Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02932183 2016-06-07
TITLE
[0001] A Method and Apparatus for Increasing the Saturation of a Gas in a
Fluid
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present application relates generally to an apparatus for and
method of increasing the
saturation of a specific gas in a fluid. More specifically, this application
relates to increasing oxygen
saturation in water.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This section provides background information to facilitate a better
understanding of the various
aspects of the invention. It should be understood that the statements in this
section of this document
are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
[0004] The saturation level of oxygen in water has an effect in many different
industries. The amount of
oxygen that can be dissolved into water is related to the temperature and
atmospheric pressure of the
water. Cold water is able to hold more gas than warmer water and an increase
in pressure increases
solubility. Without intervention, there is a finite amount of oxygen that can
be dissolved into the water
according to actuary charts. This finite amount of oxygen may limit the
ability to treat wastewater or
limit the growth of plants and animals, among other things. Many benefits may
be seen by the
dispersion of oxygen into water. The same general principles may apply in
other industries in relation to
other types of gases and fluids.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] There is provided an apparatus for treating fluid that has a variable
frequency generator, an
antenna, a gas injector and a treatment vessel. The antenna has a conductive
wire coiled around a
ferromagnetic magnet. The ferromagnetic magnet encircles at least a portion of
an internal fluid conduit
that has an inlet and an outlet to allow fluid to travel through the antenna.
The internal fluid conduit
receives fluid at a first pressure through the inlet. The variable frequency
generator is provided in
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communication with the antenna. The variable frequency generator transmits a
frequency between 0.01
Hz to 50000 Hz to the antenna to activate it. The gas injector has a mixing
chamber with a fluid inlet, a
fluid outlet and a gas inlet. The fluid inlet of the mixing chamber is in
fluid communication with the
outlet of the internal fluid conduit. The gas inlet is connected to a gas
source to allow for the injection of
gas into the fluid. The mixing chamber lowers the pressure of the fluid to a
second pressure. The
treatment vessel has an inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of
the mixing chamber of the
gas injector. At least one injection port is provided for lowering the
pressure to a third pressure. The
treatment vessel has a fluid discharge outlet for discharging treated fluid
from the apparatus.
[0006] In one embodiment, a pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit is
provided. The pre-
treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit has an inlet, an outlet and a magnet.
The outlet of the pre-
treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit is in fluid communication with the
inlet of the internal fluid
conduit. The magnet is positioned such that fluid travelling through the pre-
treatment electrostatic
magnetic conduit passes the magnet. The magnet may be positioned such that it
encircles the pre-
treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit or may be positioned within the pre-
treatment electrostatic
magnetic conduit.
[0007] In one embodiment, the treatment vessel has a first chamber and a
second chamber. Fluid
enters the treatment vessel through the inlet before passing through the at
least one injection port. The
injection port(s) is positioned between the first chamber and the second
chamber. In addition to the
injection port(s) positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber,
there may also be
injection port(s) positioned at the inlet of the first chamber. Fluid exits
the second chamber through the
discharge outlet.
[0008] In one embodiment, a silicate based media is contained within the
treatment vessel for
treatment of fluid travelling through it. The silicate based media may be
contained within the first
chamber for pre-treatment of the fluid traveling through the treatment vessel.
The silicate based media
may be contained within the second chamber for completing treatment of the
fluid traveling through
the treatment vessel. The silicate based media may contain silicate beads,
rocks, glass or crystals.
[0009] In one embodiment, the gas injector is a venturi injector. The
pressurized fluid in the apparatus
enters the gas injector through the inlet and is constricted as it enters the
mixing chamber. This
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constriction creates a high-velocity stream which in turn results in a
decrease in pressure that may
create a vacuum. This enables gas to be drawn or forced through the gas inlet
and mixed with the fluid.
The diameter of the mixing chamber increases as it gets closer to the outlet
which causes a reduction in
fluid velocity before the fluid enters into the treatment vessel.
[0010] In one embodiment, the at least one injection port creates a vortex
within the treatment vessel.
Where the treatment vessel is divided into a first chamber and a second
chamber, a vortex may be
created within the second chamber or in both the first chamber and the second
chamber.
[0011] In one embodiment, the pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit and
the antenna are
contained within a single housing.
[0012] In one embodiment, the third pressure achieved in the treatment vessel
is at or near the
atmospheric pressure of the fluid outside of the discharge outlet.
[0013] There is also provided a method of treating a fluid. Fluid is flowed
through an internal fluid
conduit at a first pressure. At least a portion of the internal fluid conduit
is encircled by an antenna. The
antenna has a conductive wire coiled around a ferromagnetic magnet. A variable
frequency generator
transmits a frequency from 0.01 Hz to 50000 Hz to the antenna to activate it.
The magnetic field created
by the antenna is used to modify the physical characteristics of the fluid
that passes through it. The fluid
is then flowed through a gas injector. The gas injector has a mixing chamber
for mixing a pressurized gas
into the fluid to form a stable molecular fluid solution. The pressure of the
fluid is lowered to a second
pressure while passing through the gas injector. The stable molecular fluid
solution flows into a
treatment vessel. The treatment vessel is connected to the gas injector. The
treatment vessel has at
least one injection port positioned within it for lowering the pressure of the
fluid flowing through it to a
third pressure. The treatment vessel has a discharge port for expelling fluid
from the treatment vessel.
[0014] In one embodiment, a pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit is
provided. Fluid flows
through the pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit before flowing
through the internal fluid
conduit of the antenna. The pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit has a
magnet positioned such
that fluid travelling through the pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit
passes the magnet.
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[0015] In one embodiment, the treatment vessel has a first chamber and a
second chamber. Fluid
enters the treatment vessel through the inlet before passing through the at
least one injection port. At
least one injection port(s) is positioned between the first chamber and the
second chamber. Injection
port(s) may also be positioned at the inlet of the first chamber. Fluid exits
the second chamber through
the discharge outlet.
[0016] In one embodiment, a silicate based media is contained within the
treatment vessel for
treatment of fluid travelling through it. The silicate based media may be
contained within the first
chamber for pre-treatment of the fluid traveling through the treatment vessel.
The silicate based media
may be contained within the second chamber for completing treatment of the
fluid traveling through
the treatment vessel. The silicate based media may contain silicate beads,
rocks, glass or crystals.
[0017] In one embodiment, the gas injector is a venturi injector. The
pressurized fluid in the apparatus
enters the gas injector through the inlet and is constricted as it enters the
mixing chamber. This
constriction creates a high-velocity stream which in turn results in a
decrease in pressure that may
create a vacuum. This enables gas to be drawn or forced through the gas inlet
and mixed with the fluid.
The diameter of the mixing chamber increases as it gets closer to the outlet
which causes a reduction in
fluid velocity before the fluid enters into the treatment vessel.
[0018] In one embodiment, the at least one injection port creates a vortex
within the treatment vessel.
Where the treatment vessel is divided into a first chamber and a second
chamber, a vortex may be
created within the second chamber, or in both the first chamber and the second
chamber.
[0019] In one embodiment, the third pressure achieved in the second chamber of
the treatment vessel
is at or near the atmospheric pressure of the fluid outside of the discharge
outlet.
[0020] In one embodiment, the fluid is water and the pressurized gas is
oxygen.
[0021] In one embodiment, the fluid is water and the pressurized gas is ozone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0022] These and other features will become more apparent from the following
description in which
references are made to the following drawings, in which numerical references
denote like parts. The
drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in
any way limit the scope of
the invention to the particular embodiments shown.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for treating a fluid.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the antenna connected to the
variable frequency generator.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the antenna.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a venturi
injector.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a water molecule with lone electrons.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a water molecule with satisfied electron
pairs.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of molecular bonding of water molecules.
[0031] FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of a pre-treatment electrostatic
magnetic conduit.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the pre-
treatment electrostatic magnetic
conduit shown in FIG. 9.
[0033] FIG. 11 is an end elevation view of an alternative pre-treatment
electrostatic magnetic conduit.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the pre-
treatment electrostatic magnetic
conduit shown in FIG. 11.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a treatment
vessel.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a treatment
vessel with two chambers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] An apparatus for treating a fluid, generally identified by reference
numeral 10, will now be
described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 14.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an apparatus 10 for treating a fluid
has an antenna 12, a variable
frequency generator 14, a gas injector 16 and a treatment vessel 18. Referring
to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the
antenna 12 has a conductive wire 30, preferably made of copper or aluminum
that is wrapped around a
ferromagnetic magnet 26. A person of skill will understand that wire 30 may be
made of other
appropriate conductive materials. Referring to FIG. 4, ferromagnetic magnet 26
encircles at least a
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portion of an internal fluid conduit 20 which has an inlet 22 for allowing
fluid to enter antenna 12 and an
outlet 24 through which fluid exits antenna 12. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
2, variable frequency
generator 14 is in communication with antenna 12. In the embodiment shown,
variable frequency
generator 14 has a cable 32 which connects to antenna 12. Variable frequency
generator 14 transmits a
frequency from 0.01 Hz to 50000Hz to antenna 12 to activate it. Once
activated, antenna 12 causes a
modification to the physical characteristics of the fluid that passes through
it.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 1, a pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit 34
is provided in fluid
communication with antenna 12. Referring to FIG. 9 - FIG. 12, pre-treatment
electrostatic magnetic
conduit 34 has an inlet 36, an outlet 38 and a magnet 44. Outlet 38 of pre-
treatment electrostatic
magnetic conduit is in fluid communication with inlet 22 of antenna 12. Magnet
44 is positioned such
that fluid travelling through pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit 34
passes magnet 44.
Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, magnet 44 may be positioned within pre-
treatment electrostatic
magnetic conduit such that fluid flows around magnet 44. Referring to FIG. 11
and FIG. 12, magnet 44
may be positioned within pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit 34 such
that fluid flows between
magnets 44. Referring to FIG. 1, for convenience, pre-treatment electrostatic
magnetic conduit 34 and
antenna 12 may be housed within a single housing 33.
[0040] Antenna 12 and pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit 34, when
present, are used to
modify the physical characteristic of the fluid. This may be achieved by
satisfying any active unshared
negative electrons of the fluid that passes through, forming altered and
satisfied fluid molecules. An
example of this modification can be seen in FIG. 6¨ FIG. 8 when water is the
fluid being treated. As can
be seen in FIG. 6, water molecules 37 have a single oxygen atom 39, two
hydrogen atoms 40 and two
unshared electrons 42. The orientation of the hydrogen atoms 40 and oxygen
atom 39 may cause gases
to form bubbles as they enter the water because the non-charged gas is
attracted to itself and does not
disperse into the fluid as a molecular solution. Referring to FIG. 8, due to
the shape of the water
molecule and the presence of unshared electrons 42, there is an uneven
distribution of charge which
allows neighboring water molecules to be held together by hydrogen bonds.
Referring to FIG. 7, antenna
12 modifies the physical characteristics by satisfying the unshared pair of
electrons 42. With the
unshared electrons being satisfied, the attraction between adjacent water
molecules 37 is reduced and
hydrogen bonds are less likely to form. Antenna 12 and pre-treatment
electrostatic magnetic conduit 34
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reduces the attraction of oxygen atoms 39 of water molecules 37 to hydrogen
atoms 40 of other water
molecules 37.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 5, gas injector 16 has a mixing chamber 46 with a
fluid inlet 48, a fluid outlet 50
and a gas inlet 52. In the embodiment shown, gas injector 16 is a venturi
injector. Referring to FIG. 1, the
fluid that has been modified by pre-treatment electrostatic magnetic conduit
34, and antenna 12 with
variable frequency generator 14 at a first pressure flows into gas injector 16
through fluid inlet 48.
Referring to FIG. 5, the flow path 51 of the fluid is constricted as it enters
mixing chamber 46. This
constriction creates a high-velocity stream which in turn results in a
decrease in pressure to a second
pressure that may create a vacuum. Gas is then drawn or forced through gas
inlet 52 from gas source,
not shown, and mixed with the fluid. Flow path 51 of the fluid increases in
diameter as the fluid
continues through mixing chamber 46 towards fluid outlet 50. The increase in
diameter causes a
reduction in fluid velocity before the fluid exits fluid outlet 50 and enters
into treatment vessel 18. A
person of skill will understand that different types of gas injectors 16 may
be used. Referring to FIG. 1
and FIG. 2, fluid inlet 48 of mixing chamber 46 is in fluid communication with
outlet 24 of internal fluid
conduit 22 of antenna 12. Gas inlet 52 is connected to a gas source and a
pressurized gas is drawn or
forced through gas inlet 52 into mixing chamber 46. The pressurized gas mixes
with the modified fluid in
mixing chamber 46 to create a stable molecular fluid solution. With the
attraction between adjacent
water molecules being lower due to the satisfied electrons, increased amounts
of gas may be dispersed
into the fluid. The pressure of the fluid in apparatus 10 is lowered to a
second pressure as it travels
through gas injector 16. The stable molecular fluid solution flows through
fluid outlet 50 into treatment
vessel 18.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, treatment vessel 18 has an inlet 58 in fluid
communication with fluid outlet
50 of mixing chamber 46 of gas injector 16. Referring to FIG. 13, in the
embodiment shown, an injection
port 60 is positioned within treatment vessel 18 and plays a role in lowering
the pressure of the fluid
travelling through treatment vessel 18 to a third pressure. Injection port 60
is positioned at inlet 58 to
create a high-velocity stream which results in the decrease in pressure. A
person of skill will understand
that multiple injection ports 60 may be used. Treatment vessel 18 has a fluid
discharge outlet 62 for
discharging fluid from apparatus 10. Referring to FIG. 14, in another
embodiment, treatment vessel 18
has a first chamber 54 and a second chamber 56. Fluid enters first chamber 54
through inlet 58 and
flows into second chamber 56 through injection port 60. At least one injection
port 60, not shown, may
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also be positioned adjacent inlet 58 of first chamber 54. Second chamber 56
has a fluid discharge outlet
62 through which treated fluid is discharged from apparatus 10. The stable
molecular fluid solution
created in gas injector 16 flows through inlet 58 into first chamber 54. In a
preferred embodiment, a
silicate based media may be provided within first chamber 54 for pre-treating
of the fluids. The purpose
of the pre-treatment is to prepare the molecular fluid to be able to disperse
more gas. The silicate based
media causes the formation of eddies and vortexes within treatment vessel 18,
which assists in the
dispersion of the gases. The silicate based media may contain silicate beads,
rocks, glass or crystals.
After pre-treatment, when silicate based media is present, the stable
molecular fluid solution flows
through injection port 60 into second chamber 56. The pressure of the fluid in
apparatus 10 is lowered
to a third pressure as it travels into second chamber 56 as fluid travelling
through the at least one
injection port 60 creates a high-velocity stream which in turn results in a
decrease in pressure. The third
pressure is preferably the same as or close to the atmospheric pressure at the
fluid discharge outlet 62.
It is preferable that injection ports 60 create a vortex within second chamber
56 or within both first
chamber 54 and second chamber 56. Vortex helps to maintain gas injected into
fluid in the dispersed
state and acts to counter the effect that lowering the pressure has on the
disperse-ability of gases.
Second chamber 56 may be provided with a silicate based media for the
treatment of the fluid travelling
through it. Once the fluid has passed through second chamber 56, it is
discharged from apparatus 10
through fluid discharge outlet 62.
[0043] The fluid that is discharged through fluid discharge outlet 62 is
supersaturated with the gas that
is mixed into the fluid as it flows through mixing chamber 46 of gas injector
16 and treatment vessel 18.
After satisfying the unshared pair of electrons in the fluid, the specific
gravity allows the gas molecules
to remain in solution for extended periods of time. This occurs because the
gas exists in its molecular
form and may be suspended or may sink to the bottom of its containment.
Whether the gas is
suspended or sinks is dependent upon the molecular weight differential between
the fluid and the gas
that is used. As an example, an increased saturation level of oxygen in water
occurs because the
molecular weight of oxygen (approximately 32 g/mol) is heavier than the
molecular weight of water
(approximately 18 g/mol). This allows the molecular oxygen (02) to sink to the
bottom of its
containment and remain in solution instead of bubbling upwards out of
solution. A person of skill will
understand that the fluid does not have to be water and that the gas used does
not have to be oxygen.
The fluid may include but is not limited to oily fluids, water, diesel,
gasoline or other propellants. The gas
that is injected into the fluid is dependent upon the specific results the
user wishes to achieve but
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should be gases that can enter in their molecular form and remain in solution
in their molecular form.
Oxygen is generally useful where the apparatus is in use for the treatment of
fluids where aerobic
microbial growth is beneficial, such as for the treatment of wastewater, or
for the growth of plants and
other organisms in the fluid. Ozone is generally useful where the apparatus is
in use for sanitization
purposes.
Advantages:
[0044] The apparatus and method described above may be beneficial for use in a
number of different
areas and industries including but not limited to:
- Wastewater treatment: The energy requirements may be reduced for
purification of the
activated sludge systems commonly used in industrial and municipal wastewater
treatment.
There may also be a substantial increase in the capacity of existing
wastewater
infrastructures. An increase in the rate of microbial metabolic activity may
be achieved as a
result of the lagoon bottom having an abundance of free molecular oxygen. The
free
molecular oxygen may provide the infrastructure with a significant increase in
wastewater
treatment capacity and has the potential to reduce the electrical demands of
blowers for an
equivalent volume of wastewater treated.
- Aquaculture: The creation of a molecular solution using the apparatus and
method described
above may reduce the cost to the aquaculture industry by accelerating the
growth rate and
lowering the food conversion ratio of the particular species raised via the
molecular oxygen in
the pond.
- Reverse osmosis: The treated fluid created through the use of the
apparatus and method
described above may allow reverse osmosis units to function at substantially
higher through-
put levels. This in turn could result in a reduction in energy costs. This may
be beneficial for
creating potable water from seawater.
- Cleaner flue discharge from power generation facilities and refineries:
Carbon, nitrogen
and/or sulfur are commonly produced in flue gases of power generation
facilities. The method
and apparatus described above may be used to convert the carbon, nitrogen
and/or sulfur to
carbonate, nitrate and/or sulfate which can be removed by scrubbing the flue
gas with water
and later used as fertilizers. This allows for the possibility of cleaner
exhaust gases from flue
stacks.
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- Improved concrete curing: The cure time for concrete may be accelerated
when the water
used to mix the concrete is first treated using the apparatus and method
described above.
The amount of cement that is used to achieve a certain strength of concrete
may be reduced
while still achieved the desired strength.
- De-scaling of industrial fluid cooling systems
- Emulsion breaking application for chemical and oil refining, and de-
oiling of oil drilling fluids
and drill bit cuttings from subsurface strata.
- Improved food production, such as dairy, fruits, grains,
vegetables, eggs, beef, pork, poultry
and fish
- Improved flower production
- Improved human digestion
- Fluid purification
- Fluid sterilization: Sterilization may be achieved when ozone gas is
mixed into the fluid being
treated.
- Improved fuel that may provide for superior combustion, mileage
increases, improved waste
fluid combustion and lower emissions.
- Remediation of rivers and lakes by re-oxygenation of contaminated
water ways and de-
nitrification of water ways
[0045] Apparatus 10 may be used to create a home based system for the delivery
of oxygenated water
to a household. Potential benefits of oxygenated water include health
benefits, inhibiting scaling on
fixtures, reduce the use of soaps, benefit the city sewage treatment and
eliminate faults involved in
septic tank systems by creating an activated sludge system.
[0046] Apparatus 10 could also be used for delivering oxygenated water to a
municipality, with
potential benefits including improved municipal fluid treatment, expanding the
capacity of a central
wastewater facility without additional capital costs, eliminating odors and
noise, reduction in the cost of
future infrastructure expansion and a reduction in the amount of solids left
after treatment, thereby
reducing haul-off and landfill costs.
[0047] Any use herein of any terms describing an interaction between elements
is not meant to limit
the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may
also include indirect
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interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary
structure unless
specifically stated otherwise.
[0048] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to mean that
items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned
are not excluded. A
reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the
possibility that more than one
of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be
one and only one of the
elements.
[0049] It will be apparent that changes may be made to the illustrative
embodiments, while falling
within the scope of the invention. As such, the scope of the following claims
should not be limited by the
preferred embodiments set forth in the examples and drawings described above,
but should be given
the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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