AU2009306126A1 - Method and apparatus for distilling water from sea water - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for distilling water from sea water Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2009306126A1
AU2009306126A1 AU2009306126A AU2009306126A AU2009306126A1 AU 2009306126 A1 AU2009306126 A1 AU 2009306126A1 AU 2009306126 A AU2009306126 A AU 2009306126A AU 2009306126 A AU2009306126 A AU 2009306126A AU 2009306126 A1 AU2009306126 A1 AU 2009306126A1
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Australia
Prior art keywords
sea water
conduit
water conduit
distilled water
sea
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AU2009306126A
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AU2009306126B2 (en
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Stephen Butterton
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D1/00—Evaporating
    • B01D1/0011—Heating features
    • B01D1/0029—Use of radiation
    • B01D1/0035—Solar energy
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D5/00—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation
    • B01D5/0033—Other features
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D5/00—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation
    • B01D5/0078—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation characterised by auxiliary systems or arrangements
    • 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
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/08—Seawater, e.g. for desalination
    • 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
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • 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
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y02A20/138—Water desalination using renewable energy
    • Y02A20/142—Solar thermal; Photovoltaics
    • 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
    • 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

Description

WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 Method And Apparatus For Distilling Water From Sea Water Useable water in many countries of the world is scarce. However, the oceans surrounding countries with water shortages cannot be easily used without first removing the salt. 5 The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem which is cost-effective by utilizing the sun's energy and the cooling effect of the earth. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of distilling water 10 from sea water, the method comprising the steps of : a) providing an elongate sea water conduit and an elongate distilled water conduit which is spaced from the sea water conduit, the sea water conduit and the distilled water conduit being fluidly interconnected by a vapour passage; b) pumping sea water into the sea water conduit to a level below an inlet of the vapour passage; c) heating the sea water in the sea water conduit using solar energy; d) 15 collecting distilled water in the distilled water conduit as condensate which has passed as water vapour through the vapour passage from the heated sea water conduit; and e) channelling the distilled water in the distilled water conduit to an outlet for use. Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 20 2 to 16, inclusive. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for distilling water from sea water using a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus comprising : an elongate sea water conduit having an inlet for the ingress of sea 25 water, a separate elongate distilled water conduit having an outlet for discharge of distilled water, a vapour passage fluidly interconnecting the sea water conduit and the distilled water conduit, a pumping station for pumping sea water into the sea water conduit, and a solar collector for heating the sea water conduit. 30 WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 2 Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 18 to 34, inclusive. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with 5 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure la is a diagrammatic view of a first part of a first embodiment of apparatus for distilling water from sea water, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention and shown in use; Figure lb is a diagrammatic view of a second part of the apparatus shown in Figure 10 la; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a sea water conduit and a distilled water conduit forming part of the apparatus shown in Figures la and Ib; and Figures 3 to 5 show parts of second to fourth embodiments of the apparatus for distilling water from sea water, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. 15 Referring firstly to Figures 1 a, lb and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of water distilling apparatus 10 which comprises an elongate sea water conduit 12, an elongate distilled water conduit 14, a vapour passage 16 which interconnects the sea water conduit 12 and the distilled water conduit 14, a sea water pumping station 18 for the sea 20 water conduit 12, a distilled water pumping station 20 for the distilled water conduit 14, and a solar collector 22 provided on the sea water conduit 12. Preferably, the sea water pumping station 18 is provided near to a shoreline 24 and an inlet pipe 26 of the sea water conduit 12 extends from the sea water conduit 12 and into the sea 25 28 via the sea water pumping station 18. The sea water conduit 12 has a long longitudinal extent, preferably being in excess of one kilometre and more preferably being in excess of ten kilometres. The sea water conduit 12 is preferably supported above the ground, for example via a series of brick or concrete arch 30 supports 30 or other suitable support means. The sea water conduit 12 must also be WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 3 horizontal or as close to horizontal as possible to allow regulation and control of a volume of sea water 32 being pumped in via the sea water pumping station 18. In this embodiment, an effluent conduit 34, typically being an elongate pipe which is open 5 at both ends, is provided within the sea water conduit 12. In this case, the sea water conduit 12 is closed at an end 36 opposite an inlet end 38, and the effluent conduit 34 has an effluent inlet end 40 adjacent to this closed end 36. The effluent conduit 34 is preferably supported within the sea water conduit 12 so as to be spaced from a lower surface thereof. An effluent outlet end 42 of the effluent conduit 34 extends far out into the ocean, and 10 preferably in the order of kilometres and preferably to a main ocean current. The effluent outlet end 42 is also spaced from a sea bed. The solar collector 22 is a, preferably galvanized or stainless steel, metal surface forming a wall of the sea water conduit 12. The metal surface may be corrugated to increase surface 15 area, and may be black to promote heat absorption. Galvanization or another form of protection is beneficial for protection against the detrimental effects of corrosion by the sea water. The solar collector 22 extends along the entire or substantially entire longitudinal extent of 20 the sea water conduit 12, and in this case has an arcuate lateral extent. The curvature of the solar collector 22 is advantageous to be incident with the sun and thus capture as much solar heat energy as possible. The curvature is also such that a reasonable surface area of the interior surface of the solar collector 22 is in direct contact with sea water 32 within the sea water conduit 12 during use, thereby promoting direct conduction and heat transfer. 25 The distilled water conduit 14 extends in parallel or substantially parallel with the sea water conduit 12, but is provided at an elevation which is below the sea water conduit 12. The distilled water conduit 14 does have a slight downwards gradient, for example, 1 cm in every 100 metres, towards the ground from an end 44 adjacent to the sea water pumping 30 station 18. This end 44 is also closed, and an outlet end 46 of the distilled water conduit 14 WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 4 extends, for example, to a water tower 48 or other treatment plant via the distilled water pumping station 20. The distilled water conduit 14 may be an elongate, preferably metal, pipe, but is preferably 5 externally insulated to prevent heating by incident sun. The insulation 50 may take the form of pumice or pumice type cladding, and preferably has a white exterior surface to reflect solar energy. The distilled water conduit 14 has an elongate opening 52 along the majority of its longitudinal extent in its upper or side surface for drainage from the vapour passage 16. The opening 52 in the side surface provides a gas trap which prevents or limits back 10 flow of water vapour to the sea water conduit 12. The distilled water conduit 14 is also supported along its longitudinal extent by a heat sink 54. In this case, the heat sink 54 is a plurality of spaced metal supports 56, such as iron girders, sunk into the ground 58 and in direct contact with or projecting into the distilled water conduit 14. The iron girders 56 are also insulated from incident solar energy by cladding 60, such as rocks and soil. 15 The vapour passage 16 fluidly interconnects the majority of the longitudinal extents of the sea water conduit 12 and the distilled water conduit 14, and extends from an upper portion of the sea water conduit 12, and down one side to the opening 52 of the distilled water conduit 14. The vapour passage 16 is preferably formed of suitable metal which is also 20 encased in insulation 62. Condensation should occur in the vapour passage 16, and therefore to reduce heat transfer from the sea water conduit 12, a thermal barrier or thermal break 64 is incorporated at an upper end of the vapour passage 16. The thermal break 64 may be a ceramic element on 25 each side which extends along the longitudinal extent of the vapour passage 16. Alternatively, a thermally non-conductive lining, such as ceramic tiles, may line the vapour passage 16 and, preferably also, the interior of the distilled water conduit 14. In use, the sea water pumping station 18 draws and coarse filters sea water 32 from the 30 nearby sea 28 or ocean and pumps it into the sea water conduit 12 until, through WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 5 gravitational flow, the vapour passage inlet 66 is approached. For control purposes, one or more sensors can be utilised adjacent to the vapour passage inlet 66 to provide a warning and control of the pumping station to prevent the overflow of sea water into the vapour passage 16 and ultimately into the distilled water conduit 14. 5 The solar collector 22 is heated by incident solar energy, which in turn heats the sea water 32 within the sea water conduit 12. Evaporation occurs, and the solar collector 22, which extends over at least part of the vapour passage 16, channels the water vapour 68 into the vapour passage 16. The vapour passage 16 is cooler, due to the thermal break 64 and the 10 external insulation 62, and thus the water vapour condenses and drains into the distilled water conduit 14. Heat transfer from the distilled water 70 continues via the heat sink 54 along the distilled water conduit 14, generating further condensate. The distilled water 70 finally flows along the distilled water conduit 14 to the distilled water pumping station 20 where it is drawn off and discharged to the water tower 48 or other treatment plant. 15 Following evaporation of a portion of the sea water within the sea water conduit 12, a solution having a higher salt content is formed. This saline effluent 72 is drawn into the effluent conduit 34 and flows in an opposite direction to the flow of sea water 32 in the sea water conduit 12. Due to the higher salt content, for environmental reasons, it is important 20 that this saline effluent 72 is diluted. Consequently, discharge away from the sea floor and preferably into a main ocean current several kilometres offshore is preferable. Advantageously, due to the heating by the solar collector 22, the saline effluent 72 flowing along the effluent conduit 34 has a raised temperature, thereby heating the effluent conduit 25 34. Heat transfer to the surrounding sea water 32 within the sea water conduit 12 thus occurs via the effluent conduit 34. Further sensors having outputs to one or more of the pumping stations may be provided to warn of a low water level within the sea water conduit 12, and to warn of high and low 30 water levels within the distilled water conduit 14.
WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 6 In the above described embodiment, the solar collector 22 forms an externally convex side wall and roof of the sea water conduit 12. 5 Referring to Figure 3, a second embodiment of water distilling apparatus 10 is shown. The operation of the apparatus 10 is as described above, and therefore like references refer to like parts and further detailed description is omitted. In this apparatus 10, two sea water conduits 12 are provided which extend in parallel with 10 each other. Two vapour passages 16 are also provided to service each sea water conduit 12. Both vapour passages 16 drain into a common distilled water conduit 14. The sea water conduits 12 are thus on opposite sides of the distilled water conduit 14. This arrangement is advantageous, because it captures solar energy almost regardless as to 15 the position of the sun, and thus time of day. Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of water distilling apparatus 10. Again, operation of the apparatus 10 is as described above, and therefore like references refer to like parts and further detailed description is omitted. 20 In this embodiment, rather than being arcuate, the solar collector 22 is planar or substantially planar assuming omission of any corrugation, thus producing a greater surface area. The solar collector 22 thus enables an annex 74 of shallow depth to be defined in the sea water conduit 12. The annex 74 allows faster heating of the sea water therewithin, due 25 to the relatively small volume, and convection enables circulation of this heated water throughout the remainder of the sea water within the sea water conduit 12. Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of water distilling apparatus 10. Operation of the apparatus 10 is again as described above, and therefore like references refer to like parts 30 and further detailed description is omitted.
WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 7 The solar collector 22 of this embodiment has a lateral extent which includes a convex portion 76 and a concave portion 78, again assuming omission of any corrugation. The convex and concave portions 76, 78 provide a more directly incident surface for capturing 5 solar heat energy as the sun moves. The concave portion 78 also allows a greater surface area to be in contact with the sea water in the sea water conduit 12, whilst also reducing a depth of sea water to be heated. Although an effluent conduit which passes through the sea water conduit is suggested 10 above, the saline effluent may be discharged from the sea water conduit at an end opposite the inlet end, if it can be suitably disposed of. The heat sink does not extend into the ground too far, thereby reducing the chance of geothermal back-heating of the heat sink, leading to increased distilled water temperature. 15 The sea water conduit and the distilled water conduit may be tens of kilometres long, or may even be hundreds of kilometres long. A flush cycle might be utilised, for example, during night periods where demand is low, to 20 flush through the sea water conduit and the effluent conduit to prevent or limit the build up of salt deposits and other particulate matter. The cross-sectional shapes of the sea conduit, the effluent conduit and the distilled water conduit may be altered to improve heat transference. For example, the effluent conduit may 25 have a non-circular lateral cross-section, and the distilled water conduit may include indentations in its floor to promote heat exchange with the heat sink. The thermal break described above and shown in the drawings has two directly opposing parts either side of the vapour passage. However, these two parts may be at other offset 30 positions. For example, instead of the solar collector extending to a position over the WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 8 vapour passage, as shown in Figure 2, the vapour passage may extend slightly around and over to meet the solar collector, whereby the vapour passage forms part of the roof of the sea water conduit. In this case, the two parts of the thermal break are substantially in the same vertical plane, allowing water vapour to immediately start condensing as it is directed 5 by the roof of the sea water conduit into the vapour passage. The thermal break may also be formed as two lids or covers which are provided along edges of the inlet to the vapour passage. This arrangement may be preferable in terms of reducing manufacturing and/or installation costs. The design is also simplified. As above, 10 the thermal break may be provided opposite each other in the horizontal plane, opposite each other in the vertical plane, or offset from each other. Although the thermal break is preferably ceramic seals, any other suitably resilient thermally non-conductive material could be used. 15 It is thus possible to provide a method and apparatus of distilling water from sea water which primarily utilises renewable solar energy. The apparatus has few parts, none of which are complicated, allowing long lengths of the apparatus to be manufactured and installed at reasonably low cost. Distilled water, which can be directly or following further 20 treatment used for drinking water, and which can be used for irrigation of farmland can thus be provided in almost limitless quantities. The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the 25 scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (28)

1. A method of distilling water from sea water, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing an elongate sea water conduit (12) and an elongate distilled water conduit (14) 5 which is spaced from the sea water conduit (12), the sea water conduit (12) and the distilled water conduit (14) being fluidly interconnected by a vapour passage (16); b) pumping sea water into the sea water conduit (12) to a level below an inlet (66) of the vapour passage (16); c) heating the sea water in the sea water conduit (12) using solar energy via an opaque solar collector (22) forming at least part of the sea water conduit (12) such that the sea 10 water therein is in direct contact with the solar collector (22) so as to be heated by conduction; d) feeding saline effluent through an effluent conduit (34) in the sea water conduit (12) and in contact with the sea water in an upstream direction of the sea water conduit (12) so that the saline effluent further heats the sea water; e) collecting distilled water in the distilled water conduit (14) as condensate which has passed as water vapour 15 through the vapour passage (16) from the heated sea water conduit (12); f) channelling the distilled water in the distilled water conduit (14) to an outlet for use.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outlet (42) of the effluent conduit (34) is positioned to discharge at a location enabling optimum dilution.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outlet (42) of the effluent conduit 20 (34) is positioned at or in a main ocean current.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step g) subsequent to step d) of dissipating heat energy in the distilled water through the distilled water conduit (14).
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat energy is dissipated at least in 25 part into the ground (58).
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distilled water conduit (14) is positioned lower than the sea water conduit (12).
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distilled water conduit (14) includes thermal insulation (50). WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 10
8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sea water conduit (12) and the distilled water conduit (14) are substantially thermally isolated from each other.
9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sea water 5 conduit (12) has a longitudinal extent of at least 1 kilometre.
10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sea water conduit (12) is horizontal and the distilled water conduit (14) has a gradient.
11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step f), the distilled water is pumped to the said outlet. 10
12. Apparatus (10) for distilling water from sea water using a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus (10) comprising : an elongate sea water conduit (12) having an inlet (26) for the ingress of sea water, a separate elongate distilled water conduit (14) having an outlet for discharge of distilled water, a vapour passage (16) fluidly interconnecting the sea water conduit (12) and the distilled water conduit (14), a 15 pumping station (18) for pumping sea water into the sea water conduit (12), an effluent conduit (34) in the sea water conduit (12) for discharging saline effluent therefrom, the effluent conduit (34) being arranged to transport saline effluent in an upstream direction of the sea water conduit (12), and a solar collector (22) for heating the sea water conduit (12), the solar collector (22) being opaque and forming at least part of the sea water conduit (12) 20 so that, in use, sea water in the sea water conduit (12) is in direct contact with the solar collector (22).
13. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the longitudinal extents of the effluent conduit (34) and the sea water conduit (12) are parallel or substantially parallel.
14. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the sea water 25 conduit (12) is closed at one end (46), the effluent conduit (34) providing an outlet for the sea water conduit (12).
15. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein an outlet (42) of the effluent conduit (34) extends beyond the inlet (26) of the sea water conduit (12).
16. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the sea water 30 conduit (12) and the distilled water conduit (14) are parallel or substantially parallel. WO 2010/046657 PCTIGB2009/002530 11
17. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, further comprising a thermal barrier (64) to thermally isolate or substantially isolate the sea water conduit (12) and the distilled water conduit (14).
18. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, further comprising a 5 heat sink (54) for dissipating heat energy from the distilled water conduit (14).
19. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the heat sink (54) supports the distilled water conduit (14).
20. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 19, further comprising a sea water conduit support (30) for supporting the sea water conduit (12) at a higher 10 elevation than the distilled water conduit (14).
21. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20, further comprising insulation (60) for thermally insulating the distilled water conduit (14) from the environment.
22. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the solar 15 collector (22) has an arcuate lateral extent so as to be directly incident with solar energy for as long as possible throughout the day.
23. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 22, wherein the solar collector (22) extends or substantially extends the longitudinal extent of the sea water conduit (12). 20
24. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein the sea water conduit (12) has a longitudinal extent of at least one kilometre.
25. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 24, further comprising a second said sea water conduit (12) which extends in parallel with the first said sea water conduit (12). 25
26. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a second said vapour passage (16) from the second said sea water conduit (12) to the distilled water conduit (14), the distilled water conduit (14) being common to both the first and second sea water conduits (12).
27. Apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 26, further comprising a 30 second pumping station for pumping water from the distilled water conduit (14). WO 2010/046657 PCT/GB2009/002530 12
28. Apparatus (10) for distilling water from sea water substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5
AU2009306126A 2008-10-24 2009-10-22 Method and apparatus for distilling water from sea water Ceased AU2009306126B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0819540.6 2008-10-24
GB0819540A GB2464724B (en) 2008-10-24 2008-10-24 Method and apparatus for distilling water from sea water
PCT/GB2009/002530 WO2010046657A1 (en) 2008-10-24 2009-10-22 Method and apparatus for distilling water from sea water

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AU2009306126A1 true AU2009306126A1 (en) 2010-04-29
AU2009306126B2 AU2009306126B2 (en) 2015-04-16

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WO (1) WO2010046657A1 (en)

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ES2401516B1 (en) 2011-03-22 2014-03-27 Universitat Politècnica De Catalunya SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT OF SEA WATER, SALMUERAS OR WASTEWATER.
EP2971507A4 (en) * 2013-03-12 2016-10-12 Lightsail Energy Inc Method of forming underground cavern and desalinization process

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JP2764254B2 (en) * 1995-12-06 1998-06-11 敏雄 金子 Automatic open / close steam generator using solar heat
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DE102007022072A1 (en) * 2007-05-08 2008-11-13 Hartmut Langhans Device for the production of fresh water from salt water, comprises a channel having a saltwater groove arranged on/at a path or stalk in an interval to channel wall, and a fresh water groove arranged near or at the base in the channel

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Publication number Publication date
AU2009306126B2 (en) 2015-04-16
GB2464724B (en) 2013-08-07
GB2464724A (en) 2010-04-28
GB0819540D0 (en) 2008-12-03
WO2010046657A1 (en) 2010-04-29

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