an inlet 32 of the vertical wetland 14. The circulation steam 21 may be adapted to circulate a flow of the chilled liquid discharged from the evaporative-cooling component 12 to the heating means 26, and to circulate a stream of re-heated liquid discharged from the heating means 26 to one or both the evaporative-cooling component 12 and the vertical wetland 14. The heating means 26 may be configured to heat the chilledliquid to form a stream of re-heated liquid. In some example embodiments, the heating means 26 comprises a heat exchanger; however, other suitable devices may alternatively be used as the heating means 26.

[0034] In some embodiments, one or more chilled liquid tanks and / or basins 24 are fluidly connected to the outlet 28 of the evaporative-cooling component 12. The one or more chilled liquid tanks and / or basins 24 are connected to receive the flow of the chilled liquid discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component 12. In some embodiments, one or more chilled liquid tanks and / or basins 24 are fluidly connected to the inlet 34 of the heating means 26. The one or more chilled liquid tank and / or basin 24 may be connected to supply the flow of the chilled liquid to the heating means 26.

[0035] The cooling of the heated liquid at the evaporative-cooling component 12 to generate chilled liquid additionally produces a flow of vapor. The flow of vapor is directed away from the evaporative-cooling component 12 through the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 towards the vertical wetland 14. The flow of vapor may be transported through the vertical wetland 14 in the direction of the environment.

[0036] In some embodiments, a circulation stream 40 fluidly connects an outlet 42 of the vertical wetland 14 to an inlet 32 of the vertical wetland 14 and / or inlet 30 of the evaporative-cooling component 12. The circulation stream 40 may be adapted to circulate a flow of re-use liquid discharged out of the vertical wetland 14 to the vertical wetland 14 and / or the evaporative-cooling component 12.

[0037] In some embodiments, a re-use liquid reservoir 44 is fluidly connected to the outlet 42 of the vertical wetland 14. The re-use liquid reservoir 44 is connected to receive the flow of the re-use liquid discharged out of the vertical wetland 14. In some embodiments, the reuse liquid reservoir 44 is fluidly connected to the inlet 32 of the vertical wetland 14. The reuse liquid reservoir 44 may be connected to return the flow of the re-use liquid to the vertical wetland 14. In some embodiments, the re-use liquid reservoir 44 is fluidly connected to supply the re-use liquid to the one or more chilled liquid tank and / or basin 24. In some embodiments, the re-use liquid reservoir 44 is fluidly connected to a primary filtration unit. The re-use liquid discharged from the re-use liquid reservoir may be supplied to the primary filtration unit for filtration prior to being supplied to the one or more chilled liquid tank and / or basin 24. Such re-use liquid, for mixing with the cooled liquid, may be utilized as makeup

[0038] In some embodiments, a source of the heated liquid 50 is fluidly connected to one or both of the inlet 32 of the vertical wetland 14 and / or inlet 30 of the evaporative-cooling component 12. The heated liquid may for example comprise blowdown water. The source of heated liquid 50 may comprise a constant heat-rejection load such as data centers, continuous industrial processes, etc. The system 10 may utilize the heated liquid to maintain the temperature throughout the system 10 at above about zero. In some embodiments, heat trace (e.g., electric heating cables or other heating means for heating a surface) may be provided. Such heat may be integrated in the system 10 to mitigate risks of freezing.

[0039] In some embodiments, a source of fresh liquid 51 is fluidly connected to supply fresh liquid to the chilled liquid tank and / or basin 24. In some embodiments, a source of fresh liquid 51 is fluidly connected to supply fresh liquid to the re-use liquid reservoir 44. In some embodiments, the source of fresh liquid 51 is connected to supply fresh liquid to mix with heated liquid flow and / or re-use liquid as described below. The fresh liquid may comprise rainwater and / or utility water. The source of fresh liquid 51 is connected to supply fresh liquid to the chilled liquid tank and / or basin 24.

[0040] One or more fluid controllers may be fluidly connected in one or both of the circulation streams 21, 40. In some embodiments, a first fluid controller 52 is arranged in fluid communication with the source of heated liquid 50 and one or both of the inlets 30, 32 of the respective evaporative-cooling component 12 and vertical wetland 14. The first fluid controller 52 may be configured to direct a flow of the heated liquid into one or both of the evaporative-cooling component 12 and vertical wetland 14. In some embodiments, a second fluid controller 54 is arranged in fluid communication with the source of heated liquid 50 and one or both of the inlets 30, 32 of the respective evaporative-cooling component 12 and vertical wetland 14. The second fluid controller 54 may be configured to combine two or more streams of the heated liquid, the re-use liquid and the re-heated liquid to form a stream of combined liquid. The second fluid controller 54 may be configured to direct a flow of the combined liquid stream into one or both of the vertical wetland 14 and the evaporative-cooling component 12.

[0041] In some example embodiments, re-heated liquid discharged from the heating means26 and / or heated liquid from the source of heated liquid 50 is directed to the first fluid controller 52. The first fluid controller 52 may be configured to direct at least a portion of the heated liquid flow (e.g., re-heated liquid and / or heated liquid) to the vertical wetland 14. A remaining portion of the heated liquid flow may be directed to the evaporative-cooling component 12. The heated liquid flow may be directed to the second fluid controller 54. Reuse liquid and / or fresh liquid may be directed to the second fluid controller 54. The second fluid controller 54 may be configured to receive the heated liquid flow, re-use liquid and / or fresh liquid and to combine two or more of the liquid streams. The second fluid controller 54 may be configured to direct at least a portion of the combined liquid stream to the vertical wetland 14. A remaining portion of the combined liquid stream may be directed to the evaporative-cooling component 12.

[0042] The fluid controller 52, 54 may be adapted to manage the proportional mixing of the incoming liquid streams to adjust and / or optimize one or both of the temperature and mineral concentrations of the heated liquid flow (e.g., re-heated liquid and / or heated liquid) and / or the combined liquid stream (e.g., heated liquid, re-use liquid and / or fresh liquid) prior to supplying the stream to the vertical wetland 14 and / or the evaporative-cooling component 12. The rate at which the re-heated liquid, heated liquid, re-use liquid and / or fresh liquid flow into the fluid controller 52, 54 may be adjusted to optimize an inlet temperature of the liquid streams entering the vertical wetland 14 and / or evaporative-cooling component 12. For example, in some embodiments, the fluid controller 52, 54 comprises one or more control valve(s). The relative flow of heated liquid, re-use liquid, re-heated liquid, and / or fresh liquid into the evaporative-cooling component 12 and / or the vertical wetland 14 may be controlled by the one or more control valve(s). The temperature and / or mineral concentration of each inlet streams may be measured. The streams may be mixed to achieve the desired / ideal temperature and / or nutrient level for the given environmental conditions, plant health and / or cooling capacity requirements. In some embodiments, fresh liquid (e.g., rainwater) is supplied to the vertical wetland 14 and / or evaporative-cooling component 12 through a two-way and / or a three-way control valve. In some embodiments, fresh liquid (e.g., rainwater) is pumped into the re-used liquid reservoir through a control valve to form a combined re-used liquid stream. Such re-used liquid stream may be supplied to the vertical wetland 14 and / or evaporative-cooling component 12 through a two-way and / or three-way control valve. In some embodiments, the combined re-used liquid stream is supplied to the chilled liquid tank(s) / basin(s) through a primary filtration unit. The primary filtration unit is configured to treat the liquid. The liquid may then be circulated to theheating means 26 configured to heat the liquid. The re-heated liquid may be supplied to the evaporative-cooling component 12 and / or vertical wetland 14.

[0043] In some embodiments, an additional liquid stream 56 is arranged to circulate into and out of the evaporative-cooling component 12 in a closed-loop. In such embodiments, such a closed-loop liquid stream 56 is fed into the evaporative-cooling component 12 and is caused to travel through an enclosure 57 defined through the evaporative-cooling component 12. The enclosure 57 is a flow path within the evaporative-cooling component 12 that is separate from the flow path through which the liquid (e.g., heated liquid, combined liquid stream, etc.) is caused to flow through the evaporative-cooling component 12 to be exposed to the air stream, or the flow path through which the air stream is supplied. The closed-loop liquid stream 56 is thus not exposed to the air stream. The enclosure 57 may for example comprise a pipe but other enclosures that are suitable for optimizing conductive and convective heat exchange between the closed-loop liquid stream 56 and the other liquid streams that are arranged to flow through the evaporative-cooling component 12. The liquid stream 56 that is discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component 12 is arranged to circulate through a circulation stream to re-enter the evaporative-cooling component 12. In some embodiments, the liquid stream 56 that is discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component 12 is caused to flow through the heating means 26 for re-heating before reentering the evaporative-cooling component 12. In some embodiments, the liquid stream 56 that is discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component 12 is directed to re-enter the evaporative-cooling component 12 without first being supplied to flow through the heating means 26.

[0044] In some embodiments, the flow of the heated liquid and / or combined liquid stream is supplied to the vertical wetland 14. The plant life supported and grown within the verticalwetland media may uptake a portion of the liquid that is transported through the vertical wetland 14, thereby uptaking minerals from the vertical-wetland media. The mineral uptake by the plant life advantageously reduces the need to remove total dissolved solids (TDS) in the system 10 and at the same time, promotes plant growth in the vertical-wetland media. The class of plants and / or combinations of classes of plants and / or sorbents may be designed to optimize the balance between the heat-rejection load and minerals that are present in the feeds (e.g., utility water or fresh water) supplied to the system 10. In some example embodiments, halophytes are selected for integration and growth in the verticalwetland media as their root systems are naturally adapted to survive and sorb minerals inelevated salinity conditions.

[0045] The vertical wetland 14 advantageously provides for the heat rejection, primarily through transpiration and / or evaporation from the plant life and / or vertical-wetland media. The vertical wetland 14 may thus provide additional cooling capacity to the overall system 10 through conductive, radiative and / or convective heat transfer.

[0046] The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 advantageously provides for the managing of water and mineral concentrations within the system 10. The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 is oriented to separate the evaporative-cooling component 12 and the vertical wetland 14. The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 may protect the evaporative-cooling component 12 from environmental contamination and / or prevent heated liquid (e.g., blowdown water), fresh liquid (e.g., rainwater) and / or re-heated liquid (e.g., warm water) from entering the evaporative-cooling component 12 from the vertical wetland 14. The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 is adapted to enable the mass transfer of vapor generated at the evaporative-cooling component 12 to the vertical wetland 14 and out to the environment. The vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 thus assists to reduce the vapor pressure within the enclosed evaporative-cooling component 12 of the system 10. The reduction of vapor pressure advantageously improves the overall heatrejection efficiency of the system 10. In some embodiments, a high-to-low temperature gradient is maintained over the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 to promote e transport of water vapor from the evaporative-cooling component 12 through the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 and into the vertical wetland 14 and out to the environment. The high-to-low temperature gradient over the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 may be maintained by controlling an inlet stream temperatures into the evaporative-cooling component 12 and / or the vertical wetland 14.

[0047] The designed interface between the vapor permeable membrane 16 and the evaporative cooling component 12 and the vertical wetland 14 advantageously provides a high-surface-area interface for the conductive and convective heat transfer from the fluid flowing through the evaporative cooling component 12 and the fluid flowing through the vertical wetland 14. The high-to-low temperature gradient over the vapor permeable membrane 16 may be maintained by controlling an inlet stream temperature into the evaporative cooling component 12 and / or the vertical wetland 14.

[0048] Figures 2 to 7 illustrate examples of how the system 10 may be installed. Referring to the Figure 2 embodiment, the vapor-permeable membrane 16 is disposed between, and is in contact with, the vertical wetland 14 and the evaporative-cooling component 12. The evaporative-cooling component 12 is connected to, or otherwise integrated into or onto, a wall 60 of a building or other non-porous structure. In this illustrated embodiment, the system 10 is arranged on an external wall 60 of the building or other non-porous structure. The plant life in the vertical wetland 14 is arranged to be exposed to the external environment.

[0049] Referring to the Figure 4 embodiment, the vapor-permeable membrane 16 is disposed between, and is in contact with, the vertical wetland 14 and a frame or a structural frame 62. The structural frame 62 may be a free-standing porous structure. As used herein, a “frame” or “structural frame” refers to a rigid, porous frame / structure that provides support to and / or one or more attachment point(s) for one or more components of the system 10 (e.g., one or more of the vertical wetland 14, vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16, or an evaporative-cooling component 12 in the system 10). The structural frame 62 may separate, or be sandwiched between, the vapor-permeable membrane 16 and the evaporative-cooling component 12. In this embodiment, the plant life in the vertical wetland 14 is arranged to be exposed to the external environment.

[0050] Referring to the Figure 5 embodiment, the vapor-permeable membrane 16 is disposed between, and is in contact with, the evaporative-cooling component 12 and the structural frame 62. The structural frame 62 may separate, or be sandwiched between, the vapor-permeable membrane 16 and the vertical wetland 14. In this embodiment, the plant life in the vertical wetland 14 is arranged to be exposed to the external environment.

[0051] Referring to the Figure 6 embodiment, an integrated membrane and frame 64 which comprises a vapor-permeable membrane and a structural frame is provided. The integrated membrane and frame 64 may separate, or is in contact with, the vertical wetland 14 and the evaporative-cooling component 12. In this embodiment, the plant life in the vertical wetland 14 is arranged to be exposed to the external environment.

[0052] It will be understood to those skilled in the art that one or more conventional accessory devices and / or components not shown in the figures may be provided in the liquid treatment system 10 to facilitate the operation of the system. Non-limiting examples ofsuch accessory devices and / or components include but are not limited to:- sprinkler system(s);recirculation piping and pump(s);- control valve(s);- fans;- electrical controls system / hardware;liquid / air fittings;- one or more heat exchangers or other heating or heat-exchange means;- water treatment units such as one or more filters or similar separation means;- embedded instrumentation, e.g., thermocouples, turbidity sensors, BOD analyzers, flow meters, level indicators, pressure sensors, machine vision with depth sensors, cameras, and spectrometers, etc.;- transducers for real-time monitoring of pH, turbidity, BOD, COD, conductivity, water chemistry, temperature, flow rate, plant and root exposure, plant growth and health, corrosion potential of water and / or pressure, etc.- other hardware and software components that may be used for automating the system, etc.

[0053] In some embodiments, a central control and water management system is integrated with the described system 10. The central control and water management system may be configured to automate the start-up, operations, and / or shut-down of the described system 10 using a PLC, DCS, VFD-controlled recirculation pumps, automated gate and control valves, instrumentation (e.g., thermocouples, turbidity sensors; BOD analyzers; flow meters, level indicators, pressure sensors, machine vision with depth sensors, cameras, and spectrometers, etc.), and / or transducers for real-time monitoring of pH, turbidity, BOD, COD, conductivity, water chemistry, temperature, flow rate, plant growth and health, and / or pressure. The automated system may be configured to tune water temperature and / or mineral concentration entering the vertical wetland 14 and / or evaporative-cooling component 12, thereby enabling at least one or more of the following advantages:- A maintained high-to-low temperature gradient over the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 to promote transverse water vapor flux from the evaporative-cooling component 12 through the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane 16 and vertical wetland 14 and out to the environment.- A maintained high-to-low temperature gradient over the vapor-permeable membrane14 to promote conductive and convective heat transfer (i.e., exchange) from the fluid stream in the evaporative-cooling component 12 through the vapor permeable membrane 14 to the fluid streams in the vertical wetland 14.- Optimize heat rejection and cooling capacity of the system- Optimize the flow rate(s) through the primary filtration unit to balance water and mineral transport within the system.- Optimize blowdown water treatment and mineral uptake in the vertical wetland 14.Maintain an optimal growth environment for plants growing in the vertical-wetland media.Provide adaptability to changing environmental conditions, mineral concentrations, rainwater harvesting levels, plant health, and / or cooling capacity requirements. Reduce the need for human intervention and maintenance.- Optimize level of water use and conservation.- Optimize mass manufacturing of heat rejection modules that comprise, but are not limited to, the vapor-permeable membrane 16, the vertical wetland 14, and the evaporative-cooling component 12 in some examples.

[0054] Some aspects of the invention pertain to processes for treating a liquid, in particular, processes for rejecting excess heat from heated liquid such as those generated in various industrial, commercial and residential settings. The process may be performed using the described system 10. Figure 7 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating flows of liquid and vapor in an example liquid treatment process. In some embodiments, the liquid treatment process comprises flowing a stream of heated liquid (such as blowdown water) through an evaporative-cooling component and simultaneously, flowing an air stream through the evaporative-cooling component. The air stream may be arranged to flow in a direction counter-flow to that of the stream of the heated liquid, thereby transferring heat from the heated liquid to the air stream to form a stream of chilled liquid and a flow of vapor. The flow of vapor is caused to be transported through a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane away from the evaporative-cooling component towards a vertical wetland comprising vertical-wetland media. The flow of vapor is caused to be transported through the vertical-wetland media in the direction of an environment (e.g., outside environment). The vapor escapes to the environment. The chilled liquid (e.g., chilled water) may be discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component.

[0055] In some embodiments, the stream of chilled liquid discharged from the evaporative-cooling component is directed to a heating means configured to heat the chilled liquid to form a stream of re-heated liquid. Any suitable heating means may be used. A non-limiting example of a suitable heating means that may be used is a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the stream of the re-heated liquid is directed to flow through the evaporative-cooling component. In some embodiments, a first portion of the stream of re-heated liquid is directed to flow through the evaporative-cooling component, and a second portion of stream of re-heated liquid is directed to flow through the vertical wetland.

[0056] In some embodiments, a stream of re-use liquid is discharged out of the vertical wetland. The stream of re-use liquid may be directed to flow into a re-use liquid reservoir for storage therein. In some embodiments, the stream of re-use liquid, or at least a portion thereof, is combined with the stream of re-heated liquid, or at least a portion thereof, to form a combined liquid stream. The combined liquid stream is then directed to flow through one or both of the evaporative-cooling component and the vertical wetland. In some embodiments, the combined liquid stream additionally comprises heated liquid (e.g., blowdown water), and / or fresh liquid (e.g., rainwater and / or utility water).

[0057] In some embodiments, fresh liquid is combined with the chilled liquid such as at a chilled liquid tank to form a combined chilled liquid stream before flowing stream of chilled liquid through the heating means. In some embodiments, fresh liquid is combined with the re-use liquid such as at the re-use liquid reservoir to form a combined re-use liquid stream before flowing the stream of combined re-use liquid stream to the vertical wetland and / or evaporative-cooling component. In some embodiments, the combined re-used liquid stream is supplied to the chilled liquid tank through a primary filtration unit for treating the liquid. The treated liquid may then be circulated to the heating means for heating the liquid. The re-heated liquid may then be supplied to the evaporative-cooling component and / or vertical wetland.

[0058] In some embodiments, a stream of warm air is caused to be discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component. The warm air stream may be caused to flow in the direction of an outdoor environment and / or be circulated inside of a building or other premise.

[0059] The process may be tuned to optimize the rate of and / or efficiency of heat rejection by adjusting one or more of:- the proportion of each of the re-use liquid, re-heated liquid, heated liquid, and / or fresh liquid to be combined to form the combined liquid stream; and / or- the mineral concentration and / or temperature and / or rate at which each of the re-use liquid, re-heated liquid, heated liquid, and / or fresh liquid to be directed to flow into the vertical wetland and / or evaporative-cooling component; and / or- the mineral concentration and / or temperature and / or rate at which the chilled liquid is supplied to the heating means (e.g., heat exchanger); and / or- the material(s) selected for use as the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane and / or the surface area and / or the thickness of the membrane; and / or- the material(s) selected for use as the evaporative-cooling media and / or the surface area and / or the thickness thereof; and / or- the class or classes of plant species grown on the vertical wetland; and / or- the material(s) selected for use as the vertical-wetland media and / or the surface area of the media; and / or- the rate at which the air stream is supplied to the evaporative-cooling component; - the flux, pressure and / or temperature of the air stream being supplied to the evaporative-cooling component; and / or- storage amounts and mechanisms for minerals, contaminants, and / or water; and / or - the rate of chemical agents use for microbiological control, sealant control, cleaning, clean-in-place use and maintenance operations for each of the re-use liquid, reheated liquid, heated liquid, and / or fresh liquid to be directed to flow into the vertical wetland and / or evaporative-cooling component; and / or- the rate of chemical use for microbiological control, cleaning, clean-in-place use and maintenance operations for each of the re-use liquid, re-heated liquid, heated liquid, and / or fresh liquid to be directed to flow into the vertical wetland and / or evaporative- cooling component; and / or- the rate of electrochemical and / or photochemical treatment for microbiological control, cleaning, clean-in-place use and maintenance operations for each of the reuse liquid, re-heated liquid, heated liquid, and / or fresh liquid to be directed to flow into the vertical wetland and / or evaporative-cooling component; and / or- etc.

[0060] The described systems and processes provide the combined functionalities of greenwall technologies, evaporative-cooling technologies, and an advanced automated water management system, which may include at least the following:Industrial-relevant heat-rejection capacity and cooling performance.- Versatile and modular design for flexible integration into and onto buildings.- Water quality management and reduction of TDS and, therefore, filtration requirements. The uptake of minerals and sealants will lead to a major reduction or elimination of antiscalant chemical use and / or blowdown water loss and treatment. Reduction of water usage compared to prior-art technologies that utilize the evaporation of water for heat rejection through the pre-use & re-use of blowdown water and harvested rainwater.Biocide chemical usage reduction or elimination.Makeup water requirement reduction or elimination.Inherent green-wall benefits which may include:o Energy efficiency of the coupled building (e.g., insulate buildings from solar irradiation);o CO2 sequestration and plant and / or food growth;o Urban Heat Island Effect mitigation and urban microclimate benefits through photosynthesis and evapotranspiration and enhanced emissivity of plants compared to common materials of construction;o Building protection from radiation / solar exposure, rain and other environmental forces, and pollution benefits;o Stormwater management;o Water and wastewater treatment;o Air quality improvement;o Stormwater management benefits;o Wildlife benefits;o Aesthetic enhancement; ando Biodiversity enhancement.Reduced maintenance through an integrated water management system and electronic control system comprising pumps, control hardware & software, and instrumentation that will enable automated control of water flows, temperature, and mineral concentration throughout the system. A fully engineered and automated water management system will reduce human intervention, improve operational efficiency, enhance system reliability, and / or ensure optimal water use and conservation.

[0061] Throughout the foregoing description and the drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are identified by the same reference characters, specific details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art.However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail or at all to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.

[0062] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

Claims

Claims1. A liquid treatment process comprising the steps of:(a) flowing a stream of heated liquid through an evaporative-cooling component and simultaneously, flowing an air stream through the evaporative-cooling component, the air stream arranged to flow in a direction counter-flow to that of the stream of the heated liquid, thereby transferring heat from the heated liquid to the air stream to form a stream of chilled liquid and a flow of vapor;(b) transporting the flow of vapor through a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane, away from the evaporative-cooling component towards a vertical wetland comprising vertical-wetland media;(c) transporting the flow of vapor through the vertical-wetland media in the direction of an environment; and(d) discharging the stream of chilled liquid out of the evaporative-cooling component.

2. The process as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:(e) flowing the stream of chilled liquid discharged from step (d) through a heating means for heating the chilled liquid to form a stream of re-heated liquid; and(f) flowing at least a portion of the stream of re-heated liquid through the evaporative-cooling component.

3. The process as defined in claim 2, wherein the flowing of at least a portion of the stream of re-heated liquid through the evaporative-cooling component in step (f) comprises flowing a first portion of the stream of re-heated liquid through the evaporative-cooling component, and a second portion of the stream of re-heated liquid through the vertical wetland.

4. The process as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:(g) discharging a stream of re-use liquid through the vertical wetland.

5. The process as defined in claim 4, further comprising:(h) combining the stream of re-use liquid with one or both of the stream of heated liquid and the stream of the re-heated liquid to form a combined liquid stream before step(g); and(i) flowing the combined liquid stream through the evaporative-cooling component and / or the vertical wetland.

6. The process as defined in claim 5, further comprises (j) flowing the re-use liquid into a re-use liquid reservoir after discharging the re-use liquid out of the vertical wetland in step (g)- 7. The process as defined in claim 6, further comprising (k) circulating the re-use liquid to combine with the stream of heated liquid, the stream of heated liquid and / or the stream of the re-heated liquid to form the combined liquid stream in step (h).

8. The process as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the discharging of the stream of chilled liquid of the evaporative-cooling component in step (d) comprises flowing the chilled liquid into a chilled reservoir before flowing the chilled liquid through the heating means in step (e).

9. The process as defined in claim 8, further comprising (I) flowing a stream of fresh liquid to combine with the chilled liquid to form a combined chilled liquid stream before flowing the stream of chilled liquid through the heating means in step (e).

10. The process as defined in claim 9, wherein the stream of fresh liquid comprises rainwater and / or utility water.

11. The process as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising (m) discharging a warm air stream out of the evaporative-cooling component.

12. The process as defined in claim 11 , further comprising (n) flowing the warm air stream in the direction of the environment and / or to an inside of a building for circulating the warm air therewithin.

13. The process as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising (o) flowing an additional liquid stream through the evaporative-cooling component along a flow path within the evaporative-cooling component that is separate from a flow path through which the air stream is supplied.

14. The process as defined in claim 13, wherein the additional liquid stream comprises heated liquid.

15. The process as defined in claim 13 or 14, further comprising (p) discharging the additional liquid stream out of the evaporative-cooling component and returning the additional liquid stream to the evaporative-cooling component.

16. The process as defined in claim 15, further comprising flowing the discharged additional liquid stream through a heating means for re-heating prior to returning the additional liquid stream to the evaporative-cooling component.

17. A liquid treatment system, comprising:a vertical wetland comprising wetland media, the wetland media adapted to support the growth of one or more plants;an evaporative-cooling component configured to transfer heat from a stream of heated liquid to an air stream supplied therethrough, thereby generating a stream of chilled liquid and a flow of vapor;a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane separating the vertical wetland and the evaporative-cooling component, the vapor-permeable waterproof membrane adapted to transport the flow of vapor generated at the evaporative-cooling component to the vertical wetland;a heating means fluidly connected to an outlet of the evaporative-cooling component for heating the chilled liquid to form a stream of re-heated liquid;a first circulation stream fluidly connecting an outlet of the vertical wetland to an inlet of one or both of the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component, adapted to circulate a flow of re-use liquid discharged out of the vertical wetland to the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component; anda second circulation stream fluidly connecting an outlet of the evaporative-cooling component to an inlet of the heating means, adapted to circulate the flow of the chilled liquid discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component to enter the heating means, and fluidly connecting an outlet of the heating means to the inlet of one or both of the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component, adapted to circulate the stream of reheated liquid discharged out of the heating means to the vertical wetland and / or the evaporative-cooling component.

18. The liquid treatment system as defined in claim 17, further comprising a source of the heated liquid fluidly connected to one or both of the inlet of the vertical wetland and the inlet of the evaporative-cooling component.

19. The liquid treatment system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a first fluid controller in fluid communication with the source of the heated liquid and the inlets of the vertical wetland and the evaporative-cooling component, the first fluid controller configured to direct the flow of the heated liquid into one or both of the vertical wetland and the evaporative-cooling component.

20. The liquid treatment system as defined in claim 18 or 19, further comprising a second fluid controller in fluid communication with the source of the heated liquid and the inlets of the vertical wetland and the evaporative-cooling component, the second fluid controller configured to (i) combine two or more of the heated liquid, the re-use liquid and the re-heated liquid to form a stream of combined liquid, and to (ii) direct a flow of the combined liquid into one or both of the vertical wetland and the evaporative-cooling component.

21. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising a re-use liquid reservoir fluidly connected to the outlet of the vertical wetland adapted to receive the flow of the re-use liquid discharged out of the vertical wetland.

22. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 21, further comprising a chilled liquid reservoir fluidly connected to the outlet of the evaporative-cooling component adapted to receive the flow of the chilled liquid discharged out of the evaporative-cooling component.

23. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 22 further comprising a source of fresh water fluidly connected to the chilled liquid reservoir.

24. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 23, wherein the heated liquid comprises blowdown water.

25. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 23 or 24, wherein the fresh liquid comprises rainwater and / or utility water.

26. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 13 to 25, wherein the heating means comprises a heat exchanger.

27. The liquid treatment system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 26, wherein the evaporative-cooling component comprises an enclosure defined therethrough, and wherein the enclosure comprises a flow path that is separate from a flow path through which the air stream is supplied.

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