Decontamination of fluids via joule-heating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12338144-B2
Application number	US-201816621930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2018
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

A method of, and apparatus and system for, decontaminating a liquid containing dissolved solids including subjecting liquid containing dissolved solids to Joule heating under conditions effective to cause said dissolved solids to precipitate out of solution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus to decontaminate a liquid including dissolved solids comprising:
a reactor having a first electrode and a second electrode; and
a liquid flow path between said first and second electrodes, wherein the reactor is adapted to generate electrical current such that liquid in the liquid flow path reaches at least a pseudocritical temperature, and wherein the reactor is incapable of generating the electrical current such that the liquid in the liquid flow path reaches a temperature indicative of electrolysis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode comprises a wall of said reactor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said wall defines an interior space of said reactor, and wherein at least a portion of said second electrode is disposed within said interior space.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said reactor is tubular and said second electrode runs along a length of said tubular reactor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising at least one electrode sealing fitting that insulates said wall of said reactor from said second electrode.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an alumina insulator associated with said at least one electrode sealing fitting.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an alumina insulating washer positioned between a first piece and a second piece of the second electrode to prevent ejection of the second piece from the first piece.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said wall of said reactor includes a material that is corrosion-resistant.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said material includes a high nickel alloy.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet located in a first section of said reactor, and a vapor outlet located in a second section of said reactor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said vapor outlet is connected to said liquid outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said first section of said reactor is a lower section, and said second section of said reactor is an upper section.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator.

14. An apparatus to decontaminate a liquid including dissolved solids comprising:
a reactor having a first electrode and a second electrode;
an alumina insulating washer positioned between a first piece and a second piece of the second electrode to prevent ejection of the second piece from the first piece; and
a liquid flow path between said first and second electrodes.

15. An apparatus to decontaminate a liquid including dissolved solids comprising:
a reactor having a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode comprises a wall of said reactor, wherein at least a portion of said wall defines an interior space of said reactor, and wherein at least a portion of said second electrode is disposed within said interior space;
an alumina insulating washer positioned between a first piece and a second piece of the second electrode to prevent ejection of the second piece from the first piece; and
a liquid flow path between said first and second electrodes.

Assignees

• Univ Ohio

Inventors

• Trembly Jason Patrick
• Ogden David Drown

Classifications

• C02F2209/03

  Pressure · CPC title

• C02F2201/46

  Apparatus for electrochemical processes · CPC title

• C02F1/52

  by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities {(C02F1/463 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C02F1/06 Primary

  Flash evaporation · CPC title

• B01D3/06

  Flash distillation · CPC title