Method and system for removing solutes from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation

Abstract

A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation includes magnetically conditioning the fluid by applying a conditioning magnetic field to enhance the precipitation of solute particles for coagulation; adding a coagulant to the fluid before, during, or after application of the conditioning magnetic field to coagulate the increased available solute particles to form colloids; and collecting the colloids for removal from the fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation comprising: 
 magnetically conditioning the fluid by applying a conditioning magnetic field to the fluid to enhance the precipitation of solute particles for coagulation;    adding a coagulant to the fluid before, during, or after application of the conditioning magnetic field to coagulate the increased available solute particles to form colloids; and    collecting the colloids for removal from the fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 1    in which the conditioning magnetic field has an average flux density in the range of 0.1 to 6.0 Tesla.  
     
     
         3 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 2    in which said conditioning field has a field gradient in the range of 10 to 2000 Tesla/meter.  
     
     
         4 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 1    in which the conditioning magnetic field is applied parallel to a direction of a fluid flow.  
     
     
         5 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 1    in which the step of adding a coagulant further includes nucleation, by adding a nucleation agent, after coagulation.  
     
     
         6 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 1    in which collecting includes flocculating, by adding flocculent to the coagulated solute particles, to produce flocs.  
     
     
         7 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 6    in which collecting includes adding magnetic seed to the coagulated solute particles prior to flocculation.  
     
     
         8 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 7    in which collecting includes separating the floes by sedimentation, after flocculation has been complete, to remove the flocs leaving a clear fluid overflow.  
     
     
         9 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 7    in which collecting includes primary magnetic filtration by applying a primary magnetic field to the floes, after flocculation has been completed, to remove the flocs from the fluid.  
     
     
         10 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 9    in which the primary magnetic field is applied parallel to the direction of a fluid flow.  
     
     
         11 . The method for removing solutes of    claim 4    in which the conditioning magnetic field has a flux density of at least 0.1 Tesla and a magnetic field gradient of at least 10 Tesla/meter.  
     
     
         12 . The method for removing a solute of    claim 1    in which said magnetically conditioning includes a filamentary matrix.  
     
     
         13 . A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation comprising: 
 applying a conditioning magnetic field to the fluid to enhance the precipitation of solutes for coagulation;    coagulating available contaminants, while contemporaneously applying the conditioning magnetic field to the fluid, to precipitate the solute from the fluid to form colloids; and    collecting the colloids.    
     
     
         14 . A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation comprising: 
 coagulating the solute with a coagulant to precipitate solute particles from the fluid;    applying a conditioning magnetic field to the coagulated solute particles to enhance coagulation of the solute particles by increasing application of the solute particles to the coagulant to form colloids; and    collecting the colloids.    
     
     
         15 . A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation comprising: 
 coagulating the solute particles with a coagulant to precipitate the solute particles from the fluid;    adding a nucleation agent for receiving the solute particles;    applying a conditioning magnetic field to the coagulated solute particles and nucleation agent to enhance application of the solute particles to the coagulant and deposition of the particles on the nucleation agent; and    collecting the colloids.    
     
     
         16 . A system for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation comprising: 
 means for magnetically conditioning the fluid by applying a conditioning magnetic field to enhance the precipitation of solute particles for coagulation, said magnetic field having an average flux density in the range of 0.1 to 6.0 Tesla.    means for adding a coagulant to the fluid before, during, or after application of the conditioning magnetic field to coagulate the increased available solute particles to form colloids; and    means for collecting the colloids from the fluid.    
     
     
         17 . The system for removing solutes of    claim 16    in which said conditioning magnetic field has a field gradient in the range of 10 to 2000 Tesla/meter.  
     
     
         18 . The system for removing solutes of    claim 16    in which said conditioning magnetic field is applied parallel to the direction of a fluid flow.  
     
     
         19 . The system for removing solutes of    claim 16    in which said primary magnetic field is applied parallel to the direction of fluid flow.