Distillation: apparatus – Apparatus – Systems
Patent
1978-06-13
1981-06-02
Bascomb, Jr., Wilbur L.
Distillation: apparatus
Apparatus
Systems
202177, 202180, 202234, 126440, 203 10, 203 22, 203 25, 203DIG1, 350418, 350452, C02F 114
Patent
active
042709814
ABSTRACT:
Solar distillation apparatus are disclosed in which a substantial part of the heat of condensation of the condensing liquid is recovered. A conduit having an inclined smooth lower surface is disposed above the liquid to be distilled and on which the evaporated liquid condenses and releases its heat of condensation. A fluid is circulated through the conduit in a heat exchanging relationship with the lower surface thereof, the fluid absorbing a substantial part of the released heat of condensation. The condensed liquid flows along the bottom of the inclined lower surface and is discharged from the lower end thereof and collected. The conduit in the preferred embodiments is flat and transparent and the spacing between the upper and lower walls of the conduit is selected so that only a small part of the solar energy is absorbed in the conduit while the fluid in the conduit recovers a substantial part of the released heat of condensation. In accordance with the invention, more fluid is circulated in the conduit means than the quantity of liquid evaporated from the distillation compartments and condensed on the conduit means in order to carry away the released heat of condensation while maintaining the temperature of the fluid below that of the condensing liquid vapor. In accordance with the preferred embodiments, salt water is distilled and the quantity of fluid circulated through the conduit to absorb and carry the heat of condensation released by the condensing water vapor, will greatly exceed, for example, by 10 times, the quantity of condensed water evaporated, and distilled by the apparatus. Much more fluid is circulated in the conduit to maintain the fluid temperature below that of the condensing water vapor. The concentrated brine at for instance 80.degree. C. may be recycled one or several times in separate distillation units or in distillation channels or compartments of the same unit wherein brine instead of preheated water to be distilled is introduced into the distillation compartments. Thus, the heat of the brine may be recovered and the concentration of the brine may be increased in successive compartments and units, allowing a more economical extraction of salts from the brine. A separate heat exchanger using a fluid heated for instance to 150.degree. C. by solar energy in a separate solar energy unit can be used to preheat the water to be distilled, increasing its temperature to for instance 75.degree. C. before introducing the water into the distillation compartment. The production of distilled water according to the invention is substantially higher than by conventional solar ponds and the cost of producing distilled water reduced to zero in certain locations when credit is obtained for the salts extracted from the concentrated brine. Preferably, the bottoms of the distillation compartments are blackened by a water-proof flexible material such as Esso Butyl or a similar material.
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Bascomb, Jr. Wilbur L.
North American Utility Construction Corp.
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