公开(公告)号：US20190282921A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16359211

申请日：2019-03-20

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Steven Lam ,  Maximus G. St. John

IPC: B01D5/00 ,  B01F3/04 ,  C02F1/04 ,  B01D3/22 ,  B01D1/14 ,  F24F6/12

Abstract: Condensing apparatuses and their use in various heat and mass exchange systems are generally described. The condensing apparatuses, such as bubble column condensers, may employ a heat exchanger positioned external to the condensing vessel to remove heat from a bubble column condenser outlet stream to produce a heat exchanger outlet stream. In certain cases, the condensing apparatus may also include a cooling device positioned external to the vessel configured and positioned to remove heat from the heat exchanger outlet stream to produce a cooling device outlet stream. The condensing apparatus may be configured to include various internal features, such as a vapor distribution region and/or a plurality of liquid flow control weirs and/or chambers within the apparatus having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5. A condensing apparatus may be coupled with a humidifier to form part of a desalination system, in certain cases.

公开(公告)号：US10301198B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-28

申请号：US15752619

申请日：2016-08-12

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Maximus G. St. John ,  Looh Tchuin Choong ,  Prakash Narayan Govindan

IPC: B01D39/00 ,  C02F1/44 ,  B01D61/58 ,  C02F1/469 ,  B01D61/00 ,  B01D61/02

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods in which multivalent ions are selectively retained in an aqueous stream. According to certain embodiments, multiple separations may be used to process an aqueous feed stream containing solubilized monovalent ions and solubilized multivalent ions to produce a stream enriched in the solubilized multivalent ions. The separations may be arranged, according to certain embodiments, to enhance the overall separation process such that the product stream contains—relative to the initial aqueous feed stream—a high amount of solubilized multivalent ions, a high amount of water from the aqueous feed stream, and/or a high ratio of solubilized multivalent ions to solubilized monovalent ions.

公开(公告)号：US10286335B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US14485606

申请日：2014-09-12

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Steven Lam ,  Maximus G. St. John

IPC: B01D5/00 ,  C02F1/04 ,  B01F3/04 ,  F24F6/12 ,  B01D1/14 ,  B01D3/22 ,  C02F103/08

Abstract: Condensing apparatuses and their use in various heat and mass exchange systems are generally described. The condensing apparatuses, such as bubble column condensers, may employ a heat exchanger positioned external to the condensing vessel to remove heat from a bubble column condenser outlet stream to produce a heat exchanger outlet stream. In certain cases, the condensing apparatus may also include a cooling device positioned external to the vessel configured and positioned to remove heat from the heat exchanger outlet stream to produce a cooling device outlet stream. The condensing apparatus may be configured to include various internal features, such as a vapor distribution region and/or a plurality of liquid flow control weirs and/or chambers within the apparatus having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5. A condensing apparatus may be coupled with a humidifier to form part of a desalination system, in certain cases.

公开(公告)号：US10239765B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-26

申请号：US15401948

申请日：2017-01-09

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Maximus G. St. John ,  Karim M. Chehayeb ,  Steven Lam

IPC: B01F3/04 ,  C02F1/26 ,  C02F1/00 ,  B01D3/42 ,  F28F27/00 ,  F28B1/02 ,  F28C1/02 ,  B01D3/16 ,  C02F1/10 ,  F28B5/00 ,  F28D21/00 ,  C02F1/04 ,  C02F103/08 ,  C02F103/10

Abstract: A counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange device is operated by directing flows of two fluids into a heat and mass exchange device at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal. At least one of the following state variables in the fluids is measured: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic state of the two fluid streams at the points of entry to and exit from the device. The flow rates of the fluids at the points of entry and/or exit to/from the device are measured; and the mass flow rate of at least one of the two fluids is changed such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through the device are brought closer to being equal.

公开(公告)号：US20190002306A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-03

申请号：US15967273

申请日：2018-04-30

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Maximus G. St. John ,  Steven Lam ,  Mark Zaloudek ,  Karim M. Chehayeb ,  Samar Shah

IPC: C02F1/10 ,  C02F1/66 ,  B01D3/16 ,  B01D3/34 ,  B01D17/02 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/08 ,  C02F5/02 ,  C02F1/00 ,  C02F101/10 ,  C02F101/12 ,  C02F101/32 ,  C02F103/08 ,  C02F103/10

CPC classification number: C02F1/10 ,  B01D3/16 ,  B01D3/346 ,  B01D17/02 ,  B01D17/0205 ,  C02F1/08 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/5236 ,  C02F1/5245 ,  C02F1/66 ,  C02F5/02 ,  C02F2001/007 ,  C02F2001/5218 ,  C02F2101/101 ,  C02F2101/12 ,  C02F2101/32 ,  C02F2101/322 ,  C02F2101/325 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  C02F2103/10 ,  C02F2301/046 ,  Y02A20/128 ,  Y02P70/34

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %). In certain embodiments, additional salt is added to the concentrated brine stream to produce an ultra-high-density brine stream (e.g., a brine stream having a density of at least about 11.7 pounds per gallon). Some aspects relate to a system that is configured to promote energy efficiency by recovering heat from the recirculated concentrated brine stream upon discharge from the fluidic circuit.

公开(公告)号：US09981860B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15464390

申请日：2017-03-21

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Maximus G. St. John ,  Steven Lam ,  Mark Zaloudek ,  Karim M. Chehayeb ,  Samar Shah

IPC: B01D1/30 ,  C02F1/10 ,  C02F5/02 ,  C02F1/66 ,  B01D3/16 ,  B01D17/02 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F103/08 ,  C02F101/32 ,  C02F101/10 ,  C02F101/12 ,  C02F1/00 ,  C02F103/10

CPC classification number: C02F1/10 ,  B01D3/16 ,  B01D3/346 ,  B01D17/02 ,  B01D17/0205 ,  C02F1/08 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/5236 ,  C02F1/5245 ,  C02F1/66 ,  C02F5/02 ,  C02F2001/007 ,  C02F2001/5218 ,  C02F2101/101 ,  C02F2101/12 ,  C02F2101/32 ,  C02F2101/322 ,  C02F2101/325 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  C02F2103/10 ,  C02F2301/046 ,  Y02A20/128 ,  Y02P70/34

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %). In certain embodiments, additional salt is added to the concentrated brine stream to produce an ultra-high-density brine stream (e.g., a brine stream having a density of at least about 11.7 pounds per gallon). Some aspects relate to a system that is configured to promote energy efficiency by recovering heat from the recirculated concentrated brine stream upon discharge from the fluidic circuit.

公开(公告)号：US09969638B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-15

申请号：US14452387

申请日：2014-08-05

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Steven Lam ,  Maximus G. St. John

IPC: B01D61/04 ,  B01D61/16 ,  B01D65/08 ,  C02F1/42 ,  C02F1/44 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/66 ,  C02F9/00 ,  C02F1/38 ,  C02F1/28 ,  C02F1/00 ,  C02F1/24 ,  C02F1/20 ,  C02F5/10 ,  C02F101/32

CPC classification number: C02F9/00 ,  B01D61/04 ,  B01D61/16 ,  B01D65/08 ,  C02F1/001 ,  C02F1/20 ,  C02F1/24 ,  C02F1/28 ,  C02F1/283 ,  C02F1/38 ,  C02F1/42 ,  C02F1/44 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/66 ,  C02F5/10 ,  C02F2101/322 ,  C02F2209/01 ,  C02F2303/22

Abstract: Water treatment systems and associated methods are generally described. Certain of the water treatment systems and methods described herein can be used to pre-treat an aqueous stream that is subsequently transported to a desalination apparatus and/or post-treat an aqueous stream that has been produced by a desalination apparatus.

公开(公告)号：US20170334736A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-23

申请号：US15161051

申请日：2016-05-20

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Steven Lam ,  Conor Thomas Wilson ,  Maximus G. St. John ,  Prakash Narayan Govindan

IPC: C02F1/04 ,  B01D1/14 ,  B01F3/04 ,  B01D5/00 ,  C02F103/08 ,  C02F101/12

CPC classification number: C02F1/048 ,  B01D1/14 ,  B01D3/346 ,  B01D5/003 ,  B01F3/04106 ,  B01F3/04262 ,  B01F2215/0052 ,  C02F2101/12 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  Y02W10/37

Abstract: Embodiments described generally relate to systems comprising a humidifier (e.g., a bubble column humidifier) and a heating device (e.g. a heat exchanger), and associated methods. In certain embodiments, the heating device heats a first liquid stream comprising a condensable fluid in liquid phase (e.g., water) and a dissolved salt (e.g., NaCl) to a relatively low temperature (e.g., about 90° C. or less) prior to the first liquid stream entering the humidifier through a main humidifier liquid inlet. In some cases, the system comprising the humidifier and the heating device requires only low-grade heat to operate, which may be advantageous due to the low cost and high availability of such heat.

公开(公告)号：US20170203977A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-20

申请号：US15464390

申请日：2017-03-21

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Maximus G. St. John ,  Steven Lam ,  Mark Zaloudek ,  Karim M. Chehayeb ,  Samar Shah

IPC: C02F1/10 ,  C02F1/52 ,  B01D3/16 ,  B01D17/02 ,  C02F5/02 ,  C02F1/66

CPC classification number: C02F1/10 ,  B01D3/16 ,  B01D3/346 ,  B01D17/02 ,  B01D17/0205 ,  C02F1/08 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/5236 ,  C02F1/5245 ,  C02F1/66 ,  C02F5/02 ,  C02F2001/007 ,  C02F2001/5218 ,  C02F2101/101 ,  C02F2101/12 ,  C02F2101/32 ,  C02F2101/322 ,  C02F2101/325 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  C02F2103/10 ,  C02F2301/046 ,  Y02A20/128 ,  Y02P70/34

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %). In certain embodiments, additional salt is added to the concentrated brine stream to produce an ultra-high-density brine stream (e.g., a brine stream having a density of at least about 11.7 pounds per gallon). Some aspects relate to a system that is configured to promote energy efficiency by recovering heat from the recirculated concentrated brine stream upon discharge from the fluidic circuit.

公开(公告)号：US20170144906A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-25

申请号：US15364785

申请日：2016-11-30

Applicant: Gradiant Corporation

Inventor： Jonn-Ross Andrews ,  Prakash Narayan Govindan ,  Maximus G. St. John ,  Steven Lam

IPC: C02F1/52 ,  C02F1/04 ,  C02F1/56

CPC classification number: C02F1/5245 ,  C02F1/04 ,  C02F1/5236 ,  C02F1/56 ,  C02F1/66 ,  C02F11/14 ,  C02F2001/007 ,  C02F2103/06 ,  C02F2103/10 ,  C02F2103/365

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for treating an aqueous input stream comprising at least one suspended and/or emulsified immiscible phase (e.g., oil, grease) and, in some cases, one or more additional contaminants, such as solubilized bicarbonate (HCO3−) ions, solubilized divalent cations (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+), solubilized trivalent cations (e.g., Fe3+, Al3+), organic material (e.g., humic acid, fulvic acid), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and/or suspended solids. According to certain embodiments, the aqueous feed stream is supplied to a water treatment system comprising a chemical coagulation apparatus and a suspended solids removal apparatus (e.g., a clarifier). Within the chemical coagulation apparatus, an amount of an inorganic coagulant (e.g., aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chloride), an amount of a strong base (e.g., sodium hydroxide), and an amount of a polyelectrolyte (e.g., polyacrylamide) may be added to the aqueous input stream to form a chemically-treated stream. In some embodiments, the inorganic coagulant, strong base, and/or polyelectrolyte may induce coagulation and/or flocculation of at least a portion of the contaminants within the aqueous input stream, and the chemically-treated stream may comprise a plurality of flocs (i.e., particle agglomerates). In some embodiments, the chemically-treated stream is directed to flow to the suspended solids removal apparatus. Within the suspended solids removal apparatus, a plurality of flocs may be removed from the chemically-treated stream to form a contaminant-diminished stream having a lower concentration of contaminants than the aqueous input stream. In some embodiments, the chemically-treated stream and the contaminant-diminished stream each have a pH of about 8 or less. In some embodiments, the chemically-treated stream and the contaminant-diminished stream each have a temperature of about 15° C. or less.