Abstract:
A forced air thermal turbine evaporation system wherein industrial waste water is pumped from a water source through a stainless steel hose to a flow meter, pressure switch and into a distribution header. The water leaves the distribution header through a plurality of spiral nozzles that atomize the water into fine water droplets that are introduced into a turbine exhaust pipe in which the droplets are vaporized and disbursed into the atmosphere.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to water evaporation systems and, more specifically, to a forced air thermal turbine water evaporation system for use in disposing of waste water in the mining, manufacturing, oil &amp; gas and food processing industries. There is one pump that sits at the edge of the water source that pumps to the nozzle array at the evaporator. Each evaporator system has a series of nozzles that disperse the water into the exhaust/air stream. The air/exhaust stream is discharged through a piping system that the water is emitted through the nozzles in small water droplets that are evaporated. 
         [0003]    The water evaporation system of the present invention comprises one or more Forced Air Thermal Units (Turbine Evaporators) that are setup near the water source to be evaporated. A 240 volt single phase stainless steel centrifugal pump is set up at the water source to deliver water at a rate of 50 gpm to 400 gpm to the nozzle array at the evaporator. The water is pumped through a stainless steel hose to a flow meter to set the desired flow rate. The water then goes into a distribution header that distributes the water through a stainless steel line to the individual nozzles. The distribution header has a pressure switch for a system shutdown in case the nozzles become plugged by debris. There are 4 to 12 stainless steel spiral wound nozzles per evaporation system depending on the size of the evaporator. The water once it reaches the nozzles is atomized by the spiral nozzles into fine water droplets that are emitted into the air/exhaust stream. The energy source for the Turbine unit is a natural gas, propane, kerosene or diesel turbine. The turbine emits 3 lbs./second to 45 lbs./second of 650 degree F. to 1022 degree F. exhaust depending on the size and fuel specifications of the turbine that is discharge through a 6 inch to 20 inch exhaust pipe depending on the size of the turbine into the atmosphere. The rate of water to exhaust ratio is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the water rate that enters the exhaust stream to achieve the maximum evaporation rate based on humidity. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There are other systems which provide for evaporation of waste water. While these systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0006]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide a water evaporation system that allows for a greater evaporation rate by utilizing waste heat to form a water/steam vapor to enter the atmosphere 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a water evaporation system that provides a 65 to 80% increase in efficiency over conventional evaporation systems. 
         [0008]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a water evaporation system that reduces the environmental impact due to the fact that there are no large water droplets for the wind to carry outside containment areas since the water leaving the spiral cones are a fine heated vapor and the emissions from the turbine have minimal environmental impact. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a water evaporation system that enhances the ability to evaporate in cold and humid conditions due to the fact that the water and air are heated using the waste heat source. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a water evaporation system that is modular and can be customized for size and evaporation needs at each site. 
         [0011]    Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
         [0012]    The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a forced air thermal turbine evaporation system wherein industrial waste water is pumped from a water source through a stainless hose to a flow meter, pressure switch and into a distribution header. The water leaves the distribution header through a plurality of spiral nozzles that atomize the water into fine water droplets that are introduced into a turbine exhaust pipe in which the droplets are vaporized and disbursed into the atmosphere. 
         [0013]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
         [0014]    The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0015]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the assembly of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of the turbine evaporator system of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the pontoon evaporator system of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the pontoon evaporator of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an illustrative view of the evaporator nozzle of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the eductor and stand of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is side view of the eductor and stand of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
       [0026]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Forced Air Thermal Turbine Evaporator of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures. 
         [0027]      10  Forced Air Thermal Turbine Evaporator of the Present Invention 
         [0028]      11  Thermal Turbine Unit 
         [0029]      12  Waste Water 
         [0030]      14  Holding Pond 
         [0031]      16  Centrifugal Pump 
         [0032]      18  Spray Nozzle 
         [0033]      20  Turbine 
         [0034]      22  Exhaust Pipe of  20   
         [0035]      24  Water Intake 
         [0036]      26  Braided Stainless Steel Hose 
         [0037]      28  Flow Meter 
         [0038]      30  Pressure Switch 
         [0039]      32  Air/Water Mix Nozzle 
         [0040]      34  Distribution Header 
         [0041]      36  Pontoon 
         [0042]      38  Heat Exchanger 
         [0043]      40  Eductor 
         [0044]      42  Ross Member 
         [0045]      44  Hot Air Inlet 
         [0046]      46  Siphon Tube 
         [0047]      48  Nozzle Riser 
         [0048]      50  Aluminum Block 
         [0049]      52  Spiral Outlet 
         [0050]      54  Stand 
         [0051]      56  Bearing Swivel 
         [0052]      58  Base of  54   
         [0053]      60  Needle Valve 
         [0054]      62  Water Inlet 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0055]    The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative view of the present invention. The present invention is a forced air thermal waste water evaporation system  10  for use in disposing waste water in mining, manufacturing, oil and gas and food processing industries. Waste water  12  is drawn from a holding pond  14  by a centrifugal pump  16  and delivered by nozzles  32  to the exhaust pipe  22  of a turbine  20  where it is emitted into the atmosphere. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is an illustrative view of the forced air thermal waste water evaporation system  10  of the present invention. The present invention is a forced air thermal waste water evaporation system  10  wherein one or more forced air thermal units  11  (turbine evaporators) are set up near the water source  14  to be evaporated. A centrifugal pump  16  with water intake  24  is set up at the water source  14  to deliver water  12  to the nozzle array at the evaporator. The water  12  is pumped through a stainless steel hose  26  to a flow meter  28  to set the desired flow rate. The water then goes into a distribution header  34  that distributes the water  12  through the line to the individual spray nozzles  18 . The distribution header  34  has a pressure switch  30  for a system shut down in case the nozzles  32  become plugged by debris. Once the water  12  reaches the nozzles  32  it is atomized by the spiral nozzles into fine water droplets that are emitted into the air/exhaust stream. The heat from the exhaust pipe  22  of the turbine  20  evaporates the droplets, sending the vapor into the atmosphere. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is a flow chart of the present invention. Shown is a flow chart of the operation of the forced air thermal turbine evaporation system  10 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , shown is a flow chart of the present invention. Shown is a flow chart of the energy sources used by the turbine unit  20  of the forced air thermal turbine evaporation system  10 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is an illustrative view of the turbine evaporator system  10  of the present invention. Shown is the turbine evaporator system  10  with the distribution header  34  and its air/water mix nozzles  32  mounted on pontoons  36 . Also illustrated are the turbine  20 , heat exchanger  38  and eductor  40 . 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , shown is a top view of the pontoon  36  based turbine evaporator system  10 . Shown is the distribution header  34  and associated air/water mix nozzles  32  supported on pontoons  36  by cross members  42  utilized to float atop a body of water and mix said water with the heat from the heat exchanger through the hot air inlet  44  in order to spray said mixture into the atmosphere. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , shown is a side view of the pontoon  36  based turbine evaporator  10 . Shown is the distribution header  34  with air/water mix nozzles  32 , a siphon tube  46 , hot air inlet  44  and pontoons  36 . 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , shown is an illustrative view of the evaporator nozzle  32  of the present invention. Shown are the basic components of the air/water nozzle  32  of the evaporator including the nozzle riser  48 , aluminum block  50  and spiral outlet  52 . 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , shown is a top view of the eductor  40  and stand  54  of the present invention. Shown is the eductor  40  and stand  54  that can be used in a land based or pontoon based evaporator. Also depicted is the hot air inlet  44 , air/water mix nozzles  32  and spray nozzle  18 . 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , shown is side view of the eductor  40  and stand  54  of the turbine evaporator system  10 . The stand  54  incorporates a pneumatically driven bearing swivel  56  at its base  58  with a steel braided hose  26  in communication with a needle valve  60  connected to the eductor  40 . Also shown are the air inlet  44 , water inlet  62  and air/water mix nozzle  32 . 
         [0066]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
         [0067]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0068]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.