Fluid scrubbing apparatus

Abstract

In one aspect there is provided a fluid treatment system for treating a contaminated fluid having a gaseous contaminant mixed or dissolved in the liquid portion thereof. The system comprises a generally enclosed and substantially airtight container defining an interior volume. The container comprises an inlet to receive the contaminated fluid, a gas outlet to discharge any gaseous contaminant and a liquid outlet to discharge any liquid that may be separated from said contaminated fluid. During operations, the container is sealed to maintain a seal between the interior volume and any outside environment, so as to prevent the escape of any liquids and gasses out of the interior volume, except as may be provided for via the inlet, the gas outlet or the liquid outlet. Also during operations, a continuous headspace is maintained between the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is being claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a contaminated fluid having a gaseous contaminant mixed or dissolved in the liquid portion thereof, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid treatment system for treating said contaminated fluid, said fluid treatment system comprising:   an enclosed container defining an interior volume;   the container further comprising:
 at least one inlet to receive the contaminated fluid; 
 at least one gas outlet to discharge gaseous contaminants; 
 at least one liquid outlet to discharge any liquid that may be separated from said contaminated fluid; 
   wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a gas scrubber to receive and remove gaseous contaminants exiting the said at least one gas outlet;   operating the fluid treatment system and the gas scrubber to remove toxic gases;   wherein, during operations, the container is sealed to maintain a seal between the interior volume and any outside environment, so as to prevent the escape and/or movement of any liquids and gasses out of the interior volume, except as may be provided for via the at least one inlet, the at least one gas outlet or the at least one liquid outlet;   wherein, during operations, any liquids that are within the interior volume are kept at a liquid level that is below both the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet, so as to provide at least some continuous headspace within the interior volume between the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet; and   wherein the interior volume provides at least 1 square foot of surface area per barrel of contaminated fluid being treated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the headspace is kept to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the interior volume. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gas scrubber is operated at a flow rate of at least 140 cubic meters/minute. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a source of carrier gas; and 
 premixing said carrier gas into the contaminated fluid. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a source of carrier gas; and 
 purging the headspace with said carrier gas. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the container further comprises a longitudinal axis and wherein, during operations, the container is positioned so that the longitudinal axis is held substantially along a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a contaminated fluid having a gaseous contaminant mixed or dissolved in the liquid portion thereof, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid treatment system for treating said contaminated fluid, said fluid treatment system comprising:   an enclosed container defining an interior volume;   the container further comprising:
 at least one inlet to receive the contaminated fluid; 
 at least one gas outlet to discharge gaseous contaminants; 
 at least one liquid outlet to discharge any liquid that may be separated from said contaminated fluid; 
   wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a gas scrubber to receive and remove gaseous contaminants exiting the said at least one gas outlet;   operating the fluid treatment system and the gas scrubber to remove toxic gases;   wherein, during operations, the container is sealed to maintain a seal between the interior volume and any outside environment, so as to prevent the escape and/or movement of any liquids and gasses out of the interior volume, except as may be provided for via the at least one inlet, the at least one gas outlet or the at least one liquid outlet;   wherein, during operations, any liquids that are within the interior volume are kept at a liquid level that is below both the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet, so as to provide at least some continuous headspace within the interior volume between the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet;   providing a source of carrier gas; and   purging the headspace with said carrier gas.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the headspace is kept to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the interior volume. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the gas scrubber is operated at a flow rate of at least 140 cubic meters/minute. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the container further comprises a longitudinal axis and wherein, during operations, the container is positioned so that the longitudinal axis is held substantially along a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating a contaminated fluid having a gaseous contaminant mixed or dissolved in the liquid portion thereof, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid treatment system for treating said contaminated fluid, said fluid treatment system comprising:   an enclosed container defining an interior volume;   the container further comprising:
 at least one inlet to receive the contaminated fluid; 
 at least one gas outlet to discharge gaseous contaminants; 
 at least one liquid outlet to discharge any liquid that may be separated from said contaminated fluid; 
   wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a gas scrubber to receive and remove gaseous contaminants exiting the said at least one gas outlet;   operating the fluid treatment system and the gas scrubber to remove toxic gases;   wherein, during operations, the container is sealed to maintain a seal between the interior volume and any outside environment, so as to prevent the escape and/or movement of any liquids and gasses out of the interior volume, except as may be provided for via the at least one inlet, the at least one gas outlet or the at least one liquid outlet;   wherein, during operations, any liquids that are within the interior volume are kept at a liquid level that is below both the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet, so as to provide at least some continuous headspace within the interior volume between the at least one inlet and the at least one gas outlet; and   keeping the headspace to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the interior volume.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the gas scrubber is operated at a flow rate of at least 140 cubic meters/minute. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the container further comprises a longitudinal axis and wherein, during operations, the container is positioned so that the longitudinal axis is held substantially along a horizontal plane.