DE102019102531A1 - Water treatment plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water treatment plant (1) for the treatment of sea water (5), comprising a hollow cylindrical evaporation body (2) and a hollow cone-shaped condensation cover (3), the condensation cover (3) being connected to the evaporation body (2) in terms of flow technology, characterized by a Cooling device (19) for cooling the condensation cover (3) on the outside.

Description

The invention relates to a water treatment plant for the treatment of sea water into drinking water or industrial water, comprising a hollow cylindrical evaporation body and a hollow cone-shaped condensation cover, which condensation cover is connected to the evaporation body in terms of flow.

Most of the earth's surface is covered by sea water. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of drinking and process water in coastal desert regions. From a chemical point of view, sea water is an aqueous solution with various salts. Due to the high salt concentration, sea water cannot be used as drinking / process water.

There are water treatment systems for the extraction of drinking / process water from sea water, which reduce the salt concentration of the sea water. Many different devices and methods of desalination are known from the prior art. In desert regions with little or no drinking water, water treatment systems are particularly necessary, which are as straightforward as possible to set up.

Simple water treatment systems, so-called water cones, are known from the prior art, which have an evaporation body into which sea water is poured manually. Due to the absorption of the sun's rays, the sea water heats up and evaporates until it is deposited on the fluidically connected condensation cover. The condensed water flows along the inside of the condensation lid and collects in a gutter. Due to the evaporation process, the water only has a small amount of salt and is of drinking water quality. The drinking water can be taken directly from the gutter by turning the cover over. A Watercone can produce up to 1.5 liters a day.

Such water treatment systems are particularly advantageous because of their simple construction, low material costs and simple handling. However, the low yield that such a system produces is disadvantageous.

Furthermore, large plants such as, for example, distillation or reverse osmosis plants are known from the prior art. In principle, in distillation plants, the water is strongly heated, so that it evaporates and condenses on a condenser arranged inside the plant. The condenser usually consists of a pipeline filled with coolant.

Reverse osmosis systems concentrate substances dissolved in liquids by reversing the natural osmosis process at high pressure. Disadvantages are the high costs for providing the system, the maintenance work and the resulting costs, as well as the energy consumption for operating the system.

Both water treatment plants are able to produce large quantities of drinking / process water in a short time. However, the great energy requirement that must be met to start up such systems is problematic. Especially in areas where the power grid is not or only poorly developed, distillation or reverse osmosis systems cannot be operated easily. Furthermore, the costs for the provision of such facilities are very high, so poorer sections of the population in coastal regions with little water cannot afford such facilities.

Starting from the above-described prior art, it is the object of the invention to further develop a water treatment plant in such a way that the efficiency is increased with the lowest possible cost and operating expenditure.

To solve this problem, a water treatment plant with the features of claim 1 is proposed. Further advantages and features result from the subclaims.

A system according to the invention is characterized by a cooling device for cooling the condensation cover on the outside with sea water.

The water treatment plant according to the invention can be set up in the sea and can have dimensions of approximately 5 m in diameter and 10 to 15 m in height. Smaller sizes are also conceivable. The size of the water treatment plant depends on the one hand on water consumption and on the other hand on the conditions on the coast.

According to the invention, the water treatment plant has a hollow cylindrical evaporation body. The evaporation body serves as the receiving space for the sea water to be treated, in which the evaporation process takes place. The evaporation body can be open or closed at one end.

The hollow cylindrical shape is particularly advantageous because on the one hand it causes an even distribution of the water vapor. On the other hand, the surface is more accessible for cleaning in contrast to bodies that have corners.

The evaporation body preferably has a translucent plastic. A hard plastic such as acrylic glass (polymethyl methacrylate PMMA) or a flexible, tear-resistant film made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used as the plastic. Other translucent and opaque plastics are not excluded. In addition to plastics, the use of other materials such as metals (steel) or light metals (aluminum) is also conceivable. It is particularly advantageous to use existing devices that can be converted into a water treatment system according to the invention in a simple manner. A prerequisite for using an existing device is a suitably designed hollow body which is suitable for use as an evaporation body and / or as a condensation lid. An example of such a hollow body could be the tower of a wind turbine.

When using foils, the foil is stretched over a base body, which gives the foil a hollow cylindrical shape in the stretched state. The use of foils is particularly advantageous because the production of translucent foils is inexpensive on the one hand and storage is simplified due to the flexibility of the foil. It is also advantageous that the film is easier to install and replace due to its light weight. This makes it easier to replace the individual parts in the event of damage or contamination. The transport of the individual components to the place of use of the water treatment system is also simplified because the film can be rolled up.

Alternatively, the evaporation body can also consist of a light-absorbing plastic. The plastic is preferably black. This has the advantage that the evaporation body absorbs the sunlight particularly strongly and thus more heat is generated within the evaporation body. This in turn has the further advantage that, on the one hand, the water to be treated is heated more quickly within the evaporation body. On the other hand, it prevents the evaporated water from inadvertently condensing on the evaporation body and simply flowing back into the water to be treated before it can condense on a condensation lid and be collected by a collecting trough.

According to a further feature, the evaporation body is connected to at least one support element, such as stilts, which can be fastened in the seabed. The evaporation body is either so deep in the water that there is always seawater inside the evaporation body. With regard to this embodiment, it is advantageous that external weather influences such as strong wind or a stronger swell have no influence within the evaporation body. This prevents seawater from mixing with the water that has already condensed on the evaporative body and rendering it unusable. Alternatively, the evaporation body can be attached directly to the sea floor. In this case, the evaporation body preferably consists of a hard plastic, such as plexiglass, which can withstand the water pressure and the tidal force. The hollow body has a small opening so that water can flow into the evaporation body. This design is particularly advantageous because, on the one hand, the water inflow into the evaporation body can be kept as small as possible through the small opening, so that the water to be treated is heated more quickly. On the other hand, there is less water exchange between the heated water inside and the cool sea water outside the evaporation body.

According to the aforementioned two alternatives, it is advantageous that only care must be taken that the water level is high enough at low tide to fill the evaporation body with water to be treated.

Another alternative is conceivable in that the evaporation body on support elements is constantly above the sea water surface, so that even higher waves cannot reach the inner surface of the evaporation body. When setting up the system, it must be ensured that the system is so far away from the coast that due to the tides it is taken into account that seawater is still present below the evaporation body even at low tide and that the evaporation body is arranged high enough at high tide that the evaporation body does not move away Sea water is washed around.

According to the invention, the water treatment plant has a hollow-conical condensation cover which is connected to the evaporation body in terms of flow technology. The cone shape has the essential advantage that the evaporated water condenses in the direction of ascent through the beveled surface of the cone, so that an ascent barrier is created. The condensed water can then flow down the wall of the condensation cover, following gravity.

Alternatively, the lid can also be shaped as a hollow hemisphere with an opening on the side of the evaporation body. This has the advantage that there is no tip in which dirt can be collected more easily and difficult ones can be removed.

Furthermore, the condensation cover has water pipe elements on the inside and / or outside. The water pipe elements are designed, for example, in the form of channels or knobs. This ensures that the condensation water does not drip down prematurely before the condensation water reaches the gutter. On the outside, the water pipe elements have the advantage that the cooling water is evenly distributed as a thin film on the condensation cover. This promotes cooling of the lid and at the same time increases the salt concentration during evaporation. However, the film must not be too thin, otherwise the salt will crystallize on the outside of the condensation cover.

In contrast to the generic state of the art described above, the water treatment system has a cooling device for cooling the condensation cover on the outside with sea water. The cooling device is used to cool the condensation cover on the outside by evaporative cooling, so that the water vapor within the condensation cover changes into the liquid phase as quickly as possible.

The use of sea water for cooling the condensation cover on the outside has the advantage that sea water evaporates during cooling, so that the salt concentration of the cooling water automatically increases. If the cooling water used is collected again instead of being returned to the sea, it can continue to be used and processed for salt extraction. It is proposed that the concentrated cooling water be fed to a directly adjacent saline in order to accelerate the salt extraction process. Other areas of application of concentrated salt water are also conceivable. On the other hand, sea water is available on site in almost inexhaustible quantities. The cooling device of the water treatment system in combination with the outside cooling of the condensation lid results in a combination device that enables drinking / process water and salt to be obtained at the same time.

According to the invention, the cooling device of the water treatment system has a pump for conveying the water. The pump can be reversibly arranged on a floating body that can be firmly anchored to the sea floor. The pump is watertight so that splash water does not damage the electronics and mechanics of the pump. The advantage of a separately arranged pump is that the pump can be easily replaced if damaged.

Alternatively, the pump can also be arranged directly on the evaporation body. This configuration is advantageous since an additional floating body can be dispensed with.

According to a further feature, the water treatment system is characterized in that the pump is fluidly connected to one end of a line, the line on the other side having a water distribution device, the water distribution device having at least one opening on the condensation cover side.

As an alternative to a riser pipe, a simpler pipe or even a flexible hose for guiding the cooling water to the condensation lid is also conceivable. The tube is preferably formed from a hard plastic. Due to the corrosive nature of sea water, corrosive materials should be used in conjunction with corrosion protection. These include, for example, anti-corrosion varnishes, zinc coatings and other shielding substances. It is particularly advantageous to use antifouling lacquers, which additionally prevent or at least greatly slow down the growth of marine organisms on the line.

The cooling water is fed via the line and further to a water distribution device, which is also arranged on the condensation cover side. The cooling water is distributed evenly on the condensation cover with the help of the water distribution device, so that the surface of the condensation cover is cooled evenly. It should be noted that the cooling water layer running down the condensation cover is set so that the maximum amount of evaporation and thus the maximum cooling is achieved, and enough so that the cooling water does not evaporate completely and the salt immediately crystallizes on the outside of the condensation cover. Because the cooling takes place due to the evaporation energy that is responsible for the heat transport. The more water evaporates, the higher the evaporation energy and the more heat can be transported.

In the simplest case, the water distribution device consists of a simple pipe. The water distribution device can also be designed as a nozzle, which is designed differently as required. For example, the nozzle can have several small openings from which the cooling water is let out, so that the amount of cooling water can be controlled and evenly distributed on the condensation cover.

Depending on the intensity of the solar radiation, it is necessary to adjust the amount of cooling water that is distributed on the condensation cover. For this purpose, a controller is proposed which, for example, the amount of cooling water as a function of the outside temperature and / or the intensity of the sun rays regulated. The stronger the solar radiation and thus the heat build-up on the surface of the condensation lid, the more cooling water has to be distributed.

The combination of the water distribution device with the water line elements results in the synergetic effect that the water distribution and thus the cooling of the condensation lid is optimized.

According to the invention, the energy for operating the pump is generated by a power generation unit. The power generation unit is a device that generates electrical energy from existing resources, in particular to be independent of power grids. The power generation unit preferably has a drive unit and a generator which converts the kinetic energy of the drive into electrical energy. The drive unit and the generator together form a unit.

In the simplest case, the drive unit has a turbine that is driven, for example, by wind power or tidal forces. The use of tidal energy is particularly advantageous if the tidal current at the location is particularly strong and / or the coastal landscape drops steeply, so that even at low tide the water level is high enough to drive the turbine. Instead of interposing a turbine, solar energy can be converted directly into electrical power with the help of photovoltaic systems. The use of wind power for a power generation unit is particularly preferred when a strong wind blows regularly in the coastal region anyway.

Alternatively, the pump can also be operated without electrical current by driving a simple turbine with the help of the wind and / or tidal force and in this way providing the required pumping power. Correspondingly, the pump can convey the cooling water, ie the sea water, high to the condensation cover either by means of electrical current and / or by a simple turbine in the intended use.

According to a further feature of the invention, the water treatment system has both a collecting trough and a collecting trough. The gutter is used to collect the drinking water condensed in the condensation lid. The collecting trough, on the other hand, serves to collect the cooling water used, in which the salt concentration is increased many times over due to the evaporation process. As described above, the cooling water can be fed directly to an adjacent saline.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the evaporation body also has an additional gutter on the inside, so that in the event of condensation, the condensation water can already be collected and removed on the evaporation body. This ensures that, especially at night, when temperatures drop sharply in desert regions, so that temperature differences of up to 30 degrees can be reached, the water condensed on the evaporative body is collected. The additional collecting channel can run in a spiral along the evaporation body and leads to an exit at which the water is then collected, for example, in a collecting container and / or is led directly to the place of use.

According to a further feature, the water treatment plant has a collecting container. The collection container is connected to a drain in terms of flow technology and is used for further absorption of the drinking water. The drinking water can be collected and stored there in large quantities. A tap is proposed for taking the drinking water, which can be opened and closed as intended.

According to a further feature of the invention, the water treatment system has a heating element. The heating element is located inside the evaporation body in the sea water in order to heat the water to be treated and thus to promote evaporation. The heating element receives the electricity required to generate the heat from the power generation unit, which is why the power generation unit and the heating element are electrically connected.

The combination of the individual components such as the power generator, turbine or heating element depends on the environment in which the water treatment system is installed. If the tidal or wind power is not sufficient to operate the pump and the heating element at the same time, the heating element can be dispensed with in this case.

To solve the problem, a method with the features of claim 9 is also proposed. Further advantages and features result from the subclaims.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the condensation lid is cooled on the outside with sea water.

The method is used to produce drinking water from sea water using the above-mentioned device. The first step in the process is that in the evaporative body sea water to be treated is heated so that it is brought into the gaseous state and water vapor is generated. Then the water vapor rises against gravity and hits the condensation cover. Due to the temperature difference between the water vapor and the surface of the condensation lid, the water vapor condenses to liquid water. To accelerate the condensation process, the condensation lid is cooled with sea water by a cooling device. The energy for starting up the cooling device is obtained with the help of a power generation unit.

The power generation unit obtains the energy for generating electricity, as already described above, from renewable energies.

• 1 in schematischer Darstellung eine Wasseraufbereitungsanlage zur Aufbereitung von Meerwasser;
• 2 eine Schnittdarstellung des Verdunstungskörpers und des Kondensationsdeckels der Wasseraufbereitungsanlage gemäß 1;
• 3 in schematischer Darstellung eine Wasseraufbereitungsanlage auf Stelzen;
• 4 in schematischer Darstellung eine Wasseraufbereitungsanlage gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform,
• 5 in schematischer Darstellung eine Wasseraufbereitungsanlage gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform,
• 6 in schematischer Darstellung eine Wasseraufbereitungsanlage gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform
• 7 in schematischer Darstellung eine Wasseraufbereitungsanlage mit mehreren Verdunstungstürmen.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of the figures. The figures show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a water treatment plant for the treatment of sea water;
• 2 a sectional view of the evaporation body and the condensation lid of the water treatment system according to 1 ;
• 3 in a schematic representation a water treatment plant on stilts;
• 4 a schematic representation of a water treatment plant according to another embodiment,
• 5 a schematic representation of a water treatment plant according to another embodiment,
• 6 in a schematic representation a water treatment plant according to a further embodiment
• 7 in a schematic representation a water treatment plant with several evaporation towers.

1 shows a water treatment plant 1 that have a hollow cylindrical evaporation body 2 and a condensation lid 3 having. The evaporative body 2 and the condensation lid 3 are connected to each other in terms of flow technology and together form an evaporation tower 4 , The evaporation tower 4 is intended to be in sea water 5 and extends to the bottom of the sea 6 , being so in the ocean floor 6 it is appropriate that it is fixed and cannot be knocked over by the tidal force and / or wind power. Furthermore, the evaporation tower 4 be fastened with the aid of fastening elements, not shown, such as anchors. In this embodiment, the sea water 5 only through an opening 7 in the evaporative body 2 brought in. The water to be treated 8th is either by the sun 9 even warmed or via a heating element 10 , The heat creates the water to be treated 8th Steam 11 , as in 2 shown in more detail, which in the direction of the arrow 12 rises. The steam 11 strikes the condensation cover 3 which is permanent or only during the day with sea water 5 is cooled. Due to the cooling is the inner wall 13 cooler than water vapor 11 so that it acts as condensate on the inner wall 13 along in flow directions 14 flows. The condensate then collects in a gutter 15 and is through an outlet opening 16 into a drain pipe 17 passed, which with a collecting container 18 connected is.

An additional collecting channel, not shown in the figures, is conceivable within the evaporation body 2 , which also serves on the evaporation body 2 to be able to collect condensed water. An additional drainage channel is particularly advantageous at night, since the entire evaporation tower due to the sharp drop in temperature in the desert regions at night 4 and not just the condensation lid 3 is cooled by the low outside temperature. Accordingly, water already condenses in the evaporation body 2 , which is collected by means of the additional gutter. The water can then go through a line to the container 18 and / or be forwarded directly to a field to be irrigated or to the destination.

The container 18 can easily consist of an inexpensive material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The advantage of these materials is that the collection container 18 robust and at the same time so light that it can be attached as a kind of floating body in the sea.

For cooling the condensation lid according to the invention 3 , especially during the day, the water treatment plant 1 a cooling device 19 on. The cooler 19 consists of a pump 20 that serves sea water 5 over the line 21 to pump. This is how the sea water becomes 5 not only used for the treatment of drinking and industrial water but also as cooling water at the same time 22 , The cooling water 22 is via a water distribution device 23 as evenly as possible on the outer wall 24 the condensation cover 3 distributed and flows in the direction of the arrow 25 into a collecting trough 26 , The collecting trough 26 serves the cooling water 22 to collect, then to feed it to a saltworks, not shown.

To operate the pump 20 is provided according to a first embodiment power generator 27 to use. The power generator 27 can use renewable energies such as solar energy, tidal energy, wind power or the like to generate electricity.

The use of tidal energy is preferred if the tidal current at the intended installation site is strong enough and stable. The use of tidal energy is particularly preferred when the coastal landscape drops steeply, so that even at low tide the water level is high enough to drive the turbine. The use of wind power is particularly preferred if there is a regular wind at the installation site.

According to a further feature, the water treatment system has 1 in the evaporation body 2 a heating element 10 on. The heating element 10 serves the water to be treated 8th to heat, so that the evaporation is promoted and thus more condensate is obtained. The heating element 10 is with the power generator 27 electrically connected and draws the operating current from it.

According to a further embodiment of the water treatment plant 1 can the power generator 27 have a simple turbine with which the pump 20 is operated directly. In this case, the tidal force does not first generate electricity and then convert it into mechanical movement. Instead, the tidal force is converted directly into a mechanical movement, which in turn leads to the pumping movement. This is particularly advantageous since water on power lines can lead to short circuits and the entire power generation unit must therefore be designed to be particularly safe in order to avoid such a short circuit.

3 shows an alternative embodiment of the water treatment plant 1 , In this embodiment, the evaporation tower 4 on stilts 28 arranged. The stilts 28 are at the bottom of the sea 6 attached so that the evaporation tower 4 stays stable even in strong waves and / or wind. This embodiment has the advantage that the evaporation tower 4 can easily be dismantled and replaced in the event of damage, since it is not in the seabed 6 is attached. The evaporative body 2 is closed at the bottom of the sea, so that the water to be treated 8th just over the opening 7 is introduced.

4 reveals another embodiment. The individual components are those 1 to 3 equal. The special feature of this embodiment is that the evaporation body 2 and the condensation lid 3 , the entire evaporation tower 4 , are arranged above the water surface. This has the advantage of opening up 7 in the evaporation body 2 can be dispensed with. That leaves the water treatment plant 1 Manufacture even easier and make it maintenance-free.

The evaporation tower 4 can over other gutters 15 have, for example, spiral inside the evaporation tower 4 derogatory. In this case there is also the drain opening 16 with the indulgence 17 in the lower area of the evaporation tower 4 arranged instead of on the condensation cover 3 , It should be noted that the water treatment plant 1 is located far enough above the surface of the sea water that the tides and waves do not mix sea water and condensation.

Furthermore, the treated water is discharged directly to the place of use, such as on arable land, instead of in the container 18 to be collected.

5 shows a further embodiment of the water treatment plant 1 , In contrast to the embodiment according to 4 is the water treatment plant 1 designed without a gutter. This has the advantage that the water treatment plant 1 or the evaporation tower 4 can be cooled to a maximum. Furthermore, a gutter-free design is advantageous with regard to easier maintenance of the entire water treatment system 1 , Due to the absence of the outside on the evaporation tower 4 attached collecting channel, the surfaces are easier to clean.

6 shows a further embodiment in which the collecting trough 26 not on the condensation cover 3 but on the evaporation body 2 is arranged. The evaporative body 2 has a condensation cover side section and a stilt side section. According to 6 is the collecting trough 26 arranged on the pedestal side, so that the route for cooling with the cooling water 22 is extended to a maximum and at the same time the cooling water concentrated with salt can be collected. This has the advantage that the largest possible surface is cooled overall, so that the condensation is made more effective and the amount of drinking water gained is increased.

7 shows one possibility of multiple evaporation towers 4 to be arranged as a battery. For this, the evaporation towers 4 arranged in a row, preferably as close to the coast as possible. Placing in series has the advantage that the surface of the evaporation towers 4 can be cooled at most by the cool wind outside the country.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Water treatment plant

2

evaporation body

3

condensation cover

4

evaporation storm

5

seawater

6

seabed

7

opening

8th

Water to be treated

9

Sun

10

heating element

11

Steam

12

Direction of ascent of water vapor

13

inner wall

14

Direction of flow of the condensate

15

collecting channel

16

outlet

17

drainage

18

receptacle

19

cooler

20

pump

21

management

22

cooling water

23

Water distributor

24

outer wall

25

Flow direction of the cooling water

26

collecting channel

27

power generator

28

stalk

Claims (10)

Water treatment plant (1) for the treatment of sea water (5), comprising a hollow cylindrical evaporation body (2) and a hollow cone-shaped condensation cover (3), the condensation cover (3) being fluidically connected to the evaporation body (2), characterized by a cooling device (19) for cooling the condensation cover (3) on the outside. Water treatment plant (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the condensation cover (3) has water supply elements for the regular distribution of the cooling water (22). Water treatment plant (1) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the cooling device (19) has a pump (20). Water treatment plant (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the pump (20) is connected in terms of flow technology to one end of a line (21), the line (21) on the other side having a water distribution device (23), the water distribution device (23) having at least one opening (7) on the condensation cover side , Water treatment plant (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the cooling device (19) has a power generation unit (27). Water treatment plant (1) after Claim 1 to 5 , characterized by a collecting trough (15) and a collecting trough (26). Water treatment plant (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 6 , characterized by a collecting container (18). Water treatment plant (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the cooling device (19) has a pump (20) and a power generation unit (27) which are connected to one another electrotechnically, the pump (20) being connected to one end of a line (21) in terms of flow technology, the line (21) on the other side has a water distribution device (23), the water distribution device (23) having at least one opening (7) on the condensation cover side, the water treatment system (1) comprising a collecting channel (15), a collecting channel (26), a collecting container (18) and has an outlet (17), the outlet (17) being connected in terms of flow technology to the collecting channel (15) and the collecting container (18). Method for the treatment of sea water (5), the water to be treated being heated by means of a hollow cylindrical evaporation body (2), so that the water is brought into the gaseous state and then condensed on the condensation cover (3), characterized in that the condensation cover (3 ) is cooled on the outside with sea water (5). Process for the treatment of sea water (5) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that electrical current is generated with which a pump (20) is operated, by means of which the cooling water (22) to be pumped is pumped via a line (21) to a water distribution device (23) and distributed on the outside of the condensation cover (3) the cooling water (22) in a collecting channel (26) and the condensed water in a collecting channel (15) are collected, the water in the collecting channel (15) being passed on to a collecting container (18).

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