Distillation: apparatus – Apparatus – Types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-02
2001-08-14
Manoharan, Virginia (Department: 1764)
Distillation: apparatus
Apparatus
Types
C159S903000, C159SDIG002, C202S181000, C202S185300, C203S001000, C203S010000, C203S100000, C203SDIG001, C203SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274004
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water purification and/or desalination plant for producing water from a polluted water source or sea water with the aid of sunlight, which plant includes an evaporator having a roof part consisting of a light-penetrable material, and an underlying basin part containing the water that is to be purified, which basin part includes means for collecting water vapor that has been condensed on the inside of the roof part, and a reservoir for purified water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In large parts of the world the fresh water resources are limited and drinking water therefore has to be produced from brackish water or sea water. The most common water purification plants are evaporation/condensation processes in which the requisite energy is produced by burning cheap natural gas (in the Gulf region) or more commonly, by harnessing solar energy. In many regions there is a great need for simple, efficient and low-cost equipment for the desalination of sea water.
A number of such plants and devices for desalination and purification of drinking water which employ solar energy are previously known.
DE 2503251 makes known a device for producing drinking water from polluted or saline water with the aid of solar energy. This evaporator consists of a basin with a roof in the form of an inverted V, which can be penetrated by solar energy. In the lower end of the inclined roof there is a run-off channel which receives water that has condensed on the inside of the roof.
DE 3501396 A describes a similar device having a basin and a glass roof in the form of an inverted V. In the lower end of the roof there is a collecting channel for water which has condensed on the inside of the roof.
DE 2650482 describes a device consisting of a basin and a sloping glass roof, wherein the glass roof is cooled in order to enhance the condensation.
International Patent Application WO 91/04228 makes known a method and device for producing drinking water from polluted water with the aid of solar energy, consisting of a construction having a plurality of chambers or sections, of which one chamber or section is an evaporation chamber and a second section is a condensation chamber. Swedish Published Patent Application 46213 makes known a transportable device for producing fresh water by desalting sea water with the aid of solar energy. The device includes a casing having at least one transparent portion and a collecting channel for fresh water. In the bottom of the device there is provided a solar energy absorber having ducts for cooling the absorber with the aid of a coolant. The coolant flows in a closed circuit and is used to heat the incoming sea water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,151 describes a floating desalination plant. A bottom having a preferably transparent or translucent chamber floats on the surface of the sea. Waves cause the chamber to expand and contract so that air is drawn into the chamber. The moist air exiting the chamber is conducted to a condensation and collecting tank below the sea surface.
There are also known a number of devices which use reverse osmosis for producing fresh water from sea water. As examples of publications which describe this, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,076,626, 4,452,696 and 4,770,775.
One disadvantage of the known devices is that they are relatively bulky and relatively stringent requirements must be met with respect to periodic maintenance.
Another disadvantage of these known devices is that they are relatively inefficient, since most of the solutions are based on a more or less closed chamber, where the water vapor is condensed on the surface of the chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a plant of the aforementioned type that is so inexpensive, efficient and simple that it can be used in small communities along the coast in sunny developing countries, e.g., along the coast of the south-eastern Mediterranean or the Red Sea.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant of the aforementioned type, where its efficiency is substantially improved, compared with other known plants.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a plant of the said type, where the necessity of inspection and periodic maintenance is minimal.
This is accomplished with a water purification and/or desalination plant for producing drinking water from a polluted water source or sea water with the aid of sunlight, which plant includes an evaporator having a roof part consisting of a light-penetrable material, and an underlying basin part containing the water that is to be purified, which basin part includes means for collecting water vapor that has been condensed on the inside of the roof part, and a reservoir for purified water, which according to the invention is characterized in that the plant also includes means for removing moist air or vapor from the evaporator and means for condensation of the moist air or vapor outside the evaporator.
The means for removing moist air or vapor from the evaporator and condensation thereof preferably include a condenser connected to a fan.
In the basin part there is preferably provided means for increasing the absorption of heat, which means includes a plate-shaped body which is kept at a constant distance from the surface of the water in the basin part with the aid of buoyancy bodies or floats, which plate-shaped body has a dark, heat-absorbent surface and includes a thermal insulation material.
The plate-shaped body preferably has a surface that is smaller than the surface of the basin part, or the plate-shaped body is equipped with holes or slots for the circulation of water from the underside of the plate-shaped body to the upper side thereof.
The evaporator is connected by means of a pump to a supply of water which is to be purified, which pump is connected to level sensors in the basin part of the evaporator unit for controlling the water level in the basin part.
The roof part of the evaporator consists of a light-penetrable material, which material is preferably heat-insulating, and which material is preferably coated with a tear-resistant coating.
The plant preferably includes a solar panel for producing electric power for the fan, the pump and optionally the condenser.
The invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3986936 (1976-10-01), Rush
patent: 4053368 (1977-10-01), Courvoisier et al.
patent: 4187151 (1980-02-01), Hanning
patent: 4313426 (1982-02-01), Niedermeyer
patent: 4452696 (1984-06-01), Lopez
patent: 4770775 (1988-09-01), Lopez
patent: 4966655 (1990-10-01), Wilkerson, Jr.
patent: 5316626 (1994-05-01), Guy
patent: 5421962 (1995-06-01), Shvarts et al.
patent: 5468351 (1995-11-01), Hirota et al.
patent: 6001222 (1999-12-01), Klein
patent: 2503251 (1976-07-01), None
patent: 2650482 (1978-05-01), None
patent: 3501396 (1986-07-01), None
patent: 4406365 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 0345236 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 291093 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 62-213891 (1987-09-01), None
patent: 9104228 (1991-04-01), None
Shichiji, “Apparatus for Desalting Sea Water”, Jun. 20, 1985.
Browdy and Neimark
Manoharan Virginia
Pure Water Tech Ltd. AS
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