# US 11,439,954 B2 · Apparatus system and method to seperate brine from water using heat energy recovery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,954 B2 - Document ID: US11439954B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/123,099 - Filed: 2020-12-15 - Published: 2021-04-08 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-24 - Assignees: Katz Water Tech, LLC - Applicants: Katz Water Tech, LLC - Inventors: Gary P. Katz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439954B2 ## CPC - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - B01D 1/0058: {Use of waste energy from other processes or sources, e.g. combustion gas (for water treatment C02F1/16)} - B01D 3/065: {Multiple-effect flash distillation (more than two traps)} - B01D 3/145: {One step being separation by permeation} - B01D 61/06: Energy recovery - B01D 61/08: Apparatus therefor - B01D 61/10: Accessories; Auxiliary operations - C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis} - C02F 9/00: Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage - E21B 43/35: {specially adapted for separating solids (down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065)} - B01D 61/04: Feed pretreatment - B01D 2311/2642: Aggregation, sedimentation, flocculation, precipitation or coagulation - B01D 2311/2649: Filtration - B01D 2311/2669: Distillation - B01D 2313/221: Heat exchangers - B01D 2313/246: Energy recovery means - C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - C02F 1/004: {using large scale industrial sized filters} - C02F 1/16: using waste heat from other processes - C02F 1/442: {by nanofiltration} - C02F 1/444: {by ultrafiltration or microfiltration} - C02F 1/463: by electrocoagulation - C02F 1/68: by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water (medicinal water A61K) - C02F 2103/10: from quarries or from mining activities - C02F 2209/005: Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC] - C02F 2209/01: Density - C02F 2303/10: Energy recovery - E21B 43/2406: {Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]} - E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations} - Y02A 20/124: Water desalination - Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis - Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working - Y02W 10/30: Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract An apparatus, system, and method to purify produced water from a wellbore using heat energy recovery. The apparatus comprises a wellbore with a wellhead attached to the wellbore; at least one energy recapture device connected to the wellhead of the wellbore with produced water, wherein the at least one energy recapture device captures heat energy of the production fluids including produced water, and at least one distillation device connected to a heat recovery device wherein the at least one distillation device uses at least a portion of the energy from the heat energy recovery device to heat a volume of the produced water in the distillation device to remove contaminants from the produced water to create purified water. The method comprises steps to use the apparatus and the system comprises a control panel that operates at least one energy recapture device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A produced water purification apparatus comprising: a. a wellbore with a wellhead attached to the wellbore; b. at least one energy recapture device connected to the wellhead of the wellbore with produced fluids exiting the wellhead, wherein the at least one energy recapture device captures heat energy of the produced fluids exiting the wellhead; c. at least one heat exchanger that uses the heat energy of the fluids exiting the wellhead to prewarm the produced water inside the at least one heat exchanger; and d. at least one thermal distillation device, wherein a portion of the produced water is heated to a purified vapor stream and wherein at least a portion of the heavier contaminated fluid is separated from the lighter purified vapor stream. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pre-warmer heat exchanger to use the purified vapor stream to increase the feed temperature of the produced water before the produced water enters the thermal distillation device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal distillation device uses an energy source selected from the group consisting of flare gas energy, heated saltwater, solar energy, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal distillation device uses solar thermal energy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a gas burner, the gas burner is connected to the at least one thermal distillation device to provide at least a portion of the energy to heat the produced water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermal distillation device comprises an inlet wherein contaminated fluid flows in the thermal distillation device through the inlet; at least two outlets wherein a first outlet exits purified vapor and a second outlet wherein contaminated fluid with a portion removed as purified vapor exits the thermal distillation device; an energy source that causes the contaminated fluid to heat to a temperature wherein a portion of the contaminated fluid is converted to purified vapor; and at least two different flow paths, a first flow path connecting at least one inlet to the first outlet and a second flow path connecting the inlet to the second outlet, the first flow path and the second flow path flow through at least a portion of the thermal distillation device wherein density differences causes the lighter purified vapor to take a different path than the heavier contaminated fluid with the purified vapor exiting the first outlet and the contaminated fluid exiting the second outlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the purified vapor stream is connected to a steam turbine that uses the energy from the vapor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one reverse osmosis device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising at least one pressure recovery device connected to the at least one reverse osmosis device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one pressure recovery device captures pressure energy from brine exiting the at least one reverse osmosis device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one pressure recovery device captures pressure energy from the produced fluids exiting the wellhead. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one additional flow path wherein the at least one additional flow path is created by the group consisting of conical shaped plating with a plurality of aligned holes, baffles, perforated pipes, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control panel and at least one flow control sensor to operate the at least one energy recapture device and the at least one thermal distillation device in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising pumps connected to the first and second outlets. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a control panel and at least one flow control sensor to operate the at least one energy recapture device and the at least one thermal distillation device in a coordinated manner and the control panel operates the pumps attached to the first and second outlets in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 16 A method to purify produced water from a wellhead comprising; a. connecting an energy recapture device to the wellhead of a wellbore; b. capturing at least a portion of the heat energy from the produced fluid exiting the wellbore using the energy recapture device; c. transferring a component of the at least a portion of the heat energy from the produced fluid exiting the wellbore to produced water entering a thermal distillation device; d. purifying the produced water as the water flows through the thermal distillation device by causing at least a portion of the contaminated fluid to change into a purified vapor state inside the thermal distillation device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of capturing at least a portion of the pressure energy from the produced fluid exiting the wellbore and using a component of the at least a portion of the pressure energy to flow produced water through the reverse osmosis membrane device. ### Claim 18 A system comprising: a. a wellbore with a wellhead attached to the wellbore; b. at least one energy recapture device connected to the wellhead of the wellbore with produced fluids exiting the wellhead, wherein the at least one energy recapture device captures heat energy of the produced fluids exiting the wellhead; c. at least one heat exchanger that uses the heat energy of the fluids exiting the wellhead to prewarm the produced water inside the at least one heat exchanger; and d. at least one thermal distillation device, wherein a portion of the produced water is heated to a purified vapor stream and wherein at least a portion of the heavier contaminated fluid is separated from the lighter purified vapor stream; e. at least one control panel that operates the at least one energy recapture device and the at least one thermal distillation device in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one reverse osmosis membrane and at least one pressure recovery device connected to the at least one reverse osmosis device, wherein the at least one pressure recovery device captures pressure energy from the produced fluids exiting the wellhead. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising pumps attached to a first outlet and a second outlet of the thermal distillation device and at least one flow control sensor for the control panel to operate the at least one energy recapture device and the at least one thermal distillation device in a coordinated manner and the control panel operates the pumps attached to the first outlet and the second outlet of the thermal distillation device in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 21 A method to purify produced water comprising; a. obtaining waste heat energy; b. capturing at least a portion of the waste heat energy; c. transferring a component of the at least a portion of the waste heat energy to a thermal distillation device; d. flowing produced water through a thermal distillation device; e. purifying the produced water as the water flows through the thermal distillation device by causing at least a portion of the contaminated fluid to change into a purified vapor state inside the thermal distillation device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising reducing the pressure of the thermal distillation device to less than 0.7 bar. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising using a vapor compression system attached to the thermal distillation device to reduce the pressure of the thermal distillation device to less than 1 bar. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the waste heat is obtained from flare gas. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 further comprising powering a generator using flare gas and using the waste heat from the generator to provide the heat energy for the thermal distillation device. ### Claim 26 An apparatus comprising: a. a wellbore; b. a generator powered by gas from the wellbore, wherein the generator comprises a pipe for the exhaust; c. at least one thermal distillation device connected by the pipe for the exhaust, wherein at least one thermal distillation device uses the heat energy of the exhaust exiting the generator; and d. at least one pump for flowing produced water through the at least one thermal distillation device, wherein a portion of the produced water is heated to a purified vapor stream and wherein at least a portion of the heavier contaminated fluid is separated from the lighter purified vapor stream. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the thermal distillation device comprises a heat exchanger in operative connection with the generator, wherein the generator provides the heat energy for distilling and separating salts from the produced water inside the heat exchanger. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a pump connected to the thermal distillation device wherein the pump creates a pressure less than 1 bar inside the thermal distillation device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising at least one sensor on the thermal distillation device, at least one valve connected to the thermal distillation device on the system, and at least one control panel wherein the control panel uses the at least one sensor and the at least one valve to operate the apparatus. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a vapor compression evaporator connected to the thermal distillation device. ### Claim 31 An apparatus comprising: a. a waste heat source connected to a pre-warmer for transferring heat to produced water; b. at least one thermal distillation device connected to the pre-warmer; and d. at least one pump connected to the thermal distillation device wherein the pump creates a pressure less than 1 bar inside the thermal distillation device; e. at least one pump for flowing produced water through the pre-warmer and the at least one thermal distillation device, wherein a portion of the produced water becomes a purified vapor stream and wherein at least a portion of the heavier contaminated fluid is separated from the lighter purified vapor stream. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) Of claim 31 further comprising at least one sensor on the thermal distillation device, at least one valve connected to the thermal distillation device on the system, and at least one control panel wherein the control panel uses the at least one sensor and the at least one valve to operate the apparatus. ### Claim 33 A method to purify produced water comprising; a. obtaining waste heat energy; b. capturing at least a portion of the waste heat energy; c. transferring a component of the at least a portion of the waste heat energy to a pre-warmer; d. flowing produced water through the pre-warmer; e: flowing produced water trough a thermal distillation device after the produced water flowed through the pre-warmer; f. reducing the pressure of the thermal distillation device to less than 1 bar; g. purifying the produced water as the water flows through the thermal distillation device by causing at least a portion of the contaminated fluid to change into a purified vapor state inside the thermal distillation device.