Harmful substance removal system and method

Abstract

A harmful substance removal system and method include a direct contact liquid concentrator having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a mixing chamber disposed between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, and a liquid inlet for importing liquid into the mixing chamber. Gas and liquid mixing in the are mixed chamber and a portion of the liquid is vaporized. A demister is disposed downstream of the mixing chamber. The demister includes at least one stage of mist elimination having a first filter that removes particles greater than 9 microns. A fan is coupled to the demister to assist gas flow through the mixing chamber.

1 . A harmful substance removal system, comprising:
 a direct contact liquid concentrator including a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a mixing chamber disposed between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, and a liquid inlet for importing liquid into the mixing chamber, gas and liquid mixing in the mixing chamber to vaporize a portion of the liquid;   a demister disposed downstream of the mixing chamber, the demister including at least one stage of mist elimination comprising a first filter that removes particles greater than 9 microns; and   a fan coupled to the demister to assist gas flow through the mixing chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is located downstream of the fan. 
     
     
         3 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second filter in the demister, the second filter removing particles greater than 15 microns, the second filter being located upstream of the first filter. 
     
     
         4 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third filter in the demister, the third filter being a coarse filter, the third filter being located upstream of the second filter. 
     
     
         5 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter removes particles greater than 5 microns and preferably greater than 1 micron. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter comprises one of a mesh pad, a mesh pad and chevron, a chevron, a flat pad, or a cylindrical pad. 
     
     
         9 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the demister includes a wash system that sprays cleaning water on the first filter. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises one of landfill leachate, power plant leachate, and military wastewater. 
     
     
         12 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , further including a PFAS binding system applied to the evaporation system or to the residual material after evaporation. 
     
     
         13 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 12 , wherein the PFAS binding system includes an injection mechanism for injecting an adsorbent, such as granular activated carbon. 
     
     
         14 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the harmful substance is a polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). 
     
     
         15 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter is removable. 
     
     
         16 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , further including a re-circulating circuit disposed between reservoir and the mixing corridor to transport liquid within the reservoir to the mixing corridor. 
     
     
         17 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 16 , wherein the re-circulating circuit is coupled to the liquid inlet of the concentrator section. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , further including a sprayer disposed within the demister, the sprayer positioned to spray liquid on the first filter to clean the first filter. 
     
     
         22 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal destruction system. 
     
     
         23 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 22 , wherein the thermal destruction system is a vapor thermal destruction system located downstream of the demister. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 22 , wherein the thermal destruction system is a liquid thermal destruction system that is used on the concentrated liquid portion of the leachate. 
     
     
         26 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The harmful substance removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter removes particles greater than 0.5 microns. 
     
     
         35 . A method of moving PFAS from a liquid, the method comprising:
 providing a source of heat;   moving heat through a direct contact liquid concentrator, the direct contact liquid concentrator comprising:
 a heat inlet; 
 a heat outlet; 
 a liquid inlet; and 
 a mixing chamber connecting the heat inlet and the heat outlet, 
   injecting a liquid into the mixing chamber through the liquid inlet;   mixing the heat and the liquid, energy in the heat at least partially evaporating the liquid; and   
       removing entrained liquid droplets greater than 9 microns in size from the waste heat.