Process stream decontamination systems and methods
OwnerLance Wittinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A decontamination system for decontaminating at least one contaminant in a process stream. Decontaminant liquid is dispersed into the process stream using atomization. A controller detects contaminant levels in the process stream and adjusts the flow of decontaminant fluid into the process stream in response.
Claims19
A system for decontaminating a hydrocarbon process stream containing at least one contaminant, the system comprising:
- a supply of decontaminant fluid;
- a controller associated with the supply of decontaminant fluid and operable to introduce a controlled amount of decontaminant to the hydrocarbon process stream;
- one or more atomizing nozzles to disperse decontaminant fluid as an atomized fog into the hydrocarbon process stream;
- and
- a chemical sensor to monitor dispersed decontaminant fluid to determine the extent of reactivity of the dispersed decontaminant fluid relative to fresh decontaminant fluid.
A system for decontaminating a hydrocarbon process stream containing at least one contaminant, the system comprising:
- a supply of decontaminant fluid;
- a controller associated with the supply of decontaminant fluid and operable to introduce a controlled amount of decontaminant to the hydrocarbon process stream;
- and
- one or more atomizing nozzles to disperse decontaminant fluid as an atomized fog into the hydrocarbon process stream, and wherein the fog has droplets no larger than 50 microns in diameter;
- a chemical sensor to monitor dispersed decontaminant fluid to determine the extent of reactivity of the dispersed decontaminant fluid, the chemical sensor providing a signal to the controller to allow the controller to determine the reactivity of the dispersed decontaminant fluid relative to fresh decontaminant fluid;
- and
- the controller opening a dump valve to eliminate dispersed decontaminant fluid when it determines that the dispersed decontaminant fluid is not capable of sufficient reactivity.
A method for decontaminating at least one contaminant in a hydrocarbon process stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- atomizing a decontaminant fluid into a fog;
- dispersing a controlled amount of the atomized decontaminant fluid into the hydrocarbon process stream;
- determining reactivity of dispersed decontaminant fluid;
- comparing the reactivity of dispersed decontaminant fluid to reactivity of fresh decontaminant fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.