Methods and systems for dewatering solid particles in a contaminated liquid mixture

Abstract

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for dewatering solid particles in a liquid mixture, such as those, for example, comprising receiving a liquid mixture, the liquid mixture including solid particles; suspending a filter in the liquid mixture; agglomerating, at the filter, solid particles in the liquid mixture, the agglomerating including potentiating passage of liquid in the liquid mixture through the filter and potentiating accumulation of solid particles in the liquid mixture to collect and agglomerate at the filter; and applying a shockwave to the filter, the applied shockwave operable to remove the agglomerated solid particles from the filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of dewatering solids, the method comprising:
 receiving a liquid mixture, the liquid mixture including solid particles;   suspending a filter in the liquid mixture;   agglomerating, at the filter, solid particles in the liquid mixture, the agglomerating including potentiating passage of liquid in the liquid mixture through the filter and potentiating accumulation of solid particles in the liquid mixture to collect and agglomerate at the filter; and   applying a shockwave to the filter, the applied shockwave operable to remove the agglomerated solid particles from the filter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave is selectively applied when a flow rate of liquid passing through the filter is below a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave is selectively applied based on a thickness of solid particles agglomerated at the filter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave is selectively applied based on consistency of a layer of solid particles agglomerated at the filter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave is applied when liquid in the liquid mixture is not passing through the filter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the filter from the liquid mixture;
 wherein the shockwave is applied when the filter is removed from the liquid mixture.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is connected to an outlet section; and
 wherein the agglomerating includes potentiating passage of liquid passing through the filter to pass to the outlet section.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein liquid passage through the filter is potentiated by applying a liquid suction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein liquid passage through the filter is potentiated by applying a pressure differential. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied by introducing a negative pressure between the filter and the outlet section. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid mixture is housed in a container and the pressure differential is selectively applied by introducing positive pressure into the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied when a flow rate of liquid passing through the filter exceeds a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied based on a thickness of solid particles agglomerated at the filter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied based on consistency of a layer of solid particles agglomerated at the filter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein liquid passage through the filter is potentiated on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave is applied on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is selected based on a size of the solid particles in the liquid mixture. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is continuous. 
     
     
         19 . A method of dewatering solids, the method comprising:
 receiving a liquid mixture, the liquid mixture including solid particles;   suspending a filter in the liquid mixture;   agglomerating, at the filter, solid particles in the liquid mixture, the agglomerating including applying a pressure differential to potentiate passage of liquid in the liquid mixture through the filter and potentiate accumulation of solid particles in the liquid mixture to collect and agglomerate at the filter; and   removing the agglomerated solid particles from the filter.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the filter is connected to an outlet section. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure differential is applied by introducing a negative pressure between the filter and the outlet section. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pressure differential is applied by introducing a liquid suction between the filter and the outlet section. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid mixture is housed in a container and the pressure differential is selectively applied by introducing positive pressure into the container. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied when a flow rate of liquid passing through the filter exceeds a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied based on a thickness of solid particles agglomerated at the filter. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure differential is selectively applied based on consistency of a layer of solid particles agglomerated at the filter. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure differential is applied when the agglomerated solid particles are not being removed from the filter. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure differential is applied on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the agglomerated solid particles are removed from the filter on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the filter is selected based on a size of the solid particles in the liquid mixture. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method is continuous. 
     
     
         32 . A system for dewatering solids contained in a liquid mixture, the system comprising:
 a filter assembly configured in a dead end manner, the filter assembly having a filter with an outwardly facing exterior surface and an inwardly facing opposing interior surface, the filter having a plurality of pores operable to allow liquid to pass through the filter and prevent one or more solid particles from passing through the filter;   a liquid removal assembly configurable to create an inwardly-directed suction at the pores of the filter; and   a shockwave assembly in communication with the filter, the shockwave assembly configurable to apply a shockwave to the filter.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein, when the filter is suspended in a liquid mixture having solid particles, the liquid removal assembly is configurable create the inwardly-directed suction to potentiate passage of liquid in the liquid mixture through the pores of the filter and potentiate accumulation of solid particles in the liquid mixture to collect and agglomerate at the exterior surface of the filter. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the shockwave assembly is configurable to remove the agglomerated solid particles from the exterior surface of the filter. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a liquid flow meter operable to measure a flow rate of liquid passing through the filter assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the shockwave assembly is configurable to apply the shockwave to the filter when the liquid flow rate is below a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a liquid outlet section connected to the filter assembly, the liquid outlet section operable to discharge the liquid passing through the filter assembly. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the liquid removal assembly comprises a liquid suction introduced between the filter assembly and the liquid outlet section. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a container for housing the liquid mixture;
 wherein the inwardly-directed suction is a pressure differential created by introducing positive pressure into the container.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the liquid removal assembly is configurable to create the inwardly-directed suction when the liquid flow rate exceeds a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the liquid removal assembly creates the inwardly-directed suction when the shockwave assembly does not apply the shockwave to the filter. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter is a ceramic membrane. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a controller, the controller operable to:
 configure the liquid removal assembly to create the inwardly-directed suction; and   configure the shockwave assembly to apply the shockwave.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the controller is in communication with a liquid flow meter, the liquid flow meter operable to measure a flow of liquid through the filter assembly. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the controller configures the liquid removal assembly to create the inwardly-directed suction when the measured liquid flow through the filter assembly exceeds a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the controller configures the shockwave assembly to apply the shockwave when the measured liquid flow through the filter assembly is below a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the controller configures the shockwave assembly to apply the shockwave when the liquid removal assembly is configured to not create the inwardly-directed suction. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 43 , further comprising an anchor assembly;
 wherein the controller is operable to configure the anchor assembly to secure the filter of the filter assembly at a first location, the first location being a location inside a container housing the liquid mixture; and   wherein the controller is operable to configure the liquid removal assembly to create the inwardly-directed suction when the anchor assembly is configured to secure the filter at the first location.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the controller is operable to configure the anchor assembly to move the filter of the filter assembly between the first location and a second location, the second location being a location outside of the container; and
 wherein the controller is operable to configure the shockwave assembly to apply the shockwave when the anchor assembly is configured to secure the filter at the second location.   
     
     
         50 . A method of configuring a system for dewatering solids, the method comprising:
 configuring a filter assembly in a dead end manner, the filter assembly having an exposed filter and a body attached to the filter, the filter having a plurality of pores;   providing a liquid outlet section operable to receive and discharge liquid;   connecting a liquid removal assembly between the body of the filter assembly and the liquid outlet section;   configuring the liquid removal assembly to selectively apply an inwardly-directed suction at the pores of the filter; and   configuring a shockwave assembly to selectively apply a shockwave to the filter.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising configuring a flow meter to measure a liquid flow through the filter assembly. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising providing a controller;
 wherein the controller is operable to configure the liquid removal assembly to selectively apply the inwardly-directed suction.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the controller is operable to communicate with the flow meter; and
 wherein the controller configures the liquid removal assembly to selectively apply the inwardly-directed suction when the measured liquid flow exceeds a minimum threshold value.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the controller is further operable to configure the shockwave assembly to selectively apply the shockwave. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the controller configures the shockwave assembly to selectively apply the shockwave when the measured liquid flow is below a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the method is continuous.