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Title:
MOBILE FLUID PURIFICATION SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/099469
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention is a mobile fluid-purification system for purifying liquids or gas/liquid combinations, including but not limited to, oil operation flow-back water, fracking water, fume gases from refineries, petrochemicals, gas plants, power and nuclear stations. Typically, the system comprises a truck-mounted unit in which multiple activated alumina-filled tanks are mounted in a weather-protected container. The system includes an inlet, an outlet, conductivity measuring equipment for monitoring the quality of the purified fluid, and specially designed conduits and valves which allow the treatment tanks to be operated in series, in parallel, or in some combination of tanks in series or parallel. The treatment tanks can be filled with any desired purification material.

Inventors:
LEMBCKE FELIPE (US)
GOMEZ MAQUEO ARECHIGA EDUARDO (MX)
Application Number:
PCT/US2014/070693
Publication Date:
June 23, 2016
Filing Date:
December 17, 2014
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
MOLECULAR FILTRATION INC (US)
LEMBCKE FELIPE (US)
GOMEZ MAQUEO ARECHIGA EDUARDO (MX)
International Classes:
B01D35/30; B01J47/02; C02F1/28
Foreign References:
US4659460A1987-04-21
US5935894A1999-08-10
US4383920A1983-05-17
US4963166A1990-10-16
US1998774A1935-04-23
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Claims:
CLAIMS

The inventor claims:

1. A mobile fluid purification system comprising:

a) a container; and

b) a set of three or more activated alumina treatment tanks mounted in said container, each treatment tank comprising:

i. an activated alumina material,

ii. a fluid inlet,

iii. a fluid outlet,

iv. an activated alumina material inlet, and

v. an activated alumina material outlet.

2. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 further including a system inlet adapted to be connected to a source of raw fluid to be purified.

3. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 further including a system outlet for delivering purified fluid.

4. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 further including fluid conduits and valves for conveying said raw fluid from said system inlet to said treatment tanks and between said treatment tanks and from said treatment tanks to said system outlet, said conduits and valves being selectively connected to said treatment tanks whereby said treatment tanks are capable of being operated in flow configurations:

a) in series,

b) in parallel,

c) in a combination of tanks connected in both series and parallel arrangements.

5. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 further includes measuring means for monitoring the quality of the purified fluid output.

6. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is enclosed and has interior heating means.

7. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 wherein said activated alumina materials are selected from the group consisting of anion activated alumina, cation activated alumina, mixed anion and cation activated alumina.

8. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 wherein said system includes an inlet strainer, a flow meter, a water temperature alarm, a pressure reducing valve, an air temperature alarm, an air release valve, and an outlet strainer.

9. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 1 wherein each of said treatment tanks further includes a regeneration fluid inlet and a regeneration fluid outlet, whereby the activated alumina material in each of said treatment tanks is capable of being regenerated in- situ.

10. A mobile fluid purification system comprising:

a) a container;

b) a set of three or more activated alumina tanks mounted in an adjacent upright position in a vehicle, each treatment tanks containing an activated alumina material, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, an activated alumina material inlet, and an activated alumina material outlet;

c) a system inlet adapted to be connected to a source of raw fluid to be purified; d) a system outlet for delivery purified fluid;

e) a first fluid conduit for conveying raw fluid from the system inlet and a first treatment tank;

f) a second fluid conduit, selectively connected between:

i. the first fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of a second treatment tank, whereby first treatment tank and second treatment tank are capable of being operated in parallel; and,

ii. the fluid outlet of said first treatment tank and the fluid inlet of said second treatment tank whereby said first treatment tank and said second treatment tank are capable of being operated in series;

g) a third fluid conduit means, said third fluid conduit being selectively connected between:

i. the second fluid conduit means and the fluid inlet of the third treatment tank, whereby said second treatment tank and said third treatment tank are capable of being operated in parallel; and,

ii. the fluid outlet of the second treatment tank and the fluid inlet of the third treatment tank, whereby said second treatment tank and said third treatment tank are capable of being operated in series;

h) a fourth fluid conduit connecting the fluid outlet of the third treatment tank and the system outlet; and a measuring means for monitoring the quality of the purified fluid.

11. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle is enclosed and has interior heating.

12. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 7 wherein said activated alumina materials are selected from the group consisting of anion activated alumina, cation activated alumina, mixed anion and cation activated alumina.

13. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 7 wherein said system includes an inlet strainer, a flow meter, a water temperature alarm, a pressure reducing valve, an air temperature alarm, an air release valve, and an outlet strainer.

14. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 7 wherein each of said treatment tanks further includes a regeneration fluid inlet and a regeneration fluid outlet, whereby the activated alumina material in each of treatment tank is capable of being regenerated in-situ.

15. A mobile fluid purification system comprising:

a) a vehicle;

b) a set of six fluid activated alumina tanks mounted in an adjacent upright position in the vehicle, each treatment tank containing an activated alumina material, each tank further having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, an activated alumina material inlet, and an activated alumina material outlet; a) a system inlet adapted to be connected to a source of raw fluid to be purified; b) a system outlet for delivering purified fluid;

c) a first fluid conduit for conveying the raw fluid, the first fluid conduit connected to the system inlet and to a first treatment tank;

d) a second fluid conduit, selectively connected between:

1. the first fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of a second treatment tank such that the first and second treatment tanks may be operated in parallel; and,

2. the fluid outlet of the first treatment tank and the fluid inlet of the

second treatment tank such that the two tanks may whereby said first treatment tank and said second treatment tank are capable of being operated in series;

e) a third fluid conduit, said third fluid conduit being selectively connected

between:

1. said second fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of the third of said

treatment tanks whereby said second treatment tank and said third treatment tank are capable of being operated in parallel; and,

2. the fluid outlet of said second treatment tank and the fluid inlet of the third of said treatment tanks whereby said second treatment tank and said third treatment tank are capable of being operated in series;

f) a fourth fluid conduit, said fourth fluid conduit being selectively connected between:

1. said third fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of the fourth of said treatment tanks whereby said third treatment tank and said fourth treatment tank are capable of being operated in parallel; and,

2. the fluid outlet of said third treatment tank and the fluid inlet of the fourth of said treatment tanks whereby said third treatment tank and said fourth treatment tank are capable of being operated in series; g) a fifth fluid conduit, said fifth fluid conduit being selectively connected

between:

1. said fourth fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of the fifth of said treatment tanks whereby said fourth treatment tank and said fifth treatment tank are capable of being operated in parallel; and,

2. the fluid outlet of said fourth treatment tank and the fluid inlet of the fifth of said treatment tanks whereby said fourth treatment tank and said fifth treatment tank are capable of being operated in series;

h) a sixth fluid conduit, said sixth fluid conduit means being selectively connected between:

1. said fifth fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of the sixth of said treatment tanks whereby said fifth treatment tank and said sixth treatment tank are capable of being operated in parallel; and,

2. the fluid outlet of said fifth treatment tank and the fluid inlet of the sixth of said treatment tanks whereby said fifth treatment tank and said sixth treatment tank are capable of being operated in series;

i) a seventh fluid conduit connecting the fluid outlet of said sixth treatment tank and said system outlet; and,

j) Measurement means for monitoring the quality of the purified fluid.

16. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 13 wherein said vehicle is enclosed and has interior heating.

17. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 13 wherein said fluid is water.

18. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 13 wherein said fluid activated alumina materials are selected from the group consisting of anion activated alumina, cation activated alumina, mixed anion and cation activated alumina.

19. The mobile fluid purification system of claim 13 wherein said system includes an inlet strainer, a flow meter, a water temperature alarm, a pressure reducing valve, an air temperature alarm, an air release valve, and an outlet strainer.

20. A mobile fluid purification apparatus comprising: a portable container; at least one treatment tank mounted in the container and configured to receive at least one activated alumina material; at least one activated alumina material being selected from a group consisting of anion activated alumina; cation activated alumina, mixed anion and cation activated alumina; at least one treatment tank being configured to allow regeneration of the at least one activated alumina material without removing the at least one activated alumina material from the at least one treatment tank; and the at least one treatment tank being configured to allow regeneration of at least one activated alumina material without removing the at least one treatment tank from the container.

AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 17 May 2015 (17.05.2015)

CLAIMS

The inventor claims:

1. A mobile fluid purification system for the removal of heavy metals from liquids, comprising:

a) a container; and

b) a set of three or more activated alumina treatment tanks mounted in said container, each treatment tank comprising:

i. an activated alumina material,

ii. a fluid inlet,

iii. a fluid outlet,

iv. an activated alumina material inlet, and

v. an activated alumina material outlet.

2-20. (Canceled)

21. The use of a mobile unit for the processing of industrial fluids from oilfields for the reduction of heavy metals, comprising:

a) a container; and

b) a set of three or more activated alumina treatment tanks mounted in said container, each treatment tank comprising:

i. an activated alumina material,

ii. a fluid inlet,

iii. a fluid outlet,

iv. an activated alumina material inlet, and

v. an activated alumina material outlet.

22. The use of a mobile unit for the pre-processing of sea water to remove heavy metals before desalinization in traditional plants comprising:

a) a container; and

b) a set of three or more activated alumina treatment tanks mounted in said container, each treatment tank comprising:

i. an activated alumina material,

ii. a fluid inlet,

iii. a fluid outlet,

iv. an activated alumina material inlet, and

v. an activated alumina material outlet.

Description:
TITLE

MOBILE FLUID PURIFICATION SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention is in the field of liquid and gas purification, separation, and filtration apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable fluid purification system.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The need for the removal of selective ions from fluids often comes during emergencies and in unplanned circumstances. Many industries require the removal of selective ions from such fluids. Many portable devices have been constructed to filter and produce clean water from unpotable water that exists in an area of need.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0003] Known mobile fluid processing systems, such as mixed-bed ion exchange resin cylinders used in container demineralization, cannot be regenerated in situ, but must be disconnected and removed from the demineralizer container and transported to a regeneration station. Known ion exchange systems, however, cannot selectively treat fluids such as produced, flowback or frack water directly for the reduction of heavy metals; the heavy metal content and the hydrocarbon content would destroy the ion exchange resin beds and make them useless in couple of minutes.

Solution to Problem

[0004] The present invention is a fluid purification system comprising (1) a container; (2) one or more activated alumina tanks mounted in the container, each treatment tank containing an specific activated alumina material, and each tank having a fluid flow inlet, fluid flow outlet, an activated alumina material inlet, and an activated alumina material outlet; (3) a system inlet to be connected to a source of raw fluid to be purified; (4) a system outlet for delivering purified fluid; (5) conduits and valves for conveying the raw fluid from the system inlet to the treatment tanks, between the treatment tanks, and from the treatment tanks to the system outlet, the conduits and valves being selectively connected to the treatment tanks so that the treatment tanks can be operated in a series mode, in a parallel mode, or some combination of series and parallel connection; (6) measuring apparatus which monitors the quality of the purified liquid, and (7) a temperature control system to maintain system temperature within a desired range.

[0005] NOTE: In this application, the term "fluid" refers to liquids, gases, and combinations of liquid and gases in combination.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0006] The invention successfully treats frack, produced, flowback water and other similar liquids directly for the reduction of heavy metals using a portable system which also allows for in situ regeneration of the alumina activated beds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] The attached images show an elevation view, plan view and rear elevation view of a skid-mounted water purification system.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0010] The portable fluid purification system of the present invention is capable of being precisely tailored to the needs of the particular industrial purification job by virtue of the fact that the system can be configured in a multitude of operating modes. A preliminary chemical analysis of the raw fluid is performed and sets the basis for the container system configuration in order to satisfy the job requirements. Quality control is assured through the supervision of field operators who preferably would remain with the system while in operation.

[0011] This skid-mounted fluid purification system may comprise a plurality of activated alumina tanks which can be connected in parallel, series, or in a mixed parallel and series flow configuration. Each treatment tank can be filled with one or more activated alumina materials according to the composition of the fluid to be purified. Accordingly, the inventive system can be precisely tailored to the needs of each industrial fluid purification customer.

[0012] The treatment tanks may be mounted on an industrial skid and configured such that the activated alumina may be extracted without removing the tanks from the skid on which it is mounted. The tanks may also be configured to allow regeneration of the activated alumina in- situ without removing the activated alumina material from the treatment tanks. The containerized fluid purification system may include a container, with one or more treatment tanks mounted in the container.

[0013] Each treatment tank may contain an alumina material activated by a specific fluid. Each of the treatment tanks may include a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, an activated alumina material inlet, and an activated alumina material outlet.

[0014] A system inlet is to be connected to a source of raw fluid to be purified, also to a system outlet for delivering purified fluid, fluid conduits and valves for conveying the raw fluid from the system inlet to the treatment tanks, between the treatment tanks, and from the treatment tanks to the system outlet. The conduits and valves may be selectively connected to the treatment tanks so that the treatment tanks can be operated in several flow configurations: in serial mode, in parallel mode, or in a hybrid series/parallel mode.

[0015] The system could include a measuring apparatus configured to monitor the quality of the purified fluid output.

[0016] The container-on-skid fluid purification system may be precisely tailored to the needs of a particular industrial fluid purification job by virtue of the fact that the system can be configured in a multitude of operating modes.

[0017] As previously stated, a preliminary chemical analysis of the raw fluid must be performed to set the basis for the proper container system flow configuration to satisfy the job requirements. The system may then be configured by mechanical means, which could by selecting and adding an alumina compound or compounds best suited to job parameters such as working fluid composition and client requirements for purified working fluid production.

[0018] A fluid purification system as described above allows on-site fluid processing capabilities to be rapidly deployed and maintained in remote locations without need for supporting local infrastructure. The system may be flexible in its use, and configurable for multiple applications by not only piping and hosing flexibility, but also via tank configuration and activated alumina bead- type combinations.

[0019] Not only is this system suitable as mentioned above for use with activated alumina, but for any other water treatment processes which require a pressure vessel and the passing of the water through an activated alumina.

[0020] This description, rather than describing limitations of an invention, only illustrates embodiments of the invention recited in the claims. The language of this description is therefore exclusively descriptive and is non-limiting. The invention may be modified from the description of this particular embodiment. Within the scope of the claims, one may practice the invention other than as described in the embodiments below.

Example 1

[0021] A preferred embodiment of the system is presented in the following description and the attached drawings. In this embodiment, the system is configured to purify produced water such as flowback water, frack water or waste water.

[0022] The drawings show a standard Container 8, in which six water-activated alumina

Tanks 1-6 are permanently mounted. The Container 8 is eight feet wide and forty-three feet long. Each of the treatment tanks is six feet in diameter, has a shell height of five feet, and will hold up to one hundred and fifteen cubic feet of activated alumina material.

[0023] Raw fluid is received from the customer's source via a 2 1/2" Fluid Inlet Connection

9. Access to these connections is through an access door in the side of the container.

[0024] The incoming raw fluid is then carried the length of the container by Incoming Fluid

Processing Pipe 14, a stainless steel pipe or other acceptable material as appropriate to the fluid being processed. Before reaching a tank, any entrapped air is released through Air Release

Valve 15.

[0025] The Air Release Valve 15 (seen on Fig. 2) serves a dual purpose: 1) it admits air during the draining of the system to prevent a vacuum from being imposed in the system; and 2) it removes air from the system during normal operation.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, six rubber-lined Tanks 1-6 are included within the Container 8. Fluid Outlet Valves 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 33 are three-way valves which are fed from the Tanks 1-6, respectively. The Fluid Outlet Valves can prevent flow from the Tanks, or direct flow from the Tanks to either a lower Outlet Pipe 12, or a Central Outlet Pipe 40. Likewise, the Fluid Inlet Valves 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 32 can feed Tanks 1-6, respectively, through the Central Inlet Pipe 42, or the Incoming Fluid Processing Pipe 14, or prevent flow into Tanks 1-6 completely.

[0027] The first stage of processing begins as the fluid enters the apparatus though the Fluid Inlet Connection 9 into Incoming Fluid Processing Pipe 14 through Inlet Valves 16 and 17 into Tanks 1 and 2, respectively, which are operating in parallel. Incoming fluid is prevented from continuing through the Fluid Processing Pipe 14 when Diverting Valve 18 is closed.

[0028] In this example embodiment, Tanks 1 and 2 contain optimized, activated, alumina cation exchange beads, which remove heavy metal cations such as iron, barium, strontium, magnesium, manganese, calcium and magnesium from the raw fluid.

[0029] The fluid flows through the optimized activated alumina in Tanks 1 and 2 in parallel, through Fluid Outlet Valves 19 and 20, respectively, though Central Outlet Pipe 40, and up through Crossover Pipe 22 when Diverter Valve 21 is closed.

[0030] The second stage of treatment occurs after being diverted through Crossover Pipe 22 by the closed Diverter Valve 18, when the partially treated fluid enters Tanks 3, 4, and 5, which are operating in parallel through the use of a Crossover Pipe 22 and Inlet Valves 23, 24, and 25. Tanks 3, 4, and 5 contain, in this example, optimized activated alumina anion exchange bids which remove anions such as sulfate, boron, arsenic ions from the fluid. Fluid flows through the activated alumina in these tanks and exits through Outlet Valves 29, 30, and 31, respectively. [0031] Though the Inlet Valves 23, 24, and 25 act to feed Tanks 3, 4, and 5, the incoming fluid is prevented from continuing to Inlet Valve 32 and Tank 6 when Diverter Valve 26 is closed.

[0032] As shown in the drawings, Outlet Valves 29, 30, and 31 of Tanks 3, 4, and 5, respectively, are connected to the Central Outlet Pipe 40. The fluid is then diverted vertically up through Crossover Pipe 27 when Diverter Valves 26 and 28 are closed. This condition diverts the flow into Tank 6, which in this example is a mixed-bed activated alumina.

[0033] For the last stage of treatment, the fluid flows from the top of Tank 6 through Inlet Valve 32, passing down through the bed inside Tank 6, and leaving through the Outlet Valve 33 as in the previous tanks. At this point, the entire flow from the system goes through Tank 6 and is measured for its quality by a Conductivity Cell 11.

[0034] Following its flow through the tanks and quality measurement, the flow passes through an Activated Alumina Trap 10, which contains a stainless steel mesh strainer and basket. The purpose of the Activated Alumina Trap 10 is to catch any activated alumina beads which might leave the system, and prevent them from getting into the customer's water system. The treated fluid leaves the container through the 2 ½" Outlet Valve 30.

[0035] Because of the susceptibility of the system to high or low temperatures, and to protect the equipment, both a high temperature alarm and a low temperature alarm are provided. The output from the Conductivity Cell 11 is measured and recorded on the Conductivity Monitor 61.

[0036] The Conductivity Monitor 61 has adjustable set points, and should the quality of the fluid being delivered be below the set point, then the conductivity monitor provides an electrical signal to the Pressure Reducing Valve 13, which will cause it to close. At the same time, the system can be arranged to sound an alarm to alert the operator when the fluid quality is below the set point, and has been shut off.

[0037] To protect the system from high fluid temperatures, a temperature measuring and alarm system will sound an alarm and can be connected to close Fluid Inlet Connection 9.

[0038] The activated alumina beads inside the tanks may be regenerated by removing the activated alumina beads from the system. The alumina may be removed by making connections to an alumina (resin) outlet valve in each tank and adding streaming water to the tank via regeneration inlet valves, vent valves, or spray valves.

[0039] Should additional water be required, or should a stoppage in the activated alumina outlet be encountered, additional water may be injected via any additional available valve. This same valve will also provide additional streaming water in the activated alumina outlet line, if necessary. Spray valve is connected internally with a spray water system which is used in removing the activated alumina from the tanks. Regenerated activated alumina would be replaced in each tank through an activated alumina inlet valve located at the top of each tank.

[0040] The entire container may be insulated and heated. A Gas Heater 70, mounted in the forward end of the container to maintain the temperature above 35 °F. under the most extreme outside temperature conditions, even down to -20 °F.

[0041] In this system, all the tanks are interconnected using pipe or hose. The reason for this is to prevent possible difficulties with the piping system if it were to be connected with rigid pipe. The container will deform slightly and hose is used so that each tank is isolated and can move independently of the others without damage to itself or to the other tanks. Further, by use of flanged piping, the piping can be rearranged to allow the use of the tanks in series, in parallel, or in such combination of series and parallel tanks as appropriate. The containers are strengthened to withstand this type of load.

Example 2

[0042] The previous embodiment refers to operations in which the activated alumina beads are removed from the tanks for regeneration outside of the container. In a second embodiment, the activated alumina may be regenerated inside the tanks.

[0043] In this embodiment, the required regenerate agents are injected through Regeneration Inlet 44, which is connected to the Central Outlet Pipe 40 and to each Tank 1-6 through the Fluid Outlet Valves 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 33, respectively. The agents are removed from each tank through the Regeneration Outlet 46, fed from Tanks 1-6 through its Inlet Valves 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 32, respectively. (The valves usually used for input during operation are used for output during the regeneration process, and vice versa.) These valves, when connected through the proper sources and opened, will allow regeneration chemicals to be injected into the tanks and then exit these tanks after their regeneration action is completed.

[0044] During this regeneration operation, water inlet valves and water outlet valves may be closed to isolate each tank from the system. It also provides a way of adding additional water to the tanks. The configuration described in the first embodiment represents the use of the system where Tanks 1 and 2 are used in parallel as cation exchangers in a first processing stage, Tanks 3, 4, and 5 are used in parallel as anion exchangers during a second stage, and Tank 6 is used as a mixed-bed (cation and anion) exchanger in a third stage.

[0045] One of the features of this system is complete flexibility of use. For example, in other embodiments, it may be desirable to have three cation tanks and three anion tanks, and no mixed-bed tanks. In such a configuration, Crossover Pipe 22, Diverter Valves 18 and 26 would be open between Tanks 2 and 3, but Diverter Valves 50 and 52 would be closed and Diverter Valve 26 open, so that the flow would be treated in Tanks 1-3 operating in parallel would then feed Tanks 4-6, which would complete the fluid's treatment, and the processed flow leaving Tanks 4-6 through Outlet Valves 30, 31, 33 and Outlet Pipe 12.

[0046] It is also possible by other changes in piping, to utilize one or more of the tanks as sand filters for the removal of suspended material, to use them as activated carbon filters ahead of an activated alumina system, or for uses other than removal of heavy metals. For example, the equipment could be used with all six tanks in parallel (i.e., with no crossover pipes) as a six tank activated alumina softener. This system, by virtue of its flexibility, could also be used for other special applications whereby activated alumina (scavenging activated alumina) is used for the removal of ions from a solution.

[0047] The Air Release Valve 15, seen in Fig. 2 can be used to relieve air which may be in the tanks when they are filled, and to add air when draining.

[0048] While the system may be regenerated in place as described in the second embodiment, it may also be back-washed in place prior to regeneration. In this case, backwash water would be admitted through Fluid Outlet Connection 35 and removed through Fluid Inlet Connection 9. Not all the valves have been shown in the drawing for simplicity.

[0049] While six tanks provide an efficient and workable system, any number of tanks may be used. The operation of the tanks can be configured in a multitude of ways. Each tank is essentially identical to the others from a mechanical point of view, but to simplify the drawing, all the valves for fluid processing are not shown in each tank. [0050] The following table illustrates some of the modes in which the system may be configured and operated:

TABLE OF ACTIVATED ALUMINAS & MODES OF OPERATION

AA+→ Activated Alumina, Cation based

AA— > Activated Alumina, Anion based

[0051] Typical cations and anions removed by the activated alumina system include the following:

Table 1 : Common Cations

Simple Cations

Thorium Th 2+

Uranium U 4+

Zirconium Zr 2+

Cerium Ce 4+

Titanium Ti 3+

Uranium Oxide u 2+

Lead Pb 2+

Thallium Th +

Manganese Mn 2+

Nickel Ni 2+

Cobalt Co 2+

Table 2: Common Anions

Anions from organic acids

Acetate CH3COO " ethanoate

Formate HCOO " methanoate

Oxalate C2O4 2" ethandioate

Cyanide CN "

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0052] The invention is directed to any location where selective removal of impurities is required for a fluid, like heavy metals from frack, produced or flowback water from well operations, or poisonous gas removal from gas streams. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

Reference Description

1-6 Tanks

8 Container

9 Fluid Inlet Connection

10 Activated Alumina Trap

11 Conductivity Cell

12 Outlet Pipe

13 Pressure Reducing Valve

14 Incoming Fluid Processing Pipe

15 Air Release Valve

16,17,23,24,25,32 Inlet Valves

18,21,26,28,50,52 Diverter Valve

19,20,29,30,31,33 Fluid Outlet Valves 22,27,54 Crossover Pipe

35 Fluid Outlet Connection

40 Central Outlet Pipe

42 Central Inlet Pipe

44 Regeneration Inlet

46 Regeneration Outlet

61 Conductivity Monitor

70 Gas Heater

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[0053] The prior art includes U.S Pat. No. 4,049,548 to Dickerson which discloses a container demineralizer for water treatment having two successive banks of mixed-bed ion exchange resin cylinders which produce extremely high quality water.

[0054] Prior art also includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,920 to Dickerson which discloses container demineralizer for water treatment with ion exchange resin.

[0055] The mixed-bed ion exchange resin cylinders used in the container demineralizer of that earlier patent, produce a water quality that may be much higher in quality than many industrial water purification customers would require, thus creating an economic and chemical inefficiency. Furthermore, the ion exchange resin cylinders used in that invention cannot be regenerated in situ, but must be disconnected and removed from the container demineralizer and transported to a regeneration station.