Microclarification system and method

Abstract

A microclarification system is disclosed which can be used to separate solid particulates dispersed within a base fluid such as water. The microclarification system includes a plurality of microfluidic separator units disposed between and in fluid communication with a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold. The microclarification system enforces lamellar flow of fluid though it and as a result the rate at which particles settle is enhanced within a collection chamber associated with each microfluidic separator unit and through which the fluid being purified must pass. Each microfluidic separator unit includes a microfluidic outlet microchannel disposed between the microfluidic collection chamber and the fluid outlet manifold, and a gas-liquid flushing module configured to purge particulates from the collection chamber during a collection chamber purge cycle. Optionally, each microfluidic separator unit may include a microfluidic inlet microchannel. The system holds promise in municipal water purification among other applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microclarification system for separating particulates dispersed within a base fluid, the system comprising:
 a plurality of microfluidic collection chambers disposed between and in fluid communication with a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold;   a plurality of outlet microchannels disposed between the microfluidic collection chambers and the fluid outlet manifold; and   a gas-liquid flushing module configured to purge particulates from the collection chamber during a collection chamber purge cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of collection chambers are characterized by a critical height of less than one centimeter. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet manifold and the fluid outlet manifold are configured in parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet manifold and the fluid outlet manifold are configured radially. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet microchannels have an average height in a range from about 1 micron to about 200 microns (μm). 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet microchannels have a length in a range from about 1 millimeter to about 1 centimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of inlet microchannels are disposed between the fluid inlet manifold and the microfluidic collection chambers. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the inlet microchannels have an average height in a range from about 1 micron to about 500 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the inlet microchannels have length in a range from about 1 millimeter to about 10 centimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-liquid flushing module is configured to purge the collection chamber with a combination of a gas and a purge liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a ratio of gas to purge liquid employed is in a range from about 1:10 to about 10:1. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the gas is appreciably soluble in the purge liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing gases. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collection chambers are divided into at least two portions by a microporous body. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the microporous body comprises pores with an average diameter between about 10 microns and about 500 microns. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the particulates are characterized by an average particle size in a range from about 2 to about 100 μm and the base fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1  configured to produce potable water. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1  configured for use in treating municipal sewage, indigenous water produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir, water produced as a by-product from hydraulic fracturing, water produced as a by-product of oil reservoir flooding, water produced as a by-product of a mining operation, water produced as a by-product of boiler operation, water as a by-product of bitumen extraction and combinations of two or more of the forgoing. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1  configured for use with a biomass reactor. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein configured for use in a water desalination facility. 
     
     
         21 . A method for separating particulates dispersed within a base fluid, the method comprising:
 (a) introducing, as part of a fluid purification cycle, a fluid comprising particulates dispersed within a base fluid into a fluid inlet manifold of a microclarification system comprising:
 (i) a plurality of microfluidic collection chambers disposed between and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold; 
 (ii) a plurality of microchannels disposed between the microfluidic collection chambers and the fluid outlet manifold; and 
 (iii) a gas-liquid flushing module; 
   
       wherein the system is configured such that the particulates dispersed within the base fluid pass from the fluid inlet manifold into the plurality of microfluidic collection chambers wherein a substantial portion of the particulates are captured and through which a substantial portion of the base fluid passes and emerges at the fluid outlet manifold as a processed fluid depleted in particulates; and
 (b) introducing via the gas-liquid flushing module, as part of a collection chamber purge cycle, a gas and a purge liquid which together function as a collection chamber purge medium; and 
 (c) repeating steps (a) and (b). 
 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein over a plurality of fluid purification cycles and following collection chamber purge cycles the particulate capture capacity of the system remains essentially constant. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the fluid inlet manifold and the fluid outlet manifold are configured in parallel. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the fluid inlet manifold and the fluid outlet manifold are configured radially. 
     
     
         25 . A microclarification system for separating particulates from water, the system comprising:
 a plurality of microfluidic collection chambers disposed between and in fluid communication with a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold;   a plurality of outlet microchannels disposed between the microfluidic collection chambers and the fluid outlet manifold;   a plurality of inlet microchannels disposed between the inlet manifold and the microfluidic collection chambers; and   a gas-liquid flushing module configured to purge particulates from the collection chamber during a collection chamber purge cycle;   
       wherein the microfluidic collection chambers are characterized by a critical height of less than one centimeter; and wherein the outlet microchannels have an average height between about 1 micron and about 200 microns (μm) and a length in a range from about 1 millimeter to about 1 centimeter; and wherein the inlet microchannels have an average height in a range from about 1 micron to about 500 microns and a length in a range from about 1 millimeter to about 10 centimeters; and wherein the gas-liquid flushing module is configured to purge the collection chamber with a combination of a gas and a purge liquid.