BR-102021004908-B1 - Chlorine dioxide generating equipment with high-pressure processing in a reactor with three operating zones for water and wastewater treatment.

Abstract

CHLORINE DIOXIDE GENERATING EQUIPMENT WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PROCESSING IN A THREE-ZONE OPERATING REACTOR FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT. The present invention relates to equipment for generating chlorine dioxide at the point of application, in solution, through the reaction of chlorite with acid. The process requires a reactor equipped with three distinct zones: the first zone with high acidity and high reaction rate, the second zone with high dilution for reaction completion, and a third zone for absorbing pressure fluctuations in the gas phase and sensors for electronic process control. It operates under pressure and does not have an injector, and is suitable for treating drinking water, wastewater, and industrial utility water. The objective of the present invention is to meet a growing need in the area of water sanitation for drinking water and the treatment of various effluents, in the area of disinfection and oxidation, where chlorine and its derivatives have deficiencies in cases where contamination and toxicity are high.

Inventors

• MARCO ANTONIO MATIOLLI SABARÁ

Assignees

• SABARÁ QUÍMICOS E INGREDIENTES S/A

Dates

Publication Date

20260310

Application Date

20210316

Claims (3)

1. 1) CHLORINE DIOXIDE GENERATING EQUIPMENT WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PROCESSING IN A THREE-ZONE OPERATING REACTOR FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT, characterized by consisting of a water inlet point [0] connected to a water pump [2], which in turn is connected to a water inlet flow control rotameter [5] and an inlet water flow sensor [6], which supply the chlorine dioxide generation reactor consisting of three distinct zones [1]; in the central and lower part of the reactor [1] is Zone A [A], in the form of an internal tube where inputs enter, which are regulated by the sodium-based chlorite ion dosing pump [3] and the acid dosing pump [4]; Zone B [B] which corresponds to the intermediate part of the reactor that introduces a water flow from the water pump [2], which in turn is connected to a rotameter for controlling the water inlet flow [5] and a water inlet flow sensor [6], and the chlorine dioxide solution outlet [10]; at the top of the reactor [1], in its Zone C [C] there is a system pressure gauge [7] and an emergency pressure switch [8]; the water pump [2], the water flow sensor [6], the input dosing pumps [3] and [4] and the emergency pressure switch [8] are connected to an electrical process and power supply control panel [9] which provides a programmable operational control system for all the equipment.
2. 2) CHLORINE DIOXIDE GENERATING EQUIPMENT WITH HIGH-PRESSURE PROCESSING IN A THREE-ZONE OPERATING REACTOR FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT, according to Claim 1, characterized by the operational programmable control system comprising the process and source control panel [9], which receives information through the dilution water inlet flow sensor [6], as well as the emergency pressure switch equipped with a pressure sensor [8], processing this information and sending control commands to the sodium-based chlorite ion dosing pumps [3] and acid [4], and to the water inlet pump [2].
3. 3) PROCESS FOR GENERATING CHLORINE DIOXIDE AT HIGH PRESSURE IN A REACTOR WITH THREE OPERATING ZONES FOR WATER AND EFFLUENT TREATMENT, carried out in equipment according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized by the reactor [1], subdivided into three distinct zones A, B and C, wherein: Zone A [A], receives the input of reagents from the sodium-based chlorite ion dosing pump [3] and the acid dosing pump [4], with concentrations ranging from 6,000 ppm to 35,000 ppm, where conversion occurs in the generation of chlorine dioxide without the formation of salt crystallization; the input dosages vary from 0.1 to 120 Liters per hour, as well as the reaction times vary from 0.1 minutes to 2 minutes, generating an environment of maximum conversion without the occurrence of reaction degradation; Zone B [B], the intermediate part of the reactor, introduces a flow of water from the water pump [2], which in turn is connected to a rotameter for controlling the inlet water flow [5] and an inlet water flow sensor [6], which corresponds to a multiple of the sum of the flow rates of the reagent inlets according to the dosage required by the customer, without the occurrence of bubbles in the process; at the outlet of the chlorine dioxide solution [10], the solution is already in a condition to be sent through piping until the effluent is diluted; Zone C [C], corresponding to the top part of the reactor, which monitors the presence of undiluted gases in Zone B, through a system pressure check gauge [7] and an emergency pressure switch [8], connected to an electrical process control panel and power supply [9] that provides a programmable operational control system for all equipment, maintaining process efficiency in the range of 94% to 98% to minimize the presence of chlorite ions in the treated water.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF APPLICATION: 01. The present invention relates to equipment for generating chlorine dioxide at the point of application, in solution, with the reaction of chlorite with acid, the process of which requires a reactor equipped with three distinct zones, the first zone being of high acidity and high reaction rate, the second zone with high dilution for the completion of the reaction and a third zone for the absorption of pressure fluctuations in the gas phase and sensors for electronic process control, which operates under pressure and does not have an injector, suitable for treating water for drinking purposes, treating effluents and industrial utility water. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION: 02. The objective of the present invention is to meet a growing need in the area of water sanitation for drinking water and the treatment of various effluents, in the area of disinfection and oxidation, where chlorine and its derivatives have deficiencies in cases where contamination and toxicity are high. BACKGROUND AND FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION: 03. A large number of reactions and processes for generating chlorine dioxide that exist today are related to multiple specificities of the application methods, logistical difficulties at the application points, the safety required in each application, as well as the multiple chemical reactions used. 04. Chlorine dioxide is a gas in its pure form under normal temperature and pressure conditions. It is a highly oxidizing and unstable molecule. Its degradation involves a large volumetric expansion, forming oxygen and chlorine gases. Under these conditions, it is not possible to transport this gas, even in its pure liquid state. It can only be generated at the point of application and even then, diluted in an aqueous solution. Such chlorine dioxide solutions have limits on concentration, storage time, and temperature, as the chlorine dioxide gas can be released from the solution and may degrade spontaneously at concentrations greater than 10% and at temperatures above 5°C. 05. Following the evolution of chlorine dioxide generation processes, several reactions have been discovered that can generate chlorine dioxide, always using chlorate and chlorite ions as precursors for exothermic and/or non-electrolytic reactions. These ions can normally be in a potassium or sodium base, although other bases exist, but have not yet become established as processes in the market. 06. These precursor elements need to be oxidized and reduced in intermediate reactions so that the overall reaction can generate chlorine dioxide. 7. Below are some reactions that have been patented as economical processes for various applications, many of which have not been established in water and wastewater treatment applications: NaClO3 + HCl ➔ ClO2 + Cl2 + NaCl + H2O 8. In this reaction, hydrochloric acid exhibits an oxidizing agent and, in an intermediate reaction, a reducing agent, in addition to the formation of chlorine gas and chlorine dioxide gas. This reaction is widely used in the clarification of cellulose. NaClO3 + NaCl + H2SO4 + CH3OH ➔ ClO2 + Cl2 + Na3H(SO4)2 + H2O + CH3OH + CO2 9. This reaction involves a mixture of chlorate, sodium chloride, sulfuric acid, and an organic chemical element. This reaction has the advantage of not forming a chlorine molecule as a byproduct, but it is very complex to generate, even in large production plants. NaClO3 + H2SO4 + H2O2 ➔ ClO2 + Na2SO4 + H2O 10. This reaction has the advantage of not producing a chlorine molecule, but it requires the use of hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid. 11. The reactions described above are present in numerous patents worldwide, many of which are already in the public domain and widely known in the state of the art. 12. The aforementioned reactions are used in large chlorine dioxide gas plants, primarily for the clarification of cellulose pulp. However, they present extreme difficulties for use in small-scale chlorine dioxide solution generation equipment for water and wastewater treatment, given that these application points are dispersed and involve low consumption, many of which have limited resources. 13. Since 1995, the reaction that has become established for small-scale production of chlorine dioxide solutions for use in water and wastewater treatment is shown below: NaClO2 + HCl ➔ ClO2 + NaCl + H2O 14. This reaction is the simplest known in the art, requiring only two inputs, without generating a chlorine molecule and having NaCl as a byproduct, which does not affect the quality of the water to be treated. It also requires much simpler point-of-application generation equipment than the previously mentioned reactions. However, it uses chlorites as precursors, not chlorates as ions, and these inputs can only be produced from chlorine dioxide gas, CLO2, which needs to be generated in large production plants from a chlorate ion, producing a chlorite solution. This solution is then transported to the point of applicatio