Fluid Treatment Methods and Systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for treatment of wastewater. In some embodiments, the system may comprise one or more modules such as an electrochemical module, an electrocoagulation module, a flotation module, an evaporation module, and an ultrafiltration module. One or more detection modules may also be provided to analyze the concentration of one or more wastewater components in the wastewater. Data from such modules may be used to adjust one or more operational parameters or conditions in the treatment system. The system may also comprise one or more features designed to minimize adverse effects on the environment, such as avoiding adding chemicals to the stream, extracting salt or other chemicals for re-use, and/or use of carbon dioxide gas from on-site combustion processes.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for treating wastewater comprising:
 analyzing the composition of the wastewater in real-time to produce real-time data;   modifying one or more modules or parameters in a wastewater treatment system using the real-time data; and   increasing a pH of the wastewater using an electrochemical treatment process and without adding any chemicals to the wastewater.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the composition of the wastewater is analyzed before the water is treated by the wastewater treatment system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein analyzing the composition of the wastewater includes analyzing the composition of the wastewater using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein analyzing the composition of the wastewater includes analyzing the concentration of one or more constituents in the wastewater. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein modifying one or more modules or parameters in the wastewater treatment system comprises at least one of disabling one or more modules in the wastewater treatment system, adjusting an operational parameter of one or more modules in the wastewater treatment system, diverting the wastewater to bypass one or more modules in the wastewater treatment system, or recirculating the wastewater through one or more modules in the wastewater treatment system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein analyzing the composition of the wastewater includes measuring the pH of the wastewater. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising comparing the pH of the wastewater to a pH threshold. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the pH threshold is approximately 11 and increasing the pH of the wastewater includes increasing the pH of the wastewater to be approximately 11 to approximately 12. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the electrochemical treatment process includes an electrocoagulation process. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the electrochemical treatment process includes an electro-oxidation process. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14  wherein analyzing the composition of the wastewater includes measuring the concentration of at least one alkaline earth metal in the wastewater. 
     
     
         25 . A method for treating wastewater at a fracking site comprising:
 measuring the concentration of at least one alkaline earth metal in wastewater from a fracking operation, the wastewater including oil;   comparing the concentration of the at least one alkaline earth metal to a threshold and adjusting a pH of the wastewater to be approximately 11 to approximately 12 using an electrochemical treatment process if the concentration of the at least one alkaline earth metal exceeds the threshold;   treating the wastewater using at least one of electrocoagulation, dissolved air flotation treatment, precipitation of scale forming elements using carbon dioxide gas, or ultrafiltration.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein measuring the concentration of at least one alkaline earth metal in the wastewater includes measuring the concentration of at least two alkaline earth metals in the wastewater. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein measuring the concentration of at least one alkaline earth metal in the wastewater includes measuring the concentration of calcium in the wastewater and measuring the concentration of magnesium in the wastewater 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein comparing the concentration of the at least one alkaline earth metal to a threshold includes comparing the concentration of calcium in the wastewater to a first threshold and comparing the concentration of magnesium in the wastewater to a second threshold and adjusting the pH of the wastewater to be approximately 11 to approximately 12 using the electrochemical treatment process if either the concentration of calcium exceeds the first threshold or the concentration of magnesium exceeds the second threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the first threshold is approximately 1000 mg/L. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the second threshold is approximately 500 mg/L. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the threshold is at least about 50 mmol/L. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25  comprising determining that oil and/or the at least one alakaline earth metal is present in the wastewater.