AU2011252335A1

AU2011252335A1 - Device for generating drinking water by condensing water vapour generated in an evaporation device

Info

Publication number: AU2011252335A1
Application number: AU2011252335A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hermann Mayer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-14
Filing date: 2011-05-12
Publication date: 2012-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-12
Also published as: WO2011141178A8; WO2011141178A1; AU2011252335B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for generating drinking water by condensing water vapour, comprising an acceleration pressure pipe (19) that can be arranged vertically and a suction chamber (64) adjoining the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19). The water vapour introduced into the acceleration pressure pipe (19) is driven, similarly to a thundercloud, upwards inside the acceleration pressure pipe, wherein in addition steam is injected via lateral steam nozzles (29) and water is injected via lateral water injection nozzles (28). The injected water is withdrawn from the water that is generated in the suction chamber (64) from the condensed water vapour.

Description

1 WO 2011/141178 Method and device for generating drinking water by condensing water vapour generated in an evaporation device The invention relates to a method and a device for generating drinking water by condensing water vapour generated in an evaporation means. The invention relates in particular to a method and a device for condensing water vapour which is generated in an evaporation means of a seawater desalination plant. In conventional seawater desalination plants, which operate on the principle of evaporation of seawater and condensation on surfaces cooled by latent heat, a large part of the expended energy is lost in the form of rising steam. The volume of drinking water obtained is small in relation to the volume of salt water used. The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device of the above-mentioned type, by means of which the energy contained in the water vapour can be particularly well exploited and, in particular, drinking water can be generated particularly effectively by condensing water vapour. This object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device having the features of claim 5. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the other claims. The method according to the invention is characterised by the following features: - at the lower end of a vertically arranged acceleration pressure pipe, water vapour is injected into the acceleration pressure pipe via a main steam nozzle in such a way that an upwardly directed jet of water vapour is generated in the acceleration pressure pipe, - along the acceleration pressure pipe, water is injected into the jet of water vapour from the side of the acceleration pressure pipe, whereby a rising water/steam mixture is generated, - accelerating the water/steam mixture rising inside the acceleration pressure pipe towards the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe by laterally injecting steam 2 by means of steam nozzles arranged on the inner circumferential wall of the acceleration pressure pipe, - introducing the water/steam mixture into a suction chamber arranged at the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe, in which chamber suction is exerted on the water/steam mixture rising in the acceleration pressure pipe and at least part of the steam is condensed into drinking water, - feeding part of the condensed water from the suction chamber back to the water injection nozzles. The device according to the invention is characterised by the following features: - the device comprises a vertically arranged acceleration pressure pipe which comprises a lower end and an upper end, - at the lower end of the acceleration pressure pipe, a main steam nozzle is provided which is connected to an evaporation means arranged outside the acceleration pressure pipe, is supplied with water vapour via said evaporation means and is arranged in such a way that it generates a jet of water vapour directed upwards in the acceleration pressure pipe, - in the region of the internal circumferential wall and along the acceleration pressure pipe, a plurality of steam nozzles are arranged which are in a fluid connection to the evaporation means and are arranged in such a way that they inject water vapour from the side into the acceleration pressure pipe, - along the acceleration pressure pipe, lateral water injection nozzles which are directed obliquely upwards are provided, by means of which condensed water is injected into the jet of water vapour flowing upwards, - the device further comprises a suction chamber arranged at the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe, into which chamber the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe discharges, and which is configured as a condensation means in which at least part of the water vapour flowing into the suction chamber from the acceleration pressure pipe condenses, part of the condensed water being fed back to the lateral water injection nozzles of the acceleration pressure pipe. By means of the combination according to the invention of a lower acceleration pressure pipe and an upper suction chamber, drinking water can be generated very effectively by condensing water vapour by the thermal energy of the water vapour being converted into 3 kinetic energy and said kinetic energy being used for particularly effectively condensing the water vapour. The basic process within the acceleration pressure pipe is similar in this case to in a storm cloud. The water vapour which is introduced through the main steam nozzle at the lower end of the acceleration pressure pipe and through the network of steam nozzles on the inner walls of the acceleration pressure pipe rises and carries water droplets along with it. The steam condenses and gives off heat to the remaining steam, which the water additionally pushes upwards. Pressure from below and suction from above act on the water vapour and the water droplets. The pressure is generated by the water expanding upon evaporation, while the suction is generated by the steam condensing on the water droplets. The water injection nozzles and the steam nozzles, which are located between the first and second ends of the acceleration pressure pipe, form a coordinated system by means of which water and steam can be accelerated from the lower end to the upper end. The movement of the steam is specified by the main steam nozzle provided at the lower end, in order to ensure that injected and condensed water moves upwards towards the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe. Extremely small water droplets are injected into the jet of steam by means of the water injection nozzles. The water droplets are lifted by the rising steam due to their low weight and large total surface area. Due to the operating parameters, the steam is in a state in which part of the steam condenses. By means of said condensation, heat is released and again heats the residual steam. Said heating leads to further acceleration of the water droplets and steam. The continual condensation of the steam leads to a reduction in the volume of the steam. Said steam volume is supplemented by steam from the network of steam nozzles on the inner pipe surface of the acceleration pressure pipe. More than 95 % of the energy required for accelerating water and steam is supplied in this way. The jet of steam of the individual steam nozzle is preferably directed against the inner wall of the acceleration pressure pipe in order to prevent a film of condensed water from forming there. The energy of the jet of steam supplied in the outer region of the jet of water vapour is therefore optimally divided.

4 By means of this arrangement, the steam/water mixture can move from the lower to the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe overall at a higher speed. It is therefore possible to transport considerable volumes of water upwards by means of a single acceleration pressure pipe which, for example, has a diameter of 6 metres. There is therefore a large volume of water in the upper suction chamber which has to be fed back only in part to the water injection nozzles of the acceleration pressure pipe, the other part of which water can be used in other ways, in particular as drinking water. The water injection nozzles are preferably arranged in such a way that the water is injected obliquely upwards towards the second end and towards the central axis of the acceleration pressure pipe. This promotes the movement of the water/steam mixture from the lower end to the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe. The temperature of the water injected by the water injection nozzles in the region of the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe is preferably lower than in the region of the lower end. In this way, condensation of the steam still contained in the water/steam mixture can begin before and immediately upon entry into the suction chamber. According to an advantageous embodiment, the acceleration pressure pipe is at least 1,000 metres long, preferably at least 1,500 metres long, more preferably at least 2,000 metres long. This initially gives the impression that the invention would require a particular structural complexity which would not be justified. However, if the considerable steam speeds which can be reached, which may be up to 200 km/h, are taken into account, considerable volumes of water can be transported upwards by means of the acceleration pressure pipe according to the invention, in such a way that the structural complexity would be readily justified. It should also be considered that the great height leads directly to a large amount of energy due to the high potential energy contained by the water, which energy can be generated from the condensed water when said volume of water is brought to a lower height. The steam nozzles for supplying steam and/or the water injection nozzles are preferably arranged in such a way that rotation of the steam flowing into the suction chamber can be achieved. This primarily relates to the nozzles in the region of the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe to which the suction chamber is connected. The rotation of the steam or the water/steam mixture can be achieved for example by an appropriate oblique positioning of the water injection nozzles relative to the vertical.

5 The suction chamber preferably comprises at least one water discharge line via which condensed water is fed to at least one hydroelectric power unit which is at a lower level. The water which is condensed and discharged from the suction chamber is therefore preferably also used to generate energy from the potential energy of the condensed water. For energy generation, conventional hydroelectric power unit technology can be used in this case, for example by the condensed water which is falling from a great height being guided onto turbine blades, electrical energy being generated by the rotation thereof. The water discharged from at least one hydroelectric power unit is preferably fed to the water injection nozzles of the acceleration pressure pipe. In other words, this means that the portion of the condensed water which is guided from the suction chamber to the water injection nozzles is guided via at least one hydroelectric power unit which is located between the suction chamber and the water injection nozzles. A plurality of hydroelectric power units are preferably arranged below one another in a cascade-like manner. The high potential energy contained by the water which is transported to a great height can hereby be used in a particularly comprehensive manner for generating electrical energy. The suction chamber preferably comprises at least one water tank for receiving the water condensed in the suction chamber. Of course, the water which is not condensed in the suction chamber but which is already contained in the form of water in the water/steam mixture which enters the suction chamber can also flow into said water tank. By means of the water tank, the water can be discharged continuously and/or as required to drinking water extraction points, hydroelectric power units and/or to the water injection nozzles. The water tanks are therefore buffers which can compensate for fluctuations in demand. Rings which project into the suction chamber are preferably provided on the side walls of a suction chamber container. Said rings are downwardly inclined towards the side walls of the suction chamber container in such a way that there are cavities between the rings which the condensed water can enter. The water contained in the water/steam mixture can also enter said cavities. The rotation generated in the water/steam mixture also serves in particular to separate the water. The water/steam mixture flows through the suction chamber in a quasi rotating manner. In this case, the flow takes place through the inner opening of said rings.

6 Owing to the rotation, the heavier water is catapulted outwards by centrifugal force and thus enters the cavities between the rings. By means of the inclination of the rings, it is ensured that the water flows away towards the side walls. From there, the water can be guided directly into the water discharge line. Alternatively, the water can be guided firstly into the water tank. In order to enhance the negative pressure in the suction chamber, a condensing tower can be attached to the side of the suction chamber facing away from the acceleration pressure pipe. Perforated floors which project into the condensing tower and are arranged on the side walls of the condensing tower are provided in said tower. The steam can flow into the condensing tower and flow both directly between the floors and through the perforations in the floors into the intermediate spaces between the floors. Owing to the lower temperature in the condensing tower, the remaining steam readily condenses. The water produced in this manner can flow away on the inclined floors towards the walls of the condensing tower and is guided from there to the water tanks of the suction chamber. In the following, the invention is described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows the supply of seawater by means of pressurised water tunnel pipes to a hydroelectric power unit, a distributor tank and an evaporation means, Fig. 2 shows the heating of the heating water for the evaporator, Fig. 3a shows an evaporator comprising a salt water supply container, Fig. 3b is a horizontal section through the evaporator, viewed from above, Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an arrangement of a plurality of evaporators and buffer tanks, Fig. 5 is a schematic view of an acceleration pressure pipe together with upstream system components and a suction chamber comprising a condensing tower, Fig. 6a is an enlarged view of the detail Vla from Fig. 5, 7 Fig. 6b is a plan view along line Vlb-Vlb from Fig. 6a, Fig. 6c is an enlarged view of the detail VIc from Fig. 6a, Fig. 7a is a plan view of a steam ring line of the acceleration pressure pipe and an attached steam pressure pipe, Fig. 7b is a side view of a section of the acceleration pressure pipe comprising steam conveyor pipes and a steam pressure pipe, Fig. 7c is a side view of a single steam nozzle, Fig. 7d is a development of a cut-out of the acceleration pressure pipe comprising steam nozzles and water injection nozzles, Fig. 8 is a side view of the upper transition region of the acceleration pressure pipe and of the lower region of the suction chamber, Fig. 9a shows the condensing tower together with the upper end region of the suction chamber, Fig. 9b is an enlarged view of the cut-out IXb from Fig. 9a, Fig. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the generation of water spray in the condensing tower, Fig. 11 a is a side view of a cut-out of the condensing tower, Fig. 11 b is a horizontal section through the suction chamber tower, viewed from above, Fig. 12a is a side view of the lower end portion of the suction chamber tower, Fig. 12b is a plan view of the end plane of the suction chamber tower, 8 Fig. 12c is a side view corresponding to Fig. 12a having additional lateral hydroelectric power units, Fig. 12d is a plan view of the heating coils of a solar updraft tower, Fig. 13a is a schematic side view of the solar updraft tower, Fig. 13b is an enlarged view of the detail XIllb from Fig. 13a, Fig. 13c is a plan view of an impeller arranged around the suction chamber tower, Fig. 14a is an enlarged view of a representation according to Fig. 13c, Fig. 14b shows the guidance of the impeller on the suction chamber tower, and Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the processes in the acceleration pressure pipe. The invention is described in the following with reference to a seawater desalination plant, which is a preferred field of application for the device according to the invention. In order for it be possible, preferably without pipelines, to bring seawater from the coast far inland, pressurised water tunnel pipes 1 are bored at the same level to the destination at a depth of approximately 100 metres below sea level, as shown in Fig. 1. The seawater is supplied to underground distributor tanks 2, where the seawater is still under pressure. The increased static pressure can be used in a hydroelectric power unit 3 for generating electrical energy before it is supplied to the distributor tanks 2. As can be further seen from Fig. 1, the seawater is guided from the distributor tanks 2 to salt water supply containers 16. In said salt water supply containers 16, the seawater is preheated before it is introduced into and evaporated in evaporation boilers 8 of an evaporation means 52. With reference to Fig. 2, evaporation of the seawater in the evaporation boiler 8 by exploiting the heat which is given off from a heat source 53, in particular from a power unit, is described in greater detail in the following. The heat given off from the heat source 53 is stored in steam which exits the heat source via a steam line 54. The steam line 54 transitions into a pipe coil 5 which is arranged in a buffer tank 4. A heat transfer medium, for 9 example water, is located in the buffer tank 4 and is correspondingly heated by the pipe coil 5, while the water vapour guided in the pipe coil 5 is cooled. The cooled water vapour or condensation is fed back to the heat source 53 at the other end of the pipe coil 5 via a pipeline 55. The heat source 53, steam line 54, pipe coil 5 and pipeline 55 therefore form a first circuit. In practice, a plurality of buffer tanks 4 are connected to the heat source 53. When the steam has heated the heat transfer medium inside a buffer tank 4 sufficiently far above 100 0C, the steam supply is interrupted and the buffer tank 4 is taken out of the series until it has cooled again. The steam from the heat source 53 is used to heat heating water, by means of which the seawater inside the evaporation boiler 8 is evaporated. For this purpose, a second pipe coil 6 is arranged inside the buffer tank 4, to which coil cooled heating water is supplied via a pipeline 56. The heating water is heated inside the buffer tank 4 sufficiently far above 100 *C. In particular, the heating water is supplied to a plurality of buffer tanks 4 behind one another, in order to completely cool the buffer tanks 4 and to optimally heat the heating water. The heated heating water exits the buffer tank(s) 4 via a pipeline 57, and from there is supplied to a heating coil 7 which is located outside the evaporation boiler 8. The heating coil 7 brings the seawater inside the evaporation boiler 8 for evaporation, the evaporating seawater drawing heat from the heating water. The cooled heating water, which however does still contain residual heat, is guided through the salt water supply container 16 via a pipe coil 17 in order, as already described, to preheat the seawater located therein. The other end of the pipe coil 17 is connected to the pipeline 56 again, in order to supply the cold heating water to the buffer tank 4 again for heating. The pipe coil 6, pipeline 57, heating coil 7, pipe coil 17 and pipeline 56 therefore form a second circuit, in which the heating water is guided. The evaporation means 52, shown in greater detail in Fig. 3, consists of an evaporation boiler 8 comprising a conical base, on the underside of which the heating coil 7 is located. The heating water which is heated in the buffer tanks 4 is guided around the downward facing cone of the evaporation boiler 8 in the conical heating coil 7. The heating water flows upwards from below around the cone and heats the salt water at the tip of the cone in order 10 to cause it to evaporate. The evaporating water draws heat from the heating water. The heating water continues to cool towards the upper edge of the cone. In the upper end of the cone, large pipe 9 discharges the steam generated in the evaporation boiler 8. As can be seen from Fig. 3a and 3b, impellers 12 are located inside the evaporation boiler 8 and can be rotated about a shaft 13 which is arranged centrally in the evaporation boiler 8. Said impellers 12 are moved at a very slow speed in order to prevent solidification of the deposited salt. The drive 10 of the impellers 12 is located on the side of the evaporation boiler 8. The drive 10 consists of an electric motor comprising a large translating gear wheel which drives a small toothed wheel 11 inside the evaporation boiler 8. The toothed wheel 11 engages in a horizontal annular gear 58 which sets the impellers 12 in rotation. The salt water is supplied laterally and runs down the boiler walls to dissolve salt crusts in the upper region. The salt in the cone is, as already mentioned, stirred in a continuously slow manner by the impellers 12 in such a way that it does not solidify. The water level is far below the surface of the salt, such that rising steam bubbles cannot cause turbulence on the surface of the water. Only extremely small steam bubbles can form between the grains of salt and can carry only a few extremely small salt water droplets along with it. In order to remove said small quantity of salt water droplets from the salt-free steam, the rising steam is firstly guided through textile filters 14 and, before exiting the evaporation boiler 8, through a porous ceramic filter 15. The excess salt is lifted above the water level from the tip of the cone in the evaporation boiler 8 and is tipped into a container 59. It can be seen from Fig. 4 that the steam from the heat source 53 is guided through a plurality of buffer tanks in order to heat the heating water for a series of evaporation boilers 8. In the centre, inside a frame depicted by a dashed-dotted line, Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the individual components, while the rest of Fig. 4 shows a horizontal section through the buffer tank 4 and the evaporation boiler 8. When the steam from the heat source 53 has heated the water in a buffer tank 4 sufficiently far above 100 *C, the steam supply in said buffer tank is interrupted and the buffer tank 4 is taken out of the series until it has cooled again.

11 The heating water is supplied in turn to a plurality of buffer tanks 4 behind one another, in order to completely cool the buffer tanks 4 and to optimally heat the heating water. It can be seen from Fig. 5 to 7 that the steam generated in the evaporation boilers 8 is supplied to a vertical acceleration pressure pipe 19 via steam pressure pipes 20A and 20B and is pushed upwards, similarly to in a storm cloud, in order to be introduced into a suction chamber tower arranged thereabove. The steam in the acceleration pressure pipe 19 rises and carries water droplets along with it. The steam condenses and gives off heat to the remaining steam, which the water additionally pushes upwards. The water or the water/steam mixture is therefore in the region of tension having pressure from below and suction from above. The pressure is generated by the water expanding as it evaporates, while the suction is generated by steam condensing on the water droplets. The vertically arranged conical acceleration pressure pipe 19 which is widened towards the top is in a column which is more than 2,000 metres deep. However, it should be noted that, although such a length of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 is particularly advantageous, said length can vary widely. At the first end, which is at the bottom during operation, steam is introduced via a main steam nozzle 21 and a jet of steam is thus generated. For this purpose, a large proportion of the steam from the evaporation boiler 8 is supplied from below to the acceleration pressure pipe 19 in a separate column via the steam pressure pipe 20A. The steam pressure pipe 20A is supplied with steam by the pipe 9 which comes out of the evaporation boiler 8. By means of the steam which is introduced into the acceleration pressure pipe 19 by the main steam nozzle 21, a powerful jet of steam is formed which specifies the direction and can thus establish a jet of water vapour. The inflow can be controlled in the main steam nozzle 21. Furthermore, a plurality of columns are provided in which the steam pressure pipes 20B are arranged, which guide the steam from the evaporation boiler 8 laterally to the acceleration pressure pipe 19. The steam is introduced into the acceleration pressure pipe 19 by steam nozzles 29 (Fig. 7b and 7c). Said nozzles form a network of steam nozzles 29 on the pipe walls (Fig. 7d). By injecting the steam, condensation on the walls of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 is prevented and the gas volume of the steam which is lost through condensation is supplemented. Furthermore, the jet of water vapour is hereby always supplied with new energy.

12 Furthermore, a plurality of vertical columns comprising water supply lines 22A and hydroelectric power units 22B and splash-water pressure pipes 22C are provided laterally next to the acceleration pressure pipe 19 (Fig. 5). The hydroelectric power units 22B are supplied by the water supply lines 22A with condensed water from the suction chamber tower 25 and then provide the water to the splash-water pressure pipes 22C, by means of which the water is guided to the acceleration pressure pipe 19. The water is introduced into the acceleration pressure pipe 19 by lateral water injection nozzles 28, which are arranged along the acceleration pressure pipe 19. Extremely small water droplets are injected into the jet of steam by the water injection nozzles 28 and can be easily lifted by the rising steam due to their low weight and large total surface area. Part of the steam condenses and gives off heat to the remaining steam, whereby water inside the acceleration pressure pipe 19 continues to be accelerated. Droplets combine with increasingly heavy drops which are catapulted further upwards in the acceleration pressure pipe. This is approximately comparable to the jet of water vapour from a geyser at the moment of eruption. The above-described process is shown schematically in Fig. 15. In this case, the arrows 70 represent force vectors of the water vapour which is injected via the network of thousands of steam nozzles 29 distributed over the inner circumferential wall of the acceleration pressure pipe 19. The circles or dots 71 represent injected and condensed water in the form of fine water droplets. Said water has a higher temperature in the lower region of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 than in the upper end region. As can be seen from Fig. 15, the water vapour reduces greatly in the upper end region of the acceleration pressure pipe 19, while the proportion of the water greatly increases. At the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe 19, the water forms a type of water piston, which exits the acceleration pressure pipe 19 at high speed. The water/steam mixture is therefore gradually compressed in the acceleration pressure pipe 19 from the bottom upwards. The suction chamber tower 24 is connected to the second end of the acceleration pressure pipe 9, which end is at the top during operation, and comprises an internal suction chamber 64. The suction chamber tower 24 is expediently 500 or more metres high. Furthermore, the suction chamber 24 comprises annular water tanks 60 which externally form a cylinder and internally recede stepwise towards the top. The base of the annular water tank 60 is a central water tank 23, which is located on the lower end of the suction chamber tower 24.

13 A suction chamber container 25 (Fig. 5 and 8) is located inside the suction chamber tower 24 and is directly connected to the acceleration pressure pipe 19, the outer walls of which container are supported on the annular water tanks 60. Furthermore, inclined rings or discs 26 are located inside the suction chamber container 25 and are connected to the wall of the suction chamber container 25 in a water-tight manner (Fig. 8). The suction chamber container 25 is closed towards the top by a conical cone wall 61 (Fig. 5 and 9). The cone wall 61 and the condensing tower 27 arranged thereabove are supported by a steel girder construction 62. An opening is provided at the tip of the cone wall 61 and is connected to the condensing chambers which are located in the condensing tower 27. Openings are located in the floors of the condensing chambers, through which the residual steam can flow in. As can be seen from Fig. 7a to 7d, the steam in the region of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 is supplied to circular steam lines 63 from the steam pressure pipes 20B via steam conveyor pipes 30, by which lines the steam nozzles 29 are supplied. The steam nozzles 29 spray their jets against the pipe wall in a manner slightly inclined from the vertical (Fig. 7c). In addition, the wall of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 is heated by the steam conveyor pipes 30 and the circular steam lines 63. Condensation of the water vapour on the walls of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 is hereby prevented. Furthermore, the laterally supplied steam also accelerates the water/steam mixture rising inside the acceleration pressure pipe 19. Fig. 7d is a development of a section of the wall of the acceleration pressure pipe 19, the steam nozzles 19 being shown by thick lines and the water injection nozzles 28 being shown by thin lines. As shown in Fig. 8, cooler water 31 is injected in the transition region 32 from the acceleration pressure pipe 19 to the suction chamber tower 24 in order to intensify the condensation of the steam. Furthermore, the jet of water vapour starts to be set in rotation in this transition region 32. Said rotation is generated in one direction by obliquely positioning the water injection nozzles 28 relative to the vertical. In the suction chamber container 25, the heavier water is forced into lateral cavities 33 by said rotation. The cavities 33 are formed by the inclined rings 26 which are connected to the 14 wall of the suction chamber container 25. The water collects at the lower end of the rings 26 and is discharged from the suction chamber container 25 by steam-tight water discharge lines 34 and guided into the water tanks. The jet of water vapour loses water increasingly towards the top. The remaining steam is sprayed with increasingly fine water droplets in order to promote condensation. In order to intensify the negative pressure in the suction chamber 64, a series of smaller chambers 65 are attached to the upper end of the suction chamber 64, as shown in Fig. 9a and 9b, the floors of which chambers are perforated by openings 35. The residual steam which has still not condensed in the suction chamber 64 enters the chambers 65 through said openings 65 and condenses on the walls of said chambers. The floors are downwardly inclined towards the walls of the condensing tower 27 and therefore the water can flow away to the side. The metal body of the chambers 65 cools very rapidly at height. The cold condensed water is guided into the upper part of the suction chamber 64 therebelow and is finely sprayed under high pressure. The water spray for the lower region of the suction chamber 64 and for the transition region 32 from the acceleration pressure pipe 19 to the suction chamber 64 is cooled in pipes 36 which are helically guided around the condensing tower 27. The water for said pipes 36 is taken from the lower region 37 of the higher collection containers and guided past the containers therebelow into the pipe coil. After cooling, the water is guided into the inside of the condensing tower 27 to the suction chamber 64. In the suction chamber 64, the water is guided downwards to the respective spray levels 38 until the hydrostatic pressure required for spraying the water is reached. As can be seen from Fig. 11 a and 11 b, the excess water which is not required for spraying can be used to operate hydroelectric power units 41. For this purpose, the water which is not required for spraying is guided approximately 100 metres downwards in pressure pipes 40 from overflows 39 of the annular tanks of the tower. The hydrostatic pressure is used to drive a high-pressure impeller of a hydroelectric power unit 41. The water from said hydroelectric power unit 41 is guided in discharge downpipes 42 to the level at which said hydroelectric power unit 41 is located. After a further fall height of approximately 100 metres, the discharge downpipe 42 discharges into the next hydroelectric power unit 41. At the end of this cascade, all of the water flows into the central water tank 23.

15 The water which is required for spraying in the acceleration pressure pipes 19 is, as can be seen from Fig. 5 and 6, guided downwards from said central water tank 23 to the water injection nozzles 28. For this purpose, the above-mentioned pressure pipes 22A are used, which initially guide the water required for spraying to a plurality of hydroelectric power units 22B which are arranged below one another. The hydrostatic pressure of, for example, a 100 metre height difference between the hydroelectric power units 22B drives one or more high pressure impellers of the hydroelectric power units 22B. Starting from the topmost hydroelectric power unit 22B, the hydroelectric power units 22B therebelow are operated by means of increasingly smaller volumes of water, the water which is required in a sub-region of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 being diverted each time it is used in a hydroelectric power unit 22B. Furthermore, the water spray in the splash-water pressure pipes 22C of the hydroelectric power units 22B is guided downwards towards and along the acceleration pressure pipe 19 until it reaches the hydrostatic pressure which is required for spraying the water in this region of the acceleration pressure pipe 19 by means of the water injection nozzles 28. The still-hot drinking water inside the central water tank 23, which water is no longer required in the circuit of the system, is removed from the central water tank 23 and, as can be seen from Fig. 12a to 12d, is guided around the suction chamber tower 24 in a plurality of pipe coils 43 in order to use the heat contained therein in a solar updraft tower 66, which is described in greater detail in the following. The water can be used thereafter for a final time in a plurality of hydroelectric power units 44. As can be seen from Fig. 13 and 14, the solar updraft tower 66 comprises a conical mound 45 which in the lower, outer region consists of a material deposit and in the inner, upper region consists of the concrete surface of the central water tank 23. An airtight shell 46, which is arranged at a distance of a few metres from the mound 45, forms an air collection chamber 67 around the pedestal of the suction chamber tower 24. The air which flows laterally into the air collection chamber 67 is warmed by the pipe coils 43, which are also arranged in the air collection chamber 67 and by means of which the heat is given off to the air by heat exchange. An annular uplift column 47 is further arranged around the suction chamber tower 24. A rotatably mounted impeller 48 and a plurality of generators 49 for utilising the rotational movement of the impeller 48 are located at the upper end of the uplift column 47.

16 The operation of the solar updraft tower 66 is as follows. The heat contained in the condensed water which is located in the pipe coils 43 heats the air flowing laterally into the air collection chamber 67. Due to the large temperature difference between the lower and upper ends of the suction chamber tower 24, the heated air flows into the annular uplift column 47 and upwards therein. At the upper end of the uplift column 47, the air is supplied to the impeller 48, which is located horizontally on the upper end of the uplift column 47. The air flowing upwards sets the impeller 48 in rotation, which is used to drive the generators 49. A particular, optional arrangement of wind turbine impellers 50 is shown in Fig. 14a and 14b. Wind turbine impellers 50 of this type utilise the existence of the round hollow body of the system, that is to say the existence of the suction chamber tower 24, and the possibility provided thereby of generating additional electrical energy from wind power which meets the surface of the suction chamber tower 24. The wind turbine impellers 50 comprise an annular support 68 which is mounted on rails guided around the suction chamber 24. Curved impeller blades 69 extend radially outwards from the annular support 68. The wind turbine impellers 50 are arranged in such a way that the main planes thereof are each located in a horizontal plane. The generators 51 comprise toothed wheels which engage in teeth of the wind turbine impellers 50, which teeth extend annularly over the upper edge of the support 68. The toothed wheels of the generators 51 are switched on and off as required. An approximately constant speed can also be ensured thereby at high wind speeds. In this case, the wind turbine impellers 50 can be driven by the wind in such a way that they are rotatable about a vertical axis.

Claims

1. Method for generating drinking water by condensing water vapour generated in an evaporation means, characterised by the following features: - at the lower end of a vertically arranged acceleration pressure pipe (19), water vapour is injected into the acceleration pressure pipe (19) via a main steam nozzle (21) in such a way that an upwardly directed jet of water vapour is generated in the acceleration pressure pipe (19), - along the acceleration pressure pipe (19), water is injected into the jet of water vapour from the side of the acceleration pressure pipe (19), whereby a rising water/steam mixture is generated, - accelerating the water/steam mixture rising inside the acceleration pressure pipe (19) towards the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19) by laterally injecting steam by means of steam nozzles (29) arranged on the inner circumferential wall of the acceleration pressure pipe (19), - introducing the water/steam mixture into a suction chamber (64) arranged at the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19), in which chamber suction is exerted on the water/steam mixture rising in the acceleration pressure pipe (19) and at least part of the steam is condensed into drinking water, - feeding part of the condensed water from the suction chamber (64) back to the water injection nozzles (28).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the steam injected via the steam nozzles (29) is sprayed obliquely upwards and against the inner wall of the acceleration pressure pipe (19).

3. Method according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the laterally injected water is injected obliquely upwards and towards the central axis of the acceleration pressure pipe (19).

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the temperature of the water injected by the water injection nozzles (28) in the region of the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19) is lower than in the region of the lower end. 18

5. Device for carrying out the method by means of any of claims 1 to 4, characterised by the following features: - the device comprises a vertically arranged acceleration pressure pipe (19) which comprises a lower end and an upper end, - at the lower end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19), a main steam nozzle (21) is provided which is connected to an evaporation means (52) arranged outside the acceleration pressure pipe (19), is supplied with water vapour via said evaporation means and is arranged in such a way that it generates a jet of water vapour directed upwards in the acceleration pressure pipe (19), - in the region of the internal circumferential wall and along the acceleration pressure pipe (19), a plurality of steam nozzles (29) are arranged which are in a fluid connection to the evaporation means (52) and are arranged in such a way that they inject water vapour from the side into the acceleration pressure pipe (19), - along the acceleration pressure pipe (19), lateral water injection nozzles (28) which are directed obliquely upwards are provided, by means of which condensed water is injected into the jet of water vapour flowing upwards, - the device further comprises a suction chamber (64) arranged at the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19), into which chamber the upper end of the acceleration pressure pipe (19) discharges, and which is configured as a condensation means in which at least part of the water vapour flowing into the suction chamber (64) from the acceleration pressure pipe (19) condenses, part of the condensed water being fed back to the lateral water injection nozzles (28) of the acceleration pressure pipe (19).

6. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the acceleration pressure pipe (19) is at least 1,000 metres long, preferably at least 1,500 metres long, more preferably at least 2,000 metres long.

7. Device according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that the steam nozzles (29) are arranged in such a way that the steam is injected obliquely upwards towards the second end and against the inner wall of the acceleration pressure pipe (19).

8. Device according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the steam nozzles (29) for supplying steam and/or the water injection nozzles (28) are arranged in such a way 19 oblique relative to the vertical that rotation of the steam flowing into the suction chamber (64) is achieved at least in the upper third of the acceleration pressure pipe (19).

9. Device according to any of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the suction chamber (64) comprises at least one water discharge line (34) via which condensed water is fed to at least one hydroelectric power unit (22B, 41, 44) which is at a lower level.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the water discharged from the hydroelectric power unit (22B) is fed to the water injection nozzles (28).

11. Device according to any of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that at least part of the condensed water is fed to at least one hydroelectric power unit (41, 44), which is adjacent to the suction chamber (64).

12. Device according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that a plurality of hydroelectric power units (41) are arranged below one another in a cascade-like manner.

13. Device according to any of claims 5 to 12, characterised in that the suction chamber (64) comprises at least one water tank (23) for receiving the water condensed in the suction chamber (64).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that rings (26) which project into the suction chamber (64) are provided on the side walls of a suction chamber container (25) and are downwardly inclined towards the side walls of the suction chamber container (25) in such a way that there are cavities (33) between the rings (26) which the condensed water can enter.

15. Device according to any of claims 5 to 14, characterised in that a condensing tower (27) is provided on the side of the suction chamber (64) facing away from the acceleration pressure pipe (19), perforated floors which project into the condensing tower (27) being attached to the side walls of the condensing tower (27), which floors are downwardly inclined towards the side walls of the condensing tower (27) and are configured to promote the condensation of the water vapour.