Abstract:
Production brines are used to scrub a horizontal stack receiving exhaust from an energy source, controlling, reducing, or both noxious chemicals. Mutual remediation of flows from petroleous production cool and scrub exhausts from flares burning waste hydrocarbons, heaters lowering viscosity of crude oil, engines driving oil pumps or natural gas compressors, and the like. Resulting evaporation of production brines results in distilled water, more concentrated brines to reduce hauling, or, optionally, dehydrated dry waste minerals from the brines. Year-round operation of brine evaporation ponds is facilitated, and may be another source of process pre-heating.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Related Applications 
         [0002]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/144,665 filed Jan. 14, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/144,694 filed Jan. 14, 2009, and incorporates by reference the entirety of each thereof. 
         [0003]    2. The Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention pertains to remediation of environmental discharges associated with production of petroleum products such as crude oil and gas, and more particularly to integrated systems for heat recovery, scrubbing stacks, and handling production brines. 
         [0005]    3. The Background Art 
         [0006]    The production and transport of petroleum resources (e.g. petroleouos compositions, such as crude oil, natural gas, derivatives thereof, or the like) at the well head involve many processes. Drawing, processing, heating, compressing, pumping, and otherwise handling petroleum resources retrieved from the earth can require substantial amounts of energy in their own right. Rejected heat from motors, heaters, flares, and the like have not heretofore been a problem in remote areas. Likewise, emission of particulates, discharge of production water, and the like have been treated in various ways. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a method and apparatus for remediation of potential environmental effects of petroleum production. It would be an advance in the art to provide a method to recover, control, dispose of, or otherwise minimize the environmental impact of such flows as waste heat, salt water, entrained volatile organic compounds, and the like that may occur. It would be a further advance to solve the problems at each site, whether they occur singly or in combination. One or more of these effluents may occur at various production and transport sites, such as well heads, pumping stations, compressor stations, transport stations, and the like. 
         [0008]    It would also be an advance in the art to provide remediation for the individual effects and effluence of petroleum production and transport stations. It would be a further advance in the art to provide a balanced, integrated system and method for handling these effluents and their consequences. It would be yet a further advance in the art to provide an integrated solution to environmental effluents resulting in improved overall efficiencies in the operation of production and transport systems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In general, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may typically include integrated system of stacks, flares, recovery vessels, scrubbers, separators, condensers, heat exchangers, energy collectors, and the like to remediate environmental effluents. In certain embodiments, various apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention provide control of back pressure on stacks and exhausts from motors, heaters, flares, and the like. Also, certain embodiments may provide for substantially horizontal stacks subjected to efficient scrubbing of volatile organic compounds, particulates, and the like from streams of exhaust gases. 
         [0010]    Likewise, separators may separate out brines from volatile or other organic compounds. Moreover, distilled water or cleaned condensate may be drawn from or discharged from scrubbers. Meanwhile, brines may be recycled and concentrated for eventual disposal in evaporation ponds. Complete drying may support transport of waste solids to dry depositories as a result of a complete extraction of liquids by evaporation. 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments, various apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention may rely on flame holders, internal flaring, dampers, pumps, blowers, and the like to regulate pressures throughout a system of scrubbers, condensers, evaporators, and the like. In certain embodiments, solar collection through salt gradient solar ponds (SGSP) may provide energy for augmentation of evaporative processes. In some embodiments, production waters containing salts may service solar ponds. As part of solar ponds or in addition to solar ponds, evaporative surfaces may concentrate brines and dry dissolved solids for disposal without destroying surrounding environments with salt mist otherwise discharged. 
         [0012]    Various installations may include one or more methods to remediate effluents, including, for example, heat, unburned hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, particulates, dissolved solids, salts, water, brine, and the like. A modular approach provides for application of a method and an installation of an apparatus tailored to the quantities and other particular remediation needs of a specific site. Thus, an apparatus implemented in accordance with the invention may be modularized in order to adequately handle the effluent output of a particular site, and the particular species (or specie) particular to that site. Petroleum production fields can benefit by having waste heat, waste water, and noxious emissions remediating each other. Outputs may be concentrated salts, distilled water, and scrubbed exhaust air, free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) trapped out in a waste water spray. For example, a method may use waste water to remediate hydrocarbon emissions, and the heat of an exhaust containing hydrocarbon emissions to treat salinated waste water. Hot exhaust gases, with or without solar energy assistance, may drive evaporation or other drying processes resulting in condensed, distilled water, dry salt to be hauled away, and clean vapors released to the environment. 
         [0013]    A commercial, production material may typically include a hydrocarbon compound such as crude oil, natural gas, or the like. It may also include a byproduct material when initially extracted. When the production material includes at least one of crude oil and methane, the byproduct material may typically include water and salt (e.g., a brine) at a concentration rendering the water unfit for agricultural crops. 
         [0014]    The byproduct material may be separated promptly after extraction from the ground, such as in a separator. Process steps separating hydrocarbons from the liquid portion of the byproduct material may precede, succeed, or both, the evaporating of all or some portion of water in the byproduct material. 
         [0015]    Field processing of the production material may involve applying energy to the production material from the power source. Some processing may occur in the field (onsite), and may include compressing a gas, pumping a fluid, reducing a viscosity of a fluid, flaring off a hydrocarbon vapor, and so forth. For example, a highly viscous crude may be heated to reduce viscosity for pipeline transport, downhole crude may be heated to reduce viscosity for easier extraction, natural gas may be compressed for pipeline transport, liquid crude may be pumped to increase pressure driving the flow, and so forth. Any or all of these processing options may take place at a particular site, nearby, remotely, or all of the foregoing. 
         [0016]    Many sources of power exist, and their power output may be mechanical, thermal, or both. For example an operating power source may be a motor, such as a diesel engine to drive a pump or compressor. The power source may be, instead or in addition, a source of thermal energy as a power output. For example, a flare, a heater, or a diesel engine may consume, by burning or other chemical process, a hydrocarbon, thus producing an exhaust. 
         [0017]    Whether the power source is an engine driving pumping (production pump, transport pump, compressor, etc.), a heater heating the production material for production or transport, or a flare burning off unusable vapors, the power source may burn a portion of the production material or import fuel, generating an exhaust stream. Therefore, the exhaust stack of such combustion may need to be scrubbed to remove volatile organic compounds, particulate materials, entrained solids, or the like from the exhaust by exposing the exhaust to the byproduct material. For example, a brine sprayed into a scrubber may treat the exhaust flow, evaporating at least a portion of the byproduct material, for example water to water vapor. 
         [0018]    Processing the production material may rely on a power source rejecting heat, directly from combustion or from a thermodynamic cycle, at or near the production site. By capturing the heat rejected by the power source, temperature of the byproduct material may be elevated by heat exchange, evaporating vapors from the byproduct material. For example, scrubbing organic and other compounds from the exhaust into byproduct water may include preheating the water with heat from the exhaust. Such preheating may increase evaporation of the brine to water vapor. This may be further increased by providing an evaporation chamber maintained at a pressure below ambient conditions. A residual of evaporation or partial evaporation may include dissolved solids extracted. The residual may be removed from the production site and its surrounding environment for disposal. Brine may be either dried or concentrated and stored as a liquid. Even then it may be evaporated completely over time, precipitated out at high concentrations, or the like. In one embodiment, the hottest region of an exhaust gas flow may power a dryer to dry brines to salts so they can be trucked out as solids. 
         [0019]    An engine may produce over 20,000 lbs/hr of exhaust at over 900 degrees Fahrenheit exhaust gas. In one embodiment of a pumping station, a bank of several motors, each of about 2400 horsepower, turns out about 28,000 lbs/hr of exhaust at from about 850 to about 970 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, in one embodiment of a production field, water from wells in petroleum production contains from about 1500 parts per million to about 10,000 parts per million salt. A salt pond may receive such water before using it for scrubbing the exhaust, afterward, or both. The pond may be used strictly for evaporating, or may be used for separating volatile organic compounds (VOCs, hydrocarbons). Ponds may collect solar heat, even recycling heat into brines used for scrubbing, evaporating, or both. 
         [0020]    If air is used as a coolant, only sensible heat is available, whereas water vapor has a latent heat about 100 times as great ratio of specific heat times temperature change compared to latent heat is inverse to mass required) as the sensible heat typically available due to temperature rise in the air. 
         [0021]    The elevated temperature, due to sensible heat, and any additional latent heat added may contribute to evaporating a vapor from the byproduct material. 
         [0022]    A process may form a residual upon evaporation (vaporization) of a portion of the byproduct material. The residual may include dissolved solids extracted from or concentrated within a remaining portion of the byproduct material. For example a residual from production brines in a well field may be a more concentrated brine or simple the dehydrated solids left after all water is evaporated. 
         [0023]    Where the byproduct material is brine, exchanging heat may be accomplished directly by exposing the exhaust to the brine, resulting in evaporating water from the brine, scrubbing hydrocarbons from the exhaust, and cooling the exhaust. In certain embodiments, an evaporation or scrubbing chamber may be maintained at a pressure below ambient conditions in order to promote evaporation. After evaporating water from the byproduct material, a portion of the evaporated water may be recovered as distilled water or at least water devoid of the dissolved solids left behind. Some other portion of the water vapor may be released into the environment as clean or comparatively clean vapor. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment of a method in accordance with the invention, concurrent, integrated, mutual remediation may involve a production material, a power source, and a byproduct material at a production site. Alternatively, the entire process may actually take place in stages and at disparate sites. For example, one may select a production site and a production material, which may include one or more principal materials of commerce as well as one or more byproduct materials distinct therefrom. 
         [0025]    Water vapor may release into the environment, while hydrocarbons separated from the brine before and after the evaporation or scrubbing processes may be burned or otherwise recycled. Ultimately, salts left behind from substantially completely evaporating the water may be hauled away for use or other disposal. Condensing water vapor may provide a source of distilled water. 
         [0026]    A modular evaporator, scrubber, or both may be arranged in series to accomplish adequate evaporation or scrubbing, respectively. Likewise, such modules may be arranged in parallel instead, or in addition, to support the exhaust flows available. A scrubber, evaporating chamber, or the like may be arranged substantially horizontally on the surface of the ground, on mounts, or underground as a “horizontal stack” instead of a vertical. Without the benefit of stack height to drive flows, one or more blowers may extract the exhaust from the scrubber or evaporating chamber. A combination of dampers and blowers may control back pressure for the exhaust line of a power source served by the system. 
         [0027]    A condenser may include a counter-flow heat exchanger taking in ambient air to cool a tailwater stream exiting the evaporating chamber. By condensing water from the exhaust stream, latent heat may be recovered. Suitable geometry may include counter-current conduits with or without fins extending into flows to augment heat transfer. Pre-heating followed by a drop in pressure may support flashing some water introduced into a scrubber, evaporation chamber, or a combination thereof. 
         [0028]    Heat may be exchanged by a condenser of a shell-and-tube, counter-flow type, wherein water is evaporated and scrubs the stack gases, cooling them before release into the environment. Recovery of distilled water for re-use is possible by cooling, vapor compression, or both to condense water from an evaporation chamber or stack gas scrubber. 
         [0029]    A solar pond may be used in combination therewith, receiving preheated water from the evaporation chamber introduced to the top of the pond (freshest on top), while maintaining a more concentrated brine therebelow. The brine below may actually achieve a temperature above the ambient boiling point of pure water. The surface of the solar pond may be flushed with pre-heated brine of comparatively lower concentration, keeping the pond operational, even in freezing weather. This replenishing helps to counteract salt diffusion toward the surface from the bottom as driven by a concentration gradient. Meanwhile, more concentrated brines may be introduced lower in the pond. Thus a concentration gradient may be maintained. 
         [0030]    At some sites, little or no hydrocarbon fuel is burned. A producing well, such as in crude oil or coal-bed methane fields will typically have at least a small motor in operation, but the heat rejected therefrom may not be deemed efficiently recoverable. In such situations, remediation may rely on alternative energy such as salt gradient solar ponds or the like. In any such fields the hydrocarbon oil or gas may be extracted with production water, and then separated therefrom. 
         [0031]    Where the volume of water exceeds the water needed to remediate an exhaust stream, or where there is no exhaust source, water may still be remediated. Passing ambient air through a condenser preheats it. Passing air into an evaporator, such as a horizontal stack or chamber at reduced pressure evaporates some of the water. The vapors may be condensed, possibly at increased pressure, in an air cooled condenser. The vapor condensate is distilled water. 
         [0032]    Meanwhile, the briney liquid remaining may pass to the surface of a solar pond to keep the pond operational in freezing weather and enhance surface evaporation at substantially all times. Harvesting solar-heated hot water from the pond by direct or indirect heat exchange may also aid evaporation in the evaporator as latent heat of condensate is recycled. Thus, the sensible heat in the water, and recycled latent heat from the condenser may contribute to the latent heat of vaporization in the evaporator. Heated ambient air and heat from a solar pond may both be used to heat the evaporator or the water sprayed into it. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    The foregoing features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment, including several optional elements, of an effluent remediation system and method in accordance with the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of another alternative embodiment of a remediation system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger with flow controls and drivers for implementation in certain embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of the heat exchanger apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a remediation system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is yet another, more simplified embodiment of a remediation apparatus and method in accordance with the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a remediation apparatus and method in accordance with the invention modularized and implemented through multiple parallel paths; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of another alternative embodiment of a remediation system in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a remediation system for production water effluent in the absence of sources of exhaust and stack-gas effluents. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  may reflect an apparatus  10  or process  10  directed to remediation of effluents, typically associated with production, transport, or both of the materials associated with petroleum production. Typical materials extracted from the earth may include crude oil, natural gas, water, salt water, particulate matter, dissolved solids, noncondensable gases, volatile organic compounds, exhaust gases from heaters, flares, motors, and so forth. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, a source  12  may be a motor, such as a drive motor on a compressor plant, a pumping station, or a lift, or a drive motor installed for another required purpose. In the illustrated embodiment, the effluent from a particular source  12  may pass through a system comprising a regulator  14  or regulating portion  14  that manages back pressure. 
         [0046]    For example, a blast furnace provides a very tall chimney that effectively draws air into the furnace with pressure head generated between a tall stack of hot gases and the surrounding ambient of comparatively cooler gases. However, flares and various other stacks associated with petroleum production are not well served by a fixed stack of a single design for establishing the draw pressure. 
         [0047]    Accordingly, in certain embodiments in accordance with the invention, the regulator  14  is responsible to control back pressure to which a stack or output of a source  12  is exposed. Such devices as flares used to flare off gases may thus be more carefully regulated to provide more complete and efficient burning, as well as scrubbing of particulates and other constituents from the exhaust. 
         [0048]    Likewise, motors can be provided a suitable back pressure for exhaust lines in order to improve their thermodynamic efficiency of operation, while still providing effective scrubbers and recovery devices. In several embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention, a scrubber  16  may be provided with several heating characteristics. 
         [0049]    For example, in certain embodiments, a scrubber  16  may serve as a horizontal stack, rather than relying on vertical stacks such as are used in conventional power plants, exhaust systems, furnaces, and the like. Moreover, the scrubbers  16  may be built in modular fashion to be assembled in series, parallel, or both, in order to optimize the size of a scrubber  16  to remediate the stack gases or exhaust generated by a particular source  12 . 
         [0050]    A segregator  18  may connect to an output of a scrubber  16  in various embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention. The segregator  18  may serve to recover heat, mass, and so forth. In separating out various forms of materials, for example, the segregator  18  may support separation of water from volatile organic compounds, vapors from liquids, dissolved or precipitated solids from liquids, and so forth. 
         [0051]    Notwithstanding the use of a segregator  18 , various separators  20  may also connect to further separate constituents of various flows. For example, a separator  20  may be responsible to separate vapor from liquid, noncondensable gases from liquids, trace materials from a liquid stream, and the like. In one example, a separator  20  may be as simple as a system to separate water vapor from liquid water while permitting certain noncondensable gases to work their way out of solution. 
         [0052]    Likewise, separators may also provide for scavenging of certain trace chemicals. Separators may filter entrained solids before liquids are further processed. In some respects, a segregator  18  and separator  20  may serve similar functions. 
         [0053]    Nevertheless, in the illustrated embodiment, the segregator is tasked with managing the entire stream of effluents from a scrubber  16 , isolating vapors from liquids, providing an output from precipitated or entrained, entrapped solids, and removing volatile organic compounds. With the regulator  14 , or as a part thereof, it may aid in maintaining an optimized flow of ambient air with the exhaust received from a source  12 . Back pressure maintenance may optimize the thermodynamic efficiency or other performance of the source  12 . Flow and pressure controls may aid in optimizing the remediation processes of the scrubber  16 . 
         [0054]    In general, a system  10  may include a water supply  22 . The water supply  22  may include multiple containers (e.g., tanks, vessels, ponds, etc.) and may typically be fed by production of water from wells, such as oil, gas, or other types of wells. Also, water may be provided from a clean source. Nevertheless, in one typical embodiment contemplated, production water (also called production brine) may result from a petroleum extraction process. Accordingly, the remediation of the brine may be integrated in a system  10  in accordance with the invention to handle both the brine and the waste heat from production, transport, or both processes. 
         [0055]    In certain embodiments, a salt pond  24  may form a component in the system  10 , whether an apparatus  10  or a process  10 . For example, a salt pond  24  may be assembled as an evaporation pond to evaporate the final liquid constituents in a concentrated brine originating from production water. In alternative embodiments, the salt pond  24  may be a stratified, salt gradient solar pond that provides solar collection. Moreover, a salt pond  24  may be engineered in certain embodiments to be as simple as a contained evaporation location to remove water from solids. On the other hand, the salt pond  24  may be a sophisticated container providing heat from solar radiation, salt stabilization of inverted double gradients (i.e., lightest layer highest, yet hottest layer lowest), a heat collection source, a combined solar and rejected heat collector with heat addition all winter from the source  12  keeping the pond  24  operable through all seasons, or the like. 
         [0056]    In general, the salt pond  24  may be as simple as the termination of a flow of a liquid, slurry, or the like that will eventually evaporate all liquid so that solids may be disposed of with a simpler, solid material handling mechanism. On the other hand, the salt pond  24  may be as sophisticated as a complex energy addition mechanism for solar collection supporting other energy needs in the processes of the system  10 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , while referring generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , a regulator  14  may include or otherwise connect to a manifold  32 . A manifold  32  may consolidate the flows from multiple exhaust stacks from various sources  12 . The sources  12  whose exhaust effluents are consolidated by the manifold  32  may be of the same or of different types. For example, sources  12  may include a motor, a heater, a flare, stack, or the like. However, it may be most common and simplest to consolidate in any manifold  32  the exhaust effluents from several sources  12  into a single pipe. Thus, back pressures can be optimized within the regulator  14  and scrubber  16  to improve the efficiency of the operation of the source  12 . 
         [0058]    A manifold  32  may feed exhaust gases into multiple lines  34 , or a single line  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the line  34  forms an inner line  34  that may operate as a jet or an eductor. 
         [0059]    Meanwhile, a damper  36  may be used in various embodiments to control flows, pressures, and the like. For example, the damper  36  may operate as an upstream damper  36  regulating the resistence that the opening  37  presents to the induction of ambient air. Meanwhile, various downstream dampers  38  may be located elsewhere, including within the scrubber, at the terminus of the scrubber  16 , at other locations about the scrubber  16 , and the like. 
         [0060]    In general, the eductor  42  or eductor portion  42  of the system  10  will involve a line  34  providing a flow having some initial momentum. Meanwhile, the outer line  40  provides another surrounding body of gas that exchanges momentum with the flow from the inner line  34 . Accordingly, the flow from the inner line  34  educts a flow in the outer line  40 . 
         [0061]    The dampers  36 ,  38  may control resistance, and thus the net flow, into and out of the scrubber  16 . The mixture or proportions of the gas flows from the inner line  34  and the outer line  40  may be controlled by suitable operation of one or more of the dampers  36 ,  38 . 
         [0062]    By control of the dampers  36 ,  38 , the flow and the back pressure presented by the scrubber  16  as “seen” by the manifold  32  and the exhaust flow  13  generally, may be precisely controlled. In certain embodiments, a microprocessor or computer connected to sensors in any of the source  12 , the manifold  32 , the outer line  40 , the inner line  34 , the scrubber  16 , near the damper  36 , near the damper  38 , downstream of the damper  38 , and so forth may precisely monitor and regulate the pressure profile and back pressure. Thus, efficiency of the operation of the source  12  may be improved. 
         [0063]    For example, if the source  12  is a diesel engine driving a pump, then back pressure may be very important to the efficiency of operation of the engine  12 . However, if a source  12  is a flare, then regulation of the back pressure within the scrubber  16  may control the temperature, the stability of the flame, the overall time controlling combustion completion or efficiency, or the like. Likewise, if the source  12  is a heater for improving the viscosity of oil to be pumped in a transport line, then the back pressure in the scrubber  16  may assist in improving combustion efficiency and temperature regulation in the combustion chamber of the heater  12 . 
         [0064]    A computerized controller may be programmed to operate the positioning of, and thus the distribution of flow presented by, each of the dampers  36 ,  38  in a system  10 . Likewise, the computerized controller may also read other engine  12  or other source  12  parameters such as speed, exhaust flow, exhaust temperature, and the like in order to provide an integrated solution to optimizing the back pressure at which the scrubber  16  operates. 
         [0065]    In certain embodiments, the inlet of the scrubber  16  may actually contain an initiator  44  to introduce gas that will burn as a flare  45  within the scrubber  16 . For example, the source  12  may be a flare external to the scrubber  16 , but whose exhaust is regulated by the back pressure presented by the scrubber  16 . Alternatively, the flare may actually be created by introduction into the inlet  46  of gas flared off downstream of the initiator  44 . 
         [0066]    In yet another alternative embodiment the initiator  44  may simply be a burner  44  maintaining a flare  45  in order to promote burning of unburned hydrocarbons from a source  12 . Engines  12 , heaters  12 , flares  12 , and the like may all burn their respective hydrocarbon fuels incompletely. One mechanism for eliminated volatile organic compounds from the exhaust stream  13  is by using an initiator  44  to maintain a flare  45  promoting combustion of any unburned hydrocarbons entering the scrubber  16 . 
         [0067]    In certain embodiments, a valve  48  may provide metering or other control and introduction of water into the regulator  14 . Typically, the water may pass through the valve  48  to enter a preheater  50 . The preheater may be as sophisticated as any heat exchanger made, or may be as simple as a coil carrying water around the periphery of the inner line  34 . Alternatively, the preheater  50  may be a coil or heat exchanger exposed directly to the exhaust flow  13  either within the inlet  34 , or after exit into the outer line  40 . If a flare  45  is to be maintained, then the preheater  50  may actually be placed somewhere within the flare  45  to take advantage of heat generated by the flare  45 , for example to preheat the water for use in the scrubber  16 . 
         [0068]    The scrubber  16  may include a conduit  60 . Typically, the conduit  60  may be formed in modules  61 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the modules  61  are connected in series. Meanwhile, connection of modules  61  in parallel may also serve as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In a large installation, modules  61  may be assembled both in series and in parallel. Thus, according to the flow of effluents in the exhaust stream  13 , modules  61  may be arranged in parallel to handle as much volumetric flow as needed. The length of scrubbing may be engineered as required to effectively complete that process by way of a series assembly of modules  61 . 
         [0069]    In one embodiment, a feed  62  or line  62  may feed scrubbing water into the scrubber  16 . In some embodiments, the line  62  may be a continuing extension of the preheater  50 . For example, water may come in through the valve  48 , through the preheater  50 , and ultimately be delivered into the line  62  supporting the sprays of water into the scrubber  16 . 
         [0070]    Typically, the line  62  may penetrate the walls  63  with either extensions or nozzles  64  spraying an atomized mist of water into the flow  65  of exhaust  13  passing through the scrubber  16 . On one hand, the heat within the flow  65  will tend to evaporate some amount of the water sprayed through the nozzle  64  into the flow  65 . On the other hand, the latent heat of vaporization of the water spraying from the nozzles  64  may absorb a comparatively large amount of heat from the flow  65  of exhaust gases. 
         [0071]    The combination of cooling the flow  65  and exposing it to a heavy volume of water mist through which it must flow will scrub out particulates and other materials other than air. In reality a certain amount of air, (considered a noncondensable gas) will also be absorbed according to the laws of equilibrium chemistry controlling all absorption in the system  10 . 
         [0072]    Ultimately, the flow  65  will be substantially scrubbed of materials that are desired to be separated rather than discharged into the environment. As a practical matter, the modules  61  may be assembled in series to a length selected to provide the percentage of removal of effluents, particulates, or other pollutants from the flow  65 . As a result, those scrubbed materials, whether solids, volatile organic compounds, or the like, will typically be associated with (e.g., contained within) the water that eventually drains out of the scrubber  16 . 
         [0073]    For discharge, a jet  66  of water may urge expulsion of effluents  67  collected by the scrubber  16 . Most of the vapors will remain in a vapor state. Those vapors will include organic compositions or compounds, air, and some amount of water vapor. Nevertheless, the cooling effect of the water from the nozzle  64  will tend to minimize the volatile organic compounds in the vapor phase, and render many of them liquids trapped with the water in the effluent  67 . 
         [0074]    The jet  66  may be installed to provide a sweeping of the bottom surfaces of the conduit  60  in order to clean liquids, dissolved solids, precipitated solids, volatile organic compounds that have been condensed, and so forth from the scrubber  16  for further processing. Typically, the line  68  feeding the jet  66  may be fresh water, cold water, hot water, recycled brine, or a portion of the water delivered by the preheater  50  from the valve  48 . 
         [0075]    The segregator  18  may be substantially enclosed within a chamber  70 . Typically, a flow  72  into a chamber  70  may be promoted by a driver  74  such as a fan, or other device. A combination of the dampers  36 ,  38  and the driver  74  may control the relative pressures within the line  40 , the scrubber  16 , and the chamber  70 . A line  75  discharging vapors as a flow  76  from the segregator  18  may be sized and dampered according to the thermodynamic conditions desired within the segregator  18 . 
         [0076]    Likewise, an optional mover  78  such as an auger  78  may remove precipitated solids or other solids from the bottom of the chamber  70 . Entrained solids may arrive from some sources  12 . In other situations, particulates may be scrubbed out of the flow of exhaust  65  in the scrubber  16 . Various sludges, solids, and the like in combination with the heaviest liquids may combine to be removed by a mover  78 . In certain embodiment, the mover  78  may operate entirely underwater. In other embodiments, the mover  78  may involve any particular method of conveyance to draw solids, sludges, or a combination thereof out of the chamber  70  for further processing, disposal, or both. 
         [0077]    Typically, combustion processes may leave unburned hydrocarbons. Many of these unburned hydrocarbons are scrubbed out as liquids or solids  79 . Soot will show up as a solid, for example. Also, a certain amount of the salt, calcium compositions, or the like may precipitate out as solids  79  and collect in the chamber  70  for removal. 
         [0078]    In some embodiments, a drain  80  may drain liquids from above the solids  79  collected in the chamber  70  into a pump  82  drawing water, typically a briney water from the chamber  70 , through a line  83 . As part of the removal of liquids, comparatively cleaner water may be removed from the flow  72  of vapors by inclusion of a condenser  84  within or in association with the chamber  70 . Selected embodiments of condensers are illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  9 . Likewise, the scrubber  16 , itself, may both evaporate liquids and condense them. For example, incoming water from the nozzles  64  may be preheated, and may be evaporated regardless by the flow  65  of hot exhaust gases through the scrubber  16 . By the same token, cooling of the exhaust flows  65  will also tend to precipitate out liquids from combustion by-products. 
         [0079]    However, the condenser  84  may be responsible to condense out comparatively clean water. Water that condenses within the scrubber  16  may typically join with the effluent  67  flowing out of the scrubber  16 . By contrast, water vapor sent through the condenser  84  may be separated as a vapor, and then condensed as a comparatively clean flow of water. 
         [0080]    A separator  20  may provide separation of liquid from noncondensable gases. Likewise, particulates that are slow to settle may be entrained and may be removed by a separator  20  appropriately designed for the task. Likewise, a scavenger  86 , filter  86 , or the like may remove or remediate the acidity, solid content, noncondensable gases, or the like from the flows received from the line  83  and driven by the pump  82  into the separator  20 . 
         [0081]    A valve  88  is illustrated schematically, but may be represented by more than one valve in order to provide direction and other control of flows. For example, in the illustrated embodiment an optional salt pond  24  may be fed by some amount of water passing through the valve  88  or controller  88  from the separator  20 . Likewise, water may be sent by the valve  88  to the water system  22 . 
         [0082]    The water system  22  may include one or more reservoirs  90  and may provide a buffer for collection of water. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, an inlet  92  may receive a water flow  93  from production, such as an oil field or gas field. A new reservoir  90  accumulates the water  93  flowing into it, and together with the line  94  from the separator  20  may feed water into the line  96  and the pump  98 . Thus, the reservoir  90  may provide a buffer against requiring pressure head regulation and water as needed by the pump  98 . 
         [0083]    Meanwhile, a reservoir  100  may feed water through a line  102  to a pump  104  as the source water for the nozzles  64 . The line  102  feeds the water through the valve  48  supplying the optional preheater  50 , the lines  62  servicing the spray nozzles  64 , and, optionally, the line  68  feeding the jet  66  sweeping the scrubber  16 . 
         [0084]    In some embodiments, a feeder  106 , such as a chemical feeder  106  may provide through a valve  107  a metered, or otherwise controlled supply of treatment chemicals. For example, in certain embodiments, sulfurous acid may be introduced into a flow of water. In other embodiments, other chemical treatments may be fed by the feeder  106  to modify the chemical constitution of the water flow introduced through the nozzles  64 . 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , while referring generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , a salt pond  24  may be instantiated one or more times, in parallel or series, as an optional remediation measure or an energy source for the system  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, a salt pond  24  may be configured as a salt gradient solar pond. In other embodiments, the salt pond  24  may merely be used as an evaporation pond without any collection of heat or extraction of heat therefrom into supported processes in the system  10 . 
         [0086]    In one embodiment, the pond  24  may include a solution  110  of brine, graduated with increasingly salinity nearest the bottom of the pond  24 . Accordingly, the lowest levels of salinity exist near the surface  120  of the pond  24 . The physical weight of the higher concentration brine is sufficient to overcome the effects of density change due to temperature variations. Thus, a salt pond  24  may have a gradient of increasing density from top to bottom, with a gradient of increasing temperature from bottom to top. The increase in density due to the salt overcomes the decrease in density due to heat. 
         [0087]    Meanwhile, a line  111  feeding into the pond  24  may fill a liner  112 , such as an impermeable geotechnical lining material  112  through an outlet  113  near the surface  120  thereof. The operation of the scrubber  16  may be engineered to assure that sufficient heat is still contained in the water discharged by the outlet  113  to maintain the surface  120  of the pond  24  capable of remaining liquid, and not freezing solid. Therefore the pond  24  may operate year-round in cold climates. 
         [0088]    In general, the salt pond  24  or solar pond  24  may be formed in a surrounding soil  114  supporting the impermeable liner  112 . Plus, a salt pond  24  may actually be a very effective solar collector. Solar radiation  116  received into the pond  24  may be absorbed within the water, and ultimately may be absorbed most completely and readily near the bottom of the pond  24 . If the waters of the pond  24  are substantially clear, then radiation  116  may pass substantially through the solution  110  to be absorbed at the bottom of the pond by the liner  112 . Thus, the liner  112  may actually be a substantial source of heat within the pond  24 . 
         [0089]    Again, the pond  24  may be engineered to have a depth suitable for promoting absorption of solar radiation  116  near the bottom thereof. To the extent that particulates, gas bubbles, or the like tend to cloud the solution  110 , the solar radiation  116  may be absorbed throughout the solution  110 . 
         [0090]    Evaporation  118  of water from the surface  120  of the pond  24  will occur at substantially all temperatures. Nevertheless, warmer temperatures include evaporation  118 . Even without the solar radiation  116  into the pond  24 , evaporation  118  may be promoted year round by the control of the temperature at the outlet  113 . The ratio of exhaust flow  65  compared to the water flow through the nozzles  64  may be used as one engineering parameter to control the output temperature of effluent water in the line  111  delivered by the outlet  113 . 
         [0091]    In certain embodiments, an optional line  122  may feed into a heat exchanger  124  near the bottom of the pond  24 . To the extent that solar or other heat will collect in the pond  24 , a certain amount of that heat may be collected by a heat exchanger  124  and transferred into water of the line  122 . Including a line  122  and a heat exchanger  124  in the salt pond  24  is completely optional. However, in the illustrated embodiment the line  122  may be an extension of the line  102 . 
         [0092]    For example, the line  102  may run from the reservoir  100  to become the line  122 , feeding the heat exchanger  124 , ultimately conducting water back into the pump  104 . Thus, water from the reservoir  100  may be preheated initially by the heat exchanger  124  extracting heat from the salt pond  124 , and again by the preheater  50  extracting heat from the exhaust flow  13  received through the line  34 . The amount of water, the amount of pre-heating, and the like may be controlled by suitable control of the flow of water through the lines  102 ,  122 ,  62 . 
         [0093]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , a source  12  may feed a stream line exhaust  13  through a line  34  servicing a scrubber  16 . The exhaust  13  may be sealed completely, or may be augmented by a flow through an inlet  37  controlled by a damper  36 . In some embodiments, the inlet  34  may serve as an emergency vent to vent the exhaust  13  from the source  12 . Thus, in such an operational mode, the damper  36  may simply provide a mechanism to control venting the exhaust  13  to the environment. For example, when the system  10  is off line, exhaust  13  may still flow as before. 
         [0094]    In other embodiments, the inlet  34  may be controlled by the damper  36  to mix flows from the exhaust  13  with ambient air to be fed into the scrubber  16 . In general, the conduit  60  may be built in modules  61 , connected together according to the size of the system  10  required. The conduit  60  may conduct a flow  65  exposed to water droplets sprayed from the nozzles  64 . Typically, a damper  36  may control inlet air while a damper  38  may control the flow of outlet air. As a practical matter, all flows must balance. Nevertheless, by manipulation of the dampers  36 ,  38 , pressure differentials between various points in the flow  65  may be controlled. 
         [0095]    For example, in one embodiment, a damper  38  may be moved farther downstream to effectively become a damper  134 . In such an embodiment, a fan  130  may draw vapors from the scrubber  16 , thus reducing pressure in the scrubber. In the illustrated embodiment, the damper  38  near the inlet to the scrubber  16  may assure that a proper back pressure is applied to the exhaust  13  coming from the source  12 . 
         [0096]    Meanwhile, the combination of the damper  38  and the fan  130  may provide a reduced pressure within the scrubber  16 , promoting reduced pressure and higher rates of evaporation. These higher rates of evaporation may result in a flow of vapors from the scrubber into a condenser  84 . In the illustrated embodiment, the condenser  84  may be, or may be part of, a segregator  18 . 
         [0097]    In the illustrated embodiment, vapors from the scrubber  16  are driven by the fan  130  into the condenser  84 . Traveling along the central portion of the condenser  84 , the vapors are compelled or impelled by the fan  130  against the restriction of the damper  134 . As a practical matter, the fans  130 ,  132  may be the same fan. In other embodiments, the fan  130  may be responsible to draw down the pressure in the scrubber  16 . 
         [0098]    The fan  32  may be responsible to drive up the pressure inside the condenser  84 . In either event, the fan  130  draws against the restriction of the damper  38  to reduce the pressure in the scrubber  16 , while the fan  132  drives against the restriction of the damper  134  downstream to increase the pressure within the condenser  84 . The exhaust  133  into the condenser  84  is thus elevated in pressure inside the condenser  84 . This increased pressure tends to increase the tendency of water vapor to condense therein. 
         [0099]    As a practical matter, noting the effluent  67  collected within and exiting the scrubbers  16 , various changes in elevation, offsets, and the like may be appropriate for the conduit  60  as it transfers the vapors from the scrubber  16  into the condenser  84 . Thus, for example, vapors may be drawn out through a higher exit point, while effluents trapped in the liquid  67  may be passed out through a lower location. 
         [0100]    In the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 1-8 , and more particularly  FIGS. 2-4 , and  7 , the exhaust flow  133  into the condenser  84  may be driven by the fan  132  or other pressurizing means  132  against the restriction of the damper  134  to create a condensing pressure within the condenser  84 . Thus, the exhaust  135  exiting the central portion of the condenser  84  will be dryer, having given up the portion of its moisture as condensate removed from the condenser through the line  148 . 
         [0101]    A fan  136  may drive an air flow  137  into the outer portion of the condenser  84 . Optionally, another fan  138  may draw air out of the condenser  84 . In the outer portion of the condenser  84 , the air is not condensed, but rather picks up heat through heat exchange with the inner portion of the condenser  84 . Thus, the air flow  139  exiting the outer portion of the condenser  84  has received some of the heat from the exhaust  133  entering the center portion of the condenser. 
         [0102]    Of course, in alternative embodiments, various types of heat exchangers may replace the condenser  84 . For example, the exhaust  133  may flow through the outer portion of the condenser  84 . Likewise, an entirely different type of heat exchanger may be used for the exchange of heat and condensation of water vapors from the exhaust flow  133 . 
         [0103]    The water flow  92  into the condenser may remove heat from the condensing and cooling exhaust  133  passing through the condenser  84 . For example, the inlet line  92  may bring water from a particular source, such as production water, into the condenser  84 . This water flow  93  into the line  92  (e.g., a heat exchanger of any suitable type) may pass through the hottest portion of the condenser, surrounded or otherwise exchanging heat with the surrounding exhaust flow  133 . Thus, the line  140 , may actually be multiple lines, finned, or another heat exchanger configuration. It may be a complete heat exchanger in its own right, heating the water  93  passing therethrough. Ultimately, the water  93  exiting the line  142  out of the condenser has been heated by both sensible and latent heat given off by the constituents of the exhaust flow  133 . Thus, the exhaust flow  135  is typically cooler and has lost moisture condensed and drained out through the line  148 . 
         [0104]    In certain embodiments, fins  144  may protrude into the exhaust flow  133  to improve a heat transfer into both the line  140  containing water as well as into the outer portion of the condenser  84  conducting the air flow  137 . Similarly, fins  146  may pass into or through the outer portion of the condenser  84  to contact the air flow  137  passing therethrough. Thus, the air flow  139  exiting the condenser will be heated. 
         [0105]    In certain embodiments, the airflow  137  may be the entire cooling mechanism for the condenser  84 . In other embodiments, the water flow  93  may be the entire coolant for the condenser  84 . In yet other embodiments, both the water flow  93  and the air flow  137  may provide cooling for the exhaust stream  133  passing through the condenser  84 . 
         [0106]    Although a finned heat exchanger has been illustrated, other embodiments of heat exchangers may also serve to good effect. One benefit to the heat exchanger as illustrated is simplicity in fabrication. It provides both physical stiffness and heat exchange by the concentric-cylinder-and-fin construction of the condenser  84 , and easy access for cleaning. Likewise, comparatively thin (e.g., sheet) materials may be used to reduce weight, while still providing comparatively simple access for cleaning and the like. 
         [0107]    A condensate line  148  may carry condensing water drained from the condenser  84 . The flow  149  of water exiting the condenser  84  through the line  148  may be treated if necessary, but provides a source of fresh water. For example, salts and solids do not evaporate nor condense. Accordingly, such will be flushed out with the effluent  67  from the scrubber  16 , rather than passed on as water vapor into the condenser  84 . This supply of clean water flow  149  may be directed to other uses away from those of the brine from the line  142 . 
         [0108]    The line  142  may feed the salt pond  24  as described hereinabove. Likewise, the effluent  67  may be swept out through the line  150  into the salt pond  24 . In yet other embodiments, the line  142  may be connected directly to feed the line  62  to the scrubber  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, both the brine introduced by the line  150  into the lower portion of the pond, and the unconcentrated brine water from production passing through the line  142  into the salt pond  24 , support the solution  110  in the pond  24 . Both may be served by the pump  158  into the lines  159 ,  102  supporting the inlet line  62  to the scrubber. 
         [0109]    In the illustrated embodiment, the various pumps  152 ,  158  may be augmented or replaced by gravity. Nevertheless, some mechanisms for motivating the flows of liquids throughout the system, must be engineered to provide the transfer of mass necessary to support the system  10 . In certain illustrated embodiments, a skimmer  154  may also be installed in the salt pond  24 . For example, certain hydrocarbons may still remain in the effluent  67 , and be discharged into the salt pond  24 . These hydrocarbons may be recovered by the skimmer  154  at the surface  120  of the salt pond  24  as they rise to the surface  120 . 
         [0110]    In certain embodiments, a grid  156  or other mechanism for suppressing waves may be installed to float or otherwise locate at the surface  120  of the pond  24 . Suppression of waves assists in maintaining a graduated concentration of the solution  110  by limiting mixing in the pond  24 . Just below the surface  120  of the pond  24 , water having the lowest salinity may be withdrawn from the pond  24  to supply the inlet line  162  servicing the nozzles  64 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pump  158  may pump water through the line  159  and any chemical treatment  106  required toward the final line  102  feeding the preheater  50  and the feed line  62 . 
         [0111]    Again, as in alternative embodiments, any of the embodiments of the apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention may include the various other constituent parts including multiple salt ponds  24 , multiple water reservoirs  90 ,  100 , preheaters  50 , heat exchangers  124 , chemical treatments  106 , sweep jets  66 , other components of the segregator  18 , and so forth. For clarity, not all optional components can be illustrated with respect to every embodiment. Nevertheless, it is contemplated that each and every of the components not inconsistent with one another may be used in combination as an engineered solution to the problem of remediation of various effluents. Effluents may include any one or more of heat, water, salts, other dissolved solids, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbon particulates, and so forth. 
         [0112]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , the system  10  may dispense with the segregator  18 . Instead, the skimmer  154  may recover hydrocarbons floating on the salt pond  24 , while the salt pond  24  ultimately receives all brine. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the concentration of brine in the effluent  67  simply continues, while the concentrated brine is retrieved from the salt pond  24  by the pump  158 . Thus, the condenser  84  and other mechanisms for serving the means of a segregator  18  may largely be dispensed with, or integrated into the pond  24  if warranted. 
         [0113]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , another even more simplified version of the system  10  in accordance with the invention may pass effluent  67  directly through a line  150  into a pond  24  maintained merely for evaporation. Thus, none of the recycling of heat from solar collection, none of the brine concentration, and so forth are required in some circumstances, in order to still provide remediation by the scrubber  16 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , for example, the damper  138  still provides a needed control of back pressure for combustion in the combustion chamber of a source  12 . Meanwhile, the evacuation of the scrubber  16  by the fan  130  against the resistence of the damper  138  provides low pressure, improved evaporation, and thus discharge of larger volumes of water vapor, cleaned and salt-free, into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, salts and other solids are passed into the evaporation pond  24  for ultimate disposal. 
         [0114]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a manifold  160  may connect the incoming line  34  from a source  12 . Thus, a divider portion  162  may connect to various fittings  163  feeding into parallel scrubbers  16  or conduits  60 . Thus, the various number of modules  61  in each scrubber  16  may be selected according to the criteria for scrubbing undesirable materials into the effluent  67  from the exhaust flow  13 . Meanwhile, the number of scrubbers  16  fed by the manifold  160  may be selected according to the overall volume of flow generated in the exhaust stream  13  of the various sources  12  feeding the system  10 . 
         [0115]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , an apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention may include a scrubber  16  handling an exhaust stream  13  from a source  12 . Likewise, a damper  36  may control access to fresh make up air. Pressure in a scrubber  16  may be controlled by a damper  38 , and a blower  74  or fan  74 . Control may include reducing the pressure in the scrubber  16 , providing proper control of back pressure to which the source  12  is exposed, or both. For example, the dampers  36 ,  38  may control the back pressure to which the source  12  is exposed, while the fans  74  may operate against a restriction of the dampers  36 ,  38  to reduce the pressure in the scrubber  16 . 
         [0116]    Meanwhile, the segregator  18  may operate within a closed vessel  70  from which only gases such as water vapor and air exit in the flow  76  driven by the fans  74 . Meanwhile, the water separator  20  may act to remove hydrocarbons floating on the surface of captured water, while a line  92  feeds production water from the source. Thus, the water separator  20  may act as an initial separator of water in the line  92  from a production source. 
         [0117]    Hydrocarbons condensed and otherwise floating on the top of the water surface may be discharged therefrom. Through the line  164 , meanwhile, water from the separator  20  may feed into the reservoir  90 . That reservoir serves as a source for the line  166  feeding the pump  168  and the inlet line  62  of the scrubber  16 . Brine  170  from the segregator  18  may be directed into the evaporation ponds  24 . 
         [0118]    Water having a comparatively lower concentration of salts, and substantially reduced or no solids, and with a lower degree of dissolved solids, may then be recycled through the line  94  into the source  90 . In some embodiments, vapors  76  containing water and air may be removed from the vessel  70 , while the effluent  97  is discharged therein, and various concentrations of brine are removed by the lines  94 ,  150 . 
         [0119]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , while continuing to refer generally  FIGS. 1-9 , one embodiment of an apparatus  10  and method  10  in accordance with the invention may remediate production water using less energy, and not relying on a source  12 . For example, in some locations, production water may exist in the absence of any appreciable heat from a source  12  such as a heater, motor  12 , or flare  12 . 
         [0120]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 9 , source water from production may flow in through a line  92 , driven by a pump  173  to the condenser  84 . Remediated water may exit through the line  142  to be discharged to a pond  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the direction of flow may be modified, and damped to assure minimization of mixing between lower concentrations and higher concentrations of brine in the pond  24 . Thus, the pond  24  may be a stratified, salt gradient solar, pond. 
         [0121]    Meanwhile, air from the ambient may enter the condenser  84  as a flow  137  in a direction contrary to that of the exhaust flow  133 . Nevertheless, in the illustrated embodiment, the air flow  137  through the condenser  84  passes out into the line  174 . There, the air flow  137  is conducted to the opposite end of the apparatus  10 . There it is introduced to atomized water through the nozzle  64 , fed by the line  62 . Thus, the flow  178  becomes a combination of both an incoming air flow  137  and moisture. Moisture may include atomized, liquid water, vaporized water, or all the foregoing, as a result of introduction by the nozzle  64  of a misting spraying. 
         [0122]    The flow  178 , flowing through the evaporator  180  is drawn, driven by the blower  182  or compressor  182 . The blower  182  tends to evacuate and reduce the pressure within the evaporator  180 . This drop in pressure promotes evaporation of water from the spray nozzles  64 . The flow  178  is then drawn through the line  183  into the inner portion of the condenser  84 . As described hereinabove, the condenser  84  provides condensation of a certain amount of the water vapor within the flow  178 . 
         [0123]    For example, the blower  182  serves to evacuate the evaporator  180  against the resistance generated by the flow path, which may include a damper. Meanwhile, the inflowing air  137  may be exposed to a damper prior to entrance into the outer portion of the condenser  84 . Meanwhile, the blower  182  or another also serves to pressurize the inner portion of the condenser  84  carrying the exhaust flow  133 . By regulating the damper  134 , an individual or a computerized control mechanism may operate to maintain a pressure in the condenser  84  promoting condensation of the water vapor therein. 
         [0124]    The heat transferred from the condensing water vapor in the flow  133  is thus transferred into both the incoming airflow  137  and the incoming water in the line  92 . Ultimately, any liquid from the line  186  exiting the evaporator  120  may be recycled back into the line  188  feeding into the pond  24 . 
         [0125]    Meanwhile, the pond  24 , while promoting evaporation  118  and solar input  116  as described hereinabove, may be provided with the heat exchanger  124 . Water taken from near the surface  120  of the pond  24  may be driven by the pump  185  through the heat exchanger  124  to discharge through the line  176 . The line  176  feeds into the feeder  162  or line  162  servicing the nozzles  64  in the evaporator  180 . One can see that the preheating by the heat exchanger  124  as a result of the solar radiation  116  absorbed by the solution  110  in the pond  24  provides the heat energy to promote evaporation in the evaporator  180 . 
         [0126]    Thus, the embodiment of  FIG. 9  provides remediation of the brine from source water input through the line  92  and provides a distilled water outflow from the line  148 . Line  148  carries the condensate from the condenser  84  pressurized and cooled to provide exactly that condensed water output. Meanwhile, the exhaust flow  133  is passed out past the damper  134  to the environment, cleaned of solids, salts, much of its heat, and so forth. 
         [0127]    Meanwhile, the salt gradient in the solution  110  collects and recycles heat, providing and recovering the latent heat of vaporization put into the evaporator  180  and extracted back out of the condenser  84 . 
         [0128]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.