Patent Application
20170334749
The present application is generally related to a water well treatment device and associated methods of use, and more particularly to a high voltage capacitor discharge device and associated methods for the treatment of water wells.
The statements set forth in this section provide background information related to the present invention and should not be construed as constituting prior art or in any way limiting the scope of the disclosed invention.
Many water wells are tapped into aquifers containing a variety of species of slime-forming bacteria such as, for example, Gallionella ferruginea and some Protozoans. When these living organisms enter the water well, they are exposed to an oxygen and nutrient-rich environment that permits the organisms to feed on the iron and manganese attached to the interior parts of the well and its pump components. This process leads to the rapid colonization of the slime-forming bacteria and, as a result, the well's capacity to efficiently operate is reduced as the organisms physically obstruct and/or create a biofilm covering various operational components. For instance, Gallionella ferruginea are linear-linking or stalk-type growth organisms that can plug the screen of the water well or insulate the pump motor with iron slime deposits (sometimes over an inch thick), which in turn can cause the associated equipment to overheat and experience a shortened life cycle.
Current industry processes for reducing or eliminating slime-forming bacteria in water wells typically involve periodically treating the well water after formation of the bacteria by using a variety of brushing tools and/or chemicals designed to work as a cleaning agent and disinfectant. However, after cleaning, slime-forming bacteria quickly begin to reappear when new water is pumped into the well, thereby restarting the rapid colonization problem.
Since it is impractical to change the characteristics of the well water, there is a need to develop and utilize equipment that is designed to prevent iron and manganese from forming in the water well. The present application is intended to improve upon and resolve some of these known problems within the art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for treating slime-forming bacteria within a water well is provided. In accordance with this embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing a capacitor based well treatment device; introducing the capacitor based well treatment device into a well water source; powering the capacitor based well treatment device with a high voltage current; and subjecting slime-forming bacteria within the water source to the high voltage current.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present application and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the teachings themselves will be better understood by reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures. Although the exemplification set forth herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, the disclosed embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that those skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.
In this regard, the invention is illustrated in the several figures, and is of sufficient complexity that the many parts, interrelationships, and sub-combinations thereof simply cannot be clearly or meaningfully illustrated in a single patent-type drawing. Accordingly, several of the drawings show in schematic, or omit, parts that are not essential in that drawing to a description of a particular feature, aspect or principle of the invention being disclosed. Thus, the best mode of one embodied feature may be shown in one drawing, and the best mode of another feature will be called out in another drawing.
As is generally known within the art, mineral and biological colloidal particles present in untreated well water sources can result in the formation of biofilms that adhere to any exposed surface surrounding the well water source. The present invention uses a high voltage capacitor discharge unit to alter the surface charge of the particles present in a water well, thereby preventing or reducing the attachment of the particles to the wetted surfaces within the well, its pump and filter components. It has been determined that such a system causes the organisms to stay fluid, thereby freely pumping through the system without attaching to and colonizing on the walls of the water well or its associated pump and filter components. To accomplish this, and with specific reference to
At sufficiently high DC voltage levels, the capacitive charge of the capacitor treatment device 10 produces a field across the water that influences the surface charge of all wetted surfaces of the well and the pump and filter components. In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, a DC voltage of approximately 30,000 Volts is particularly useful. To produce the voltage, a high-voltage cable or wire 14 is electrically connected to a power source 16. The wire 14 runs through the electrode device to a capacitor discharge assembly 18 located adjacent the end of the device. In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the capacitor discharge assembly 18 can be placed near a well inlet screen 20 to prevent biofilm from developing on or around the screen 20. According to other aspects of the invention, the capacitor treatment device 10 includes a tube extension such as, for example, a 1″ PVC tube extension.
Referring to
As can be seen from comparing
The teachings and aspects of the present invention are further enhanced by the following illustrative experiments. According to this experiment, a Biological Activity Reaction Test (BART) test was performed to monitor the population size and activity of specific groups of iron bacteria after water sample were subjected to the methods of the present invention. The water was observed as being clear with a few rusty flecks present. Specifically, the BART test results showed the presence of gas bubbles and about ⅜″ of rusty sediment. Motile and non-motile rod-shaped bacteria were predominate. Numerous amorphous granular gray particulates including some rods and inorganic and organic material were also observed. However, significantly fewer iron bacteria were visible than were present in the initial water sample. The microscopy results indicated a few iron-encrusted stalks or sheaths among the particulate iron. However, Gallionella was not observed.
In a second BART test, the water sample was observed as being rusty with deposit. Gas bubbles were present, as well as a thin black deposit on parts of the floating ball and the plastic tube in the vicinity of the ball. The water was rusty orange with some black sediment in the cone of the tube. Amorphous gray granular pieces were scrapped off the black area of the tube. Fewer iron bacteria were visible after 7 days of incubation compared to the initial sample. The water was turbid and rusty overlaying about ¼″ of orange deposit. The microscopy results showed a variety of iron bacteria present, including a few Gallionella. A few flagellated protozoans were also swimming among the particulate.
While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed herein, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62317739 | Apr 2016 | US |
