Mobile Brackish Water Conversion for On-Site Fracking Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
In areas with limited fresh water resources, such as those east of the Rocky Mountains, the high demand for water for fracking operations leads to costly and inefficient transportation of water, environmental pollution, and contamination of groundwater due to the use of brackish and contaminated water, necessitating a reliable and cost-effective method to convert brackish water into potable water.
Innovation Solution
A mobile water conversion system that includes an electro-coagulation stage, microfiltration stage, cooling stage, nanofiltration stage, and reverse osmosis stage, capable of producing fresh water from geothermal brackish water, reducing suspended and dissolved solids, and suitable for fracking operations, with a focus on zero liquid discharge and minimal environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brackish water is transported to fracking sites using tanker trucks, then water supply for fracking operations is ensured, but transportation costs increase and environmental pollution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water purification function from centralized treatment plants and places it directly at the fracking site through a mobile conversion system. This extracts the harmful transportation环节 and converts brackish water locally, eliminating the need for long-distance water trucking and associated environmental damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile water conversion system enables fracking sites to self-sufficiently convert brackish water into usable water on-site. The system includes electro-coagulation, microfiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis stages that work together to purify water without external assistance, making the site self-service capable.
2Quantity of substance
If brackish water is used for fracking operations, then water availability increases, but groundwater contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful brackish water, which was previously unusable and potentially contaminating, into beneficial fresh water through a multi-stage purification process. The electro-coagulation, microfiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis stages transform the harmful substance into a useful resource for fracking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system fundamentally changes the chemical and physical parameters of brackish water through sequential treatment stages. Electro-coagulation changes charge parameters, filtration stages change particle size parameters, and reverse osmosis changes concentration parameters, ultimately transforming brackish water into fresh water suitable for fracking.
3Quantity of substance
If deep wells are drilled to access groundwater east of the Rockies, then water access is achieved, but drilling costs increase and the water is brackish
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the location or depth of water sources through expensive deep well drilling, the invention changes the quality parameters of readily accessible brackish water through chemical and physical treatment processes. This transforms the problem from one of quantity and location to one of quality transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the purification function from expensive deep well drilling operations and replaces it with a mobile conversion system that treats superficial brackish water. This extracts the costly drilling operation and substitutes it with a more economical water treatment approach.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile water conversion system is deployed at remote fracking sites, then water purification capability is provided, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water conversion system is segmented into four independent but coordinated stages: electro-coagulation, microfiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Each stage handles a specific aspect of purification, allowing the complex overall function to be divided into manageable, specialized components that can be independently optimized and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile conversion system is designed as a universal platform that can be deployed at any remote fracking site regardless of location. It integrates multiple functions (electro-coagulation, filtration, temperature control, pumping) into a single mobile unit that adapts to various field conditions, making the system universally applicable despite its complexity.
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 converts brackish water into fresh water, reducing the need for transportation, minimizing environmental harm, and providing sufficient water for fracking operations while maintaining water quality, with minimal waste and chemical usage.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-coagulation (EC) stage which receives heated input water and removes suspended solids from the heated input water via electro-coagulation
Implementation Method 2
a microfiltration (MF) stage which receives the heated EC water and removes any remaining suspended solids and at least a portion of the dissolved solids from the heated EC water via microfiltration
Implementation Method 3
a cooling stage which receives the heated MF water and cools the heated MF water by heat exchange with circulating cooling stage water to provide cooled water
Implementation Method 4
a nanofiltration (NF) stage which receives the cooled water and removes dissolved calcium and magnesium compounds from the cooled water via nanofiltration to provide softened water
Implementation Method 5
a reverse osmosis (RO) stage which receives the softened water and removes dissolved salts from the softened water via reverse osmosis to provide fresh water
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile water conversion system including an electro-coagulation stage, a microfiltration stage, a cooling stage, a nanofiltration stage, and a reverse osmosis stage. The electro-coagulation stage receives heated input water, such as geothermal brackish water, and reduces total suspended solids. The microfiltration stage removes suspended solids and dissolved solids. The cooling stage provides cooled brine water. The nanofiltration stage removes hardness from the cooled brine water to provide sodium brine water. A portion of sodium brine water is provided to circulating water in the cooling stage. The reverse osmosis stage reduces sodium content and provides fresh water suitable for a specified purpose, such as fracking.