Mobile Flocculation System with Weir Tanks for Fracking Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
The oil and gas industry faces challenges in efficiently managing and treating large volumes of contaminated water from fracking operations, as existing mobile water treatment systems are costly, environmentally impactful, and require extensive infrastructure, while current technologies do not effectively address the need for on-site, cost-effective water recycling and filtration.
Innovation Solution
A mobile flocculation and fracking water treatment system comprising a series of tanks with weirs and a pump house mounted on a skid, allowing for serial or individual tank cleaning, with overflow captured in a secondary containment reservoir, enabling on-site treatment and recycling of contaminated water through flocculation and filtration processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If water is transported by truck to filtering location, then water can be filtered and cleaned, but transportation costs increase and traffic volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water treatment process into multiple stages using a series of settling tanks with progressively lower weirs, allowing different levels of treatment to occur in sequence. This segmentation enables efficient on-site treatment without requiring complete water transport to centralized facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vertical elevation changes through stepped weirs at different heights to create gravity-driven flow between tanks. This dimensional approach eliminates the need for energy-intensive pumping while achieving effective water separation and treatment.
2Ease of manufacture
If piping system is constructed to pump water, then water can be transported to filtering location, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system is divided into modular settling tanks that can be individually bypassed or cleaned, allowing maintenance without shutting down the entire system. This modular approach reduces infrastructure complexity while maintaining treatment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates bypass capabilities that allow dynamic rerouting of water flow around specific tanks during cleaning or maintenance. This flexibility simplifies infrastructure requirements by eliminating the need for complex valve systems and multiple piping configurations.
3Ease of operation
If filtering facility is set up at well site, then water can be filtered on-site, but setup cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple settling tanks with progressively lower weirs that create automatic gravity flow, eliminating the need for complex pumping infrastructure. Each tank performs a specific separation function, making the overall system simpler than centralized treatment facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The stepped weir design creates self-regulating gravity flow that automatically directs water through the treatment sequence without requiring external power or complex control systems. The system serves itself through gravitational potential energy converted from the elevation differences.
4Productivity
If tank is cleaned individually, then maintenance can be performed without shutting down system, but system design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into discrete, independently accessible tanks that can be isolated and cleaned without affecting other tanks. This segmentation enables maintenance operations on individual units while the rest of the system continues normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible bypass connections allow dynamic rerouting of water flow around tanks requiring maintenance. The bypass system is designed to be as simple as possible, using basic valve and piping configurations that minimize design complexity while achieving the goal of continuous operation.
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 system enables efficient on-site treatment and recycling of fracking fluids, reducing transportation costs and environmental impact by allowing for continuous operation and secondary containment, thereby improving water reuse and management in the oil and gas industry.
Implementation Method 1
a series of settling or flocculation tanks having a progression of weirs therebetween
Implementation Method 2
Mobile Flocculation and Fracking Water Treatment System
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile flocculation and water treatment system includes at least one tank, preferably a series of adjoining tanks separated by weirs, and an adjacent pump house mounted on a mobile platform. At least one pump is mounted in the pump house. Fluid conduits run from the pumps to the tank. An overflow is mounted between the downstream tank and the pump house whereby fluid overflow from the tanks is directed into the pump house. The pump house provides a substantially water-tight reservoir zone to provide secondary containment. Water to be treated enters the upstream end of the tanks and is discharged from the downstream end.