Water Treatment System for Desalination Pre-treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contaminated water from oil and gas extraction poses challenges due to the presence of oils, suspended solids, and scale-forming ions, which complicate the operation of desalination systems and require effective pre-treatment to produce fresh water suitable for consumption and industrial use while complying with regulations.
Innovation Solution
A water treatment system comprising an ion-removal apparatus and a separation apparatus that removes scale-forming ions and suspended solids from the contaminated water, followed by a desalination system to produce pure water and concentrated brine, allowing for the production of clean brine suitable for direct use in oil and gas operations or further processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If contaminated water is fed directly to a desalination system, then the desalination process can proceed, but scale formation and system fouling occur reducing efficiency and increasing maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing pre-treatment steps (separation of immiscible phases, ion removal) before the desalination process. The separation apparatus removes oils and suspended solids in advance, and the ion-removal apparatus removes scale-forming ions before water enters the desalination system, preventing scale formation and fouling that would otherwise reduce reliability and increase maintenance requirements.
2Reliability
If pre-treatment processes are added to remove contaminants before desalination, then scale formation is prevented and system reliability improves, but device complexity and process steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the water treatment system into distinct functional modules: a separation apparatus for removing immiscible phases, an ion-removal apparatus for removing scale-forming ions, and a desalination system. Each module performs a specific function, allowing for independent operation, maintenance, and optimization of each component while collectively improving overall system reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple ion removal passes are implemented, then scale-forming ion concentration is reduced to protect desalination equipment, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing ion removal to a sufficient but not necessarily complete level. The ion-removal apparatus reduces scale-forming ion concentrations to levels that protect desalination equipment from scaling, without requiring absolute removal of all ions. This balanced approach achieves equipment protection while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption associated with excessive treatment.
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
The system effectively reduces contaminant concentrations, enabling the production of high-quality water and brine streams, reducing operational costs and maintaining system efficiency by preventing scale formation in desalination processes.
Implementation Method 1
removing, within the ion-removal apparatus, at least a portion of the scale-forming ion from the saline water input stream to produce a first ion-diminished stream having a second concentration of the scale-forming ion
Implementation Method 2
removing, within the separation apparatus, at least a portion of at least one suspended and/or emulsified immiscible phase from the saline water input stream to produce an immiscible-phase-diminished stream containing less of the immiscible phase
Implementation Method 3
feeding the second ion-diminished stream to a desalination system to produce a substantially pure water stream having a lower concentration of a dissolved salt than the second ion-diminished stream and a concentrated brine stream having a higher concentration of the dissolved salt
Data Source
AI summary
Water treatment systems and associated methods are generally described. Certain embodiments of the water treatment systems and methods described herein may be used to treat water comprising one or more contaminants (e.g., oil, grease, suspended solids, scale-forming ions, volatile organic material) to remove at least a portion of the one or more contaminants. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the treated water may be used directly in certain applications (e.g., oil and/or gas extraction processes). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the treated water may undergo desalination to produce substantially pure water and/or concentrated brine.