Method of altering a fluid-borne contaminant

Abstract

An improved method of altering a fluid-borne contaminant includes the steps of: providing a pump ( 21 ) having an inlet ( 22 ) and an outlet ( 23 ); connecting the pump inlet to a source ( 24 ) of contaminated fluid; operating the pump at a pressure ratio of at least 2.0 so as to sufficiently elevate the temperature of the fluid and contaminants passing through the pump, or, alternatively, operating the pump so that the outlet temperature of the fluid and contaminants passing therethrough is at least about 200° C.; and controlling the time during which the temperature of the fluid and contaminants are elevated; thereby to alter or convert substantially all of the contaminants passing through the pump.

1 . The method of altering a fluid-borne contaminant, comprising the steps of:
 providing a pump having an inlet and an outlet;   connecting said pump inlet to a source of contaminated fluid;   operating said pump at a pressure ratio of at least 2.0 so as to sufficiently elevate the temperature of the fluid and contaminants passing through said pump; and   controlling the time during which the temperature of said fluid and contaminants are elevated;   thereby to alter substantially all of said contaminants passing through said pump.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said contaminants are altered by chemical reduction. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said contaminants are altered by oxidation. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said contaminants are altered by combustion. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said contaminants include a particle. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said contaminants include a biological agent. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said biological agent is selected from the group consisting of: a spore, a bacteria, a virus, a pathogen, a fungus, and a pollen. 
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said fluid includes a compressible gas. 
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least some of said contaminants are entrained in said gas. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said pump is a Roots-type positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said pump is a compressor. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said pump includes a piston-and-cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said pressure ratio is the pressure at said pump outlet divided by the pressure at said pump inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said time is controlled by restricting the flow of fluid and contaminants passing through said pump. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the temperature of said fluid and contaminants is heated to at least about 200° C. at said pump outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said pump is a first pump, and further comprising the additional steps of:
 providing a second pump; and   causing contaminated fluid from said source to pass sequentially through said pumps.   
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , and further comprising the additional step of:
 preheating the temperature of the fluid entering said pump with heat provided from the temperature of fluid exiting said pump.   
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a fuel is entrained in the fluid supplied to said pump. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a reagent is entrained in the fluid supplied to said pump. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , and further comprising the additional steps of:
 sampling the fluid exiting said pump to determine the extent to which contaminants therein have been converted; and   adjusting the operation of said pump so that substantially all of said contaminants are converted by passing such contaminated fluid through said pump.   
     
     
         21 . The method of altering a fluid-borne contaminant, comprising the steps of:
 providing a pump having an inlet and an outlet;   connecting said pump inlet to a source of contaminated fluid;   operating said pump so as to elevate the temperature of the fluid and contaminants passing through said pump to at least about 200° C.; and   controlling the time during which the temperature of said fluid and contaminants are elevated;   thereby to alter substantially all of said contaminants passing through said pump.