Surface Evaporation System Droplet Control for Salt Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface evaporation methods for produced water lead to the spreading of salts and other contaminants outside the treatment area, causing environmental contamination and increased disposal challenges due to induced seismicity concerns.
Innovation Solution
An improved surface evaporation system that controls droplet size and spray configuration based on ambient conditions to minimize the drift distance of water mist and salts, using humidity sensors, anemometers, and adjustable nozzle sizes and configurations to ensure that contaminants settle within the treatment pit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional spray nozzles are used to spray produced water vertically to maximize evaporation rate, then evaporation efficiency is improved, but salt residual spreads with water mist and contaminates surrounding environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the droplet size parameter by using larger droplet sizes instead of fine mist, which reduces drift distance and prevents salt contamination while maintaining evaporation efficiency. The spray configuration parameter is also changed from vertical to horizontal orientation to control mist travel distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts spray parameters including droplet size, spray configuration, and spray direction based on ambient conditions such as wind speed and direction, humidity, and temperature to optimize evaporation while preventing contamination.
2Length of moving object
If nozzle size is increased to increase droplet size, then drift distance is reduced, but spray area coverage is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical spray orientation to horizontal spray orientation, utilizing the horizontal dimension to increase spray area coverage while larger droplet size controls drift distance. This dimensional change allows both objectives to be achieved simultaneously.
3Area of moving object
If multiple spray nozzles are used to increase spray coverage, then area coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses controllable spray nozzles that can adjust droplet size and spray configuration dynamically, reducing the need for multiple fixed nozzles and simplifying the overall system while maintaining coverage.
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 the drift distance of water mist and salts, concentrating contaminants within the treatment pit, thereby enhancing natural evaporation, reducing the volume of water requiring disposal, and minimizing environmental contamination.
Implementation Method 1
Surface evaporation methods typically involve spraying water through spray nozzles that spray the water or fluid vertically to maximize the evaporation rate
Implementation Method 2
The distance and direction water mist or vapor travels is a function primarily of water droplet size (larger droplet size causes reduced mist or vapor travel distance)
Implementation Method 3
The system detects ambient humidity (with humidity sensors) and wind speed and direction
Implementation Method 4
The system detects ambient humidity (with humidity sensors) and wind speed and direction (with an anemometer)
Implementation Method 5
This ultimately concentrates the water in the impoundment for later disposal, thereby enhancing natural evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
An improved surface evaporation system where droplet size and spray configuration is controlled and modified based upon ambient conditions in order to prevent the spreading of salts and other contaminants outside of a treatment pit or specific area. Water droplet size can be controlled by adjustment of the spray nozzle side. Increasing the nozzle size to increase droplet size results in a reduction of mist travel direction (i.e., drift distance). Reducing the nozzle size decreases the droplet size, and increases drift distance. Similarly, changing the configuration of the spray will affect drift distance. For example, changing the spray direction and height from a vertical spray direction to a flatter, more horizontal direction (with resulting greater area) results in a substantially decreased drift distance. In addition, the system also takes into account the effects of wind speed and direction and humidity. Evaporation modules may use standard spray nozzles, or ultrasonic evaporators.