Abstract: A method and system for treating wastewater is disclosed. In one example the method comprises activating a mixing system that imparts a motive force on wastewater in a vessel, measuring at least one property of a first portion of the wastewater at a first time, measuring the at least one property of a second portion of the wastewater at a second time subsequent to the first time, calculating a difference between the at least one property measured at the first time and the at least one property measured at the second time, performing a determination of whether the difference is within a predetermined allowable range of differences, and responsive to a result of the determination, controlling a component of the mixing system.

Abstract: An electrical discharge ozone generation cell has first and second electrode base plates which are separated by a nonconductive flat spacer plate. Within a central opening in the spacer plate is fitted an electrode plate in close contact with the first electrode base plate. A dielectric plate in close contact with the second electrode base plate and with the spacer plate helps define a gas discharge chamber with the interior edges of the spacer plate and the electrode plate. Gaskets on the two sides of the spacer plate around the central opening displaced away from the interior edges of the spacer plate ensure a gas seal for the electrical discharge chamber.

Abstract: The present invention generally includes an ozone generation system with a power supply that measures the rate of energy delivered to the ozone generation cell. While changing voltage, frequency or current will likely affect the rate of energy delivery, current, frequency and voltage provide a very poor and unreliable control for an ozone generation cell. It is only through control of the rate of energy delivery that consistent, reliable ozone generation is possible. Based upon the measurements of the rate of energy delivery as measured at the ozone generation cell, compared to the rate of energy delivery supplied, the rate of energy delivery supplied can be adjusted to improve ozone production and control.

Abstract: A system for treating metal-contaminated wastewater includes a primary treatment sub-system, a secondary treatment sub-system, and a tertiary treatment sub-system. The tertiary treatment sub-system includes a reactor tank, a source of ballast material, a source of coagulant, a solids-liquid separator, and a controller configured to recycle ballasted solids from the solids-liquid separator to the reactor tank an amount sufficient to generate metal hydroxide floc in the reactor tank to reduce a concentration of dissolved metal in the reactor tank.

Abstract: A system for providing treated water includes a water treatment unit including an inlet water quality probe, a worker bed, a probe to measure a parameter of water from the worker bed, a polisher bed connected downstream from the worker bed and having a probe to measure a parameter of water from the polisher bed, and a flow meter upstream of the worker bed or downstream of the polisher bed. A controller in communication with the flow meter and the probes is configured to receive data from same. A remote server in communication with the local water treatment unit is configured to receive data from the local water treatment unit. The controller or the server may determine a cumulative flow total, a billing cycle flow total, a current exchange flow total, a contaminant load, or a remaining capacity of the water treatment unit.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a camera, a display screen, and a processor configured to identify a piece of equipment from one of an image of the piece of equipment or of a fiducial marker associated with the piece of equipment captured by the camera, display a header page associated with the piece of equipment on the display screen responsive to identifying the piece of equipment, the header page including options for accessing different types of documentation associated with the piece of equipment, receive an indication from a user of a type of documentation to access, and responsive to receiving the indication of the type of documentation to access, retrieve the documentation from a local memory of the portable electronic device, and display the documentation on the display screen.

Abstract: A method including directing an aqueous solution having dissolved carbon dioxide and dissolved ozone into a vessel, removing an amount of the dissolved carbon dioxide and irradiating the effluent with ultraviolet light to decompose an amount of the dissolved ozone is disclosed. The method may include removing the dissolved carbon dioxide by controlling pH. The method may include removing the dissolved carbon dioxide by contact with a membrane degasifier. A system including a channel fluidly connectable to a source of an aqueous solution having dissolved carbon dioxide and dissolved ozone, a dissolved carbon dioxide removal subsystem, and a source of ultraviolet irradiation is also disclosed. The dissolved carbon dioxide removal subsystem may include a source of a pH adjuster. The dissolved carbon dioxide removal subsystem may include a membrane degasifier.

Abstract: A system containing a reactor vessel including zero valent iron media, a source of a conditioning additive, a source of a reaction additive, and a process control subsystem is disclosed. A method for reducing a concentration of one or more contaminants in contaminated water including contacting zero valent iron media with a conditioning additive, contacting contaminated water with conditioned zero valent iron media, and introducing a reaction additive is also disclosed. The conditioning additive and reaction additive may each contain an aluminum salt.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell including introducing an aqueous solution into the electrochemical cell, applying a current across an anode and a cathode to produce a product, monitoring the voltage, dissolved hydrogen, or a condition of the aqueous solution, and reversing polarity of the anode and the cathode responsive to one of the measured parameters is disclosed. An electrochemical system including an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode, a source of an aqueous solution having an outlet fluidly connectable to the electrochemical cell, a sensor for measuring a parameter, and a controller configured to cause the anode and the cathode to reverse polarity responsive to the parameter measurement is disclosed. Methods of suppressing accumulation of hydrogen gas within the electrochemical cell are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of an electrochemical cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for neutralizing discharge waters from ballast and/or cooling water biocidal treatment and disinfection systems are provided. The systems utilize oxidation reduction potential control to regulate the dechlorination of a biocidal agent to allowable discharge levels in ship buoyancy systems and ship cooling water systems.

Abstract: In a system for decomposing organic compounds in water for use in semiconductor manufacturing, a chemical reactor vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a persulfate anion addition system upstream of the reactor vessel, and a light emitting device contained within the reactor vessel. The light emitting device provides light capable of decomposing persulfate anions.

Abstract: A system and method for backwashing a sand filter in a wastewater treatment system. In one aspect, the invention can be a system for backwashing a sand filter comprising: a sand filter configured to remove solids from an untreated wastewater; a container storing chlorine fluidly coupled to the sand filter by a chlorine supply manifold; a flow control mechanism positioned on the chlorine supply manifold between the container and the sand filter, the flow control mechanism alterable between a first position whereby chlorine cannot flow from the container to the sand filter and a second position whereby chlorine flows from the container to the sand filter, the flow control mechanism being biased into the first position; and a processor operably coupled to the flow control mechanism and configured to automatically actuate the flow control mechanism into the second position upon detecting that the sand filter is being backwashed.

Abstract: A method and system of providing ultrapure water for semiconductor fabrication operations is provided. The water is treated by utilizing a free radical scavenging system. The free radical scavenging system can utilize actinic radiation with a free radical precursor compound, such as ammonium persulfate. The ultrapure water may be further treated by utilizing ion exchange media and degasification apparatus. A control system can be utilized to regulate a continuously variable intensity of the actinic radiation.

Abstract: A system and method for backwashing a sand filter in a wastewater treatment system. In one aspect, the invention can be a system for backwashing a sand filter comprising: a sand filter configured to remove solids from an untreated wastewater; a container storing chlorine fluidly coupled to the sand filter by a chlorine supply manifold; a flow control mechanism positioned on the chlorine supply manifold between the container and the sand filter, the flow control mechanism alterable between a first position whereby chlorine cannot flow from the container to the sand filter and a second position whereby chlorine flows from the container to the sand filter, the flow control mechanism being biased into the first position; and a processor operably coupled to the flow control mechanism and configured to automatically actuate the flow control mechanism into the second position upon detecting that the sand filter is being backwashed.

Abstract: Methods of producing an ion exchange membrane support are disclosed. The methods include saturating a polymeric microporous substrate with a charged monomer solution comprising at least one functional monomer, a cross-linking agent, and an effective amount of at least one photopolymerization initiator and polymerizing the at least one functional monomer by exposing the saturated polymeric microporous substrate to ultraviolet light under conditions effective to cross-link the at least one functional monomer and produce the ion exchange membrane support. Methods of producing a monovalent selective ion exchange membrane are also disclosed. The methods include functionalizing an exterior surface of the ion exchange membrane support with a charged compound layer, drying the ion exchange membrane support and soaking the ion exchange membrane support in a solution comprising an acid or a base for an amount of time effective to produce the monovalent selective ion exchange membrane.

Abstract: A method of producing treated ion exchange resin material includes exposing an enclosed vessel containing ion exchange resin and a pre-treatment solution to high energy radiation. The treated ion exchange resin material has reduced organic impurities or total organic carbon (TOC).

Abstract: A water treatment system for brackish water is disclosed. The water treatment system includes a first electrochemical separation stage fluidly connected to a second, downstream electrochemical separation stage, with the concentrate outlet of the second electrochemical separation stage fluidly connectable to the concentration compartment of the first electrochemical separation stage and a control system configured to regulate feed directed to the concentration compartments of the first and the second electrochemical separation stages. Methods of treating brackish water to produce potable water and methods of treating brackish water using systems of the invention are disclosed. The Donnan potential difference and osmotic water losses are lessened by controlling a source and a flowrate of a make-up feed water directed to concentration compartments of first and the second electrochemical separation stages of the systems.

Abstract: Methods of treating contaminated groundwater having recalcitrant organic contaminants are disclosed. The methods include pretreating the contaminated groundwater to remove iron, introducing a persulfate to the contaminated groundwater, and exposing the contaminated groundwater to irradiation. The methods may also include extracting the contaminated groundwater from a feed stream. The methods may also include preparing the persulfate with high purity water. Systems for treating contaminated groundwater having recalcitrant organic contaminants are also disclosed. The systems include a pretreatment subsystem, a source of persulfate, and an irradiation source.

Abstract: According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for polishing ultrapure water (UPW) is disclosed. The water polishing system includes a source of ultrapure water (UPW), an ultrafiltration (UF) module having an inlet and a permeate outlet, a recirculation conduit communicating the permeate outlet with the inlet and forming a recirculation loop, a recirculation pump disposed along the recirculation conduit upstream from the inlet of the UF module and fluidly coupled to the source of UPW, a supply conduit fluidly coupled to the recirculating conduit and a demand source, the supply conduit positioned downstream from the permeate outlet, and a pressure control valve disposed along the recirculation conduit downstream from the supply conduit and configured to maintain pressure of permeate at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of increasing operational efficiency of a power plant includes determining an average rate of accumulation of scale-forming compounds in a cooling water source, directing water from the cooling water source having a first concentration of scale forming compounds through a treatment system to produce a treated water having a lower concentration of scale-forming components than the first concentration by operating the treatment system with operating parameters selected such that a rate of removal of the scale-forming components from the water in the treatment system is greater than the average rate of accumulation of the scale-forming components, directing the treated water back into the cooling water source, and circulating water including the treated water from the cooling water source through a cooling system of the power plant.