Brine Intake Manifold Blending for Stable Lithium Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-containing fluid sources have varied compositions due to differences in subsurface geology, challenging existing lithium processing equipment to operate optimally, necessitating a system to control fluid source composition for efficient lithium extraction.
Innovation Solution
A manifold and intake system with sensors and flow controls adjust the blend of well fluids from multiple production wells to create a compositional blend suitable for lithium extraction, using real-time sensor feedback and machine learning to optimize lithium concentration and minimize additional components, temperatures, and flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If brine from multiple wells with varied compositions is processed directly, then the system can handle diverse fluid sources, but the lithium extraction equipment cannot operate optimally due to composition variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary blending of brines from multiple wells before they enter the lithium extraction equipment. By pre-adjusting the composition through controlled mixing, the brine is prepared in advance to meet the optimal operating parameters of the extraction equipment, ensuring reliable operation while accommodating diverse fluid sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary blending system with flow controls and sensors that mediates between the variable brine sources and the lithium extraction equipment. This intermediary system adjusts the composition of the blended brine to match the operating envelope of the extraction equipment, resolving the contradiction between handling diverse compositions and maintaining optimal operation.
2Productivity
If the composition of brine is严格控制 to match equipment operating range, then lithium extraction efficiency is maximized, but the system loses flexibility in handling varied well compositions
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic flow controls that can adjust in real-time to accommodate variations in brine composition from different wells. The sensors continuously monitor the blended brine composition, and the flow controls dynamically adjust the mixing ratios to maintain optimal parameters for lithium extraction, thereby preserving both efficiency and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the brine composition through controlled blending. By adjusting the flow rates from different wells, the system modifies the concentration parameters of the blended brine to match the optimal operating range of the lithium extraction equipment, maximizing extraction efficiency while handling varied source compositions.
3Device complexity
If manual monitoring and adjustment of brine composition is performed, then the system structure is simple, but the precision and responsiveness of composition control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that provide feedback on the composition of the blended brine. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of the flow controls to maintain precise composition control, responding to variations in real-time without requiring complex manual intervention while achieving high precision in matching the equipment's operating envelope.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures efficient and continuous lithium extraction by maintaining equipment within an optimal operation envelope, maximizing lithium recovery while minimizing energy consumption and water content.
Implementation Method 1
an internal flow path coupled to the plurality of fluid inlets, and a fluid outlet coupled to the internal flow path, wherein the fluid outlet outputs the blended well fluid that combines the plurality of well fluids
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of sensors used to obtain sensor feedback of one or more parameters of the plurality of well fluids, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is coupled to each of the plurality of fluid inlets, and the one or more parameters include a metal concentration
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of flow controls used to control fluid flows of the plurality of well fluids into the manifold based on the sensor feedback. The plurality of flow controls is coupled to each of the plurality of fluid inlets to adjust a blend of the one more parameters in the blended well fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided that includes an intake system configured to supply a blended well fluid to a metal extraction system. The intake system includes a manifold including a plurality of fluid inlets, an internal flow path coupled to the plurality of fluid inlets, and a fluid outlet coupled to the internal flow path. The intake system also includes a plurality of sensors used to obtain sensor feedback of one or more parameters of the plurality of well fluids. The plurality of flow controls is coupled to each of the plurality of fluid inlets and the plurality of flow controls to adjust a blend of the one more parameters in the blended well fluid including metal within a concentration range used for metal extraction by the metal extraction system.