Dissolved Gas Floatation Pump System for Compact Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floatation systems for removing insoluble substances from produced water require large volumes and multiple pumps, leading to increased costs and space requirements, as they often rely on inefficient bubble sizes and gas distribution methods.
Innovation Solution
Optimizing bubble size in the fluid/gas mixture to match the average size of oil droplets and insoluble solids, and increasing air flow to the pump to enhance gas bubble density, reducing the number of pumps and vessel size needed, while using a variable frequency pump to increase gas intake without cavitation issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If small bubbles are used for better contaminant removal, then separation efficiency is improved, but residence time required increases leading to larger tank size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of bubble size to optimize the balance between separation efficiency and residence time. By controlling bubble size within a specific range (0.5-5mm), the system achieves effective contaminant removal while reducing the required tank volume compared to using only small bubbles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control of gas flow rate and bubble size adjustment during the floatation process. The system can adaptively modify operational parameters to maintain optimal separation performance while minimizing tank volume requirements.
2Productivity
If multiple pumps are used to provide sufficient gas for bubble generation, then bubble population increases improving separation, but equipment complexity and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines gas injection and liquid pumping functions into a single integrated pump system. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate gas supply pumps while maintaining sufficient bubble population density for effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: pumping liquid, injecting gas, and generating bubbles of controlled size. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate equipment components needed in the system.
3Reliability
If large floatation tanks are used to accommodate long residence time for small bubbles, then separation completeness is improved, but footprint and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the bubble size parameter to reduce residence time requirements while maintaining separation completeness. By using bubbles in the 0.5-5mm range instead of only small bubbles, the system achieves reliable separation in a more compact footprint.
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
This approach improves separation efficiency by reducing equipment and space requirements, increasing gas bubble density, and optimizing bubble size to enhance contaminant removal, thereby lowering operational costs and footprint.
Implementation Method 1
Gas floatation units utilize gas bubbles (carried by a liquid medium) which are introduced into the fluid via low pressure (e.g., via an eductor) or under high pressure (e.g., within a pump). In theory, the bubbles are released from a delivery fluid into the fluid to be treated, attach to oil droplets and/or suspended solids, float them to the surface of the fluid where the gas is also released, and the oil and other insoluble substances are subsequently collected and separated from the fluid.
Implementation Method 2
dissolving an amount of gas in a fluid within a pump to form a fluid/gas mixture comprising a plurality of dissolved bubbles having an average bubble size of 100 micron or less
Implementation Method 3
releasing the dissolved bubbles from the fluid/gas mixture
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed processes and systems for improving the efficiency of the separation of insoluble contaminants from a fluid in a floatation unit.