Patent Publication Number: US-10787372-B1

Title: Solar-powered buoyant evaporation system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to powered floatation devices used in waste water evaporation applications. More specifically, it relates to solar-powered, buoyant systems including one or more flexibly-coupled evaporators or atomizers connected thereto to reduce environmental contaminations associated with waste water. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     An abundance of potentially-hazardous waste water presents environmental issues for modern societies. Many industrial operations result in the production of waste as a byproduct, and many times the waste byproducts are deposited within water supplies. The presence of waste within bodies of water not only presents dangers for living organisms within the particular water sources, but also to humans and other animals that interact with the water sources, either directly or indirectly. 
     A common solution to removing waste products from a body of water is to use natural or enhanced evaporation methods. As the temperature of the water rises, a mixture of the water and the contaminants within the waste evaporate into a gas. However, if the toxic elements within the waste are not eliminated or neutralized during the evaporation process, surrounding organisms (such as plants, grass, and trees, as well as organisms residing within soil) may be subjected to harmful toxins. As such, recent advancements in evaporation technologies have focused on the use of atomizers to turn the evaporated water into droplets of predetermined sizes based on the distance between the atomizer and the edge of the body of the water. These improved atomizers increase the effectiveness of waste water evaporation by minimizing the negative effects of exhausting potential contaminants in gaseous forms, ensuring that the atomized maters remain within the area of the body of water and do not travel to surrounding organisms. 
     However, current atomizer units have a large footprint and are mostly rigid, thereby reducing the benefits associated therewith. For example, atomizers such as those taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,579,264 and 9,504,932 are restricted to very few degrees of motion through which fluids can be evaporated into droplets, requiring specific rigid orientations to function with efficiency. Moreover, such atomizers typically rely on alternating current power supplies that cannot utilize the advantages provided by photovoltaic cells, which would provide further environmental efficiencies in exterior applications within bodies of water. Moreover, the use of photovoltaic cells to power waste water evaporators extends the potential for such evaporators to be installed and used in remote locations without the need for a power grid or a power generator. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is an improved buoyant evaporation system including flexibly-attached atomizers that is capable of being powered by solar energy. However, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the field of this invention how the shortcomings of the prior art could be overcome. 
     All referenced publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. 
     While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicants in no way disclaim these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
     The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. 
     Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. 
     In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a buoyant evaporation system including a plurality of flexible atomizers is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. 
     The novel structure includes a buoyant wastewater evaporating apparatus having a frame with a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface is configured to reside adjacent to a surface of a body of water and the top surface is configured to be disposed at a height above the surface of the body of water. An arm assembly is secured at a first end to the frame and extends away from the frame to terminate at a second end. An atomizer is secured to the second end of the arm assembly. The arm assembly is configured to pivot with respect to the frame, such that the atomizer can be oriented at varying angles with respect to the frame. The atomizer is configured to receive wastewater from the body of water and disperse the wastewater as droplets within an environment surrounding the body of water. In an embodiment, a plurality of arm assemblies and a plurality of atomizers are used to evaporate wastewater into the environment surrounding the body of water, and each atomizer may be driven by a separate motor. 
     The arm assembly can include a first portion and a second portion secured together by a hinge, such that each of the first and second portions can pivot with respect to the other portion. To secure the arm assembly to the frame, an anchor coupling may be disposed on the top surface of the frame, with the first portion of the arm assembly being secured to the anchor coupling. The first portion of the arm assembly is pivotable in an x-direction, a y-direction, and a z-direction with respect to the frame due to the connection between the first portion of the arm assembly and the frame, such as via the anchor coupling. A further bracket may extend away from the second portion of the arm assembly, with the bracket being an intermediary component coupling the atomizer to the second portion of the arm assembly, such that the atomizer is pivotable with respect to the second portion due to the bracket. 
     A direct current motor may be electrically secured to the atomizer. In addition, one or more photovoltaic cells may be secured to the frame and in electric communication with the direct current motor, wherein solar energy captured by the one or more photovoltaic cells supplies energy to the direct current motor and to the atomizer. 
     A pump may be secured to the bottom surface of the frame, such that the pump is in fluidic communication with the body of water. A fluid conduit is secured to the pump at a first end and secured to the atomizer at a second end. Accordingly, the wastewater from the body of water is transferred to the atomizer via the pump and the fluid conduit. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a portable, mobile, and buoyant evaporation system that eliminates waste water within a body of water via flexible atomizers secured to the buoyant floatation device of the system, such that the range of motion and the resulting range of atomization is increased. Another object of the invention is to provide a buoyant evaporation system including a direct current motor that is capable of utilizing solar energy through the use of photovoltaic cells, improving the environmental impact of the system and extending the application of evaporators to remote locations without relying on power grids or generators. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this disclosure proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the disclosure set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a buoyant evaporation system, depicting the atomizers deployed in a default orientation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a longitudinal side elevation view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 2C  is a lateral side elevation view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a longitudinal side elevation of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 1 , depicting the atomizers deployed in an extended orientation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 1 , depicting the atomizers in a retracted orientation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top plan view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a longitudinal side elevation view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4D  is a lateral side elevation view of the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a motor and atomizer used in combination with the buoyant evaporation system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The present invention includes a buoyant apparatus capable of floating on liquid surfaces, such as bodies of water filled with waste byproducts. The buoyant apparatus supports a plurality of atomizers or evaporation units via rotatable and flexible arms. The arms can achieve 180° adjustments with the respect to a longitudinal axis of the buoyant apparatus, such that the arms can be parallel to a surface of the body of water in both an extended orientation (with the atomizers deployed over the water surface) and a retracted orientation (with the atomizers stored within the surface area of the platform. In addition, the arms can achieve 360° rotational adjustments about the attachment point of the arms to the platform. In addition, the atomizers and arms are powered by low voltage direct current (DC) motors that are capable of capturing and utilizing solar power via photovoltaic cells coupled thereto (the photovoltaic cells are depicted as reference numeral  40  in  FIG. 1 , shown coupled to frame  11  of buoyant apparatus  10 ; however, it is appreciated that one or more photovoltaic cells  40  can be secured to platform  12 , secured to atomizer  20 , integrated into one or more of platform  12 , frame  11 , and atomizer  20 , or coupled to an external platform that is in electric communication with buoyant apparatus  10 ). As such, the platform can be employed in remote locations without the need for a centralized power grid or a power generator, instead relying on solar energy to atomize and eliminate waste and other contaminants from the body of water. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , buoyant apparatus  10  includes frame  11  and platform  12 , serving as a base unit to which a plurality of atomizers  20  are coupled. Since buoyant apparatus  10  is designed to evaporate waste water, the apparatus is capable of floating on a water surface or of being installed adjacent to a water surface, such as on a dock extending from a shore toward a central point of the body of water. In addition, buoyant apparatus  10  includes fluid pump  14  that is designed to be in communication with the body of water to receive fluid therefrom. Fluid pump  14  is in fluidic communication with the plurality of atomizers  20  via fluid conduits  16 , which are depicted in  FIG. 1  as pipes directly coupled to fluid pump  14  and to each of the plurality of atomizers  20 . As such, fluid pump  14  removes fluid from the body of water, including waste water, and translates the fluid to one or more atomizers  20  for evaporation of the removed fluid. Control panel  18  is secured to buoyant apparatus  10  at either frame  11  or platform  12 , such that control panel  18  transmits instructions to the electrical components of buoyant apparatus  10 , such as fluid pump  14 , atomizers  20 , arm assemblies  22 , and the motors driving atomizers  20  (which will be discussed in greater detail below). For example, as discussed in detail below, control panel  18  transmits instructions to each arm assembly  22  to be oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to buoyant apparatus  10 ; in addition, control panel  18  transmits instructions to each atomizer  20  to be oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to each arm assembly  22 . Control panel  18  can also selectively turn the motor assembly on and off by opening and closing switches in electric communication with the motor assembly. The motor assembly and the selected angles for the atomizers are discussed in more detail in the descriptions below. 
     Each of atomizers  20  are secured to buoyant apparatus  10  via arm assembly  22 , which secures to anchor coupling  24  disposed on frame  11  of buoyant apparatus. Each arm assembly  22  is flexibly attached to frame  11 , such that each arm assembly  22  is capable of 360° horizontal rotations about anchor coupling  24  along an axis parallel to the water surface and the top surface of platform  12 . As such, the position of each atomizer  22  with respect to buoyant apparatus  10  can be customized to ensure efficient placement of each atomizer  22 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2A , one or more of arm assemblies  22  can be pivoted about anchor coupling  24  such that the arm assemblies  22  extend away from corners of frame  11  and over the water surface. The orientation of arm assemblies  22  shown in  FIG. 2A  may be referred to as a default configuration, with atomizers  20  being disposed adjacent to buoyant apparatus  10  without fully extending over the water surface, which is shown in later figures. 
       FIGS. 2B-2C  show different views of the default configuration and more particularly show the components of arm assemblies  22 . It is appreciated that the views depicted in  FIGS. 2B-2C  are elevation views along a longitudinal axis of buoyant apparatus  10  (in  FIG. 2B ) and along a lateral axis of buoyant apparatus  10  (in  FIG. 2C ); as such, only one pair of arm assemblies  22  is visible in each of  FIGS. 2B-2C . As shown in  FIGS. 2B-2C , each arm assembly  22  includes first portion  26  that is coupled to anchor coupling  24 , and second portion  28  that is in mechanical communication with atomizer  20 . First portion  26  and second portion  28  are hingedly coupled to each other via first hinge  30 , which allows each of first portion  26  and second portion  28  to pivot with respect to each other, forming angles of between approximately 1° to approximately 359° with respect to each other about first hinge  30 . In addition, second portion  28  is indirectly coupled to atomizer  20  via second hinge  32 , which is in mechanical communication with bracket  34  to which atomizer  20  is secured. As such, atomizer  20  and bracket  34  can pivot with respect to second portion  28  via second hinge  32 , such that atomizer  20  forms angles of between approximately 1° to approximately 359° with respect to second portion  28  about second hinge  32 . Such flexibility of first portion  26 , second portion  28 , and atomizer  20  provides for highly customizable placement of each atomizer  20  with respect to the water surface, improving the efficiency of each atomizer  20  and extending the potential for deploying one or more atomizers  20  in different environments. It is appreciated that arm assembly  22  can include only a single hinge point in an embodiment without departing from the object of the assembly, which is flexibility for the positioning of atomizer  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , one or more of arm assemblies  22  can extend further away from buoyant apparatus  10  in a deployed configuration as compared with the default configuration depicted in detail in  FIGS. 2A-2C . In the deployed configuration, arm assemblies  22  pivot about anchor coupling  24  to form an approximately 90° angle between each arm assembly  22  and each anchor coupling  24 , such that each arm assembly  22  extends away from frame  11  and over the water surface, with each arm assembly  22  being parallel to the water surface. In addition, each atomizer  20  is configured to be disposed at a height above the water surface, with each atomizer  20  being angled such that the atomizers  20  are oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to the water surface. As such, atomizers  20  and brackets  34  can pivot with respect to second portion  28  about second hinge  32  of each arm assembly  22 , such that each atomizer  20  is deployed at an optimal angle with respect to the water surface. In the deployed configuration, atomizers  20  are disposed above the water surface at an extended position with respect to buoyant apparatus  10 , such that waste water drawn through fluid pump  14  and pumped via fluid conduits  16  to one or more of the plurality, of atomizers  20  can be atomized and exhausted away from the water surface via atomizers  20 . While  FIG. 3B  depicts each of arm assemblies  22  oriented at an angle with respect to buoyant apparatus  10  that bisects a 90° formed by each of the corners of frame  11 , it is appreciated that, since each arm assembly  22  is capable of 360° horizontal rotation about each anchor coupling  24 , one or more of arm assemblies  22  can pivot about one or more of anchor couplings  24  to be differently angled with respect to frame  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D , arm assemblies  22  can be oriented in a retracted or storage configuration, during which atomizers  20  are not in use. In the retracted orientation, atomizers  20  are disposed above platform  12  of buoyant apparatus  10 , such that atomizers  20  are stored within the volume of buoyant apparatus  10 . To accomplish the retracted orientation, first portion  30  of each arm assembly  22  hingedly pivots with respect to anchor coupling  24 , forming an approximately 90° angle between each arm assembly  22  and each anchor coupling  24 . Considering the angle formed in the deployed configuration and the angle formed in the retracted orientation, each arm assembly  22  is capable of pivoting approximately 180° with respect to a vertical axis of buoyant apparatus  10  from a bottom portion of platform  12  to a top portion of frame  11 . Such flexibility is such that atomizers  20  can be stored during period of non-use without being exposed to forces acting on an exterior surface of buoyant apparatus  10 , such as during period of extreme weather conditions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a motor assembly may be used in combination with one or more atomizers  20 . As such, motor  36  secures to atomizer  20  via rotor shaft  38 , such that each of atomizers  20  includes an integrally-connected motor  36 . Each motor  36  receives energy from control panel  18 , which may be captured via one or more photovoltaic cells  40  integrated into or in electric communication with buoyant apparatus  10 . An advantage of motor  36  is that, in a preferred embodiment, motor  36  is a direct current (DC) motor, as opposed to the traditional alternating current (AC) motor typically used in implementations of atomizers  20 . As such, the embodiments disclosed herein utilize a DC motor  36  that is capable of utilizing solar energy, as well as non-renewable energy sources, to power atomizers  20 . Moreover, each DC motor  36  enables an associated atomizer  20  to rotate faster than typical atomizers because higher amperages can be used to spin atomizers  20 , leading to a greater rate of atomization as compared to traditional atomizers. Optional motor speed controllers can be used within the motor assembly to vary the motor speed based on the requirements of atomizer  20 ; such motor speed controllers can be used in a plurality of motor assemblies to select varying speeds for atomizers  20  across a single buoyant apparatus  10 . In an embodiment, motor  36  is in communication with a wireless communication component, such as a BLUETOOTH® or other wireless communication protocol. As such, motor  36  can be controlled remotely via a secondary electronic device, such as a cellular phone, a tablet, or other computing node. Via the secondary electronic device, the speed of motor  36  can be altered to change the functioning of atomizers  20 , such as to increase or decrease the size of the droplets created via atomizer  20 . 
     The advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.