Abstract:
Apparatus and method for economically removing salts and heavy metals from water. The apparatus and method provide for flowing of the water across a transducer/resonator assembly which has enhanced resonation such that the water vaporizes and condenses without the salts or heavy metals. The water may then be used for drinking, irrigation, agricultural purposes, or injecting into subterranean formations related to mining or the recovery of hydrocarbons. The water may also be used to supplement or prepare water for reverse-osmosis desalination processes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from the following three United States Provisional patent applications, which are all pending: U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/535,270, filed Sep. 15, 2011, entitled “Cold Distillation Process”; U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/557,695, filed Nov. 9, 2011, entitled “Cold Distillation Process”; and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/598,184, filed Feb. 13, 2012, entitled “Cold Distillation Process.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to distillation and/or desalination apparatuses and methods or processes for removing salts, metals, and contaminants from water. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Relevant Art 
         [0005]    Many techniques have been proposed and used to remove salts and/or heavy metals and/or other contaminants from water. One of the oldest techniques for extracting fresh water from salt water or brine is distillation or evaporation. As salt water is boiled, the steam leaving the salt water is condensed and is essentially constituted of fresh water. While effective, steam distillation is energy intensive because of the heat required for the process. 
         [0006]    Other techniques to desalinate water include freezing, reverse osmosis, and various chemical and electrostatic processes. Efforts at ultrasound for separation have also been reported but have been said to be limited by ultrasound generators being able to produce only 50 atmospheres of pressure during the compression cycle of the ultrasound wave. A sonic reactor in the form of a multistage centrifugal pump-like apparatus has been tried in an effort to overcome such limitations of ultrasound generators. All of these techniques and processes have been found to require substantial energy and thus have ultimately been considered too cost prohibitive to be widely used. 
         [0007]    There continues to be a need for apparatuses and processes capable of removing salts and impurities such as heavy metals from water, to make it fit for human consumption without the need for massive energy to accomplish such removal. There is a further need for a water desalination/purification system that can be economically scaled in size to provide both small systems that can be economically operated as well as large commercial operations. Still further, there is a need for such water desalination/purification systems that can be operated on either a continuous or a batch process. Such systems have utility in converting sea water to potable water and also in treating water produced and/or used in recovering hydrocarbons and in mining operations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a system and method for removing salts, metals (especially heavy metals), and/or contaminants from an aqueous fluid, most commonly water. The system includes or combines a source of water, typically contained in a basin, tank or tub, usually in a measured, predetermined or known quantity, in a liquid state. This water source has integrated or associated with it, and in one embodiment at least partially submerged in it, at least one sled, such that the water flows over the sled. The sled includes or comprises at least one and most preferably a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which have associated with them at least one surrogate transducer. In preferred embodiments, each ultrasonic transducer has associated with it a surrogate transducer. In use, in the system and method of the invention, the ultrasonic transducers resonate within a range that causes the surrogate transducers to resonate within a range that causes at least some of the water to evaporate or vaporize. The water vapor enters a cloud chamber which directs the water vapor into a condenser or other holder for the water vapor condensed into water. This chamber is sufficiently long that only water vapor without a significant amount of salts, metals or contaminants for the intended use, reaches the condenser. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the chamber has gills at a level above the water source for receiving an influx of air that avoids any outflow of the water vapor or water, and avoids any outflow of any salts, metals, or contaminants, into the external atmosphere. Such influx of air into the chamber through the gills moves the water vapor from the chamber into the condenser and enables condensing of the vapor into water. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, any unevaporated or unvaporized water remaining in the water source after flowing across the sled, flows into one or more discharge receivers. The water may then optionally be directed or routed to flow again across the sled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one embodiment of a transducer/resonator assembly of the invention comprising three transducers. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another embodiment of a transducer/resonator assembly of the invention comprising one transducer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a sled with a plurality of transducer/resonator assemblies of the invention installed for operation in one embodiment of the system of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the system of the invention with a side panel removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the composite of the embodiment of the system of the invention shown in  FIG. 4  with a power pack and pump pack installed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the embodiment of the system of the invention shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of the water recirculation feature of one embodiment of the system of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The present invention provides a system and method for removing salts, metals and solid or composition type contaminants from aqueous fluids, and particularly water, and is especially useful in the utility and energy industries. Common nonlimiting examples of such utility of the invention include: desalinating sea water for irrigation and drinking; removing salts and metals from water produced with hydrocarbons in oil production, so the water may be reinjected into the subterranean formation or used for other purposes such as irrigation or drinking; and similar cleaning of “dirty” water associated with hydraulic fracturing for production of hydrocarbons from horizontally drilled shale formations. The invention might also be used to supplement known techniques for desalinating sea water, such as reverse-osmosis processing, to reduce the cost of those techniques. That is, for example, the invention might be used to prepare water for treatment by reverse-osmosis processing, by removing hydrocarbons or high salt concentrations that might make the water otherwise unsuitable (i.e., unfilterable) for reverse-osmosis processing. 
         [0019]    Without limitation as to theory, it is believed that the invention achieves its purposes through principles of ultrasonic harmonic dispersion. In its simplest form, the invention employs at least one and most practically a plurality of transducer/resonator assemblies which cause the water in the aqueous fluid to vaporize or evaporate and rise toward a cloud chamber. The salts, metals and/or solid or composition type contaminants in the fluid either lack sufficient energy to rise out of the water or are too heavy to rise with the water vapor sufficiently high as to reach the cloud chamber. Consequently, the water vapor in the cloud chamber is sufficiently pure for the purposes of the invention. Preferably, this process is conducted in an enclosed and sealed container so that the water vapor will readily condense in the cloud chamber or in an adjacent condenser upon the introduction of air or other vacuum breaker in the cloud chamber. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1  for illustration of a preferred transducer/resonator assembly for one embodiment of the invention, a piezoelectric element  6  is positioned adjacent an insulator or insulation disc  4  that is supported by a backing plate  2  with compression washers  3 . The piezoelectric element  6  is associated with an electrode  5  which receives electrical current or energy from wiring  10 . A socket-head bolt or screw  1  extends through these components and up into a radiating bar transmitter  7  adjacent the piezoelectric element  6 . The insulator disc  4  and socket-head bolt  1  resonate when energy is applied to the electrode  5 , and the socket-head bolt  1  in turn transmits radiating energy to the radiating bar transmitter  7 , which is preferably comprised of Beryllium or Aluminum, and which has or is formed into a parabolic arc or has a parabolic face. The radiating bar transmitter  7  is positioned adjacent or fitted with a surrogate resonator  13 , preferably comprised of Tantalum, and the transmitter  7  in turn transmits the radiating energy to the surrogate resonator  13 . The parabolic face of the transmitter  7  preferably has a parabolic shape with a radius  14  of about 1.3 inches, enabling the transmitter  7  to provide an increase in sound wave travel and to concentrate the impact of the sound waves on the surrogate resonator  13 . Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is believed that the parabolic shape of the transmitter  7  results in a focused ultrasonic cone  15  acting on the surrogate resonator  13 . The maximum distance between the parabolic face of the transmitter  7  and the surrogate resonator  13  is preferably limited to about 0.2 inches to reduce the mechanical energy lost by transmission of the sound waves through the atmosphere. In one embodiment, a noble or inert gas may be used to replace the atmosphere trapped between the transmitter  7  and the surrogate resonator  13  during preparation or manufacture of the transducer/resonator assembly. The surrogate resonator  13  is preferably comprised of a metal, most preferably Tantalulm. Fabricating the surrogate resonator  13  from the metallic element Tantalum will provide the following two desirable properties: low speed of sound at V 1  of 4,100 to insure that more of the mechanical energy is used to vibrate the insulator disc  4 ; and high resistance to corrosion. The surrogate resonator  13  is believed to reduce or eliminate sparking between the electrode  5  and the piezoelectric element  6  which saves electrical energy and substantially reduces the amount of power or energy required for the invention. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment of the invention, at least one surface of the surrogate resonator  13 , but preferably no surface of the piezoelectric element  6  (which will preferably be a ceramic piezoelectric crystal transducer element), will be in direct contact with the water to be treated according to the invention. In that embodiment, the surrogate resonator  13  will be exposed to salts and other potentially corrosive compounds, compositions and materials. Also, since water frequently contains Calcium, Calcium salt deposits or plaque on the surrogate resonator  13  surface(s) in contact with the water might occur. Tantalum by its nature collects significantly less Calcium plaque, however, than ceramic crystals. The transducer/resonator assembly operates most efficiently when its surfaces are free of deposits from the water, such as Calcium plaque. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows an alternative preferred embodiment of a transducer/resonator assembly of the invention for one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a piezoelectric element (or piezoelectric ceramic crystal transducer element)  6 A is associated with an electrode  5 , compression washer  3 , and wiring  10 , and is tightly squeezed in an injection-molded anti-corrosive polyvinylchloride (PVC) or Teflon® polymer shell  9 , [Teflon® is a trademark of E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Co, of Delaware.] The piezoelectric element  6 A is further associated with a surrogate resonator  13  preferably comprised of Tantalum from which the piezoelectric element is separated and sealed by an “O” ring  11  preferably comprised of natural or synthetic rubber or plastic and secured by a compression screw  8 . This piezoelectric element  6 A is shown with a parabolic face (or parabolic dish shape), eliminating the need for a transmitter  7  with a parabolic face, while still affording the advantage of a focused ultrasonic cone  15  in transmitting energy. However, in alternative embodiments, a piezoelectric element without a parabolic face might be substituted in this transducer/resonator assembly of the invention. 
         [0023]    For the system of the invention, a plurality of transducer/resonator assemblies of the invention, such as alternatively illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are positioned together in one of a number of many possible combinations. For example, in one embodiment, the transducer/resonator assemblies may be mounted as shown in  FIG. 1 , three abreast, in for example multiple rows  60  in a tray or sled  59 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Sleds  59  in turn may be mounted in a series of rows in a processing environment such as shown for example in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 . Such sleds  59  may be comprised of injection-molded Teflon® polymer or Noryl:Polyphenylene/PPO for non-limiting examples, or a similar substance, that does not interfere with the transducers but is also inert and resistant to corrosion by water or salts. 
         [0024]    In the system of the invention, in a simple embodiment, sleds  59  containing multiple transducer/resonator assemblies are combined with a source for the water to be treated according to the invention, a chamber for receiving water vapor, and a condenser for the water vapor. The piezoelectric transducer/resonator assemblies convert electricity or electrical energy into vibrations or mechanical energy. These vibrations agitate the water and result in the production or release of water vapor (evaporation or vaporization of the water) above the surface of the water. This basic system may be referred to collectively or in combination as the “processing environment.” One embodiment of such a system of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  illustrating one embodiment, tub  34  receives a measured or predetermined amount of water or aqueous fluid to be treated according to the invention. The water preferably has a depth in the tub  34  of about 60 to 70 millimeters ( 59 C in  FIG. 5 ) or a depth that affords a seal in the system or processing environment overall, as will be discussed further below. The tub  34  may be a tank or other container capable of being a source for the water for the invention. The transducer/resonator assemblies are not shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as they lie beneath the chamber or chute  32  (which may also be called a cloud chamber) for receiving water vapor from the water, as shown in  FIG. 6  (particularly see sled  59  containing transducer/resonator assemblies positioned beneath chamber  32 ). Most preferably, the transducer/resonator assemblies or at least the crystal piezoelectric elements  6  or  6 A in the assemblies are protected from the water, except that that the surrogate resonator  13  may (or may not) have direct contact with the water. The chamber  32  preferably has or develops an airtight seal or a vacuum over the water at least while the water is vaporizing due to the resonation in the water caused by the transducer/resonator assemblies. The chamber  32  should ideally extend away from the water, up and/or out from the water, a sufficient height and/or depth from the water surface so that only vaporized water or hydrogen and oxygen atoms reach the condenser  45  or vapor duct  31 , and vaporized ions or compounds having a specific gravity less than water and heavy metals will remain or fall back into the water. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the components of the water, that is the molecules of water and salts in the water, ionize into atoms when energized by the transducer/resonator assemblies. Thus, in one embodiment, ions that enter the chamber  32  other than hydrogen and oxygen, and hence that fail to travel to the condenser  45  or vapor duct  31 , might be captured for other use or processing at such lower level in the chamber  32 . In one embodiment, the chamber  32  is of sufficient length to accomplish this purpose of ensuring that the water vapor reaching the condenser or vapor duct  31  is sufficiently pure water for the intended purpose of the water. Preferably near the top of the chamber  32 , that is, near or at the point where the chamber  32  connects to the condenser  45  or vapor duct  31 , is a means for breaking the vacuum within the chamber  32  (a vacuum results from the vaporization of the water in an airtight container). Preferably such means are gills  33  which, at least when open, allow air to enter the chamber  32 . Such air changes the pressure in the chamber  32  and causes the water vapor to move to the condenser or vapor duct  31  where it will become liquid water again. If the gills  33  or other means for breaking the vacuum are not positioned near the top of the chamber  32 , they should at least be positioned above the water in the water source rather than at the water surface. 
         [0026]    In employing the present invention to remove salts, hydrocarbons, metals, and/or solid contaminants from water or an aqueous fluid, a processing environment such as illustrated for example in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  may be operated in a batch process or continuously. Referring again to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , in a continuous operation, the water is introduced into and moved through the tub  34  (as a source of water for treatment according to the invention), via gravity feed or a pump, preferably a peristaltic type pump, flowing across the transducer/resonator assemblies in a transducer sled  59 , and is generally maintained at a relatively constant level in the tub  34 , with more water being added as water is evaporating or being vaporized and the vapor is entering the cloud chamber  32 . Optionally, the water not vaporized upon a first pass through the tub  34  and across the transducer/resonator assemblies is drained off or allowed or caused to be discharged or to flow into one or more discharge receivers or tanks, such as, for example overflow spillway  35  and overflow reservoir  36 . Some or all of such discharged water may in turn be re-routed to be passed through the tub  34  again one or more times,  FIG. 7  illustrates one example approach for such recirculation of the water in one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , with the water circulation or recirculation schematic shown in  FIG. 7 , for example, spillway  35  is used to help maintain a maximum level of water in tub  34  and overflow reservoir  36  is used to enable the overflow water to be recirculated. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, this continuous flow type of operation of the system of the invention may be conducted in “pulsing” type steps with water entering and leaving the tub  34  periodically rather than continuously. However, such “pulsing” is preferably so rapid as to seem continuous with respect to the water not seeming to become “still” over the transducer/resonate assemblies. Considering such a “pulsing” operation of the system of the invention, referring again to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  for illustration, with the water circulation schematic shown in  FIG. 7 , peristaltic pump  71  fills the tub  34  with water to a level of about 60 to 70 millimeters above the transducer/resonator assemblies  60  in sleds  59  and pauses. The recirculation pump  73  then moves the water over the assemblies  60  in the sleds  59  as indicated by the directional arrows  72  and  74  until about 80 to 90% of the salt (or some other selected amount) has been separated from the water. The salinity meter  76  then pauses the recirculation pump  73 , causes at least some water remaining in tub  34  to drain, and restarts peristaltic pump  71  for adding additional water into tub  34 . This “pulsing” procedure repeats continuously. 
         [0028]    An advantage of the processing environment of the system of the invention is that water from the water source does not remain paused, stopped or stationary over the transducer/resonator assemblies, if in direct contact with such assemblies, for any significant amount of time, if at all, during operation of the system. That is, the water does not have stationary contact with the transducer/resonator assemblies for a time sufficiently long as to result in immediate or escalated deposit of salts such as for example calcium salts from the water, onto any surface of the transducer/resonator assemblies. As discussed previously, such deposits reduce efficiency of the operation of the system and will likely inevitable occur over time. However, delaying and reducing such deposits is preferred. Stillwater enhances the recombination and/or deposit of salt crystals as does exposure to atmosphere. 
         [0029]    Another advantage, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , is the design of the processing environment with a plurality of sleds  59  comprising transducer/resonator assemblies as discussed above, which allows for maintenance of the assemblies (as for example cleaning of any deposits such as salts on one or more surfaces and/or replacing a defective or worn out transducer) without shutting down the entire operation of the processing environment. It is contemplated that a single sled could be pulled, slid, or rolled out or otherwise removed for such maintenance while continuing the operation of the processing environment with the remaining sleds in place and the transducer/resonator assemblies in those remaining sleds remaining in operation. 
       Testing 
       [0030]    The effectiveness of the invention has been tested with a prototype, using water samples from Galveston Bay in Texas and water produced with hydrocarbons (produced water) from an oilwell in Texas. The results of those tests (as reported by an independent laboratory) are shown in the Table below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Salt/Ion Content of Water Samples Before and 
               
               
                 After Treatment According to the Invention 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Cl 
                 Cl 
                 SO 4   
                 SO 4   
                   
                 pH 
               
               
                 SAMPLE 
                 (ppm) 
                 reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 reduction 
                 pH 
                 reduction 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 15052 
                 N/A 
                 2100 
                 N/A 
                 7.28 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 — 
                     100% 
                 &lt;2 
                 99.90% 
                 6.92 
                 72.57% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (no filter) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 4276 
                 71.59% 
                 620 
                 70.48% 
                 7.2 
                 1.23% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills too 
               
               
                 close to water) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 — 
                     100% 
                 61 
                 97.10% 
                 6.78 
                 7.00% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills better 
               
               
                 located) 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 40538 
                 N/A 
                 420 
                 NA 
                 7.26 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 2737 
                 81.82% 
                 33 
                 92.14% 
                 6.86 
                 5.51% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Cond 
                 Cond 
                 TDS 
                 TDS 
                 TCOD 
                 TCOD 
               
               
                 SAMPLE 
                 (μS/cm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 41890 
                 N/A 
                 30840 
                 N/A 
                 550 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 19.41 
                 99.995%  
                 180 
                 99.99% 
                 6 
                 99.64% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (no filter) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 13670 
                 67.37% 
                 9380 
                 69.58% 
                 220 
                 60.00% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills too 
               
               
                 close to water) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 1668 
                 96.02% 
                 1220 
                 96.04% 
                 92 
                 83.27% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills better 
               
               
                 located) 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 96020 
                 N/A 
                 75160 
                 N/A 
                 1840 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 8227 
                 91.43% 
                 5340 
                 92.90% 
                 140 
                 92.39% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Al 
                 Al 
                 B 
                 B 
                 Ca 
                 Ca 
               
               
                 SAMPLE 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 0.311 
                 N/A 
                 2.51 
                 N/A 
                 343 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 100% 
                 0.0005 
                 99.80% 
                 5.48 
                 98.40% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (no filter) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 100% 
                 0.857 
                 65.86% 
                 106 
                 69.10% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills too 
               
               
                 close to water) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 100% 
                 0.155 
                 93.82% 
                 15.1 
                 95.60% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills better 
               
               
                 located) 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 9.51 
                 N/A 
                 1770 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 1.02 
                 89.27% 
                 119 
                 93.28% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cu 
                 Cu 
                 Fe 
                 Fe 
                 K 
                 K 
               
               
                 SAMPLE 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 0.6491 
                 N/A 
                 0.0366 
                 N/A 
                 306.7 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 0.0077 
                 98.81% 
                 0.0069 
                 81.15% 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (no filter) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 0.4334 
                 33.23% 
                 0.0086 
                 76.50% 
                 83.28 
                 72.85% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills too 
               
               
                 close to water) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 0.5552 
                 14.47% 
                 0.0067 
                 81.69% 
                 9.393 
                 96.94% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills better 
               
               
                 located) 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 0.1638 
                 N/A 
                 0.0525 
                 N/A 
                 454.9 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 0.6337 
                 −296.97% 
                 0.007 
                 86.67% 
                 27.06 
                 94.05% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Mg 
                 Mg 
                 Mn 
                 Mn 
                 Na 
                 Na 
               
               
                 SAMPLE 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 1000 
                 N/A 
                 0.3428 
                 N/A 
                 8655 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 0.229 
                 99.98% 
                 0.0035 
                 98.98% 
                 0.9505 
                 99.99% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (no filter) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 290 
                 71.00% 
                 0.0734 
                 78.59% 
                 2476 
                 71.39% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills too 
               
               
                 close to water) 
               
               
                 Seawater 
                 30.5 
                 96.95% 
                 0.0704 
                 79.56% 
                 227 
                 97.38% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                 (Gills better 
               
               
                 located) 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 556 
                 N/A 
                 0.3822 
                 N/A 
                 24230 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                 Produced Water 
                 39 
                 92.99% 
                 0.0583 
                 84.75% 
                 1570 
                 93.52% 
               
               
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Ni 
                 Ni 
                 Zn 
                 Zn 
               
               
                   
                 SAMPLE 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
                 (ppm) 
                 Reduction 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 0.8866 
                 N/A 
               
               
                   
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                   
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 0.0166 
                 98.13% 
               
               
                   
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
                 (no filter) 
               
               
                   
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 0.2477 
                 72.06% 
               
               
                   
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
                 (Gills too 
               
               
                   
                 close to water) 
               
               
                   
                 Seawater 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 0.1379 
                 84.45% 
               
               
                   
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
                 (Gills better 
               
               
                   
                 located) 
               
               
                   
                 Produced Water 
                 0.2738 
                 N/A 
                 1.396 
                 N/A 
               
               
                   
                 Before Treatment 
               
               
                   
                 Produced Water 
                 ND 
                 N/A 
                 0.2596 
                 81.40% 
               
               
                   
                 After Treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0031]    The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be a description of preferred embodiments. Various changes in the details of the described systems and methods of use can be made without departing from the intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       LIST OF ELEMENTS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           1 . Socket-head bolt 
           2 . Backing Plate 
           3 . Compression Washers 
           4 . Insulation Disk 
           5 . Electrode 
           6 . Piezoelectric Element 
           7 . Aluminum or Beryllium Transmitter 
           8 . Teflon® Sled Top 
           9 . Teflon® Sled Bottom 
           10 . Wiring 
           11 . ‘O’ Ring 
           12 . Gasket 
           13 . Tantalum Resonator 
           14 . Radius of Focused Ultrasonic Cone 
           15 . Focused Ultrasonic Cone 
           21 . Compression Screw 
           22 . Backing Plate/Electrode 
           23 . ‘O’ Ring 
           24 . Ring Electrode 
           25 . Piezoelectric Element 
           26 . Teflon® Chassis 
           27 . Wiring 
           28 . Tantalum Resonator 
           31 . Vapor Duct 
           32 . Cloud Chamber 
           33 . Gills 
           34 . Tub 
           35 . Overflow Spillway 
           36 . Overflow Reservoir 
           37 . Environment Side Panel 
           38 . Base Foot 
           41 . Pump Pack 
           43 . Power Pack 
           44 . Intake Manifold 
           45 . Condenser 
           59 A. Intake Manifold 
           59 B. Service Pool 
           59 C. Water Level 
           59 D. Vacuum Seal 
           59 E. Discharge Manifold 
           60 . Transducer/Resonator Assemblies 
           71 . Peristaltic Pump 
           72 . Water Flow over Transducer 
           73 . Recirculation Pump 
           74 . Recirculation Flow 
           75 . Recirculation Pickup 
           76 . Salinity Meter cm What is claimed is: