AU2007203507A1 - A means and method for producing potable water and electricity - Google Patents
A means and method for producing potable water and electricity Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2007203507A1 AU2007203507A1 AU2007203507A AU2007203507A AU2007203507A1 AU 2007203507 A1 AU2007203507 A1 AU 2007203507A1 AU 2007203507 A AU2007203507 A AU 2007203507A AU 2007203507 A AU2007203507 A AU 2007203507A AU 2007203507 A1 AU2007203507 A1 AU 2007203507A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- water
- solar
- heat
- saline
- salt
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 title claims description 26
- 235000012206 bottled water Nutrition 0.000 title claims description 24
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 title claims description 12
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 11
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 60
- FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium chloride Chemical compound [Na+].[Cl-] FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000011780 sodium chloride Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 28
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000002351 wastewater Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000009360 aquaculture Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 244000144974 aquaculture Species 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 241000195493 Cryptophyta Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012258 culturing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims description 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000020188 drinking water Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- ZZXREVQVZCYAIE-IGBVEJJSSA-N [(2s,3r,4r)-5-[(2s,3r,4s,5r)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-[(2r,3r,4r)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-5-oxopentan-2-yl]oxyoxan-4-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]methyl (e)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate Chemical compound C1=C(O)C(OC)=CC(\C=C\C(=O)OC[C@H]2[C@@H]([C@@H](O)C(O[C@@H]3[C@H]([C@H](O[C@H](CO)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C=O)OC[C@H]3O)O)O2)O)=C1 ZZXREVQVZCYAIE-IGBVEJJSSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009412 basement excavation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000021321 essential mineral Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003517 fume Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003673 groundwater Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 244000052769 pathogen Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012266 salt solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/02—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating
- C02F1/04—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation
- C02F1/14—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation using solar energy
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
- F03G6/003—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy having a Rankine cycle
- F03G6/005—Binary cycle plants where the fluid from the solar collector heats the working fluid via a heat exchanger
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
- F24S10/10—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids forming pools or ponds
- F24S10/13—Salt-gradient ponds
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
- Y02A20/208—Off-grid powered water treatment
- Y02A20/211—Solar-powered water purification
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
- Y02A20/208—Off-grid powered water treatment
- Y02A20/212—Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E10/46—Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W10/00—Technologies for wastewater treatment
- Y02W10/30—Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies
- Y02W10/37—Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies using solar energy
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
Description
30/07 2007 16:53 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA R 009/029 0
O
S58187 PAB:FKD Z P/001011 Regulation 3.2 e
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION In SFOR A STANDARD PATENT 0 (N ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: DON WESTLAKE Actual Inventor: DON WESTLAKE Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A MEANS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING POTABLE WATER AND
ELECTRICITY
The following statement is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16'.54 FAX COLLISON 8 CO IP AUST CANBERRA a010/029 o 2 TECHNICAL FIELD 0 The present invention relates to a means and method for producing potable water and electricity from a source of saline water.
ec BACKGRCUND ART o 5 In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, Sact or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not to be construed as an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevani to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
In many parts of the world, including here in Australia, development of remote areas in particular is severely restricted due to lack of access to water and electrical supplies. However, many of these locations have access to saline water, which is in itself, a threat to regional assets in many instances.
It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a means and method for producing potable water and electricity from a source of saline water.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
For the purpose of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word 'comprises' has a corresponding meaning.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:54 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA I011/029 o 3 In one forrr of this invention there is proposed a system for producing potable water and electricity including a saline gradient or solar pond, a power plant Sutilising an Organic Rankine Cycle using the solar pond as a source of heat, and a solar still being supplied saline bore or salt water which has been preheated by using the solar pond as a source of heat.
0 en Preferably, the Rankine Cycle power plant is a heat engine utilising an Organic Rankine Cycle, the heat engine being coupled to an alternator producing o electrical power.
Preferably, the heat engine utilising an Organic Rankine Cycle utilises a refrigerant as the working fluid.
Preferably, heat is transferred from the solar pond to both the power plant and the solar still by pumping a fluid through a circuit, part of which passes through the hottest part of the solar pond so that the fluid being pumped through the circuit is heated by the solar pond.
Is Preferably, the circuit includes a heat exchanger which transfers heat from the fluid being aumped through the circuit to the power plant.
Preferably, the circuit includes a further heat exchanger which transfers heat from the fluid being pumped through the circuit to the saline bore or salt water.
Preferably, the saline bore or salt water is pumped from this further heat exchanger to the solar still, which in turn produces potable water and wastewater.
Preferably, either of the potable water or waste water produced by the solar still may be mixed with the saline bore or salt water or indeed a further source of water and further utilised.
Preferably, potable water mixed with saline bore or salt water in the correct COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:54 FAXX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA R 012/029 0 4 Sproportions for this purpose may be used in hydroponic vegetable culture.
Preferably, potable water mixed with saline bore or salt water in the correct proportions for this purpose may be used in inland sea water aquaculture.
1, Preferably, potable water mixed with saline bore or salt water in the correct o 5 proportions so as to create water with a salt content suitable for culturing and harvesting micro algae for the production of hydrocarbon fuels.
CPreferably, concentrated wastewater from the solar still is returned to the solar pond.
Preferably, the excess wastewater from the solar still is evaporated off so as to leave salt.
Preferably, the part of the circuit passing through the hottest part of the solar pond is a network of polypropylene pipe.
Preferably, the fluid being pumped through the circuit is water.
Preferably, the solar still is a commercially available unit as manufactured by Thamesford Pty. Ltd. in Adelaide, South Australia, or their licensee sun Sure Water of Seaford Victoria.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with respect to the preferred embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein; Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the system; and Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the inter-relationship between the COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:54 FAX GOLLISON S CO IP AUST CANBERRA Ia013/029 0 0 components of the system, and additional, optional components or features.
O DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the illustrations, and in particular to Figure 1, where there is illustrated a system for producing potable water and electricity, the system c 5 including a saline gradient or solar pond 1, a power plant 2 utilising an Organic SRankine Cycle and using the solar pond 1 as a source of heat, and a solar still 4 0 being supplied saline bore or salt water source 6 which has been heated using
C
water from the solar pond 1.
The solar pond 1 is a pool of water that collects and stores solar energy. It contains layers of salt solutions with increasing concentration (and therefore density) to a certain depth, below which the solution has a uniform high salt concentration.
A pond of practical size has been found to be one having an area of 0.25ha metres square) and 3.5 m in depth. Following excavation, the pond would be lined with a strong UV resistant plastic liner to prevent seepage of saline water.
This pond is then charged progressively with hyper saline water in a controlled manner until the salt content in the water reaches S.G. 1.22 1.25 in the bottom one metre deep portion.
Progressively lower salinity water is then introduced at the surface of the solar pond through through a diffuser (not illustrated), in such a way that the high salinity water stays on or near the bottom.
When sola- radiation (sunlight) is absorbed, the density gradient prevents heat in the lower layers from moving upwards by convection and leaving the pond.
This means that the temperature at the bottom of the pond can rise to 85 "C while the temperature at the top of the pond is usually around 30 °C.
The heat trapped in the salty bottom layer is then used to supply heat to the COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:55 FAX COLLISON CO 3/ IP AUST CANBERRA @I014/029 0 6 S Rankine Cycle power plant 2.
cThis heat may also be used for other purposes however, such as the heating of buildings or industrial hot water.
If The Rankine Cycle power plant 2 is a heat engine utilising an Organic Rankine o 5 Cycle and refrigerant as the working fluid. The advantage of using a heat engine running on an Organic Rankine Cycle is that this allows the use of a lower S(relatively) temperature heat source, being in this case, the solar pond 1.
Typically, such a power plant 2 can be largely constructed from 'off the shelf' industrial air conditioning parts. The heat from the solar pond ithen is used to pressure the refrigerant to produce a high pressure in the refrigerant gas, which is then used to drive a turbine T that drives an alternator 8 producing electrical power.
Heat is supplied to heat engine utilising the Organic Rankine Cycle by a pair of heat exchangers 10 and 12, at least part of the first 10 of which is positioned in the solar pond 1 so as to pass through the warmest portion of this, so that water being carried by the heat exchanger can then accept heat from the hotter water of the solar pond.
This first heat exchanger 10 is a network of polypropylene pipe extending through the warmest part of the solar pond.
The warm water from the heat exchanger is run through a plate heat exchanger 12 so as to transfer this heat to the heat engine 2 utilising the Organic Rankine Cycle.
Water from the saline bore or salt water source 6 is pumped to an insulated.
storage tark and heat exchanger 14 so that further heat from the water sourced from the solar pond 1 may be used to preheat the saline bore or salt water prior to this being pumped to a field of solar stills 4. These solar stills 4 are a commercially available unit, manufactured by Thamesford Pty. Ltd. in Adelaide, COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:55 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA I015/029 o 7 3 South Australia or their licensee sun Sure Water of Seaford Victoria.
t' A major benefit of these particular units is that they require little to no maintenance.
f The solar stills 4 will each yield up to 7 litres of potable water 20 per day when o 5 running continuously. The distillation process kills all pathogens in the water due to the temperature and UV rays from the sun, so water is already purified to O better than established drinking standards. The waste saline water 22 from the stills 4 can be used to top up the solar pond.
Night time water production will require there to be a UV sterilization process to ensure water quality is maintained.
Alternative'y, the waste saline water 22 from the stills 4 may be run onto long shallow troughs of black plastic sheet (not illustrated) to act as evaporation pans. The resulting pure salt could be collected, cleaned, packaged and sold.
The potable water produced by the stills 4 can be mixed with water from the existing water source 6 to maximize output and introduce the essential mineral componen:s for potable water. This mixed water may then also be used in hydroponic: vegetable culture: Potable water produced by the stills 4 can also be mixed with water from the existing water source 6 so as to create water with a salt content suitable for use in inland sea water aquaculture. Heat from the solar pond 1 may be transferred via use of a heat exchanger to the water of the aqua culture facility so as to create optimum growing conditions.
Wastewater from the aqua culture facility may be pumped through the heat exchanger 14 to increase the temperature of this prior to its being passed through the solar stills 4. The concentrated wastewater may then be passed COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:55 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA 1a016/029 0 8 0 Sthrough filtration systems so as to separate the solid from liquid, the resultant Sdry paste Leing suitable for use as an agricultural fertilizer.
Furthermore, potable water produced by the stills 4 can be mixed with water from the existing water source 6 so as to create water with a salt content In 5 suitable for culturing and harvesting micro algae for the production of Shydrocarbon fuels.
In practice, it is envisage that a 0.25 ha solar pond with an Organic Rankine C Cycle power plant powering an alternator can facilitate the production of 100kW electricity, and in conjunction with 1.6 ha of solar stills, produce 12 000 litres or potable water per day. Such an installation would provide power and water for up to 40 homes or alternatively, provide for commercial/agricultural applications.
An advantage of this system is that the pond stores a considerable amount of heat, as such, output can be maintained day and night even for long periods of poor sunlight without cost penalties. In addition, there are no electricity high spot prices when demand is greatest. Managed effectively, excess power could be sold into the grid at these peak times with high financial gain.
Other benefits of a system according to the present invention include: 1. Productive use of salt degraded land.
2. Sale of recovered salt to the retail market.
3. No environmental negative impact (little noise, no fumes or release of carbon dioxide).
4. The production of hydroponic vegetables or flowers, aquaculture, fresh green fodder production or fruit drying income earners providing employment and sales of fodder.
COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:55 FAX COLLISON CO 3 IP AUST CANBERRA I017/029 0 9 0 3 5. Minimises the impact of rising saline ground water on rural land.
0Z en 6. Sale of excess electricity to the grid where possible.
7. Provision of high quality drinking water In S8. Improvement of community health and standard of living.
9. Possible tourist attraction creating local community jobs.
Minimal operating maintenance cost.
11. Creation of additional skills to community through training for gainful employment in maintenance and operation of the installation (capacity building).
12. Showcase installation for a new industry- 13. Provision of research data for further commercialization and development.
It can be seen then that the system according to the present invention can provide drinking water, electricity and gainful employment. It is anticipated this system will be attractive to communities that have ample low cost land and plenty of saline water, but limited fresh water and limited or no access to grid power supplies. Using the established model of community banking, a community could set up an incorporated body to obtain funding, issue shares and operale the facility for the benefit of the community.
Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that depar.ures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:56 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA I018/029 0 010 of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
O
0 0i COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30
Claims (2)
1. A system for producing potable water and electricity including a saline
17- gradient or solar pond, a power plant utilising an Organic Rankine Cycle using f the solar pond as a source of heat, and a solar still being supplied saline bore or o 5 salt water which has been pre-heated by using the solar pond as a source of heat. Ci 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the Rankine Cycle power plant is a heat engine utilising an Organic Rankine Cycle, the heat engine being coupled to an alternator producing electrical power. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the heat engine utilising an Organic Rankine Cycle utilises a refrigerant as the working fluid. 4. The system as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein heat is transferred from the solar pond to both the power plant and the solar still by pumping a fluid through a circuit, part of which passes through the hottest part of the solar pond so that the fluid being pumped through the circuit is heated by the solar pond. The system as claim 4, wherein the circuit includes a heat exchanger which transfers heat from the fluid being pumped through the circuit to the power plant. 6. The system as in either one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the circuit includes a further heat exchanger which transfers heat from the fluid being pumped through the circuit to the saline bore or salt water. 7. The system as in claim 6, wherein the saline bore or salt water is pumped from this fL rther heat exchanger to the solar still, which in turn produces potable water and waste water. COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16'.56 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA I020/029 S12 S8. The system as in claim 7, wherein either of the potable water or waste Swater produced by the solar still may be mixed with the saline bore or salt water en or indeed a further source of water and further utilised. 9. The system as in claim 7, wherein potable water mixed with saline bore or 5 salt water in the correct proportions for this purpose may be used in hydroponic Svegetable culture. C"- o 10. The system as in claim 7, wherein potable water mixed with saline bore or salt water in the correct proportions for this purpose may be used in inland sea water aquaculture. 11. The system as in claim 7, wherein potable water mixed with saline bore or salt water in the correct proportions so as to create water with a salt content suitable for culturing and harvesting micro algae for the production of hydrocarbon fuels. 12. The system as in claim 7, wherein the waste water from the solar still is returned to the solar pond. 13. The system as in claim 7, wherein the waste water from the solar still is evaporated off so as to leave salt. 14. The system as in any one of claims 4 through 13, wherein the part of the circuit passing through the hottest part of the solar pond is a network of polypropylene pipe. The system as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid being pumped through the circuit is water. 16. The system as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solar still is a commercially available unit as manufactured by Thamesford Pty. Ltd- in Adelaide, South Australia. COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30 30/07 2007 16:56 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA I021/029 0 13 S17. A system for producing potable water and electricity as described in the Sspecification, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying 0 ecn representations. n Ci ci COMS ID No: ARCS-154944 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:29 Date 2007-07-30
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2007203507A AU2007203507A1 (en) | 2007-07-30 | 2007-07-30 | A means and method for producing potable water and electricity |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2007203507A AU2007203507A1 (en) | 2007-07-30 | 2007-07-30 | A means and method for producing potable water and electricity |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2007203507A1 true AU2007203507A1 (en) | 2009-02-19 |
Family
ID=40385061
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2007203507A Abandoned AU2007203507A1 (en) | 2007-07-30 | 2007-07-30 | A means and method for producing potable water and electricity |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
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| AU (1) | AU2007203507A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017190505A1 (en) * | 2016-05-06 | 2017-11-09 | 中国矿业大学 | Heat pump-reinforced salt-concentration-differential power generation device using vapour differential pressure energy method under positive temperature difference |
| CN113152589A (en) * | 2021-04-26 | 2021-07-23 | 江苏农牧科技职业学院 | Irrigation water drawing device utilizing solar heat energy |
-
2007
- 2007-07-30 AU AU2007203507A patent/AU2007203507A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017190505A1 (en) * | 2016-05-06 | 2017-11-09 | 中国矿业大学 | Heat pump-reinforced salt-concentration-differential power generation device using vapour differential pressure energy method under positive temperature difference |
| CN113152589A (en) * | 2021-04-26 | 2021-07-23 | 江苏农牧科技职业学院 | Irrigation water drawing device utilizing solar heat energy |
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