Heat sink evaporator

Abstract

An evaporator apparatus, system, and method can be utilized for separating, purifying, and refining contaminated fluids. The evaporator comprises a burner, a conically shaped heat sink to form an evaporate from the fluids with profiles arranged on the liquid contacting surface a unique multiple surfaced apparatus for collecting the evaporate, condensing the evaporate as purified water separating it from the evaporator, a device for collecting the unevaporated brine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 A frustoconical heat sink comprising a cavity from the bottom surface to the top surface of the frustoconical heat sink;   a burner for burning combustible material below the frustoconical heat sink;   an inlet for fluid to contact a surface of the frustoconical heat sink;   a first outlet for vapor to exit the surface of the frustoconical heat sink; and   an outlet for the fluid remaining to exit from the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of profiles that are formed circumferentially around the frustoconical shape of the frustoconical heat sink. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a condensation assembly, the condensation assembly comprising a generally frustoconical shape with a smallest diameter at the condensation assembly top and a largest diameter at the condensation assembly bottom. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of louvers on the condensation assembly to allow fluid over the plurality of louvers. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the louvers comprise an inner diameter and the inner diameter of the louver lopes upward while an outer diameter of the louver slopes downward. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the heatsink shape and condensation assembly shape are matching shapes with the condensation assemble being proportionally larger than the heat sink. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy recapture device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus forms an evaporate from the fluid with profiles arranged on the surface of the frustoconical heat sink. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is connected to water handling equipment on an oil or gas well site and the fluid is produced water and remaining fluid is brine. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 burning a combustible material using a burner to create a flue gas;   transferring the heat from the flue gas of burned combustible material to a frustoconical heat sink;   flowing fluid onto the water surface of the frustoconical heat sink;   using the heat being transfer to the frustoconical heat sink to evaporate a portion of the water as vapor;   removing the vapor from the heat sink; and   removing the fluid remaining from the heat sink.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising condensing the vapor using a condensing assembly on the exterior of the heat sink. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising filtering contaminants from the vapor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising monitoring the salt concentration of the unevaporated brine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising forming an evaporate from the fluid with profiles arranged on the water surface of the frustoconical heat sink. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising connecting the frustoconical heat sink to water handling equipment on a hydrocarbon producing well site and wherein the fluid is produced water and remaining fluid is brine. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a frustoconical heat sink comprising a cavity from the bottom surface to the top surface of the frustoconical heat sink;   a burner for burning combustible material below the frustoconical heat sink;   an inlet for fluid to contact a surface of the frustoconical heat sink;   a first outlet for vapor to exit the surface of the frustoconical heat sink;   an outlet for the fluid remaining to exit from the system;   at least one sensor for determining salt concentration of the unevaporated brine; and   a control system for controlling the fluid into the system based on the at least one sensor for determining the salt concentration of the unevaporated brine to control the density of the brine.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising profiles arranged on the surface of the frustoconical heat sink for evaporating the fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the frustoconical heat sink is connected to water handling equipment on a hydrocarbon producing well site and the fluid is produced water and the remaining fluid is brine. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the system is operated remotely using the control system.