Apparatus, systems and methods for management of raw water and emissions utilizing heat and/or pressure energy within combustion gas sources

Abstract

The invention relates to methods, systems and apparatus for distributed management of raw water and internal combustion engine (ICE) gas emissions generated during industrial operations. One aspect of the invention at least partially utilizes a hot gas air knife to increase or partially increase surface area between a raw water and a hot gas in order to vaporize a proportion of the aqueous phase of the raw water and concentrate contaminants within a residual raw water concentrate. The water vapor generated by the vaporization process may be demisted, discharged directly to the atmosphere or alternatively condensed and captured for use. Another aspect relates to how the liquids and gasses interact to continuously flush the surfaces of the system which may help mitigate scaling issues. The invention may help facilitate rapid transfer of ICE combustion gas particulate and ICE combustion gas chemicals onto and into the raw water as it concentrates.

1 . A raw water vaporization system comprising:
 a shearing chamber comprising:   a gas connector for connecting the shearing chamber to a gas source and for introducing gas into the shearing chamber;   the shearing chamber containing a raw water influx system operatively positioned adjacent the gas connector to enable rapid interaction between input raw water and gas for:   i) increasing interfacial surface area between the input raw water and the gas and   ii) enabling rapid heat transfer between the input raw water and the gas to effect vaporization of water from the raw water and the concentration of raw water contaminants.   
     
     
         2 . The raw water vaporization system as in  claim 1 , wherein the gas is introduced into the shearing chamber under positive pressure derived from operation of an associated engine. 
     
     
         3 . The raw water vaporization system as in  claim 1 , wherein the gas connector is an air knife having an inlet orifice connected to a gas conduit and an outflow orifice operatively connected to the shearing chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The raw water vaporization system as in  claim 1 , wherein the shearing chamber is vertical and the gas connector is at a lower position of the shearing chamber such that gases rise upwardly within the shearing chamber and the raw water influx system is above the gas connector such that raw water enters the shearing chamber above the gas connector. 
     
     
         5 . The raw water vaporization system as in  claim 4 , wherein the gas connector comprises a lip projecting above a lower surface of the shearing chamber to prevent raw water flow into the gas source. 
     
     
         6 . The raw water vaporization system as in  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the raw water vaporization system is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         7 . A raw water vaporization system comprising:
 a vaporization chamber comprising interior walls;   a raw water nozzle configured to introduce raw water into the vaporization chamber;   a hot gas conduit at a first end of the vaporization chamber and having a directed outflow orifice configured to direct hot gas into the raw water ejected from the raw water nozzle so as to vaporize a portion of the raw water and to drive a remaining raw water portion against the interior walls, wherein the vaporization chamber and directed outflow orifice of the hot gas conduit are substantially circularly symmetric such that a geometry of the interior walls, the hot gas being delivered and the spray nozzle are concentrically aligned in a manner that allows substantially all surfaces to be wetted and self-washing when raw water is being injected into the vaporization chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 7 , further comprising a deflector plate configured to deflect at least a portion of the raw water flow from the deflector plate towards the interior walls of the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 7 , wherein the vaporization chamber includes a second end configured to allow at least a portion of the remaining raw water portion to drain from the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 7 , wherein the vaporization chamber is a cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 7 , wherein the raw water nozzle forms a hollow cone of raw water as the raw water leaves the nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 7 , wherein raw water flow within the vaporization chamber from the first end to the second end is substantially in a form of a toroid along the interior walls of the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 7 , further comprising a rotational-flow inducer positioned below or adjacent the deflector to induce an axially rotational motion to gas flow exiting from the shearing chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The raw water vaporization system of  claim 13 , wherein the rotational-flow inducer comprises a stator. 
     
     
         15 . A vaporization chamber comprising:
 a shearing chamber having a raw water influx system, the shearing chamber comprising a gas connector configured to enable operative connection to a gas pressure and temperature source to enable rapid interaction between input raw water and gas, the shearing chamber being configured to:   i) increase interfacial surface area between the input raw water and the gas;   ii) enable heat transfer between the input raw water and the gas to effect vaporization of water from the raw water and a concentration of raw water contaminants when a gas source is conveying pressurized gas into the shearing chamber; and   iii) enable rapid interaction between the input raw water and the gas for washing the interior surfaces of the vaporization chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The vaporization chamber as in claim of  15 , wherein the shearing chamber is a cylinder and the shearing chamber has a central axis substantially vertical, wherein the gas connector is at a lower position of the shearing chamber such that gases rise upwardly within the shearing chamber and the raw water influx system is above the gas connector such that the raw water enters the shearing chamber above the gas connector. 
     
     
         17 . The vaporization chamber as in  claim 15 , wherein the gas connector comprises a lip projecting above a lower surface of the shearing chamber to prevent raw water flow into the gas source. 
     
     
         18 . The vaporization chamber as in  claim 15 , further comprising a deflector operatively connected above the gas connector to deflect raw water away from the gas connector to prevent raw water flow into the gas source. 
     
     
         19 . The vaporization chamber as in  claim 15 , further comprising a controller operatively connected to i) a water pump operatively connected to a raw water conduit, the water pump for pumping raw water to the raw water influx system and ii) at least one exhaust gas pressure transmitter operatively connected upstream of the shearing chamber for monitoring pressure of gases being delivered to the shearing chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The vaporization chamber as in  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured, based on the pressure of the gasses being delivered to the shearing chamber to control one or more of:
 a release valve configured to vent gases to atmosphere from upstream of the shearing chamber;   a control valve configured to allow or prevent gasses entering the shearing chamber; and   the gas connector so as to control a velocity of the gas entering the shearing chamber.   
     
     
         21 . The vaporization chamber as in  claim 15 , further comprising at least one surface within the shearing chamber for imparting a centrifugal force to the gas and water vapor to enable entrained water droplets to impinge and coalesce on shearing chamber surfaces to effect demisting of gas and water vapor prior to release to atmosphere. 
     
     
         22 . A method of vaporizing raw water within a shearing chamber for concentrating contaminants within raw water, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing gas heat and pressure to the shearing chamber from an associated gas source, the gas having sufficient heat to transfer heat energy into the raw water to vaporize at least a portion of the raw water and sufficient pressure to contribute to the shearing of raw water within the shearing chamber to smaller droplets; and   introducing raw water into the shearing chamber at a pressure sufficient to contribute to shearing of the raw water to smaller droplets in combination with the gas pressure, wherein in combination with the gas heat effects vaporization of at least a portion of the raw water.   
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of demisting water vapor from the shearing chamber by imparting a centrifugal force on the water vapor by cyclone-inducing surfaces within the shearing chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 22 , wherein the gas source is an engine and the method further comprising the step of monitoring a back pressure on the engine and controlling a diversion valve operatively connected between the shearing chamber and the gas source to maintain the back pressure below a threshold. 
     
     
         25 . The method as in  claim 22 , wherein the gas is introduced to the shearing chamber under pressure and flow conditions greater than the pressure and flow conditions of the gas exiting the gas source. 
     
     
         26 . A method of concentrating contaminants within a raw water by utilizing gas as a source of heat and pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. delivering gas having a gas temperature to a shearing chamber through a gas inlet;   b. delivering the raw water into the shearing chamber in proximity to the gas inlet under conditions to optimize a shear impact of the gas temperature and pressure on the raw water to increase an interfacial surface area between the raw water and the gas and enable rapid heat transfer from the gas to the raw water and water vaporization where the raw water penetrates a width of the gas greater than 20% of the width of the gas;   c. removing a raw water concentrate from the shearing chamber for additional concentration by repeating step b or removal; and   d. discharging water vaporized in step b to atmosphere.   
     
     
         27 . The method as in  claim 26 , further comprising the step of maintaining sufficient raw water flow to effect complete washing of an interior of the shearing chamber and demister to prevent scaling within the shearing chamber and demister during operation. 
     
     
         28 . A method for effecting use of waste heat from a steam generation plant having a chimney stack venting waste heat in a form of a waste gas from the steam generation plant to atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of;
 connecting at least one raw water vaporization system having a shearing chamber and demisting chamber to the chimney stack to enable redirection of at least a portion of the waste heat within the chimney stack to within the raw water vaporization system;   flowing a volume of raw water through one or more raw water vaporization systems to contact the raw water with the waste heat to effect vaporization of raw water;   venting vaporized water from each raw water vaporization system to atmosphere through an outlet.   
     
     
         29 . The method as in  claim 28 , wherein each raw water vaporization system includes an inlet operatively connected to the chimney stack and the waste gas is directed through each raw water vaporization system by an induction fan operatively connected to the inlet of each raw water vaporization system.