Patent ID: 12202746

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG.1, a reverse osmosis main plant10is shown. The reverse osmosis main plant10may receive non-potable water12and discharge out permeate through the permeate out line14and concentrate through the concentrate line16. Typically, about 20% of the non-potable water is discharged out of the concentrate line16as concentrate. A concentrate processing system18may receive the concentrate out of the concentrate line16. The concentrate has a higher level or concentration of minerals compared to the non-potable water. The concentrate may subsequently be processed with a hydrodynamic cavitation unit20at a low pressure (e.g., below 100 psi). After cavitation by the hydrodynamic cavitation unit20, the cavitated water may subsequently be pumped into the reverse osmosis unit22at a high pressure (e.g, above 200 psi) to process the cavitated water by a reverse osmosis unit22. The reverse osmosis unit22produces permeate water and discharges the permeate water through the permeate out line24and may join the permeate out line14of the reverse osmosis main plant10. The permeate water from the reverse osmosis unit22and the reverse osmosis main plant10may be treated then sent to the end user for consumption. For example, after water treatment, the water may be consumed by people.

The reverse osmosis unit22may have a concentrate out line26which may be referred to as a super concentrate line26because the concentration of minerals in the super concentrate is higher than the concentration of minerals discharged from the concentrate line16of the reverse osmosis main plant10.

The hydrodynamic cavitation unit20changes the molecular structure of the concentrate out of the reverse osmosis main plant10so that the unwanted minerals do not foul a membrane of the reverse osmosis unit22. Rather, the change in the molecular structure of the concentrate reduces the amount of minerals that might foul or attach to the membrane of the reverse osmosis unit22. Additionally, mitigation of the minerals from attaching to the membrane of the reverse osmosis unit22is also due to the high pressure in which the reverse osmosis unit22operates. By way of example and not limitation, the cavitated water may experience pressures above 200 psi and more preferably between 300 to 400 psi in the reverse osmosis unit22. Cavitation of the concentrate water from the concentrate line16of the main plant reverse osmosis along with the high pressure induced on the cavitated water reduces the amount of minerals that would have attached to the membrane of the reverse osmosis unit22.

By mitigating or reducing the amount of minerals that attach to the membrane of the reverse osmosis unit22, the lifespan of the reverse osmosis unit22is extended. Moreover, the reverse osmosis unit22produces a super concentrate coming out of the super concentrate out line26. The minerals in the super concentrate begin to form as undissolved solids (e.g., hydrophobic material) so that the super concentrate from the super concentrate line26can be sent to recycling for removal of the undissolved solids and eventually sold to an end user.

The hydrodynamic cavitation unit20may cavitate the concentrate water at temperatures at or around 3000° F. or more (e.g., 4000° F.) and pressures at or around 75 psi to 100 psi or more. The hydrodynamic cavitation unit20may be a rotary shear type cavitation unit, a shear plate type cavitation unit or an orifice type cavitation unit.

The concentrate processing system18may receive the concentrate from the reverse osmosis main plant10and more than 20% and typically about 50% of the concentrate may be discharged out to the permeate out line24. The other 50% is considered a super concentrate and sent to recycling to capture or remove the undissolved solids, minerals that are valuable and contained within the super concentrate of the concentrate processing system18. The undissolved solids and minerals may include one or more of the following but are not limited to calcium sulfate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus and selenium.

It is also contemplated that the super concentrate from the super concentrate out line26may be recycled back to the hydrodynamic cavitation unit20through return line28. Additionally, the concentrate from the concentrate line16may be diverted away from the concentrate processing system18to waste30.

The undissolved solids from the super concentrate of the super concentrate out line26may be a hydrophobic solid that can be removed and recycled for further use.

The cavitated water in lieu of being processed with a reverse osmosis unit22may be subjected to high pressures which would begin to solidify the minerals as a hydrophobic material. In this instance, no permeate water is produced but the minerals in hydrophobic solid form may be removed and recycled for further use.

It is also contemplated that a hydrodynamic cavitation unit may be placed upstream from the reverse osmosis main plant10in order to mitigate fouling of the membrane of the reverse osmosis main plant10which may increase life and uptime of the reverse osmosis main plant10.

Other ways of producing the hydrophobic solid is by running a DC current through the super concentrate via an anode and a cathode. The hydrophobic solid will collect on the anode. The electricity may be shut off and the material with be captured off of the anode.

Referring now toFIG.2, a cross-section of the hydrodynamic cavitation unit20is shown. The hydrodynamic cavitation unit20receives non-potable water from the concentrate line16being outputted from the main reverse osmosis plant10. The non-potable water being outputted from the main reverse osmosis plant10through the concentrate line16may be pressurized to a pressure below 100 psi. This may be accomplished with pump34. The maximum operating pressure of the hydrodynamic cavitation unit20may be 100 psi. After the non-potable water from the concentrate line16is pumped to a higher pressure, the pressurized water is introduced into the hydrodynamic cavitation unit20via line36(seeFIGS.1and2). The cross-sectional view of the hydrodynamic cavitation unit20shows a pipe36and an inline orifice cavitation device38. The orifice cavitation device38may have an outside diameter40which may be slightly larger than an inside diameter42of the pipe36. Alternatively, the outside diameter40of the orifice cavitation device38may be equal to an inside diameter42of the pipe36.

Moreover, the orifice cavitation device38may have a thickness44. The orifice cavitation device38may also have a cone-shaped funnel46. The cone-shaped funnel46may have a round upstream opening48and a round downstream opening50when viewed axially as shown inFIG.2B. The upstream and downstream openings may each define a center and be coaxially aligned to each other and also aligned to a central axis52of the pipe36. The round upstream opening may define an inner diameter54and the round downstream opening50may define an inner diameter56. The inner diameter54of the round upstream opening48may be greater than the inner diameter56of the round downstream opening50. The cone-shaped funnel46may have a straight oblique cone-shaped surface58. The surface58may be oblique to the central axis52of the pipe36when the orifice cavitation device38is mounted in the pipe36.

As shown inFIG.2, for example, the cavitated non-potable water32flows in the direction from left to right as indicated by arrow60. The inner diameter42of the inner surface59of the pipe36may be equal to the inner diameter54of the round upstream opening48.

Alternatively, the orifice cavitation device38may have a flat edge62which stops the water32from flowing straight into the cone-shaped funnel46. The reason is that the inner diameter54(see dashed dimension line54) may be less than the inner diameter42.

As the non-potable water from the concentrate line16is pushed through the orifice cavitation device38, the non-potable water32is forced through the cone-shaped funnel46. The pressure of the non-potable water32upstream of the orifice cavitation device38may be 100 psi or lower. As the non-potable water32proceeds through the cone-shaped funnel46of the orifice cavitation device38, the velocity of the water increases.

The downstream opening50may have a sharp edge66as shown inFIGS.2and2A. The water flows in the direction of arrow60shown inFIG.2Aas the water is funneled through the downstream opening50, the water is further constricted by the surface58of the cone shaped funnel46. The velocity of the water speeds up and when the water passes over the edge66the reduction in pressure upstream of the edge66to downstream of the edge66causes the water to cavitate. The sharp edge causes shear forces to act upon the water after it passes the edge66. The edge66is defined by the surface58of the cone shape funnel46and the downstream surface70of the orifice cavitation device38. To sharpen the edge, the downstream surface70may be undercut as shown by the dash line70A as shown inFIG.2A. The angle72,72A between the surface58of the cone shape funnel46and the downstream surface70may be by way of example and not limitation between 10 degrees to 60 degrees. Moreover, a radius of the tip of the edge66may be by way of example and not limitation between 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches. Referring now toFIG.2B, a length of the edge66is defined by a circumference of the round downstream opening50. To increase cavitation, the speed of the water passing over the edge or by the edge66may be increased, the length of the edge66may also be increased and the sharpness of the edge66may be increased as well.

The edge portion may be hardened in order to increase a lifespan of the orifice cavitation device38. The hardness of the edge portion74may be by way of example and not limitation between 58 Hardness on Rockwell scale C (HRC) and 64 HRC.

Referring now toFIGS.3-8B, various embodiments of the orifice cavitation device38a-fare shown. The alternative orifice cavitation devices38a-d, fincrease the length of the edge66a-d,fover the edge66shown inFIG.2B. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of notches76a-dabout the circumference of the downstream opening50a-e. Moreover, these notches76a-dmay be formed as groove78a-din the surface58of the cone shaped funnel46. The alternative orifice cavitation device38edoes not have a notch76but does have a groove78ein the surface58eof the funnel46. The width80a-eof the grooves may be between one half inch and one eighth inch and is preferably a quarter inch wide. A depth82a-eof the grooved maybe between 0.05 inches and one half inch, and is preferably between 0.13 inches and 0.25 inches.

The depth80aand width82aof the grooves78amay be constant from the upstream opening48to the downstream opening50. However, it is also contemplated that the width and depth of the grooves may vary. By way of example and not limitation, the width and depth of the grooves may narrow as it proceeds from the upstream opening48to the downstream opening50. The narrowing maybe linear, progressive or exponential. Moreover, the grooves may be straight or twisted as shown inFIGS.8,8A and8B. The embodiment shown inFIGS.8-8Bis identical to the embodiment shown inFIGS.5-5Bexcept that the opening50fis smaller compared to opening50c, the rotation of the liquid through the device38cis counterclockwise whereas the rotation of the liquid through the device38fis clockwise due to the angular slant of the grooves78cand78fin the surface58cand58f.

Referring now specifically toFIGS.3-3Bthe grooves78amay be linearly formed in the surface58a. In this regard, the grooves of78ado not rotate the water as it passes through the orifice cavitation device38A.FIG.3shows a perspective view of the orifice cavitation device38a.FIG.3Ashows an upstream view of the orifice cavitation device38a.FIG.3Bshows only the opening50a. The grooves78aare straight and define a width80a. The inner perimeter66aof the opening50amay be notched79a. The notches increase an inner perimeterial length of the opening50ato add more shearing length.

Referring now toFIG.4-4B, the groove78B may have a spiral configuration in a clockwise direction as shown inFIG.4A. However, a counterclockwise spiral configuration is also contemplated. In this regard, the groves78B rotate the water as it passes through the orifice cavitation device38B. The rotation of the water adds additional shearing forces to facilitate cavitation. The notches76B that are formed may be formed in a radial array about central axis of the orifice cavitation device38b.

Referring now toFIGS.5-5B, the grooves are slanted to rotate the water and create additional shearing forces. However, the grooves are straight but also twisted along their linear axis.

Referring now toFIG.6-6B, the grooves are curved. However, it has a different size compared toFIGS.4-4B.

Referring now toFIG.7-7B, the grooves has a spiral configuration but the opening50cis not notched compared to opening50a-dwhich are notched.

Referring now toFIGS.9-11, a volume spacer100,100A may be inserted into a space defined by the surface58of the cone shaped funnel of46. By doing so, the speed or the velocity of the water is further increased provided that the pressure of the water upstream of the orifice cavitation device38is the same. Preferably, the volume spacer100is curved. Moreover, it is also contemplated that the surface58may match the curvature of the exterior surface128of the volume spacer100. The volume spacer100ais identical to the volume spacer100but it has grooves126. In this regard, the surface58shown inFIG.11may match the curvature of the exterior surface of the volume spacer100a. A diameter102of the volume spacer100may be greater at the upstream opening48compared to a diameter104at a distal end of the volume spacer100. The diameter of the volume spacer100may be linearly smaller, progressively smaller or exponentially smaller from the diameter102to the diameter104. It is preferred that a distance from an exterior surface106of the volume spacer100to the surface58of the cone shaped funnel56maybe become progressively smaller (e.g., linearly, exponentially) from the upstream side to the downstream side of the orifice cavitation device38. The volume spacer100may be aligned so that it's distal end110is in the same plane at112defined by the edge66. It is also contemplated that the distal end110may protrude further downstream or may be retracted toward the upstream side of the orifice cavitation device38by moving a shaft114forward or backwards along the axial direction of the pipe36.

As discussed previously, the openings48,50may define a center and may be coaxially aligned with a central axis of the pipe36. Moreover, the volume spacer100may also define a central axis116which may also be coaxially aligned with a center of the openings48,50and the central axis of the pipe36. Moreover, the volume spacer100is mounted to the shaft114which also may define a central axis118which may also be coaxially aligned with the central axis116. The volume spacer100maybe held centrally within the pipe36by mounting the shaft114on support spacers120(8). The support discs are mounted to the inner surface122(9) of the pipe36. These support discs120may also allow fluid to flow through or between the webs124.

Referring now toFIG.11, the volume spacer100may also have grooves126which have a spiral configuration and spirals in the opposite direction as the grooves78of the orifice cavitation device38.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.