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Counter circulating liquid processing system by repeatedly re-using thermal … — Qi Wang (US10183872B2)

Qi Wang · Google Patents

Google Patents · Patents · License: Open Access

patent, google patents, intellectual property, US10183872B2, Qi Wang, en, 2019

ABSTRACT

Abstract

A liquid desalination, distillation, disinfection, purification, or concentration system by repeatedly re-using thermal energy is provided. Thermal heat source can be solar, fossil fuel, or low grade heat discharged from industrial systems. Multiple thermally insulated and isolated stages of vaporization-condensation chambers can be connected to enhance production yield. Vapor is generated by direct heating of liquid and flash evaporation. Vapor generated is condensed in condenser cooled by intake liquid. Counter circulating intake liquid will be heated by released latent heat from vapor. Externally provided thermal energy will accumulate and be re-used in the system. Vaporization and condensation process will be continuously re-cycled to enhance production yield. The system can be configured to support flexible deployment in various configurations and in different locations, including direct floating installation on water surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/175,358, filed Jun. 14, 2015 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Prior Art

Freshwater shortage worldwide has reached crisis level. There is urgent need to provide new freshwater supply worldwide, in addition to conservation effort. With increasingly depleted freshwater sources, the only potentially significant new freshwater source is desalination of seawater. Currently large scale commercially available desalination technology includes Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-Effect Distillation (MED), and Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (MSF). However, these desalination methods are expense and consume large amount of fossil fuel as energy source. Only resource-rich or developed nations can afford such technologies. With increasing concern of global climate change, technologies consuming large amount of non-renewable energy to generate freshwater is clearly not an environmentally sustainable long term solution. In addition, energy use efficiency of existing technologies converting saltwater into freshwater is less than ideal. They should and could be improved. Currently, there is no solution to provide new freshwater that can meet all of the long term requirements: environmentally sustainability, price competitiveness, large scale deployment, flexible installation, low cost construction and operation, etc.

Naturally using renewable solar energy to desalinate saltwater is an attractive and environmentally friendly approach. (Other renewable energy sources have not been proven to be adequate to desalinate saltwater on large scale.) Many solar desalination techniques capable of producing freshwater have been proposed. Of all proposed solar desalination technologies, thermal based desalination technology is the most promising. It is based on simple physical principle of using solar energy to heat and vaporize saltwater. Condensed water vapor will provide freshwater. However, solar desalination technology suffers from very low production yield, because of inherent low intensity solar energy. The cost to produce freshwater in turn is very expensive, especially when comparing with current freshwater supplies. Historically freshwater supply is often heavily subsidized by government. Its price typically is not reflection of true cost to produce freshwater. Hence any solar desalination techniques have to be price competitive to current freshwater supply, and can scale up to serve large population freshwater need, in addition to overcome any technical challenges.

Even with current commercially available MSF or MED based thermal desalination technologies using conventional fossil fuel or waste heat vapor from industrial plants, it is not using thermal energy to the fullest extent. Thermal energy re-use is quite limited. A substantial portion of thermal energy enters into the system is discarded. Production yield is limited.

Several other industries and applications use similar thermal distillation techniques and processes as in thermal desalination. They rely on the same physical principle. Original mixed liquid is thermally heated and vaporized. Evaporated vapor is then condensed into separate liquid. If mixed liquid and dissolved content have significant different boiling temperatures, they can be separated by this vaporization-condensation process. This is well-known distillation process to separate or concentrate liquid. This principle is widely used in chemical engineering, food processing, petroleum engineering, and pharmaceutical production to distill, disinfect, purify, or concentrate original liquid. Energy source to heat liquid can be fossil fuel, waste heat, or renewable energy sources like solar energy. Similar to thermal desalination, energy use efficiencies in these applications can be improved to increase production yield.

DEFINITION OF TERMINOLOGY

Important terminologies used in this disclosure are defined as in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Terminology and definition

Terminology

Definition

Original

Water taken from ambience environment to be processed

Water

(desalinated, distilled, purified, concentrated, or treated

for other purpose). It could be seawater, brackish water,

agricultural run-off, storm run-off, industrial waste water,

or any surface or sub-surface water, etc. to be processed.

Original

Liquid to be processed (distilled, disinfected, purified, or

Liquid

concentrated, or treated for other purpose). It could be

liquid chemical compound mixture, petroleum, or any

liquid mixture to be treated.

Brine Water

Water circulating in the system after being heated. It

contains original mixture of liquid components at various

concentration levels.

Discharged

Brine water discharged from the system after being

Brine Water

processed. It is more concentrated than brine water.

Freshwater

Water condensed from vapor generated through the

system.

Water Vapor

Freshwater vapor generated from heating brine water.

It is freshwater vapor that contains very low level of

salt. Heating at sufficiently high temperature will also

eliminate living contaminant such as bacteria.

Brine Liquid

Liquid circulating in the system after being heated.

Discharged

Brine liquid discharged from the system after being

Brine Liquid

processed. It is more concentrated than brine liquid.

(also known as

In liquid concentration applications brine liquid will

Concentrated

continuously and repeatedly processed till it reaches

Liquid)

certain concentrate level. It is then extracted from

the system.

Concentrated

See Discharged Brine Liquid

Liquid

Distilled

Liquid condensed from brine liquid vapor generated

Liquid

through the system. If boiling temperatures are

sufficiently differentiated it can be of pure form

for one type of liquid component in the original

liquid mixture.

Distilled

Steam generated from heating brine liquid. Typically,

Vapor

it is highly selectively concentrated with liquid that

has lower boiling temperature at the same pressure.

Waste Heat

By product of discharge low grade heat from industrial

plants such as power generation plants or chemical

processing plants. It is typically carried in the form

of water vapor. Alternatively, waste heat can be used

to generate water vapor.

Concentrate

Panel to concentrate low intensity solar energy.

Solar Panel

Its form can be parabolic trough or Fresnel Lens types.

(CSP)

Typically, an evacuated tube is placed near its focal

line. Heat transfer medium is circulated through the

evacuated tube and heated to pre-determined temperature.

Vapor can also be generated directly in the evacuated

tube if heat transfer medium is the liquid to be

processed itself.

Concentrated

Parabolic or spherical dish to concentrate low

Solar Dish

intensity solar energy. Typically, a vacuum evacuated

disk is placed near its focal point. Heat transfer

medium is circulated through the disk and heated to

pre-determined temperature. Vapor can also be generated

directly in the disk if heat transfer medium is the

liquid to be processed itself.

Thermal

Production of freshwater by heating saltwater to

Desalination

produce freshwater vapor. Vapor is then condensed

<tr cla

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/175,358, filed Jun. 14, 2015 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Prior Art

DEFINITION OF TERMINOLOGY

Important terminologies used in this disclosure are defined as in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Terminology and definition

Terminology

Definition

Original

Water taken from ambience environment to be processed

Water

(desalinated, distilled, purified, concentrated, or treated

for other purpose). It could be seawater, brackish water,

agricultural run-off, storm run-off, industrial waste water,

or any surface or sub-surface water, etc. to be processed.

Original

Liquid to be processed (distilled, disinfected, purified, or

Liquid

concentrated, or treated for other purpose). It could be

liquid chemical compound mixture, petroleum, or any

liquid mixture to be treated.

Brine Water

Water circulating in the system after being heated. It

contains original mixture of liquid components at various

concentration levels.

Discharged

Brine water discharged from the system after being

Brine Water

processed. It is more concentrated than brine water.

Freshwater

Water condensed from vapor generated through the

system.

Water Vapor

Freshwater vapor generated from heating brine water.

It is freshwater vapor that contains very low level of

salt. Heating at sufficiently high temperature will also

eliminate living contaminant such as bacteria.

Brine Liquid

Liquid circulating in the system after being heated.

Discharged

Brine liquid discharged from the system after being

Brine Liquid

processed. It is more concentrated than brine liquid.

(also known as

In liquid concentration applications brine liquid will

Concentrated

continuously and repeatedly processed till it reaches

Liquid)

certain concentrate level. It is then extracted from

the system.

Concentrated

See Discharged Brine Liquid

Liquid

Distilled

Liquid condensed from brine liquid vapor generated

Liquid

through the system. If boiling temperatures are

sufficiently differentiated it can be of pure form

for one type of liquid component in the original

liquid mixture.

Distilled

Steam generated from heating brine liquid. Typically,

Vapor

it is highly selectively concentrated with liquid that

has lower boiling temperature at the same pressure.

Waste Heat

By product of discharge low grade heat from industrial

plants such as power generation plants or chemical

processing plants. It is typically carried in the form

of water vapor. Alternatively, waste heat can be used

to generate water vapor.

Concentrate

Panel to concentrate low intensity solar energy.

Solar Panel

Its form can be parabolic trough or Fresnel Lens types.

(CSP)

Typically, an evacuated tube is placed near its focal

line. Heat transfer medium is circulated through the

evacuated tube and heated to pre-determined temperature.

Vapor can also be generated directly in the evacuated

tube if heat transfer medium is the liquid to be

processed itself.

Concentrated

Parabolic or spherical dish to concentrate low

Solar Dish

intensity solar energy. Typically, a vacuum evacuated

disk is placed near its focal point. Heat transfer

medium is circulated through the disk and heated to

pre-determined temperature. Vapor can also be generated

directly in the disk if heat transfer medium is the

liquid to be processed itself.

Thermal

Production of freshwater by heating saltwater to

Desalination

produce freshwater vapor. Vapor is then condensed

into freshwater.

Multi-stage

In multi-stage configuration each stage pressure

Flash

and temperature are maintained at progressively

Distillation

lower level than the previous stage. Liquid

(MSF)

entering this stage will rapidly evaporate

(flash evaporation) into vapor in order to adjust

to new thermal equilibrium within the new stage.

Multi-effect

In multi-stage configuration each stage pressure and

Distillation

temperature are maintained at progressively lower

(MED)

level than the previous stage. Distilled vapor

and liquid from previous stage is used as heat

source to heat and vaporize addition liquid.

Reverse

High pressure is applied to a membrane that will

Osmosis

block transfer of salt while allowing pass through

(RO)

of freshwater.

Low Grade

Also known as Waste Heat or Waste Vapor. In industrial

Heat (Also

applications such as power generating plants, some

known as

heat will be released into environment. Typically,

âWaste Heatâ)

it is carried away in vapor form and of low intensity.

It still contains suffcient temperature and thermal

energy to power distillation or concentration process.

SUMMARY

The methods and apparatus are based on vaporization of original liquid to produce distilled liquid. If the boiling temperatures of the original liquid components are sufficiently different, liquid vapor generated will be distilled. It is then condensed to produce distilled liquid. In water processing applications, such as saltwater desalination, water boiling temperature is sufficiently high, it can also dis-infect the water undergoing processing. Alternatively, the original liquid can flow through the apparatus repeatedly until pre-determined concentration level is reached. The apparatus, methods, and operation principles are described in the following sections.

1. Physical Principles

Distillation is widely used in many applications and industries. It is based on a simple fact that for a mixed liquid, if different liquid components have different boiling temperatures, when mixed liquid is heated, the vaporization rates for different components will be different. If temperature is set at appropriate temperature, one liquid component will vaporize more rapidly than other liquid components in the original liquid. Vapor generated can then be separated and condensed into liquid to almost pure single liquid component.

1.1 Vaporization and Condensation Cycle:

In thermal desalination process, saltwater is heated to generate freshwater vapor. This is because freshwater and salt have vastly different boiling temperatures. A side benefit is boiling of saltwater will kill organic matters and in effect disinfect the water. Freshwater that produced through thermal desalination can be directly consumed. Using solar thermal desalination as an example, typically temperature difference between saltwater boiling temperature and ambient sea surface is greater than 70Â° C. Water vapor pressure ratio between these two temperatures can be 25Ë40 times. Once generated, water vapor can condense rapidly when exposed to such pressure and temperature difference. However, production yield by relying only on this principle typically is rather low because solar energy intensity at earth surface is low (Ë1000 W/m 2 ).

Another physical process can be employed to increase production rate is flash evaporation. For a given liquid mixture in a container, it will be at its thermal equilibrium, i.e. its temperature, pressure, and volume will be at certain level according to thermal dynamic laws. If one parameter is suddenly changed, the mixture will adjust itself to reach new thermal equilibrium state by releasing or absorbing thermal energy. When a liquid at higher temperature is introduced to a region at sufficiently lower pressure and temperature, this liquid is âsuperheatedâ in that region. It must release excessive thermal energy to reach new thermal equilibrium state in lower temperature region. Excessive heat is released by vaporizing liquid. Latent heat needed to vaporize liquid will carry away the excessive thermal energy and lower liquid's temperature. This process is called flash evaporation because this type of evaporation can happen rapidly. Multiple of vaporization and condensation stages can be connected together to form a system based on flash vaporization. It is estimated that as much as 13% of saltwater can be âflashâ vaporized to generate freshwater vapor between boiling and ambient temperatures. This is in addition to direct vaporization of heating saltwater to boiling temperature.

If only above two physical processes are used to distill or concentrate liquid, production yield typically is still limited. That is why conventional MSF or MED uses large amount of energy to generate distilled liquid. In solar desalination, combined with inherent low intensity of solar energy at earth surface, freshwater production yield will be very low and impractical in commercial applications. This is the physical reason why so many proposed solar desalination techniques have not been able to generate sufficient large amount of freshwater at low cost.

Fortunately, a third physical process can be employed to significantly enhance the distilled liquid production yield. Two counter-flowing heat exchange processes can be designed to further enhance the energy use efficiency and production yield: counter-circulating multi-stage vaporization and multi-stage condensation. Cyclical flash vaporization and condensation can be repeatedly used to vaporize and condense original liquid, provided proper thermal loss is reduced to minimal and thermal isolation between stages is well maintained.

In this design, original liquid serves two purposes. On one flow path it is used to vaporize and generate distilled liquid vapor. External heat will directly vaporize original liquid. Flash vaporization through different stages will vaporize additional liquid. On counter-flowing opposite direction path, original liquid is also used as coolant to condense vapor to generate distilled liquid. When distilled vapor condenses it releases its latent heat to coolant (original liquid). The original liquid as coolant will absorb latent heat and its temperature will gradually rise as it is transported to different stages in the opposite direction. This process can be repeated indefinitely if there is no thermal loss, perfect thermal isolation between stages, and efficient thermal exchanges. In practical situation there will be thermal loss. But if such loss is well controlled and minimized, such repeat vaporization-condensation cycle can be prolonged. As more and more external thermal energy is added to the apparatus, even for low intensity solar energy, total thermal energy available to vaporization-condensation can be drastically increased, i.e. âamplifiedâ. Much higher yield of distilled liquid can then be produced.

In addition, speed of vaporization and condensation cycle can be significantly improved if high efficiency heat exchange devices are used in the apparatus. The amount of vapor generated or condensed depends on not only the amount of thermal energy available, but also thermal energy transfer rate. Faster heat exchange process will produce higher volume of distilled liquid. This will further enhance the production yield of distilled liquid.

This disclosure utilizes all of the above physical processes to present a highly productive apparatus and methods to generate distilled or concentrated liquid. Below sections describe in more details of the apparatus, methods, and operation. The apparatus has multiple stages. Its first stage is direct vaporization stage by using external heat transfer medium. Intermediate stages are used to flash vaporize additional liquid. The last stage is used to pre-heat intake original liquid. External thermal energy will continuously enter into the apparatus and accumulate. Total available thermal energy to vaporize will increase until external thermal energy and thermal loss from the apparatus reaches equilibrium.

1.2 Multi-Stage Vaporization:

1) Direct Heating and Vaporization Stage: Solar, fossil fuel, or industrial waste heat is used to directly heat and vaporize original liquid in the first stage. Heating can be provided by heat transfer medium flow through heat exchanger in the first direct heating stage, or by vapor, or by liquid produced externally using renewable energy, industrial waste heat, or conventional heat source.

2) Flash Vaporization Stages: Middle section of intermediate stages rely on flash vaporization to produce additional distilled vapor. At each stage saturation pressure and temperature are maintained at progressively lower level. Therefore, heated original liquid (brine liquid) from previous stage will be flash vaporized when it enters the next lower pressure and temperature stage. Such flash vaporization will produce additional distilled vapor-in addition to direct vaporization occurring in the first directing heating stage.

3) High thermal efficiency vaporization device can be employed to speed up heat exchange process during vaporization.

1.3 Multi-Stage Condensation:

1) In each stage vapor will condense on the condenser that is maintained at lower temperature, cooled by intake liquid flowing through it.

2) Liquid condensed is then extracted away to heat brine liquid in next stage.

3) High efficiency condenser and surface treatment can be employed to increase heat exchange between vapor and condenser. Different techniques include: (a) Increase condenser heat exchange surface area; (b) Design different geometric configuration of heat exchanger; (c) Apply hydrophobic coating to exchanger exterior surface; (d) Use higher thermal conductivity materials to construct thermal exchanger.

1.4 Counter Circulating Heat Exchange:

1) Original liquid (from condenser) enters the first stage is heated to boiling temperature to generate vapor. As it enters next stages it will continuously be flash vaporized. Its temperature will be gradually lowered. Thermal energy is transferred to the coolant in condensers.

2) Circulating in opposite direction, coolant used in condenser is the same intake liquid. As it enters a stage, because its temperature is at lower level, it will act as coolant to condense higher temperature vapor in that particular stage. As it moves into next stage, it will absorb thermal energy released by condensed vapor. And its temperature will gradually increase.

1.5 Accumulation of Thermal Energy:

1) If thermal loss to the environment is reduced to minimal, and there is good thermal isolation between stages to maintain different thermal equilibrium states, heat exchange between these two processes can continue for prolonged time period. In an idea situation this vaporization-condensation cycle can continue indefinitely. Thermal insulation and isolation can be accomplished by the combination of: a) using low thermal conductivity materials for stage exterior wall; b) adding thermal shield to the exterior wall and other components (pipelines, valves, regulators, and pumps) of the stage; c) applying surface coating to increase heat absorption from the environment, d) enclosing the stage in a vacuum chamber to reduce convective heat loss to the environment; e) adding active heating to the exterior of the stage to reduce temperature difference between stage exterior wall and the environment.

2. System Architecture and Operation

The overall system architecture, apparatus, and operation is described in the following sections.

2.1 Multi-Stage System:

The system is designed to have multiple stages ( FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 ). The first stage ( FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ) is direct vaporization stage. External thermal energy is used to heat brine liquid and generate vapor directly. External thermal energy can be transferred into this stage either indirectly using heating media, or it can be vapor produced externally. In the first stage, lower temperature intake liquid in condenser will condense the liquid vapor. Once it's heated up to near boiling temperature, it will be released into this stage. It will then be further heated by external heat and generate vapor. Remaining heated brine liquid, at boiling temperature in this stage, will be transferred to next stage for further flash vaporization.

The last stage of the system is the pre-heating stage ( FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 ). Brine liquid (to be discharged) and distilled liquid will flow through this stage at two separate heat exchangers. Intake liquid at ambient temperature enters this stage in opposite direction. Thermal energy remaining in brine liquid and distilled liquid will be transferred to the intake liquid flowing in opposite direction. Brine liquid and distilled liquid temperature will be lowered to near ambient temperature and then released or extracted away for consumption. Intake liquid will absorb thermal energy from the brine liquid and distilled liquid. Its temperature will gradually increase. In effect thermal energy is exchanged between brine liquid and distilled liquid to intake liquid. Minimal thermal energy will be lost. Released liquid (brine liquid and distilled) will be at temperature near ambient temperature.

Between the first and last stages, multiple intermediate stages ( FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 ) are implemented. In these stages, intake liquid will act as coolant in condenser, because its temperature is lower than the stage temperature as it enters the stage. When it leaves the stage, however, it will absorb thermal energy released by the condensed distilled liquid. Its temperature will rise to near stage temperature. Brine liquid and condensed distilled liquid from previous stage will be at higher temperature when just enter this stage. Brine liquid is âsuperheatedâ in this stage and it will âflashâ evaporate to generate vapor. Condensed distilled liquid is used to heat brine liquid in this stage to generate additional vapor. During the process, condensed distilled liquid will release its excess thermal energy. Its temperature will be lowered to the stage temperature.

2.2 Thermally Shielded and Isolated System:

The system must be thermally shielded to reduce heat loss to the environment. Low thermal conductivity materials can be used in construction of the system. Elements exposed to the environment should be thermally shielded to reduce thermal energy loss. Between stages they should also be thermally shielded to provide thermal isolation. Active heating, by absorbing solar energy or conventional directly controlled heating, can be used to reduce temperature difference between the stage and environment, and therefore reduce thermal loss.

2.3 Dynamically Controlled Operation:

Each stage is dynamically controlled at pre-determined different pressure and temperature. First stage is at highest pressure and temperature. In the second and later stages, temperatures and pressures are progressively lowered to provide pre-determined temperature and pressure differences between stages. At each stage thermal equilibrium temperature and pressure are determined by thermal dynamics.

2.4 Continuous Filtration:

Each stage contains additional filtration to reduce dissolved mineral content. In the last pre-heater stage, original liquid at ambient temperature is first filtered to remove organic and dissolved mineral content. It is then transferred through condenser to provide cooling to condense vapor. In between each stage, addition filtration is added to further remove dissolved mineral content. Original liquid can also be pre-treated chemically and mechanically.

3. Applications

In one embodiment, but not limited to, a solar thermal desalination system can be designed to directly generate freshwater vapor from saltwater, and condense the freshwater vapor into freshwater cooled by ambient saltwater. This system can also be used for saltwater desalination, water purification, and water disinfection near large body of surface water, such as ocean, sea, lake, reservoir, river, etc.

In addition, this method can be applied broadly to any kind of liquid that needs distillation, disinfection, and purification of any water such as brackish water, agricultural runoff, storm runoff water, industrial waste water, or municipal waste water. If it is solar based, it can operate off-grid in remote or less developed areas worldwide. With minor re-configuration, it can also be used to distill, disinfect, purify, or concentrate liquid in other industries such as in chemical engineering, food processing, petroleum engineering, and pharmaceutical production.

3.1 Solar Saltwater Desalination System:

Using solar desalination as an illustrative example, freshwater vapor can be generated from saltwater with Concentrated Solar Panel (CSP). It can include two modes of operation: 1) Direct vapor generation and 2) Indirect vapor generation. In direct vapor generation, saltwater is pumped through thermally evacuated tube directly. Solar energy heat and vaporize saltwater. Pressure and temperature inside evacuated tube is controlled by adjusting the pressure and saltwater flow rate through the tube. In indirect vapor generation, heat transfer medium is heated by CSP solar energy. Heat transfer fluid carries solar energy to each stage to heat up and vaporize saltwater. FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 demonstrate different embodiments of using CSP to desalinate saltwater.

As brine water moves to the next stage it will be heated up by absorbing released latent heat from condensed freshwater vapor. To-be-discharged brine saltwater and condensed freshwater will go through heat exchangers containing intake liquid. Its temperature will be lowered to near ambient temperature and then released. In such counter-circulating heat exchange process, thermal energy will be re-cycled through the system continuously. Minimal thermal energy will be lost to the environment. As more and more thermal energy enters the system, it will be accumulated and intensified. More thermal energy will be available to vaporize and produce freshwater. In effect low intensity or low grade thermal energy such as solar energy or waste energy can be âamplifiedâ to produce larger quantity freshwater.

3.2 Solar Saltwater Desalination Deployment:

Deployment of solar desalination system can be on land near water source, float directly on water surface, or semi-permanently fixed structure near coast. Each CSP and vapor generator/condenser assembly can be connected to form a distributed network. Each unit will operate independent from each. Such distributed system provides additional robustness and reliability. Networked system can be supported on a rigid structure. For water surface installation, the networked system will be floated by flotation devices around the supporting structure to provide buoyancy. For direct installation on seabed, the system will be secured on supporting structure. At opposite corner, a motor powered propeller are connected to the assemble. It is used to control the orientation of each networked assembly to track sun position throughout the day in a floating installation. Angle of CSP is also dynamically adjusted to maximize incident solar energy.

In order to decrease turbulent effect of surface water waves. At the perimeter of the installation, protective buffers are used to reduce wave intensity. As wave pass through such buffers, its energy will be absorbed and reduced by the buffers.

This system can be cascaded into multiple stage water purification system. Previous stage purified water can be sent into next stage water intake pump to provide additional distillation and purification.

Because freshwater is condensed boiling water vapor, if pipelines/condenser/storage tanks are properly sanitized and maintained, purified water can be directly consumed. Portion of the thermal energy can be used to heat freshwater to provide heated freshwater for direct consumption.

ADVANTAGES

This disclosure presents a viable solution to generate freshwater at high volume to meet large scale, low cost desalination need. It can also be generalized into broader applications and industries. Thermal energy is used and re-used repeatedly to generate vapor and condense vapor into distilled (or concentrated) liquid. It can in effect âamplifyâ low intensity energy source such as solar energy or waste heat to significantly increase production yield. It can also be used in broader applications in other industries to improve liquid processing production yield. Applications can benefit from this technology include liquid distillation, disinfection, purification, and concentration in chemical engineering, food processing, petroleum engineering, and pharmaceutical production, etc. Thermal energy source used to generate distilled or concentrated liquid can be solar, fossil fuel, or waste heat from industrial plants. Summaries of some of the key advantages are listed in the following:

1) Counter-circulating vapor generation and condensation to continuously re-use thermal energy to increase production yield. 2) Dynamic pressure and temperature controlled vapor generation and condensation to maximize yield. 3) Highly efficient heat exchange devices to further enhance production yield. 4) Thermally shielded and isolated steam generation and condensation component to reduce heat loss, and to maintain optimal thermal equilibrium state in each stage. 5) Distributed networked system for increased reliability and robustness. 6) Multi-stage high temperature filtration for dissolved minerals and other organic or particular materials. 7) Direct floating installation at water surface. 8) Propelled solar tracking for floating installation. 9) Perimeter wave reduction devices to reduce water wave turbulence to the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the side view of one embodiment for the first stage of the apparatus. Pressure and temperature controls are not shown for clarity purpose.

FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of the same embodiment as in FIG. 1 for the first stage of the apparatus. For clarity purpose the bottom portion of the stage (heat exchanger to vaporize brine liquid) non-condensable gas and vapor extraction and regulation, and demister are not shown. They can be inferred from side view in FIG. 1 . Pressure and temperature controls are not shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates the side view of one embodiment for intermediate stages. Pressure and temperature controls are not shown for clarity purpose.

FIG. 4 illustrates the side view of the same embodiment as in FIG. 3 for the intermediate stages. For clarity purpose the bottom portion of the stage and demister are not shown. They can be inferred from side view in FIG. 3 . Pressure and temperature controls are not shown.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment for the last stage, pre-heater stage, in a distillation or desalination configuration. Pressure and temperature controls are not shown for clarity purpose.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment for the last stage, pre-heater stage, in a concentration configuration. Pressure and temperature controls are not shown for clarity purpose.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus in a horizontally connected multi-stage configuration. Pressure and temperature controls are not shown for clarity purpose.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus in a vertically stacked multi-stage configuration. It operates similarly as in FIG. 7 horizontally connected configuration. Pressure and temperature controls are not shown for clarity purpose.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus configuration and application in floating solar thermal desalination configuration. Anchor of the platform to sea floor is not shown for clarify purpose.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus in a distributed, networked configuration for solar thermal desalination.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus utilizing waste heat from power plant or other industrial systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the side view of one embodiment of the first stage in the distillation embodiment. In desalination embodiment intake original liquid will be saltwater. The heating medium can be heat transfer medium heated by external heat source, or can be vapor directly.

External thermal energy (from solar or other heat sources) is pumped in to heat and vaporize brine liquid. Brine liquid is already near boiling temperature when it is released from condenser into this stage, because it has circulated through condensers in other stages as coolant. Vapor generated will condense to form distilled liquid. Distilled liquid and remaining brine liquid will be pumped into next stage to heat and vaporize additional brine liquid. Demister is used to filter brine liquid droplets formed during vaporization.

TABLE 2

Side-view of the first vaporization stage numerals and parts

Numeral

Description

Notes

100

Vaporization

chamber

102

Vapor condenser.

Condenser is cooled by the intake

liquid. Intake liquid has been used as

coolant in condensers and heated by

previous stages. At discharge point

(116) its temperature will be near

boiling temperature.

104

Condenser coolant

Pipeline is connected to the output of

pump and pipeline.

pervious stage's condenser coolant

output.

106

Distilled liquid

In desalination embodiment distilled

collection pan.

liquid will be freshwater.

108

Distilled liquid

It is pumped to next stage as heat

extraction pipeline

source to heat brine liquid (324).

and pump.

110

Demister.

Used to filter liquid droplets that may

form when vaporizing original liquid.

112

Pump to distribute

Brine liquid is near boiling

heated intake

temperature at this point.

brine liquid from</td

CLAIMS

Claims ( 17 )

I claim:

1. A method to desalinate, distill, disinfect, purify, or concentrate original liquid, the method comprising:

(a) providing a fluid to a direct heating and vaporization as first stage, a series of flash vaporization stages, and a pre-heater stage;

(b) integrating condenser within each stage except the pre-heater stage;

(c) connecting the stages through pipelines, regulators, and pumps to dynamically control stage saturation pressure and temperature and liquid, vapor and non-condensable gas flow rate;

(d) thermally insulating each stage from ambient environment and thermally isolating each stage from each other;

(e) integrating external heat source to heat a heat transfer medium;

(f) integrating a heat exchanger in the first stage to directly heat and vaporize original liquid, wherein the heat transfer medium transfers heat to the original liquid in the stage via the heat exchanger;

(g) directing the outflow of original liquid from the first direct heating stage in (f) to a series of connected flash vaporization and condensation stages, wherein each stage saturation pressure and temperature are dynamically controlled at progressively lower level towards pre-heater stage;

(h) directing the outflow from the last of the series of flash vaporization stages to the pre-heater stage and mixed it with fresh intake original liquid;

(i) directing mixed liquid in (h) to the last flash vaporization stage condenser in opposite direction from the original liquid;

(j) using the mixed liquid in (i) as coolant for condensers;

(k) connecting and regulating coolant flow rate through the series of condensers to condense distilled liquid in each stage; (l) returning coolant from the condenser in the first direct heating and vaporization stage to the stage, wherein coolant is re-used and mixed with original liquid;

(m) collecting and transporting condensed distilled liquid from each stage by pumps;

(n) removing non-condensable gas from each stage by pumps;

(o) installing a demister to separate collected distilled liquid from original liquid in each stage.

2. The method in claim 1 , wherein thermal insulation for each stage and thermal isolation between stages are achieved by (a) constructing stage exterior walls using low thermal conductivity materials;

(b) shielding the stage exterior walk with thermal insulating materials;

(d) shielding the stage by adding extra thermal vacuum chamber enclosing the stage; or

(e) heating of the exterior walls of the stage by adding heating element.

3. The method in claim 1 , wherein the first stage generates distilled vapor by circulating externally heated heat transfer medium through the heat exchanger in the stage.

4. The method in claim 1 , wherein each flash vaporization stage is operated at controlled saturation pressure and temperature.

5. The method in claim 4 , wherein the series of flash vaporization stages' saturation pressures and temperatures are dynamically controlled at progressively lower level to enable flash vaporization.

6. The method in claim 4 , wherein the distilled vapor is generated by the super-heated original liquid entering flash vaporization stage with lower saturation pressure and temperature.

7. The method in claim 6 , wherein the original liquid entering the stage has higher temperature than the stage saturation temperature.

8. The method in claim 1 , wherein the original liquid from the last stage of the series of flash vaporization stages is re-used and fed into condenser as coolant.

9. The method in claim 8 , wherein the coolant entering condenser in each flash vaporization stage has temperature lower than the stage saturation temperature to enable condensation of distilled vapor in the stage.

10. The method in claim 1 , wherein the condenser thermal exchange efficiency is enhanced by:

(a) increasing condenser thermal exchange surface area;

(b) applying hydrophobic coating to condenser exterior surface;

(d) using high thermal conducting materials to construct condenser.

11. The method in claim 1 , wherein condensed distilled liquid is collected by a collector.

12. The method in claim 1 , wherein the collected distilled liquid is transported away from stage by pumps.

13. The method in claim 1 , further comprising continuously removing of organic, particular, and dissolved mineral content in original liquid between stages by means of filtration.

14. The method in claim 1 , further comprising mixing of original liquid from the last flashing vaporization with fresh intake original liquid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat for heating the heat transfer medium used in heating the evaporator stage is provided by:

(a) using heat from a concentrated solar power collector;

(b) using industrial waste heat;

(d) using an electrical heater.

16. The method in claim 15 , wherein Concentrated Solar Power collector sun tracking is provided by selecting from the group of methods consisting of:

(a) using motorized propellers attached to opposite side of the system rotating the system floating at water surface; and

(b) using motorized collector panel following sun inter-day and intra-day positions.

17. The method in claim 1 , wherein the system is installed (a) with a collector array on land;

(b) on a floating the system at water surface by means of attaching flotation devices, or using the system's pipelines and stages in the apparatus as flotation devices;

(d) on mobile vehicle.

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