Vacuum Distillation Eductor for Produced Water Brine Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high volume and complex chemical nature of produced water in oil and gas production pose significant handling and disposal challenges, including high salt content and varying chemical compositions, leading to costly disposal techniques.
Innovation Solution
A method involving vacuum distillation systems with eductors to concentrate salt solutions by partially distilling produced water, utilizing motive fluids and vapor condensation to transfer heat and separate salt solutions into concentrated streams, which can be managed efficiently and potentially reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional disposal techniques are used for produced water, then the complex chemical composition and high salt content are handled, but the disposal costs significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from the produced water mixture through distillation, separating it from salts and other contaminants. This allows the water to be reused while the concentrated brine is disposed of in a smaller volume, reducing overall disposal costs despite the complexity of the chemical composition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of water from liquid to vapor through heating and distillation, then condenses it back to liquid form. This parameter change enables separation of water from dissolved salts and contaminants, allowing reuse of purified water and reducing the volume requiring expensive disposal
2Quantity of substance
If the volume of produced water is reduced through treatment, then disposal costs are lowered, but the complexity of the treatment process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment process into distinct stages: heating/evaporation in a distillation column, condensation in a condenser, and separation. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall complex process by breaking it into manageable units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses steam as an intermediary substance to transfer heat to the produced water for evaporation, and uses a condenser medium (typically cooling water) to condense the vapor. These intermediaries enable efficient heat transfer and phase change without direct contact between the produced water and external systems
3Quantity of substance
If distillation is used to separate salt solution, then water recovery is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous distillation where produced water is continuously heated, evaporated, condensed, and collected. This continuous operation maintains steady-state conditions, optimizing energy efficiency by avoiding repeated heating cycles and maintaining constant heat transfer gradients throughout the system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits phase transitions of water (liquid to vapor during evaporation, vapor to liquid during condensation) to achieve separation. The latent heat of vaporization and condensation are utilized efficiently, with heat from condensing steam directly heating the incoming produced water, reducing external energy requirements
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 method reduces the volume of salt solutions requiring disposal, lowers disposal costs, and enables the recovery of valuable metal ions like lithium or rare earth metals, while maintaining manageable total solids levels.
Implementation Method 1
drawing vapor from a distillation tank into the eductor, where said drawing reduces the pressure within the distillation tank
Implementation Method 2
the vapor condenses within said eductor and thereby releases heat
Implementation Method 3
at least a portion of the heat is transferred to the liquid stream
Implementation Method 4
transferring at least a portion of the heat associated with the liquid stream to a salt solution
Implementation Method 5
distilling the salt solution within the distillation tank
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a salt solution, the method comprising (i) introducing a liquid motive fluid into an eductor; (ii) drawing vapor from a distillation tank into the eductor, where said drawing reduces the pressure within the distillation tank; (iii) mixing the motive fluid and the vapor within the eductor to produce a liquid stream, where the vapor condenses within said eductor and thereby releases heat and at least a portion of the heat is transferred to the liquid stream; (iv) transferring at least a portion of the heat associated with the liquid stream to a salt solution; and (v) distilling the salt solution within the distillation tank.