System, Method, and Apparatus for Reducing Harmful Microorganisms from a Body of Water

Abstract

A method of processing water contaminated with harmful microorganisms is disclosed including drawing in a fluid that is contaminated with microorganisms from a depth of a body of the water and passing the fluid through a submerged arc to reduce populations of harmful microorganisms as well as reduce nutrient concentrations in the fluid. After flowing through the arc, the fluid is cooled before returning the fluid to the body of water.

Claims

1. A method of processing water contaminated with harmful microorganisms, the method comprising: drawing in a fluid that is contaminated with microorganisms from a depth of a body of the water; flowing the fluid through a plasma of a submerged arc; cooling the fluid; and returning the fluid to the body of water.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganisms comprise Cyanobacteria.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the depth is less than one meter from a surface of the body of water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganisms comprise Karenia brevis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the depth is varied during the step of drawing in the fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth is settable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the depth with a motorized telescoping mechanism.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising continuously varying the depth using the motorized telescoping mechanism.

9. A system for processing water in a body of water that is contaminated with harmful microorganisms, the system comprising: an input port coupled to the body of the water; a pump, an input of the pump fluidly coupled to the input and an output of the pump fluidly coupled to a reactor; the fluid flowing through a plasma of an electric arc drawn between two electrodes for killing at least some of the microorganisms; and a second pump, a second pump input fluidly coupled to the reactor and a second pump output fluidly coupled to the body of water for returning the fluid to the body of water.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a cooling device is fluidly inserted between the reactor and the second pump or between the second pump and the body of water for cooling the fluid before returning the fluid to the body of water.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the input port comprises a filter.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the filter is fluidly coupled to the pump through a telescoping system, thereby allowing for adjustment of a depth of the filter.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the telescoping system is controlled by a motor.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a collection tank fluidly coupled to the reactor for collecting a gas generated by the plasma.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a solids collection system including a solids holding tank for collecting solids from the fluid by gravity.

16. A method of processing water contaminated with harmful microorganisms, the method comprising: drawing in a fluid that is contaminated with microorganisms through a filter from a depth of a body of the water; flowing the fluid through a plasma of a submerged arc; and returning the fluid to the body of water.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising cooling the fluid before the step of returning the fluid to the body of water.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the depth is varied during the step of drawing in the fluid.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting the depth with a motorized telescoping mechanism.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising continuously varying the depth using the motorized telescoping mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary system for the reducing harmful organisms and nutrients in a body of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

[0022] Dealing with microorganisms in a body of water is a challenge, due to the fast growth of harmful, bad microorganisms within a nutrient-rich body of water. The following description describes a system and method for processing water from a body of water to reduce the harmful, bad microorganisms while also reducing a supply of nutrients that is available in the body of water, thereby impeding regrowth of the harmful, bad microorganisms.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for the reducing harmful organisms and nutrients in a body of water is shown. This is but an example of one system for the processing of water from a lake, sea, ocean, etc., as other such systems are also anticipated. As shown, water including harmful organisms and nutrients if flown from the body of water through a reactor where at least some of the harmful organisms are destroyed and the nutrients are reduced. Such a reactor is discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,924 issued Aug. 24, 2010, U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,604 issued Feb. 6, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,966 issued Apr. 1, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,972,118 issued Dec. 6, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,322 issued Jan. 6, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,752 issued Dec. 16, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,872 issued Aug. 9, 2005, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,236,150 issued Aug. 7, 2012, all of which are incorporated by reference.

[0024] In the system for the reducing harmful organisms and nutrients in a body of water, reduction of harmful organisms and reduction of nutrients is performed within the plasma 18 of a submerged electric arc, preferably without introducing any harmful chemicals. The plasma 18 of a submerged arc also destroys toxins that are created by the harmful microorganisms.

[0025] In the example shown, there is a body of water 8 that is contaminated (shown in simplified form for clarity and brevity reasons) such as a lake, stream, pond, ocean, or bay. An algae bloom 3 is shown in the body of water 8. The algae bloom 3 is contaminated with some form of microorganism such as Cyanobacteria and/or Karenia brevis. The contaminated water is pumped from a filter 9 positioned in the body of water 8 near/in the algae bloom 3 and into a reactor 12 by an input pump 11. In some embodiments, the level of submersion of the input filter 9 is adjustable to accommodate different types of microorganisms that are present at different depths of the body of water 8. The contaminated water is drawn in through the filter 9 to prevent marine animals such as small fish, small crabs, and small shrimp from being pulled in along with the contaminated water. The filter 9 also prevents debris from entering the reactor (e.g. twigs, leaves). In some embodiments, the flow of the contaminated water is controlled with respect to an area of the openings in the filter 9 so as to prevent objects such as debris or small animal life from being held against the filter 9.

[0026] In some embodiments the filter 9 telescopes by way of a telescoping mechanism 7 to adjust the water level from which the contaminated water is drawn from the body of water 8. For example, when treating water contaminated with Cyanobacteria, the contaminated water is drawn from a shallow depth of, for example, less than one meter from the surface 1 of the body of water 8, as Cyanobacteria require sunlight for energy and, therefore, live relatively close to the surface 1 of the body of water 8. In another example, when treating water contaminated with , the contaminated water is drawn from various depths, as does not require sunlight and, therefore, live at many depths of the driven by a motor 4 and the filter 9 is moved up and down continuously to draw contaminated water from multiple depths by the motor 4. In some embodiments, the filter 9 floats, collecting water from the surface 1 of the body of water 8 (e.g. skimming), which is effective for Cyanobacteria that form a green slime on the surface 1 of the body of water 8.

[0027] The contaminated water flows into plasma 18, for example, plasma 18 created by a submerged arc struck between two electrodes 14/16 (submerged within a fluid 49 which contains the contaminated water from the body of water 8). When the contaminated water is exposed to the plasma 18, a substantial number of the microorganisms are killed. Further, it has been demonstrated that when nutrients (e.g. phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium) are exposed to the plasma 18, the amount of nutrients is also reduced by the plasma 18. Measurements have shown that nutrient content of the fluid 49 are reduced by approximately 40% after exposure to the plasma 18 of a submerged arc. It has also been demonstrated that after exposure of a fluid to the plasma 18 of a submerged arc, certain unwanted compounds are dismantled such as pharmaceuticals, leachates, and PCBs.

[0028] In some embodiments, the fluid 49 is circulated within the reactor 12 and back through the plasma 18 to further reduce presence of microorganisms and reduce the amount of nutrients available in the fluid.

[0029] In some embodiments, the submerged arc is powered by a source of electric power 10 including any power source such as the power grid, a generator (for remote locations), solar power, power from batteries, etc.

[0030] As a bi-product of the contaminated water flowing through the plasma 18, a gas 24 is released, percolating to the top of the fluid 49. In some embodiments, the gas 24 collects above the fluid 49 and is extracted through plumbing 26 into a gas holding tank 25. It is anticipated that, in some embodiments, the gas 24 be used to provide some of the power needed for running the submerged arc and/or for power to assist in cooling the fluid. In some embodiments, the gas 24 is stored and transported for use in welding/cutting metals, etc.

[0031] The fluid 49 leaving the reactor 12 is water having less microorganisms and less nutrients. In some embodiments, especially those in which the fluid 49 is recirculated through the submerged arc, the fluid 49 is practically void of microorganisms.

[0032] After the reduction of microorganisms and nutrients by the submerged arc, in some embodiments, the fluid 49 (which has been heated by the submerged arc) is pumped into a cooling system 51 (e.g. waterfall system, air cooled system, sprinkler, drip system with fans) through intermediate plumbing 17 by an intermediate pump 15. In some embodiments, an intermediate filter 22 removes certain particulate matter in the fluid 49. The intermediate filter 22 is, for example, a sand filter, an activated charcoal and sand filter, a diatomaceous earth filter, a combination of any of the prior, etc.

[0033] In some embodiments of the cooling system 51, the fluid 49 is oxygenated as there is a loss of oxygen due to the plasma 18. The fluid 49 is cooled so as to not substantially increase the average temperature of the body of water 8, as it is known that certain unwanted microorganisms thrive in warmer water. It is anticipated that some of the fluid 49 will evaporate as water vapor/steam 58.

[0034] In some embodiments, solids are collected (either before cooling or after cooling). In some such embodiments, the solids are used for power generation or fertilizer. In such, there is a separator to separate the solids from the fluid 49 before the fluid is returned into the body of water 8. In the example shown in FIG. 1 includes a gravity separation in which solids accumulate at the bottom of the cooling system 51 (bottom may be shaped with a slope) with an opening connected to a separation conduit 60 that routes the solids to a solids holding tank 64 for later extraction and use. In some embodiments, a separation valve 62 is opened or closed to control collection of solids.

[0035] After the fluid 49 cools (e.g. water with reduced harmful microorganisms and reduced nutrients), the fluid 49 is pumped by a return pump 55 through plumbing 54 and returned back into the body of water 8.

[0036] In some embodiments, a post-cooling filter 56 removes certain particulate matter in the fluid 49. The post-cooling filter 56 is, for example, a sand filter, an activated charcoal and sand filter, a diatomaceous earth filter, a combination of any of the prior, etc.

[0037] Being that there a less of the harmful microorganisms and less nutrients, the overall health of the body of water 8 increases with the introduction of an amount of the fluid absent of microorganisms.

[0038] Although the system for the reducing harmful organisms and nutrients is disclosed as passing the contaminated water through plasma 18 created by an electric arc between two electrodes 14/18, any source of the plasma is fully anticipated.

[0039] Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

[0040] It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.