SYSTEM FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS

Abstract

This development corresponds to a system with electronic components for the treatment of high-concentration fluids or solutions or suspensions with solutes, such as wastewater treatment, obtaining valuable elements that are part of a fluid, seawater desalination, among other processes. The system comprises electrodes, tank, solid-state electronic device, a system management algorithm, and an optional solids removal device. This development also intends to protect a fluid or solution treatment procedure that generally involves two joint or sequential stages, whereby a dynamic electro-coagulation takes places first, followed by dynamic electro-flocculation, in order to separate liquids from dissolved solids or solutes from a solution.

Claims

1. A system for separating liquids and solids comprising a treatment tank in which at least two conductive electrodes are immersed at a ratio of 0.25 m.sup.2 electrode surface area per square meter of tank capacity, the electrodes being connected to a solid-state electronic device the solid-state electronic device is connected to a power source and comprises an algorithm that controls the programming of the system and the conductive electrodes, the solid-state electronic device being capable of generating electronic signals that are emitted by the electrodes at frequencies between 1 Hz and 250 Hz, and their corresponding even subharmonics and wherein the liquid to be separated has a minimum conductivity of 2 mS/m.

2. A system for separating liquids and solids with a minimum conductivity, according to claim 1, WHEREIN the conductive electrodes comprise conductive materials selected from the group consisting of metallic, ceramic, composite and polymeric materials the electrodes are positioned inside the treatment tank at a height from a base of the tank of between 5 cm to 25 cm, and at a distance from the tank walls of between 10 cm to 50 cm.

3. A system for separating liquids and solids, according to claim 1, WHEREIN the treatment tank comprises one or more containers, for holding a volume of liquid from 0.1 cubic meters to 1 million cubic meters for processing, in batch form, and wherein the containers include at least one member selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, rectangular, irregular and conical shapes that conforms-to the ground where the containers are placed, cylindrical and, the tank also comprises inlet outlet for treated foam, a solids outlet and optionally a surface floc extraction device.

4. A system for separating liquids and solids with minimal conductivity, according to claim 1, WHEREIN the solid-state electronic device comprises: a control module with microcontroller and peripherals in which the algorithm is stored and in which different oscillator frequencies are generated for each duty cycle of the system, where the operating frequency and duty cycle information are received from a voltage adaptive programming module, and where the trigger control signals to be used by a module are generated; a battery-backed power supply module to supply energy to the modules, and in which current is transformed from alternating current to direct current, a battery is to supply energy to all the modules, a programming and voltage adaptation module, wherein different operation modes are programmed externally without accessing a microcontroller through integrated programming switches, and wherein voltages required for operation of the microcontroller are developed, adapted, and the power supply providing the trigger signals to a power module; the power module connected to the conductive electrodes, and having at least four independent channels mounted on a terminal strip, wherein each channel has a set of transistors activated by signals generated by an integrated control element and adapted through programming and voltage adaptation module, where signals from the power module are isolated from the integrated control element, and the power module has an optical isolation function through optocouplers; and an algorithm to control the different modules.

5. A system for separating liquids and solids with minimum conductivity, according to claim 1, WHEREIN the system operates with variable duty cycles, fed back by the current measured at the conductive electrodes.

6. A system for separating liquids and solids with minimal conductivity, according to claim 4, WHEREIN the system generates energy pulses of less than 2 milliseconds within each duty cycle.

7. A system for separating liquids and solids with minimum conductivity, according to claim 4, WHEREIN the algorithm generates different processes and duty cycles in real time, in response to current and temperature measured in real time at the conductive electrodes.

8. A procedure for operating a system for separating liquids and solids with minimum conductivity, comprising the following stages: a) filling a treatment tank with the liquid to be separated up to a spill-proof safety edge; b) measuring the pH, temperature, and conductivity of the liquid to be separated; c) Integrating the previously measured pH, temperature, and conductivity into an algorithm and defining a cycle and modes to be applied to a microcontroller and a programming module through analog and digital inputs; d) activating a solid-state electronic device that provides frequencies in the range of 1 Hz to 250 Hz, in different operating modes and wherein the different modes are assigned according to: i) measured current flowing through the electrodes; ii) voltage applied to each mode; and iii) temperature of the liquid to be separated, and wherein the solid-state electronic device sweeps through the different modes, and current pulses are produced within each mode thereby generating larger flocs capable of being separated; e) forming precipitated and/or coagulated solids for extraction from the target liquid; f) forming bubbles pushing the electro-flocculate to the surface of the tank; g) removing the electro-flocculated solid to the surface of the tank, leaving the clean liquid; and h) phase inversion of the frequencies on the electrodes.

9. (canceled).

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the electrodes comprise a member selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, ruthenium, and tantalum.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the electrodes comprise a titanium core coated with tantalum.

12. The system of claim 4 wherein the system operates under six programs that are integrated and related to each other, and the algorithm performs a frequency inversion.

13. A resonance system for separating liquids and dissolved solids comprising (i) an electrically insulated treatment tank, (ii) at least two electrodes in the tank, the electrodes having a surface area of 0.25 m.sup.2 per square meter of tank capacity, (iii) a control module including a microcontroller, input and output ports, digital and analog converters, the module storing an algorithm for operation of the system and generating very low frequency signals in the range of between 1 Hz and 250 Hz that are transmitted to the electrodes, and (iv) a voltage converter and a programming module for programming a plurality of operating modes for the system, wherein activation of the electrodes at very low frequency levels generates a physical change that separates the liquid from the solids.

14. The system of claim 13 including a battery power supply connected to the control module.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the electrodes comprise a metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, ruthenium, and tantalum,

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the electrodes comprise a titanium core coated with tantalum.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the electrodes comprise aluminum.

18. The System of claim 13 further comprising a power module including four independent channels for carrying signals that are isolated from the control module

19. The system of claim 13 further comprising a non-metallic treatment tank having a liquid capacity of between 0.1 cubic meters and 2 million cubic meters.

20. The system of claim 13 further comprising a solids outlet for removal of solids.

21. The system of claim 13 further comprising a precipitation extraction device for removing precipitated material from the treatment tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0079] FIG. 1/9

[0080] This figure describes the system described in this development, where the operating interactions of the different elements and devices that comprise the system can be seen in the following numbers. Two types of electrode distributions, and how they are separated when there are more than two according to the numbers, are also shown schematically: [0081] (12) Conductive electrodes [0082] (14) Treatment tank (or simply tank) [0083] (15) Solid-state electronic device [0084] (31) Foam outlet. An optional device to separate the flocs from the surface (16) may be associated with this outlet. [0085] (32) Inlet of the liquid to be treated [0086] (33) Treated liquid outlet [0087] (34) Solids outlet [0088] (35) Plastic bolt or spacer. [0089] (36) Plastic nut

[0090] FIG. 2/9

[0091] This figure shows a diagram of the solid-state electronic device, where the numbers represent: [0092] (1) Control module with microcontroller and peripherals [0093] 2) Voltage adaptation and programming module [0094] 3) Power module [0095] 4) Protections and output status indicators [0096] 5) Output channel terminal strip [0097] 6) Battery-backed power supply module [0098] 7) Power switch and input protection (220 VAC) [0099] 8) 220 VAC power terminal strip [0100] 9) 12 VDC/17 AH batteries ×2 [0101] 10) Battery bank terminal and protection strip [0102] 11) Battery bank protection circuit breaker [0103] 13) Electrode output channels

[0104] FIG. 3/9

[0105] This figure shows a schematic diagram of the power module (PCB) elements distribution, where the numerals represent: [0106] (17) Power transistors [0107] (18) Power output terminals [0108] (19) Power supply source [0109] (20) Command driver transistors (Driver) A [0110] (21) Driver Transistors (Driver) B [0111] 22) Optocoupler [0112] (23) Resistors

[0113] FIG. 4/9

[0114] This figure shows a distribution scheme of the functional programming module (2) and voltage adaptation elements, where the numerals represent: [0115] (24) Programming Mini Dips [0116] (25) Regulated direct current (DC) output [0117] (26) Voltage Regulators [0118] (27) Direct Current Power Supply [0119] (28) LED light indicator [0120] (29) Programming pushbutton [0121] (30) Connectors

[0122] FIG. 5/9

[0123] This figure presents a mode diagram applied on different samples for the separation of liquids from solids, where modes 10, 20, 30, represent the phase inversion of the frequencies used, with respect to a reference value of 35. The modes are dimensionless values, where each mode has a dynamic frequency associated with it. If one analyzes the diagram one can see that the mode sequence “10, 20, (phase reversal) 60, 40, 50, 60, 40, 50, (in phase) 30, 10 (phase reversal)” is repeated continuously throughout the diagram; this is because this sequence corresponds to one of the six basic operating processes of the system.

[0124] FIG. 6/9

[0125] This figure shows a zoom of FIG. 5/9, where one can specifically see the basic process given by the mode sequence “10, 20, 60, 40, 50, 50, 60, 40, 50, 30, 10”. Where modes 10, 20, and 30 correspond to a phase reversal, as opposed to modes 40, 50, and 60, which occur in phase, where: [0126] F1 is in phase and its corresponding phase inversion is F1 on superscript, [0127] F2 is in phase and its corresponding phase inversion is F2 on superscript, [0128] F3 is in phase and its corresponding phase inversion is F3 on superscript, [0129] mode 1 follows the following scale 10 pattern, [0130] mode 2 follows the following scale 20 pattern, [0131] mode 3 follows the following scale 30 pattern, [0132] mode 4 follows the following scale 40 pattern, [0133] mode 5 follows the following scale 50 pattern, [0134] mode 6 follows the following scale 60 pattern.

[0135] FIG. 7/9

[0136] This figure provides a graphical representation of the duty cycles on a sample, where the modes are related to their respective micro-impulses and samples per second.

[0137] FIG. 8/9

[0138] This figure zooms in on a section of the graph in FIG. 7/9, where mode 60 is clearly visible.

[0139] FIG. 9/9

[0140] This figure presents the integration between the mode diagram and the associated duty cycle diagram, showing the ratio produced in a given duty cycle with regard to the mode used at that time. Note that there are different duty cycles for the same mode, which correspond to different substances present in the liquid to be treated. This means that there will be different duty cycles automatically fed back from the temperature and current measurements and their analysis using the control algorithm.

IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE

Example of Liquid Industrial Waste (LIW) Treatment 1

[0141] This test was conducted with dairy food industry effluents in 1 cubic meter tanks (EBC), with four aluminum electrodes located at the corners of the tank. Sampling for laboratory analysis was performed in the first third from the base of the tank along one of its lateral faces. Temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer, total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured with a sedimentation cone (laboratory), COD (chemical oxygen demand, also in the laboratory) and pH with a pH std. meter, and conductivity was delivered continuously by the developed system. The tests were performed by external laboratory Eurofins GCL under national sanitary regulations DS 90, DS 46, and DS 609 for liquid waste.

[0142] Sampling was performed over time and the results were observed as shown in Table I below:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Tank test analysis dairy effluent LIW 1000 L. 4 Electrodes Time Minutes Sample COD pH TDS Conduct. Start Time Treatment 1 5090 10.7 1430 5280 10.36 0 2 5060 10.6 1560 4510 11.00 15 3 4800 10.4 1530 4430 11.30 30 4 4390 10.1 1540 3810 12.45 105 5 4190 9.9 1540 3810 13.30 150 6 4140 9.8 1610 3780 14.15 175 7 3770 9.7 1620 3670 15.00 220

[0143] The results of this experience dearly show that after 220 minutes of treatment, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) is reduced by approximately 26%, the pH remains relatively constant even though it is acidified by one point, and the total dissolved solids (TDS) increase by 13% because they are agglomerating or electro-coagulating in the treated liquid. On the other hand, conductivity decreases by approximately 31%, thus confirming the lower amount of dissolved substances that conduct electricity.

Example of Liquid Industrial Waste (LIW) Treatment 2

[0144] This test was conducted using effluents from a fruit canning company in 1 cubic meter tanks (ESC), with four aluminum electrodes located at the corners of the tank. Sampling for laboratory analysis was performed in the first third from the base of the tank along one of its lateral faces. Temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer, total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured with a sedimentation cone (laboratory), COD (chemical oxygen demand, also in the laboratory) and pH with a pH std. meter, and conductivity was delivered continuously by the developed system. The tests were performed by external laboratory Eurofins OCL under national regulations DS 90, DS 46, and DS 609 for liquid waste.

[0145] Sampling was performed over time and the results were observed as shown in Table II:

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Tank test data analysis 1000 L. Fruit LIW Time Minutes Sample COD REDUC COD % Start time Treatment 1 4940  0 11.05 0 2 3500 −29% 12.00 55 3 1210 −76% 13.00 115 4 1080 −78% 14.00 175 5 850 −83% 15.00 235

[0146] The results of this experience clearly show how after 235 minutes of treatment, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) is reduced by approximately 83%.

Seawater Treatment Example

[0147] These tests were conducted using wastewater effluent from a seawater reverse osmosis plant in one cubic meter tanks (EBC), with half a cubic meter of sample and one cubic meter of sample. In addition, four aluminum electrodes located at the corners of the tank were used. Sampling for laboratory analysis was performed in the first third from the base of the tank along one of its lateral faces. Temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer, total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured with a sedimentation cone (laboratory), COD (chemical oxygen demand, also in the laboratory), the different counterions measured (chloride, nitrate, nitrate/nitrite ratio, and sulfate) were measured in the external laboratory, and pH was measured with a pH std, meter; conductivity was continuously delivered by the developed system. The tests were performed by external laboratory Eurofins GCL under national regulations DS 90, DS 46, and DS 609 for liquid waste.

[0148] Sampling was performed over time and the results were observed as shown in Table III:

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III Osmosis plant wastewater analysis Test Date: 12 Sept. 2017 Test 500 Lts. LDM Equipment Ver 2.0 Code 334-2017-00052123 Raw Water Treated Water Difference Difference Chlorides 182 151 ↓ 31 83.0% Nitrates 40.8 36.7 ↓ 4.1 90.0% Nitrate/Nitrite Ratio 0.82 0.73 ↓ 0.09 39.0% Total Dissolved Solids 1255 1115 ↓ 140 88.8% Suifate (SO.sub.4) 351 294 ↓ 57 83.8% Test Date: 28 September 2017 Test 1000 Lts, LDM Equipment ver 2.0 Code 334-2017-00054218 Raw Water Treated Water Difference Difference Chlorides 746 577 ↓ 1.69 77.3% Nitrates 135 81.3 ↓ 53.7 60.2% Nitrate/Nitrite Ratio 2.7 1.63 ↓ 1.07 60.4% Total Dissolved Solids 3450 2820 ↓ 680 81.7% Suifate (SO.sub.4) 1675 949 ↓ 726 56.7%

[0149] The results shown in the upper table of this experiment (half a cubic meter of sample) clearly show that water already treated by reverse osmosis (raw water), but which does not achieve satisfactory sanitary levels for counterions or water hardness, upon being exposed to the present development for 120 minutes is able to reduce chloride levels by 17%, nitrates by 10%, the nitrite/nitrate ratio by 11%, TDS by 11.2% and sulfate by 16.2%.

[0150] The results of the lower table of this experiment (one cubic meter of sample) clearly show that water already treated by reverse osmosis (raw water), but which does not reach satisfactory sanitary levels for counterions or water hardness, upon exposure to the present development, is able to reduce chloride levels by 22.7%, nitrates by 39.8%, the nitrite/nitrate ratio by 39.6%, TDS by 18.3% and sulfate by 43.3%.

[0151] The previously exposed minerals were measured using the 2007-MetAlt (19) IC method (Nitrate, Nitrate/Nitrite Ratio, Chloride and Sulfate) and the ME31-MetOf(8) method for Total Dissolved Solids.

Electrolyte Solution Treatment Example

[0152] These tests were conducted using a low copper concentrate electrolytic solution obtained from one cubic meter tanks (EBC) in an electrowinning plant, with one cubic meter of sample. In addition, four tantalum-coated titanium electrodes located at the corners of the tank were used. Sampling for laboratory analysis was performed in the first third from the base of the tank along one of its lateral faces. Temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer, the different ions measured (antimony, bismuth, arsenic, selenium, copper, iron and Cl (HCl) were measured in the external laboratory, pH was measured with a pH std. meter, and conductivity was delivered continuously by the developed system. The analyses were performed by external laboratory Eurofins GCL.

[0153] Continuous treatment was performed for 10 minutes and the states and color modification produced were observed, the results of which are shown in Table IV below:

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV Concentration (g/L) PI No. Process Solutions Sb Bi As Se Cu Fe HCl 11 Original Acid CH, 30/11/18 34.91 1.76 7.50 0.03 1.15 0.22 252.61 11 Electrocoag. Acid p1. 30/13/18 13.98 2.00 4.25 0.02 1.01 0.30 197.59 DOM - PRODUCTION CATHODE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS (BATCH No 3) Lows (%) PI No. Electrowinning Sb Bi As Se Cu Fe 11 Solid Electrocoag. 30/11/18 30.40% 2.57% 21.49% 0.02% 1.92% 0.06%

[0154] The results of the upper table of this experiment clearly show that the low copper concentrate electrolyte reduces the ions and elements dissolved in the copper, when this technology is applied: Sb (−60%), Bi (+12), As (−43.3%), Cu (−12.2%), Se (−33.3%), Fe (+36.4%) and HCl (−21.8%), when exposed to the present development for 10 minutes.

[0155] The results of the lower table of this experiment clearly show how the electro-coagulated deposit by the system was enriched in the different elements that were separated from the electrolyte.

[0156] With these results, this technology can be used to recover elements found in low concentrations in spent electrolytes (after the electrowinning process) or in percolated liquids from spent material piles to further optimize electrowinning.

[0157] In summary, it is clear that the application of the system in the reject water from a reverse osmosis plant and in liquid industrial waste achieves a marked decrease in pollutant parameters.