Distillation: processes – separatory – Water purification only – Under pressure or vacuum
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-17
2001-03-06
Manoharan, Virginia (Department: 1764)
Distillation: processes, separatory
Water purification only
Under pressure or vacuum
C203S049000, C203S031000, C203S040000, C203S091000, C203S010000, C159S016100, C210S758000, C095S266000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197162
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
One of the major problems facing future generations is polluted water. Increasing world population and rapid industrial growth combine to cause tremendous contamination problems in the world's rivers, lakes and oceans with an infinite variety of chemical and biological substances. Purification systems that can quickly and economically provide abundant amounts of fresh water from sewage or contaminated water will be and are in great demand.
2. Description of Related Art
A vacuum distillation system should be able to purify any contaminated liquid, such as water from a polluted river. While the prior art systems achieve this to a limited degree, there are significant commercial drawbacks.
To increase the efficiency of a distillation process, use of a vacuum has been tried. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,598 describes a distillation purifying system which creates a vacuum pressure that is transmitted throughout the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,606 discusses a distillation purifying system that uses an open tube bundle heat exchanger that heats the liquid (in this case, seawater) to facilitate vigorous evaporation resulting in the separation of salt and other contaminants from the water vapor.
Many of these inventions are unduly complex, uneconomical or not as efficient as the trade requires. The present invention overcomes these drawbacks to provide an advance to the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid purification systems that provide for inexpensive sterilization of water contaminated by liquid and/or solid matter, such as sewage or chemical waste. The invention is particularly effective in removing contaminants, such as, methyl tertiary butyl ethers (MTBE), hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, and any liquid with a greater volatility than that of water. The present invention enhances the removal of the contaminants by collecting the contaminated water into a closed container without filling it, heating the water in the container to a temperature below the boiling point of water and drawing a negative pressure on the closed container without causing the water in the container to boil. The dissolved gases and liquids in the contaminated water, having a boiling point lower than water, will evaporate out of the water into the head space above the water in the container. Further, by allowing atmospheric air into the container, vapors are pushed out of the head space of the container.
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Manoharan Virginia
Price and Gess
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