A water hydration system for disposing of the water content of production fluid generated by a hydrocarbon well. The production water is processed to remove particulate matter, and then to separate the water from crude oil. The water is heated and pressurized and passed through a nozzle to produce a spray which flashes into steam in a duct carrying fresh air. The water vapor hydrates the air that is forced through the duct by a high capacity fan which blows the hydrated air into the atmosphere.

This disclosure provides systems and methods that utilize integrated mechanical vapor or thermal vapor compression to upgrade process vapors and condense them to recover the heat of condensation across multiple processes, wherein the total process energy is reduced. Existing processes that are unable to recover the heat of condensation in vapors are integrated with mechanical or thermal compressors that raise vapor pressures and temperatures sufficient to permit reuse. Integrating multiple processes permits vapor upgrading that can selectively optimize energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, process economics, or a prioritized blend of such goals. Mechanical or thermal vapor compression also alters the type of energy required in industrial processes, favoring electro-mechanical energy which can be supplied from low-carbon, renewable sources rather than combustion of carbonaceous fuels.

The present system is for integrated management of associated gas and produced water at oil well extraction sites. The system includes a controller that makes gas allocation determination (e.g., directs conditioned gas to (i) gas flare, (ii) produced water reduction system, and/or (iii) generator) when a change in conditioned gas flow is detected based on first plurality of inputs. If the conditioned gas is directed to the generator, then the controller makes an electricity allocation determination (e.g., (i) increase a data processing operating rate on a data processing server, (ii) start up idle data processing equipment, (iii) direct generated electric current to a power grid, and/or (iv) charge a storage battery) based on second plurality of inputs. By operating the system of gas consumption and electricity production/consumption in an integrated fashion, benefits of flaring prevention, resource conversation, and more efficient economic operations are optimized to a degree not previously attainable.

An apparatus for use in water purification including a cylindrical vessel comprising, within the cylindrical vessel, a first set of hydrocyclones, at least one intermediate set of hydrocyclones, and a final set of hydrocyclones, the sets of hydrocyclones arranged in series. In one embodiment, the hydrocyclones within each set of hydrocyclones are arranged in a parallel configuration, wherein each set of hydrocyclones is defined by a divider which causes the hydrocyclones in each set to operate in parallel. In one embodiment each hydrocyclone has a tangential inlet disposed within an inlet chamber of the cylindrical vessel and in fluid communication with an inlet connected to the inlet chamber, an overflow disposed within an overflow chamber of the cylindrical vessel, and an underflow disposed within an underflow chamber of the cylindrical vessel. In one embodiment, the cylindrical vessel comprises a first set of hydrocyclones and a second, final set of hydrocyclones.

A system for desalination of salt water, the system including a crude oil refinery or hydrocarbon refinery, the crude oil refinery or hydrocarbon refinery including a furnace operable to produce a hot flue gas. The furnace including a radiant section, a convection section located above the radiant section, a flue gas stack located above the convection section, a heating coil located in a flow path of a flue gas in the flue gas stack such that the flue gas is capable of increasing a temperature of a water stream, thereby converting at least a portion of the water into steam, and a multi effect desalination plant configured for using the steam to produce a desalinated water.

An evaporator apparatus, system, and method can be utilized for separating, purifying, and refining contaminated fluids. The evaporator comprises a burner, a conically shaped heat sink to form an evaporate from the fluids with profiles arranged on the liquid contacting surface a unique multiple surfaced apparatus for collecting the evaporate, condensing the evaporate as purified water separating it from the evaporator, a device for collecting the unevaporated brine.

A new apparatus, system and method to purified produced water and removed valuable metals and minerals is described. The apparatus comprises a device for flowing produced water wellbore from a wellbore to the produced water purification apparatus; at least one device to remove heavy metals from the produced water; at least one brine removal device to remove brine from the produced water. The method comprises steps to use the apparatus and the system comprises a control panel that operates the at least one device for removing heavy metals and at least one sensor in a coordinated manner.

Marine engine exhaust includes pollutants such as CO.sub.2, NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x. An onboard system and method for the simultaneous removal of these pollutants includes obtaining seawater from the water on which the marine vessel travels, purifying the seawater to remove a portion of hard ions, concentrating the seawater to yield a concentrated brine solution, treating the concentrated brine solution with a chemical softener to yield a treated brine solution, acidifying the treated brine solution, and utilizing the acidified brine solution in a chlor-alkali process to yield sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide can be used in an acid gas scrubber to remove CO.sub.2, NO.sub.x, and SO.sub.x from the marine engine exhaust gas.

The present invention utilizes mechanical vapor compression and/or thermal vapor compression integrating compression loops across multiple process stages. A sequential network of compressors is utilized to increase the pressure and condensing temperature of the vapors within each process stage, as intra-vapor flow, and branching between process stages, as inter-vapor flow. Because the vapors available are shared among and between compressor stages, the number of compressors can be reduced, improving economics. Balancing vapor mass flow through incremental compressor stages which traverse multiple process stages by splitting vapors between compressor stages enables the overall vapor-compression system to be tailored to individual process energy requirements and to accommodate dynamic fluctuations in process conditions.

Certain implementations of natural gas liquid fractionation plant waste heat conversion to simultaneous cooling capacity and potable water using Kalina Cycle and modified multi-effect distillation system can be implemented as a system. The system includes first waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a first buffer fluid stream by exchange with a first heat source in a natural gas liquid fractionation plant. The system includes a water desalination system comprising a first train of one or more desalination heat exchangers configured to heat saline by exchange with the heated first buffer fluid stream to generate fresh water and brine.