Treatment of Cesium-Containing Fluids

Abstract

Cesium solutions are treated in a cavitation device to increase their temperature and facilitate the removal of water from them. The context is normally an oil well fluid or a mining solution. The concentrated solutions can be reused, in the case of oil well fluids, or more easily handled for recovery of the elemental cesium or cesium in the form of a salt. Thermal energy is saved by using the concentrate or the water vapor to heat various streams within the system.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . Method of processing a used oil well fluid containing cesium comprising (a) optionally filtering said used oil well fluid, (b) passing said used oil well fluid through a heat exchanger to increase its temperature utilizing waste heat from an engine, (c) powering a cavitation device with said engine, (d) passing said oil well fluid through said cavitation device to further increase the temperature thereof, (e) passing said used oil well fluid into a flash tank to separate steam and vapor from said used oil well fluid and to obtain a concentrated fluid, (f) removing at least a portion of said concentrated fluid from said flash tank, and reusing said at least a portion of said concentrated fluid as a source of cesium in an oil well fluid. 
   
   
       30 . Method of  claim 29  including recycling at least a portion of said oil well fluid after step (d) through said cavitation device to further increase its temperature prior to passing it into said flash tank. 
   
   
       31 . Method of  claim 29  including recycling at least a portion of said concentrated fluid from said flash tank into said cavitation device. 
   
   
       32 . Method of  claim 29  wherein said steam or vapor obtained in step (e) is used in a heat exchange device to recover at least a portion of its heat energy. 
   
   
       33 . Method of  claim 29  wherein said steam or vapor obtained in step (e) is used as a component of a new oil well fluid. 
   
   
       34 . Method of  claim 30  wherein said oil well fluid containing cesium at the end of step (f) is recovered from said oil well and is processed as a used oil well fluid in an iteration of the steps of  claim 29 . 
   
   
       35 - 39 . (canceled)