Abstract:
A system for treating a nitrate contaminated liquid to remove deleterious or undesirable nitrates therefrom wherein a supply of ionized nitrogen is entrained into a continuous stream of a nitrate contaminated liquid and thereafter is exposed to treating apparatus which changes the nitrates in the nitrate contaminated liquid into at least ionized nitrogen which then combines with the ionized nitrogen entrained in the continuous stream of a nitrate contaminated liquid to form a separated nitrogen gas and a treated liquid.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/129,997 filed Apr. 19, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all that is disclosed therein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the treatment of liquids and more particularly to the treatment of liquids to remove deleterious matter therefrom. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many instances wherein it is necessary to treat a variety of liquids to remove deleterious or undesirable matter therefrom. One such instance relates to the treatment of water. In many parts of the world, there exists a need for potable water. In many locations, there are a variety of sources available for providing water but the water from such sources contains deleterious or undesirable matter therein. One such matter relates to nitrates, such as NO 3 . While several types of apparatus and methods have been used to remove such nitrates at least to the extent to make the water potable, there still remains a need for an efficient and economical system for the removal of such nitrates from such water. In one type of apparatus used to try to remove such nitrates, the water is passed through apparatus that is designed to remove such nitrates. The apparatus comprises an outer tube having an inlet and an outlet. Inside of the tube, a plurality of ultra violet lamps are mounted in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship. The ultra violet lamps emit light at a frequency designed to break down the nitrates in the water. The water flows through the inlet and around the ultra violet lamps and out through the outlet. While the apparatus does function to break down at least a majority of the nitrates in the water, a great many of the broken down nitrates rejoin together so that deleterious or undesirable nitrates remain in the water. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides apparatus and method for the treatment of contaminated water, particularly water contaminated with nitrates, so that the ionized nitrogen resulting from the treating apparatus or method are exposed to other quantities of the same ionized nitrogen to form a separate nitrogen gas that may be safely vented to the atmosphere. 
     In the apparatus and method for treating contaminated water containing deleterious or undesirable nitrates, the contaminated water is fed into a conventional treating apparatus which breaks down the contaminated water into ionized nitrogen (N 1 ) and other substances such as oxygen 1 or 2. Before the ionized nitrogen can revert back by combining with other available materials, it is subjected to a sufficient quantity of additional ionized nitrogen so that the ionized nitrogens particles combine to form nitrogen gas (N 2 ) which can be safely vented to the atmosphere. This is accomplished by combining the additional quantity of ionized nitrogen with the nitrate contaminated water prior to the treating apparatus so that the entire combination of the contaminated water and the additional quantity of the ionized nitrogen is subjected to the treating apparatus. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for providing the additional desired quality of the ionized nitrogen to the contaminated water is a diffuser which is located to supply a stream of ionized nitrogen, preferably in a bubble formation wherein each bubble is of an average size of 1 mm. Preferably, the bubbles are spherical in shape. The diffuser is of the type marketed by Refraction Technologies Corp. under the trade designation “SOLIDOME”. While a diffuser is preferred, other types of apparatus may be used to supply the additional desired quantity of the ionized nitrogen. Also, different types of apparatus may be used to convert nitrogen gas into ionized nitrogen to be fed into the diffuser. In one type of such apparatus, nitrogen gas is fed into a housing and is subjected to ultra violet lamps which emit light at 185 nanometers to change the nitrogen gas into ionized nitrogen. 
     In one method of using the apparatus of the invention, a quantity of nitrate contaminated water from a well is measured to determine the quantity of nitrates contained in the quantity of the water. A calculation is then made to determine the quantity of ionized nitrogen that will be freed when the quantity of water is subjected to the above-described method for breaking down the nitrate contaminated water into ionized nitrogen to determine the quantity of ionized nitrogen resulting from the treatment. The diffuser is then controlled to emit ionized nitrogen into the nitrate contaminated water so that the quantity of ionized nitrogen is at least between about 0.75 to 2.5 times as great as the quantity of ionized nitrogen freed from the nitrate contaminated water. For example, if there are 100 particles of ionized nitrogen freed from the nitrate contaminated water for a predetermined time, there would be between about 175 to 350 particles of ionized nitrogen added. The nitrate contaminated water is then fed into the apparatus of this invention wherein it is combined with the ionized nitrogen being emitted by the diffuser, each at rates discussed more fully below. The combined nitrate contaminated water and the quantity of ionized nitrogen is then exposed to the treating apparatus which preferably comprises a plurality of ultra violet lamps emitting light at a frequency of about 254 nanometers. As the ionized nitrogen is freed from the contaminated water, the additional ionized nitrogen is available to form the nitrogen gas. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is the bottom plan view of the cover plate of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a position disk for the apparatus; and 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevational views with parts in section of the tower of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The apparatus  2  of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The apparatus  2  comprises a unit  4  for converting nitrogen gas (N 2 ) into ionized nitrogen (N 1 ). The nitrogen gas is introduced through inlet  6  into the unit  4 . While the unit  4  may comprise a number of different types of apparatus, it preferably comprises apparatus wherein a plurality of ultra violet lamps are located in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship and wherein the ultra violet lamps emit light at a frequency of about 185 nanometers so as to convert the nitrogen gas into ionized nitrogen which passes through the outlet  8  into conduit  10 . 
     A tower  12 , preferably extending in a vertical direction and having a generally cylindrical transverse cross-sectional configuration, has a base  14  having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings formed therein so that the base  14  may be secured to a support (not shown) by suitable means such as threaded bolts (not shown). The tower  14  preferable comprises a lower portion  16 , a central portion  18  and an upper portion  20 . In some instances, the central portion  18  and the upper portion  20  may be combined into one portion. 
     The lower portion  16  has a fitting  22  mounted therein for receiving in a sealed relationship one end of the conduit  10  and one end of a conduit  24 . A coupling  26 , preferably ninety degrees, connects the other end of the conduit  24  with an inlet  28  of a diffuser  30 , each in a sealed relationship. A drain valve  32 , preferably movable between an opened and a closed position, is mounted in the lower portion  16  adjacent to the base  14 . A contaminated water inlet port  34  is securely mounted in the lower portion  16  by suitable means, such as by welding. A contaminated water supply pipe (not shown) is connected to the contaminated water inlet port  34  in a sealed relationship. A flange  36  is secured to the upper end of the lower portion  16  by suitable means, such as by welding. The contaminated water inlet port  34  is located between the diffuser  30  and the flange  36 . A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  38  are formed in the flange  36  for purposes described below. Although not illustrated, the water inlet port and the diffuser could be located in the upper portion  20 . 
     A flange  50  is secured to other lower end of the central portion  18  by suitable means, such as by welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  52  are formed therein and are located to be aligned with the openings  38  so that the flanges  36  and  50  may be joined together in a sealed relationship by sealing means (not shown) and using suitable means such as nuts and bolts (not shown). Another flange  54 , FIG. 4, is secured to the upper end of the central portion  18  by suitable means, such as by welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  56  are formed in the another flange  54  for purposes described below. 
     A flange  60 , FIG. 4 is secured to the lower end of the upper portion  20  by suitable means, such as by welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  62  are formed therein and are located to be aligned with the openings  56  so that the flanges  54  and  60  may be joined together in a sealed relationship by sealing means (not shown) and using suitable means such as nuts and bolts (not shown). Another flange  64  is secured to the upper end of the upper portion  20  by suitable means, such as by welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  66  are formed in the another flange  64  for purposes described below. 
     A cover plate  70 , FIGS. 1 and 4, fits into a recess formed in the another flange  64  and has a flange  72  integral therewith. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  74  are formed in the flange  72  and are located to be aligned with the openings  66  so that the flanges  64  and  72  may be joined together in a sealed relationship by sealing means (not shown) and using suitable means such as nuts and bolts (not shown). 
     The cover plate  70  is provided with a central recess  80  into which one end of a support pipe  82  is inserted. The one end of the support pipe  82  is secured to the cover plate  70  by suitable means such as by welding. A lamp support  84 , FIGS. 2 and 3, is secured to the other end of the support pipe  82  which other end passes through an opening in the lamp support  84 . An annular flange  86  extends downwardly from the opening in the lamp support  84  and has a plurality of radially extending a circumferentially spaced apart openings  88  formed therein so that suitable means such as set screws (not shown) may be used to attach the lamp support  84  to the support pipe  82 . 
     A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  90  extend through the cover plate  70  for purposes described below. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, there are six openings  90 . However, the number of openings  90  can vary depending on the operational characteristics of the apparatus  2 . An annular recess  92  extends outwardly from a portion of each opening  90  and extends from the inner surface  94  of the cover plate  70 . One end of a tube  96  is inserted into each opening  90  and each tube  96  is secured to the cover plate  70  by suitable means such as by welding. A plurality of radially extending arms  98  extend outwardly from the support pipe  82  and each arm  98  is secured to one of the tubes  96  adjacent to the other end portion  100  thereof. The other end portion  100  of each tube  96  is externally threaded for purposes described below. 
     An apparatus for mounting each of the ultra violet lamps  110 , which in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings are six in number, is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4. A sleeve type coupling  112  has an internally threaded opening  114  at one end thereof that is in threaded engagement with the externally threaded end portion  100 . The other end of the sleeve type coupling  112  has a device  116 , such as a rubber sleeve, for holding one end of a quartz tube  118 . The lamp support  84  has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  120  formed therein with a radially extending slot  122  formed in the lamp support  84  and extending inwardly to each opening  120 . A lock collar  124 , FIG. 3, is mounted in each opening  120  and has a longitudinally extending portion that passes through the opening  120  and has a flange  126  that abuts against the lamp support  84 . A lamp receiver  128 , FIG. 3, has a generally cylindrical cavity  130  formed therein in which is mounted a similar device  116  for holding the other end of the quartz tube  118 . The lamp receiver  128  has a longitudinally extending portion  132  that passes through a longitudinally extending opening in the lock collar  124  and has an externally threaded end portion  134 . An internally threaded nut  136  is threaded onto the end portion  134  and bears against the flange  126  to hold the other end of the ultra violet lamp  110  on the lamp support  84 . 
     The electrical connection for one of the six ultra violet lamps  110  is illustrated in FIG. 4. A cover  140  has a flange  142  having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings that are aligned with threaded openings in the cover plate  70  so that threaded bolts (not shown) may be used to secure the cover  140  to the cover plate  70 . The top portion  144  of the cover  140  is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings  146  which are aligned with the openings  90  in the cover plate  70  when the cover  140  is secured to the cover plate  70 . An electrical conduit  148 , one for each of the ultra violet lamps  110 , is mounted by a coupling  150  in each of the openings  146 . The electrical conduit  148  extends downwardly through a tube  96  and has an electrical connector  152  located at one end thereof. Suitable wires (not shown) from an electrical power source (not shown) pass through each electrical conduit  148  to supply electrical power to the electrical connector  152 . Each ultra violet lamp  110  has an electrical connector  154  so that, when the electrical connectors  152  and  154  are joined together, electrical power is supplied to the ultra violet lamps  110 . Suitable switches (not shown) control the supply of electrical power to the ultra violet lamps  110 . 
     An outlet port  160  is mounted in the upper portion  20  by suitable means such as by welding. The treated water and gases flow through the outlet to suitable collection apparatus (not shown). If desired, another port (not shown) can be provided in the central portion  18 . A measuring device could be connected to this another port for measuring characteristics of the treating operation or the another port could be used for any purpose. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, each of the portions  16 ,  18  and  20  comprises a plated or stainless steel pipe having an external diameter of about 8.0 inches. The lower portion  16  has a longitudinal extent of about 14 inches; the central portion  18  has a longitudinal extent of about 66 inches and the upper portion  20  has a longitudinal extent of about 48 inches. The inlet port  34  comprises a 3.0 inch NPT inlet port and the outlet  160  comprises a 3.0 inch NPT outlet port. Each of the tubes  96  has a longitudinal extent of about 48.0 inches. Each ultra violet lamp  110  has a longitudinal extent of about 62 inches and emits ultra violet light at a frequency of about 254 nanometers. It is understood that the foregoing dimensions are for illustration purposes only. In some instances it is desirable that the longitudinal extent of the upper portion  20  and the tubes  96  be of a different longitudinal extent for purposes described below. If this is so, the nuts and bolts holding the flanges  54  and  60  are loosened and a different upper portion  20  having the different tubes  96  and a support pipe  82  of a desired length secured thereto is connected to the central portion  18 . The diffuser  30  has the capacity of emitting spherical particles of an average size of 1.0 millimeters at the rates of between about 0.25 and 2.5 cubic feet per minute. 
     The following example relates to the treatment of water contaminated with nitrates to remove the nitrates therefrom or to reduce the nitrate contamination to an acceptable level so that the contaminated water becomes potable. A sample of the nitrate contaminated water is analyzed to determine the character and the amount of the nitrates in the contaminated water. In one example the contaminated water contained nitrates in the amount of about 40 milligrams per million parts of the contaminated water. When such nitrate contaminated water is introduced through the inlet  34  at the rate of 70 gallons per minute, the ultra violet lamps  110  will act on the contaminated water to break down the nitrates in the contaminated water into ionized nitrogen and oxygen. In order to prevent the formed ionized nitrogen particles to reunite with other particles to reform into the undesirable nitrates, ionized nitrogen is emitted from the diffuser  30  at the rate of between about 0.25 to 2.5 cubic feet per minute. Since the ionized nitrogen particles from the diffuser  30  are mixed with the incoming nitrate contaminated water flowing through the inlet port  34 , the ionized nitrogen particles from the diffuser are immediately available to unite with the ionized nitrogen particles freed by the ultra violet lamps  110 . The mixture in the central portion  18  then flows into the upper portion  20 . During the passage through the upper portion  20 , the ionized nitrogen particles combine to form nitrogen and oxygen gases. The treated water, the nitrogen gas and the oxygen gas exit the upper portion  20  through the outlet port  160 . The treated water has a nitrate content less than 5.0 milligrams per million parts of the treated water. Thereafter, the nitrogen gas and the oxygen gases are vented to the atmosphere, using conventional apparatus and the treated water is directed to conventional collection apparatus (not shown). 
     The above-described apparatus may be used to treat other types of contaminated water wherein the particles associated with the contaminated water and the ionized particles will be of a different chemical character. 
     While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.