EP3096851A1

EP3096851A1 - Facility and method for treating water pumped in a natural environment by evaporation/condensation

Info

Publication number: EP3096851A1
Application number: EP15704354.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jaouad Zemmouri
Original assignee: Starklab SAS
Current assignee: Starklab SAS
Priority date: 2014-01-24
Filing date: 2015-01-22
Publication date: 2016-11-30
Also published as: FR3016876A1; JP2017503996A; US20170008776A1; FR3016876B1; CN106029194A; WO2015110760A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a facility which comprises an evaporation device (1'), which comprises an evaporation chamber (10) intended for containing water (11) in liquid form and allowing only a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber (10) to be evaporated, and gas-supply means (12) for injecting a gas into the water (11) contained in the evaporation chamber (10), such as to form gas bubbles in said water, and a heat exchanger (3), which comprises cooling means (300, 310, 311 / 300, 301) and which allows at least the water vapour from the evaporation chamber (10) to be condensed. The facility comprises water-supply means (14), which make it possible to pump water in liquid form (L) in a natural environment, to send said water pumped in a natural environment through said cooling means (300, 310, 311 / 300, 301) or to bring said water into contact with said cooling means (300, 310, 311 / 300, 301), such as to allow the cooling of the water vapour from the evaporation chamber (10), and to supply the evaporation chamber (10) with said water after said water has been heated, having passed through or been brought into contact with said cooling means (300, 310, 311 / 300, 301). The evaporation chamber (10) comprises means (10c; 143) for discharging a portion of the water in liquid form (L) contained in the chamber which, in combination with the water-supply means (14), make it possible to renew the water inside the chamber such that the temperature of the water contained in the chamber (10) is kept at a temperature that is sufficient for maintaining the evaporation of a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

Description

INSTALLATION AND PROCESSING METHOD BY

EVAPORATION / CONDENSATION OF WATER PUMPED IN ENVIRONMENT

NATURAL Technical field

The present invention relates to a new installation and a new process for the evaporation / condensation treatment of water pumped in liquid form in a natural environment, such as in particular sea water, lake water, or water. of a watercourse, or groundwater. The invention makes it possible, for example, to desalt seawater, or to purify water pumped in a natural environment. The invention is also applicable to the use of the thermal energy of water pumped in the natural environment to produce electricity or to treat a gas.

Prior art

At normal atmospheric pressure (at sea level) evaporation of water occurs around 100 ° C. This evaporation occurs when the external medium provides energy to become water vapor in the form of latent heat L _v. As long as the water remains in its vapor state, this energy L _v remains stored in this vapor. If we reduce the temperature of the vapor, we then witness the phenomenon of condensation by which the vapor is transformed into liquid by yielding this stored energy to the outside environment.

We often speak of evaporation and boiling without distinction for the passage from the liquid state to the gaseous state. In reality, these two phenomena are different and appear in different circumstances. Evaporation refers to the appearance of molecules in the gaseous state at the surface of the liquid. If we bring energy quickly to the bottom of a container, the temperature rises gradually over the entire water column, but at the level of the surface in contact with the energy supply, the temperature will quickly exceed the evaporation temperature (100 ° C for water at normal atmospheric pressure). This creates local evaporation in the form of small bubbles in the water that will escape and rise into the liquid due to Archimedes' surge. This phenomenon will accelerate with the rise of the temperature of the liquid and the number of bubbles becomes important; we then obtain the so-called boiling phenomenon. It can be said that boiling is a three-dimensional or volume evaporation in contrast to conventional evaporation which takes place on the surface.

The evaporation of a liquid, and in particular of water at low pressure, is moreover a well known and controlled method. This method of evaporation is related to the fact that the evaporation temperature of a liquid, and in particular of water, decreases with the atmospheric pressure above this liquid. For example at 0.2 bar, the evaporation temperature of the water is of the order of 60 ° C; at 20 mbar, the evaporation temperature of the water is of the order of 17.5 ° C. Thus, if, for example, water is placed at 20 ° C. in a container, such as for example a beaker, nothing happens in the short term at atmospheric pressure. If the container is placed in a vacuum bell connected to a vacuum pump, the water boils suddenly, and the temperature of the water decreases more and more, to finish at a temperature below zero. From a certain moment, the remaining water eventually freezes, putting an end to evaporation. It is therefore possible by lowering the pressure sufficiently to evaporate and boil water at low temperature, for example at 20 ° C.

When a liquid such as water evaporates, it needs energy to pass from the liquid phase to the gas phase: it is the latent heat L _v . The latent heat L _v is 2.25 MJ / kg for water at atmospheric pressure. This energy is provided by the volume of the water in the liquid state that does not evaporate and by the container containing the water in the liquid state, which provide this thermal energy by lowering their temperatures. As long as evaporation continues, the temperature continues to drop to below 0 ° C and the liquid water eventually turns to ice. If we neglect the participation of the container, we can consider in first approximation, that there conservation energy between the energy received by the evaporated water and the energy provided by the liquid water. E _eva = In _q where E _eva is the energy received by the evaporated water and In _q is the energy supplied by the liquid water.

E | iq = ITI | iq Cpliq ΔΤ

where, miiq is the mass of non-evaporated liquid, C _P N _q is the heat capacity of the liquid and is 4.18 kJ / kg / K for the water and ΔΤ is the change in the temperature of the liquid water.

E = m L

where nrieva is the mass of evaporated liquid and is latent heat and is 2.25 MJ / kg for water at atmospheric pressure.

The conservation of energy and matter requires that Eeva ^- E | iq therefore

ITIeva L _v = ITI | iq Cpliq ΔΤ

It is this relation (Eeva ^- E | iq) that makes it possible to extract energy from a liquid by evaporation, and for example to extract energy by evaporation of water pumped in a natural environment such as in particular sea water, lake water or water from a watercourse.

This phenomenon of evaporation of a liquid, especially water, at low pressure, has been used for many years to produce steam and to use the steam produced to generate electrical energy.

This electrical energy produced from the steam can be obtained by means of a turbine, such as for example in French patent applications FR 2,515,727 and FR 2,534,293.

This electrical energy can also advantageously be produced by condensation of the steam, and in particular of the water vapor produced, and by a transformation into electric energy of the energy recovered during the condensation of the steam.

In particular, over the last decade, the conversion of ocean and ocean thermal energy has made significant progress with Ocean Themal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology. OTEC systems are described for example in patent applications WO 81/02231, WO 95/28567 and WO 96/411079 and in US Pat. No. 3,967,449, and convert heat energy into electricity using the temperature difference between hot surface seawater and water. cold seawater in depth.

Usually closed cycle OTEC systems utilize a thermodynamic cycle of an intermediate working fluid. For this, there are three Rankine, Kalina and Uehara thermodynamic cycles that are compatible with the principle of OTEC systems.

Rankine Cycle:

This cycle is used with organic liquids that have a boiling point lower than that of water. Therefore, it is called Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC).

Kalina cycle:

http: //www.thermoptim rg / sections / technologies / svstemes / cvcle-kalina / This cycle uses a mixture of water and ammonia as working fluid. The ammonia concentration is variable depending on the need of each stage of the cycle. In theory, the efficiency is 20% higher than that of the ORC cycle. The working fluid (water + ammonia) is boiled using the heat released by the hot source. Then, the fluid enters a separator and divides into two:

- the vapor phase with a high concentration of ammonia which subsequently enters the expansion turbine which rotates the electricity generator.

the liquid phase with a low concentration is used in the regenerator. Thereafter the two streams are fused in the condenser, where the fluid condenses by giving heat to the cold source. The fluid leaving the condenser is preheated in the regenerator and the same cycle starts again.

The Kalina cycle is a cycle that has the particularity of varying the concentrations of the coolant (water + ammonia) to change the operating points. Indeed, at the level of the exchanger the concentration of ammonia is high, which makes the evaporation temperature low. Thus the fluid can be evaporated at a lower temperature. If the concentration of ammonia is low, it makes the condensation temperature higher and it thus becomes easier to condense the vapor since the liquid that will be used to condense (cold source) will not need to be very cold.

Uehara cycle:

http: //www.thermoptim rg / sections / technologies / systems / cycle-uehara This cycle also uses water and ammonia as working fluid with a fixed concentration of ammonia, but its theoretical efficiency is higher than Kalina and this cycle is especially suitable for hot spring temperatures between 20 and 30 ° C.

This cycle of electricity generation using the thermal energy of the seas is an improvement of the Kalina cycle. Its main feature is to simplify the change of composition of the water-ammonia mixture by resorting to a stepped relaxation with sampling.

Just as for the Kalina cycle, the interest of this cycle is to replace evaporations and condensations at constant temperature of the working fluid by evolutions with sliding of temperature, and thus to reduce the irreversibilities of the system.

In this cycle, a mixture rich in ammonia is heated in an economizer and a vaporizer, from which it comes out in the two-phase state. The vapor and liquid phases are then separated, the first being expanded to an intermediate pressure in a turbine.

Part of this expanded stream is re-circulated at medium pressure, then cooled by exchange with the base mixture, to which it is mixed, to form the working fluid, which is then pressurized again.

The main stream leaving the turbine is expanded to the low pressure in a second turbine and then directed to an absorber, where it is mixed with the liquid fraction leaving the separator and previously cooled in the regenerator by exchange with the outgoing working fluid. from the rich pump, then relaxed at low pressure. At the output of the absorber, The resulting base mixture is condensed before being compressed to the intermediate pressure.

In practice, a 100MW OTEC installation running on a Uehara cycle has the following characteristics:

- Net electrical power: 64MW

- Daily electricity production of 1, 5GWh

- Annual electricity production of 514GWh

- Daily production of fresh water: 120000m ³ / day

- Flow rate of hot seawater: 1 1 1 m ³ / s (= 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 kg / s)

- Cold seawater flow: 1 1 1 m ³ / s (1 1 1 1 1 1 1 kg / s)

- Electrical requirement (usually for pumps): 23MW.

The major disadvantages of OTEC systems, and in particular OTEC systems based on the Uehara cycle, are:

- very high inflow rates of hot and cold seawater and their potential effects on the environment.

- the suction of water at great depth (usually 1000 meters) for the condenser, which greatly reduces the efficiency of the system.

Water desalination systems have also been proposed, using a humidifier (evaporation device) coupled to a dehumidifier (condensation device). These systems are for example described in the publication "A solar desalination System using humidification-dehumidification process - A review of recent research", YB Karhe et al, International Jurnal of Modem Engineering Research, pages 966-977, April 30, 2013. In these water desalination systems, the evaporation of water in the evaporation device is obtained by pre-heating the water before it is introduced into the evaporation chamber, in particular by using solar energy, and evaporating all the salt water which is introduced into the evaporation device, subsequently recovering the brine in the bottom of the evaporation device. These water desalination systems do not make it possible to operate with large water flows and it is not conceivable with these systems to use the low amount of water vapor generated to produce electricity.

Objective of the invention

The invention aims at proposing a new technical solution for evaporation / condensation treatment of water in liquid form pumped in a natural environment, such as, in particular, seawater, lake water, or water from a lake. A watercourse, or groundwater The solution of the invention makes it possible to improve the energy conversion efficiencies and the implementation costs.

Summary of the invention

The invention thus has as its first object a treatment plant, by evaporation and condensation, water in liquid form pumped in a natural environment. Said installation comprises an evaporation device, which comprises an evaporation chamber intended to contain water in liquid form, and for evaporating only part of the water contained in the evaporation chamber, and gas supply means for introducing a gas into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber, so as to form gas bubbles in said water. Said installation comprises in addition to a heat exchanger, which comprises cooling means and which allows at least to condense water vapor from the evaporation chamber. Said installation comprises means for supplying water, which make it possible to pump water in liquid form in a natural environment, and in particular sea water, lake water or water from a water course. water, or groundwater, to pass through said cooling means or put in contact with said cooling means this water in liquid form pumped in a natural environment, so as to allow the cooling of the steam of water from the evaporation chamber, and supplying the evaporation chamber with said water in liquid form pumped in the natural environment after this water in liquid form has been heated by having passed through or having been put in contact with it with said cooling means. The evaporation chamber comprises means for evacuating part of the water in liquid form contained in the enclosure which, in combination with the water supply means, allow a renewal of the water in liquid form inside the enclosure so that the temperature of the water in liquid form contained in the chamber is maintained at a temperature sufficient to maintain the evaporation of part of the water contained in the evaporation chamber.

More particularly, the installation of the invention may comprise the following additional and optional features, taken separately, or in combination with each other:

- The evaporation chamber is devoid of means for additional heating of the water contained in the evaporation chamber.

- The installation is devoid of means for additional heating water between the cooling means and the evaporation chamber.

Said cooling means of the heat exchanger are positioned outside the evaporation chamber, and the water supply means make it possible to circulate through said cooling means of the heat exchanger said water under liquid form pumped in a natural environment, and used to supply the evaporation chamber with said water in liquid form pumped in the natural environment, after passing through the cooling means of the heat exchanger.

At least part of the cooling means of the heat exchanger is positioned inside the evaporation chamber, so that it can be cooled by the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

- The cooling means of the heat exchanger comprises a closed evaporation / condensation circuit, in which can circulate in a closed loop a working fluid, and which comprises an evaporator of said working fluid and a condenser of said working fluid; the evaporator allows the condensation of the water vapor from the evaporation chamber. Said water supply means make it possible to cool the working fluid during its passage in said condenser, with water in liquid form pumped in a natural medium, and make it possible to supply the evaporation chamber with said water under water. liquid form after its heating by the working fluid in the condenser.

The evaporator is positioned outside the evaporation chamber and the condenser is positioned in the evaporation chamber, so that it can be immersed in the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber .

Said heat exchanger is a power generation system that also allows to recover the energy of the condensation of water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10), and transform it into electrical energy.

Said heat exchanger comprises a turbine, which is mounted between the evaporator and the condenser, and which is able to be actuated by the working fluid in the vapor state, so as to produce electrical energy.

The heat exchanger is designed to implement a Kalina cycle, or a Uehara cycle or a Rankine cycle, or a cycle derived from one or other of these cycles.

The cooling means of the heat exchanger comprise a cooling circuit, which is intended to be in contact with the water vapor coming from the evaporation chamber, and in which circulates a coolant, and wherein said means supplying water to introduce and circulate in said cooling circuit said water in liquid form pumped in a natural environment, which water pumped in a natural environment serves as a heat transfer liquid in the cooling circuit, and allow to supplying the evaporation chamber with said water in liquid form from the cooling circuit after its heating by the steam from the evaporation chamber. - The gas supply means comprise a compressor, which is positioned between the evaporation chamber (10) and the heat exchanger (3/3 '), and which allows to suck gas and steam from water within the evaporation chamber and supplying the heat exchanger with gas and water vapor from the evaporation chamber; the evaporation chamber comprises an inlet opening through which, when the compressor is operating, gas is sucked and introduced into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

Said compressor makes it possible to depressurize the inside of the evaporation chamber so as to allow evaporation of the water contained in the evaporation chamber at a temperature below 100.degree. C., preferably below 60.degree. ° C, and more preferably still below 25 ° C.

- The inlet opening of the evaporation chamber is an air intake communicating with the air, through which air is introduced into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber .

- The inlet opening of the evaporation chamber, through which gas is introduced into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber, is equipped with a gas flow control valve.

- The compressor is used to heat the gas and water vapor as they pass through the compressor.

- The gas supply means comprise a compressor, a gas inlet pipe in the compressor and an outlet pipe, which allows the injection of the gas delivered by the compressor into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

- The gas supply means can automatically regulate the feed rate of the gas entering the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

- The gas supply means used to recycle the gas from the evaporation chamber by reinjecting it in whole or in part in water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

- The water supply means used to supply the evaporation chamber with water at a temperature above the temperature of the water discharged in liquid form from the evaporation chamber.

- The water supply means are adapted to automatically regulate the flow of water entering the evaporation chamber so as to maintain the evaporation of water in the evaporation chamber.

- The gas introduced into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is air or a mixture based on air.

- The gas introduced into the water comprises an inert gas, including helium.

- The gas supply means allow evaporation of the water contained in the chamber at an evaporation temperature lower than the boiling temperature of said water.

- The plant is designed to evaporate a volume of liquid water at an evaporation temperature of less than 100 ° C, preferably less than 60 ° C, and more preferably still less than 25 ° C.

- The gas supply means allow to introduce air into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber by taking all or part of this air in the ambient air outside the chamber. 'pregnant.

The subject of the invention is also a method for treating water in liquid form, by evaporation / condensation, in which only part of the water is evaporated in an evaporation chamber of an evaporation device. liquid form contained in this evaporation chamber, and the water vapor from the evaporation chamber is condensed by means of a heat exchanger, into which a gas is introduced into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber, so as to form gas bubbles in this water, in which water is pumped in liquid form in a natural environment, and in particular sea water, water from a lake or the water of a watercourse, or groundwater, is passed through said cooling means or put in contact with said means cooling said water in liquid form pumped in the natural environment, so as to allow cooling of the water vapor from the evaporation chamber, and the evaporation chamber is supplied with said water in liquid form, after that this water in liquid form has been heated by having passed through or having been put in contact with said cooling means, in which part of the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is evacuated so as to combination with the water supply of the evaporation chamber, to renew the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber so that the temperature of the water in liquid form contained in the chamber is kept at a sufficient temperature to maintain the evaporation of part of the water contained in the evaporation chamber.

More particularly, the process of the invention may comprise the following additional and optional features, taken alone, or in combination with each other:

- The water contained in the evaporation chamber is not heated by means of additional heating means.

- The water is not heated before its introduction into the evaporation chamber by means of additional heating means positioned between the cooling means and the evaporation chamber.

Said cooling means of the heat exchanger are positioned outside the evaporation chamber, this water is circulated in liquid form pumped in the natural medium through the cooling means of said heat exchanger, and this water in the evaporation chamber, after it has been heated during its passage through the cooling means of the heat exchanger. At least part of the cooling means of the heat exchanger is positioned inside the evaporation chamber, and the water in liquid form, pumped in the natural environment, is introduced into the evaporation chamber; such that said part of the cooling means of the heat exchanger positioned inside the evaporation chamber is immersed in the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

- The cooling means of said heat exchanger comprises a closed circuit, which contains a working fluid, and which comprises an evaporator of said working fluid and a condenser of said working fluid; condensing water vapor from the evaporation chamber by bringing it into contact with the evaporator; circulating said working fluid in said closed circuit so as to evaporate the working fluid as it passes through the evaporator and to condense said working fluid as it passes through the condenser; said working fluid is cooled in said condenser with water in liquid form pumped in a natural medium.

- The evaporation chamber is supplied with said water in liquid form pumped in a natural environment, after its heating by the working fluid.

- Electricity is produced by recovering at least a portion of the condensation energy of said water vapor from the evaporation chamber.

- Before the passage of the working fluid in the condenser, the working fluid is used to rotate at least one electric turbine.

- The water vapor from the evaporation chamber is condensed by putting it in contact with the cooling circuit of the cooling means of the heat exchanger; circulating in said cooling circuit, said water in liquid form which is pumped in a natural medium, and which acts as heat transfer fluid of said cooling circuit, and the evaporation chamber is supplied with said water in liquid form from the cooling circuit after heating with water vapor from the evaporation chamber.

The evaporation chamber is at a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure.

The evaporation chamber is depressed.

The pressure in the evaporation chamber above the liquid is automatically regulated.

The flow of gas entering the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is automatically regulated.

A part of the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is continuously replaced with water at a temperature higher than the temperature of the water which is evacuated outside the evaporation chamber.

The flow of liquid entering the evaporation chamber is automatically regulated.

The gas introduced into the liquid is air or a gaseous mixture based on air.

The gas introduced into the water in liquid form comprises an inert gas and in particular helium.

Part of the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is evaporated at a temperature of evaporation lower than the boiling temperature of said water.

Part of the water is evaporated in the evaporation chamber at an evaporation temperature of less than 100 ° C., and preferably less than 60 ° C., and more preferably less than 25 ° C.

The water resulting from the condensation of the water vapor is recovered.

At least part of the gas injected into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is air taken from the ambient air.

At least part of the gas injected into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber is recycled by being reinjected into the liquid contained in the evaporation chamber.

The subject of the invention is also a use of the abovementioned installation or the aforementioned method:

- to produce electricity from water pumped in a natural environment, including sea water, lake water or water from a watercourse, or groundwater ,

or

to purify and, where appropriate, desalt and / or depollute water pumped in a natural environment and in particular sea water, lake water or water from a watercourse, or from groundwater,

or

to cool and / or depollute the gas injected into the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber.

Brief description of the figures

The features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description below of several particular embodiments of the invention, which particular embodiments are described by way of non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples of the invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of an evaporation device of the invention.

FIG. 2 represents examples of operating curves of the device of FIG. 1, showing the evolution over time of the temperature of the water in the evaporation chamber for different initial volumes of water (21, 11). , 21) and with different air flows (41 / s, 61 / s, 61 / s).

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of an installation of the invention for the production of electricity by evaporation / condensation of water pumped in a natural environment, for example seawater. - Figure 4 schematically shows a second embodiment of an installation of the invention for the production of electricity by evaporation / condensation of water pumped in a natural environment, and for example seawater.

- Figure 5 schematically shows a third embodiment of an installation of the invention for the production of electricity by evaporation / condensation of water pumped in a natural environment, and for example seawater.

FIGS. 6 to 8 respectively show diagrammatically installations for the evaporation / condensation treatment of water pumped in a natural environment, and for example for the desalination of sea water, in which the said water pumped in a natural environment serves of coolant in a cooling circuit used for the condensation of water vapor from the evaporation chamber of the installation.

- Figure 9 schematically shows a third embodiment of an installation of the invention for the production of electricity by evaporation / condensation of water pumped in a natural environment, and for example seawater.

detailed description

Figures 1 and 2

FIG. 1 shows schematically an example of experimental evaporation device 1.

This device 1 comprises:

an evaporation chamber containing an initial volume of liquid 1 1 to be evaporated, and for example a volume of water.

- Feeding means 12 for introducing a gas, and for example air into the liquid 1 1, so as to form gas bubbles 13 in the liquid.

The supply means 12 more particularly comprise a compressor 121, an intake duct 120 making it possible to feed the compressor 121 with ambient air, and an outlet pipe 122, connected at one end to the outlet of the compressor 121, and having its other end immersed in the liquid 1 1, so that the air produced by the compressor 121 is introduced into the liquid 1 1, near the bottom of the enclosure 10.

The passage of a gas, such as air, through the liquid 11 causes forced boiling at low temperature (in this case at room temperature) which improves the efficiency of the evaporation. This can be explained by the fact that the gas bubbles 13, which are forcedly created in the liquid by the gas, are charged with steam (water vapor if the liquid 1 1 is water), removing latent heat from the liquid 1 1 and thus cooling the liquid in the chamber 10. Under the effect of the buoyancy, the bubbles 13 of the gas loaded with steam rise faster and faster to burst on the surface some water.

It should be noted that the gas may be simply air or any other gas, and for example and without limitation and not exhaustive, an air-based gas mixture, or an inert gas, and in particular helium.

The device of FIG. 1 has been tested under the following conditions:

- Plastic enclosure 10 containing an initial volume of water 1 1 at a temperature of 19.5 ° C for the curve with an air flow of 4l / s and

17 ° C for the other two curves with an air flow of 6l / s.

- Temperature of the air jet at the outlet of the compressor 121: 17 ° C.

- Pressure of the jet of air at the outlet of the compressor 121: 2 bars

- Airflow rate at the outlet of the compressor 121: modifiable

- Ambient temperature: 20.3 ° C.

FIG. 2 shows the evolution over time of the temperature of the water in the enclosure 10 for different initial water volumes (21; 11; 21) and with different air flows (41 / s; s 61 / s).

The curves of FIG. 2 show that the higher the flow rate of the gas, the higher the temperature of the liquid in the enclosure 10 drops rapidly. This temperature drop corresponds to the evaporation of a certain amount of liquid. By controlling the flow of gas at the entrance of the chamber, it acts on the evaporation rate of the liquid and the amount of steam produced over time.

Thus, the introduction of a gas, and in particular air, into the liquid 1 1 contained in the evaporation chamber 10 advantageously makes it possible to create gas bubbles 13, and more particularly air bubbles, which allow the acceleration of evaporation.

Figure 3: Production of electrical energy - 1st variant

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an installation which is in accordance with the invention, and which makes it possible to produce electricity from the conversion of the thermal energy of water, pumped in the form of liquid in a natural environment, for example, sea water, lake water, or water from a watercourse, or water from an underground natural source

This plant comprises an evaporation device 1 'by forced boiling, connected to a heat exchanger 3 which, in this variant, allows more particularly the production of electrical energy, from the condensation of the water vapor from the device Evaporation 1 '.

The evaporation device 1 'comprises an evaporation chamber 10 intended to contain water 1 1, which has been pumped in liquid form in a natural medium.

This evaporation chamber 10 comprises:

in the lower part, an air intake opening 10b which communicates with the free air outside the enclosure,

- In the upper part, an opening 10a which allows the evacuation of air and water vapor.

This evaporation chamber 10 comprises a bottom 100 in which is formed an opening 100a for its supply with water pumped in liquid form in a natural environment.

In the upper part, the evaporation chamber 10 also has an opening 10c for discharging the liquid water 1 1 contained in the enclosure. The heat exchanger 3 for the production of electricity allows the implementation of a closed thermodynamic cycle, Rankine cycle type.

It comprises a condensation unit 30, comprising a condensation chamber 300, which communicates with the evacuation opening 10a of the evaporation chamber 10, and which allows the condensation of the water vapor coming from the enclosure Evaporation 10.

The recovery of at least a portion of the condensation energy of the water vapor and its transformation into electrical energy are performed by a Rankine-type energy conversion system, which comprises a closed circuit 31, in which circulates in a closed loop a coolant working fluid. This closed circuit 31 comprises an evaporator 310 of said working fluid (cold source of the Rankine cycle), which is in the form of a coil, and which is positioned in said condensing chamber 300, and a condenser 31 1 of said working fluid (hot source of the Rankine cycle), which is in the form of a coil, and which is positioned outside the condensing chamber 300. In a manner known per se, on the path of the working fluid is further interposed a compressor 312 between the outlet of the condenser 31 1 and the inlet of the evaporator 310.

The heat exchanger 3 also comprises a turbine 32, which allows the production of electricity by means of the working fluid F, and which is mounted on the path of the working fluid, between the evaporator 310 of the working fluid and the condenser 31 1 working fluid

The working fluid F is for example a mixture of water and ammonia.

The installation also comprises feed means 12 for forcing air into the water 1 1 contained in the enclosure 10 in a forced manner.

These supply means 12 comprise a compressor 121 whose inlet is connected to the evacuation opening 10a of the evaporation chamber 10 via a pipe 120, and the outlet of which is connected to an inlet of the enclosure 300 by a pipe 122, and a valve air flow control device 123 which is mounted on the intake opening 10b of the evaporation chamber 10.

More particularly, a filter (not shown) can be mounted at the outlet of the evaporation chamber 10, and upstream of the compressor 121, in order to prevent fouling of the installation downstream of the evaporation device 1 '. .

The installation also comprises water supply means 14, comprising a hydraulic pump 140, which makes it possible to pump water L in liquid form in a natural medium, such as, for example, seawater, water or water. water from a lake, water from a watercourse, or groundwater.

This hydraulic pump 140 is connected at the outlet to one end of a water supply pipe 141. The other end of the water supply line 141 is connected to the inlet opening 144a of a cooling circuit 144, which is in contact with the condenser 31 1, and which makes it possible to cool the working fluid. F circulating in the condenser 31 1. The exhaust opening 144b of this cooling circuit 144 is connected to one end of a pipe 142, which is connected at its other end to the opening 100a in the bottom 100 of the evaporation chamber 10.

The installation also comprises a vertical evacuation line 143 which is connected to the opening 10c of the evaporation chamber, and which makes it possible to discharge by gravity a portion of the water 1 1 contained in the pregnant 10.

The outlet 143a of this exhaust pipe 143, which is located below the evaporation chamber 10, is for example, but not necessarily, immersed in the same natural water source (sea, ocean, lake, course of water ...) than that in which the hydraulic pump 140 pumps water.

In operation, by means of the hydraulic pump 140, cold water L is injected in liquid form at a temperature Tf in a natural environment, and in particular sea water, lake water or water a watercourse, or groundwater; this pumped water is circulated in a natural environment in the cooling circuit 144, which makes it possible to cool the condenser 31 1, and to condense the heat transfer fluid F during its passage in the condenser 31 1. This water L is thus heated during its passage through the cooling circuit 144.

Then this water L is introduced in liquid form and heated to a temperature Tf + ΔΤ1 in the evaporation chamber 10, through the admission opening 100a in the bottom 100 of the chamber 10, which allows to renew and heat the liquid water contained in this chamber 10.

When the water level in the evaporation chamber 10 is sufficient, part of the water contained in the chamber 10 is automatically discharged through the opening 10c and through line 143. The temperature (Tf + ΔΤ1) water in liquid form entering the evaporation chamber 10 is greater than the temperature (Tf - ΔΤ2) of the water in liquid form leaving the evaporation chamber 10 through the opening 10c. This continuously renews the water contained in the evaporation chamber, and the temperature of the water in liquid form L contained in the chamber 10 is constantly maintained at a temperature sufficient to maintain the evaporation of a part only water contained in the evaporation chamber, without it being necessary to heat the water in the chamber 10 by an additional heating means or to heat the water before its introduction into the enclosure 10 by additional heating means. "Additional heating means" means a heating means using a source of energy external to the system, that is to say a source of energy other than the energy coming from the water pumped in a natural environment. , and for example a source of solar or electric energy.

The flow rate of the pump 140 is regulated or is regulated automatically, so as to continuously provide sufficient thermal energy to maintain the volume of water 1 1 in the chamber 10 at a sufficiently high temperature for the phenomenon of evaporation does not stop.

This flow rate of the pump 140 may be fixed or may advantageously be regulated automatically, for example from a liquid level detection in the chamber 10, in order to maintain in time a minimum level of liquid in the chamber, and / or for example from a detection of the liquid temperature 1 1 in the chamber 10, so as to maintain in time the temperature of the liquid above a minimum temperature threshold conditioning the evaporation of the liquid.

Meanwhile, the compressor 121 operates and draws gas (in this case air) and water vapor at the top of the evaporation chamber 10, and creates a vacuum in the evaporation chamber 10 above the water level. This depression allows a suction of the air outside the evaporation chamber through the valve 123 and the inlet opening 10b of the chamber 10, and thus makes it possible to forcefully introduce the air coming from outside the chamber 10 in the volume of liquid water 1 1 contained in the chamber 10.

In a manner comparable to that described above, this air forms air bubbles 13 (forced boiling) in the liquid water 1 1 which rise to the surface of the water and which promote the evaporation of water .

By regulating or regulating the flow of air entering the chamber 10 by means of the air flow control valve 123, the quantity of vapor produced over time is advantageously controlled.

The depression inside the enclosure created by the compressor 121 and this forced boiling of the liquid water in the chamber 10 advantageously allows the production of water vapor with water at low temperature, and for example with water at room temperature (Tf + ΔΤ1 for example between 15 ° C and 60 ° C).

The air and the water vapor produced at the top of the evaporation chamber 10 are sucked by the compressor 121, and are discharged by the compressor 121 into the condensation chamber 300, having been heated by several degrees. Celsius in the compressor 121.

The water vapor is condensed in the enclosure 300 in contact with the evaporator 310 and gives a portion of the calories to the working fluid F, which heats and evaporates the working fluid F in the evaporator 310.

This working fluid F in the form of steam makes it possible to turn the turbine 32 which produces the electricity.

Once it has passed through the turbine 32, the working fluid F in the form of steam is cooled in the condenser 31 1 and is then circulated to the evaporator 310 by the compressor 312 interposed between the outlet of the condenser 31 1 and the inlet of the evaporator 310.

Water from the condensation of water vapor in the chamber 300 is collected in the lower part of the enclosure 300 and is discharged through the outlet 300a. The dry air after condensation is removed from the air outlet condensing chamber 300b 300b.

When the hydraulic pump 140 takes salt water (water taken from the sea or in an ocean), the water from the condensation of the water vapor in the chamber 300 and collected in the lower part of the enclosure 300 is fresh water, the installation thus allowing, in addition to the production of electricity, to produce fresh water by desalting seawater. This fresh water can advantageously be recovered by being evacuated from the condensation chamber 300 in a freshwater recovery circuit.

Also, in the case of salt water or freshwater taken from the natural environment, and likely to contain pollutants, the evaporation / condensation of this water in the installation makes it possible to recover, at the exit 300a of the enclosure 300, purified water purified.

The forced introduction of air into the evaporation chamber 10 advantageously makes it possible to generate steam at a low temperature (for example at a temperature below 20 ° C.), without it being necessary to create the Vacuum in the evaporation chamber 10. For example, the depression created by the compressor 121 inside the evaporation chamber above the water level can for example be between 0.1 bar and 0.5bars.

This low temperature steam advantageously allows a condensation heat transfer more efficient, and therefore allows the implementation of a source (working fluid in the evaporator 310) which is less cold, to recover by condensation the energy stored in the steam to transform it in electrical energy. It is therefore no longer necessary, unlike traditional OTEC systems, to pump very cold water, especially seawater at very great depth to cool the condenser 31 1, but this less cold water (Tf per example between 15 ° C and 30 ° C) can advantageously be pumped close to the surface, and the energy conversion efficiencies are improved.

The use of forced boiling water vapor also reduces the need for structure and number of pumps (currently 100MW OTEC systems require pumps with a cumulative flow of 1 1 1 m ³ / s to pump hot sea water). In the installation of FIG. 3, the water pump 140 may in comparison have a relatively low flow rate.

The invention thus makes it possible to extract thermal energy from water in a natural environment, and in particular from seawater with a lower energy consumption than traditional OTEC systems.

The performance of the installation of the invention depends on the temperature of the water which is pumped in the natural medium by the water pump 140. The performance of the installation of the invention can be improved by increasing the temperature of the water. air introduced into the liquid 1 1, because this hot air will yield its excess energy to water vapor.

In a variant of the invention, the walls of the evaporation chamber 10 may also be heated with an additional heating system.

In another variant, the air introduced into the chamber 10 may be replaced by another gas, and for example an air-based gas mixture, or an inert gas, and more particularly helium.

The installation of FIG. 3 can also be modified so as to implement a closed thermodynamic cycle, of the Kalina cycle type, Uehara cycle, or a derivative of one and / or the other of these cycles, the water pumped in a natural environment being also used for the cooling of a working fluid used in this closed thermodynamic cycle.

Figure 4: Production of electrical energy - ^2nd variant

In another variant illustrated in FIG. 4, the gas (in this case air taken from the ambient environment) is introduced into the chamber 10 in the same manner as for FIG. ie by using a compressor 121 which makes it possible to blow (and no longer to suck) this gas into the volume of liquid 1 1 contained in the enclosure 10. In this case, the discharge opening 10a of the enclosure The evaporation device 10 can also be connected directly to the inlet of the condensation chamber 300 via a pipe, or any other equivalent means, for communicating the upper part of the evaporation chamber 10 with the enclosure of In this variant, the evaporation chamber 10, above the level of the water 1 1, is at atmospheric pressure.

Figure 5: Power Generation - ^3rd variant

The installation can operate in a closed circuit as illustrated in FIG. 5, by recycling, via the compressor 121, the dry air coming from the condensation system 30. In this FIG. 4, a solenoid valve EV is mounted on the tubing d 120 admission.

This modification makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the compressor (s) 121. Indeed, the use of closed circuit compressor requires less energy, because the same air is used permanently for the operation of the system.

One or more temperature sensors ST can be positioned within the air circulation circuit, in order to control the operating air temperature and to automatically control the air intake solenoid valve EV, if it is It is necessary to bring ambient air into the circuit to increase the temperature or to completely change the operating air.

Figure 6: Evaporative / Condensation Treatment Plant taken in the wild

FIG. 6 shows an installation for the evaporation / condensation treatment of water taken from the natural environment, which is similar to the installation of FIG. 3 previously described, in that it comprises the following elements: evaporation 1 '; supply means 12 comprising a compressor 121 and an air flow control valve 123; means 14 for supplying water for pumping water in liquid form in a natural environment.

This installation of FIG. 6 comprises a heat exchanger 3 ', which also allows the condensation of the water vapor coming from the evaporation device Y, but which is different from the heat exchanger 3 of the installation of FIG.

This heat exchanger 3 'comprises a condensation unit 30, which comprises a condensation chamber 300 communicating with the evaporation chamber 10 of the evaporation device Y, and a cooling circuit 301 in the form of a coil, which is positioned in the evaporation chamber 300, and in which circulates a coolant

In the installation of FIG. 6, the output of the hydraulic pump 140 is connected to the inlet 301a of the cooling circuit 301 via a pipe 141, and the outlet 301b of the cooling circuit 301 is connected to the opening 100a of the chamber 10 by a pipe 142.

In operation, the hydraulic pump 140 allows natural water to be pumped at a temperature Tf, to circulate in the cooling circuit 301 the water pumped in the natural environment and acting as coolant of the cooling circuit 301. At the outlet of the cooling circuit 301, the water which has been heated (temperature Tf + ΔΤ1), following the heat exchanges resulting from the condensation in the enclosure 300 of the water vapor coming from the evaporation device Y, is introduced in the evaporation chamber 10 through the inlet opening 100a.

The same advantages previously described for the installation of FIG. 3 are obtained with the installation of FIG. It is possible to modify this installation of FIG. 6, so that the gas, which is introduced into the volume of liquid water 1 1 contained in the evaporation chamber 10, through the inlet opening 10b , is not air taken from the ambient air, but is another gas.

More particularly, when this gas is a hot gas and / or a gas containing pollutants, the evaporation device 1 'allows in this case the cooling of this gas and / or the dissolution in the liquid 1 1 pollutants contained in the gas. After passing through the liquid 1 1, the gas is cooled and / or depolluted.

This device can for example be used for the cooling and the depollution of a gas resulting from an incinerator and which can have a temperature of several hundreds of degrees, the passage of the gas in the liquid making it possible to block the propagation of the pollutants in the atmosphere.

Figures 7 and 8

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment variant implementing a compressor 121 which makes it possible to blow (and no longer suck) a gas into the volume of liquid 11 contained in the enclosure 10, in a manner comparable to the variant of Figure 4.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment operating in a closed circuit in a manner similar to the variant of FIG. 5, that is to say by recycling, via the compressor 121, the dry air coming from the unit condensation 30.

Figure 9

FIG. 9 shows another alternative embodiment, in which the evaporator 310 of the heat exchanger 3 "is positioned outside the evaporation chamber 10, and the condenser 31 1 is positioned in the evaporation chamber 10, so as to be immersed in the water in liquid form 1 1 contained in the evaporation chamber 10.

In this variant, the pump 142 can pump liquid water L in liquid form at a temperature Tf, and introduce this water directly into the evaporation chamber 10, so that the condenser 31 1 of the heat exchanger 3 "is immersed in the water in liquid form 1 1 contained in the evaporation chamber 10. During its passage in the condenser 31 1, the working fluid F is thus cooled by the water 1 1 contained in the evaporation chamber 10, then is returned in liquid form by the compressor 312 in the evaporator 310 to allow the condensation of water vapor from the evaporation chamber 10.

Claims

Plant for the evaporation and condensation treatment of water in liquid form pumped in the natural environment, said installation comprising an evaporation device (1 '), which comprises an evaporation chamber (10) intended to contain water (1 1) in liquid form and for evaporating only a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber (10), and gas supply means (12) for introducing a gas into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10), so as to form gas bubbles in said water, and a heat exchanger (3 / 3V 3 "), which comprises means for cooling (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) and which allows at least to condense water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10), said installation comprising means (14) for water supply , which can pump water in liquid form (L) in a natural environment, including sea water, water from a lake, u water from a watercourse, or groundwater, to pass through said cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) or to put in contact with said cooling means ( 300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) this water in liquid form (L) pumped in a natural medium, so as to allow the cooling of water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10), and supplying the evaporation chamber (10) with said water in liquid form (L) pumped in a natural medium after this water in liquid form (L) has been heated by passing through or having been brought into contact with said means cooling unit (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301), wherein the evaporation chamber (10) comprises evacuation means (10c; 143) of a part of the water in liquid form (L) contained in the evaporation chamber (10) which, in combination with the means (14) for supplying water, allow a renewal of the water in liquid form (L) inside the evaporation chamber (10), so that the temperature of the water in liquid form (L) contained in the chamber (10) is maintained at a temperature sufficient to maintain the evaporation of a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

Installation according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation chamber (10) is devoid of means for additional heating of the water contained in the evaporation chamber.

Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, devoid of means for additional heating of the water between the cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) and the evaporation chamber (10).

Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) of the heat exchanger (3/3 ') are positioned outside the enclosure of evaporation (10), and the water supply means (14) for circulating through said cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) of the heat exchanger (3/3 ') said water in liquid form (L) pumped in a natural medium, and used to feed the evaporation chamber (10) with said water in liquid form (L) pumped in a natural medium, after passing through the cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) of the heat exchanger (3/3 ').

Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a portion (31 1) of the cooling means of the heat exchanger (3 ") is positioned inside the evaporation chamber (10). ), so that it can be cooled by the water in liquid form (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10). Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cooling means of the heat exchanger (3/3 ") comprise a closed evaporation / condensation circuit (31), in which a fluid of a closed circuit can be circulated in a closed loop. work (F), and which comprises an evaporator (310) of said working fluid (F) and a condenser (31 1) of said working fluid (F), and wherein the evaporator (310) allows the condensation of the steam water from the evaporation chamber (10).

Installation according to claims 4 and 6, wherein said water supply means (14) can cool the working fluid (F) during its passage in said condenser (31 1), with water (L) in liquid form pumped in a natural environment, and used to supply the evaporation chamber (10) with said water in liquid form (L) after being heated by the working fluid (F) in the condenser (31 1).

Installation according to claims 5 and 6 wherein the evaporator (310) is positioned outside the evaporation chamber (10) and the condenser (31 1) is positioned in the evaporation chamber (10) , so that it can be immersed in the water in liquid form (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, which allows the production of electrical energy, and wherein said heat exchanger (3/3 ") constitutes a power generation system which also allows the energy of the energy to be recovered. condensing the water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10) and converting it into electrical energy.

10. Installation according to claim 9 and any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said heat exchanger (3/3 ") comprises a turbine (32), which is mounted between the evaporator (310) and the condenser (31 1), and which is able to be actuated by the working fluid (F) in the vapor state, so as to produce electrical energy.

1 1. Plant according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (3) is designed to implement a Kalina cycle, or a Uehara cycle or a Rankine cycle, or a cycle derived from one either of these cycles.

12. Installation according to claim 2, wherein the cooling means of the heat exchanger (3 ') comprise a cooling circuit (301), which is intended to be in contact with the water vapor from the enclosure in which a heat-transfer liquid circulates, and in which said water supply means (14) make it possible to introduce and circulate in said cooling circuit (301) said water (L) in the form of a liquid pumped in a natural environment, which water (L) pumped in a natural environment acts as a coolant in the cooling circuit (301), and makes it possible to feed the evaporation chamber (10) with said water in liquid form ( L) from the cooling circuit (301) after being heated by the steam from the evaporation chamber (10).

13. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas supply means (12) comprise a compressor (121) which is positioned between the evaporation chamber (10) and the heat exchanger (3). / 3 '), which makes it possible to draw gas and water vapor inside the evaporation chamber (10) and to supply the heat exchanger (3/3') with gas and water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10), and wherein the evaporation chamber has an inlet opening (10b) for which, when the compressor (121) operates, gas is sucked and introduced into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

14. Installation according to claim 13, wherein the compressor (121) allows to depressurize the interior of the evaporation chamber (10) so as to allow evaporation of the water contained in the enclosure of evaporation (10) at a temperature below 100 ° C, preferably below 60 ° C, and more preferably below 25 ° C.

15. Installation according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the inlet opening (10b) of the evaporation chamber (10) is an air intake communicating with the air, through which air is introduced into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

16. Installation according to any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the inlet opening (10b) of the evaporation chamber (10), through which gas is introduced into the water (1 1) under liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10), is equipped with a valve (123) for controlling the flow of gas.

17. Installation according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the compressor (121) is used to heat the gas and water vapor as they pass through the compressor.

18. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the gas supply means (12) comprise a compressor (121), a pipe (120) for admission of a gas into the compressor (121). ) and an outlet pipe (122), which allows the injection of the gas delivered by the compressor (121) into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

19. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas supply means (12) can automatically regulate the feed rate of the gas entering the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the invention. evaporation chamber

(10).

20. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas supply means (12) for recycling the gas from the evaporation chamber (10) by re-injecting all or part in the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

21. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (14) for supplying water to supply the evaporation chamber (10) with water at a temperature (Tf + AT1 or Tf) above at the temperature (Tf - ΔΤ2) of the water discharged in liquid form from the evaporation chamber (10). 22. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (14) for supplying water are able to automatically regulate the flow of water entering the evaporation chamber (10) so as to maintain the evaporation of water in the evaporation chamber (10).

23. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas introduced into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is air or a mixture based on 'air.

24. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas introduced into the water comprises an inert gas, including helium.

25. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas supply means (12) allow the evaporation of the water (1 1) contained in the chamber at an evaporation temperature lower than boiling temperature of said water.

26. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, designed to evaporate a volume of liquid water at an evaporation temperature of less than 100 ° C, preferably less than 60 ° C, and more preferably still less than 25 ° C. .

27. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas supply means (12) for introducing air into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the enclosure of evaporation (10) by taking all or part of this air in the ambient air outside the enclosure.

28. A method of treating water in liquid form by evaporation / condensation, in which only part of the water is evaporated in an evaporation chamber (10) of an evaporation device (1 ') ( 1 1) in liquid form contained in this evaporation chamber (10), and the water vapor originating from the evaporation chamber (10) is condensed by means of a heat exchanger (3 / 3V 3 ") , in which a gas is introduced into the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10), so as to form gas bubbles (13) in this water, in which water (L) in liquid form in a natural environment, including seawater, lake water or water from a watercourse or groundwater, passing through said cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) or bringing into contact with said cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) this water in liquid form (L) pumped into natural environment, man to allow cooling of water vapor from the enclosure of evaporation (10), and the evaporation chamber (10) is supplied with said water in liquid form, after this water in liquid form (L) has been reheated by having passed through it or brought into contact with it said cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301), in which part of the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is discharged in a manner, in combination with the supply in water of the evaporation chamber, to renew the water in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10), so that the temperature of the water in liquid form (L) contained in the enclosure (10) is maintained at a temperature sufficient to maintain the evaporation of a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the water contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is not heated by means of additional heating means.

30. Method according to any one of claims 28 or 29, wherein the water is not heated before its introduction into the evaporation chamber (10) using an additional heating means positioned between the cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) and the evaporation chamber (10).

31. A method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein said cooling means (300, 310, 311/300, 301) of the heat exchanger (3/3 ') is positioned outside the enclosure of evaporation (10), this water is circulated in liquid form pumped in a natural medium through the cooling means (300, 310, 31 1/300, 301) of said heat exchanger (3/3 '), and introduced this water in the evaporation chamber (10), after it has been heated during its passage in the cooling means (300, 310, 31 1 300, 301) of the heat exchanger (3/3 ').

32. A method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein at least a portion (31 1) of the cooling means of the heat exchanger (3 ") is positioned inside the evaporation chamber. (10), and wherein is introduced into the evaporation chamber (10) water (L) in liquid form, pumped in a natural environment, so that said portion (31 1) cooling means of the heat exchanger (3 ") positioned inside the evaporation chamber (10) is immersed in the water in liquid form (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

33. A method according to any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the cooling means of said heat exchanger (3) comprise a closed circuit (31), which contains a working fluid (F), and which comprises an evaporator ( 310) of said working fluid (F) and a condenser (31 1) of said working fluid (F), in which the water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10) is condensed by bringing it into contact with the evaporator (310), in which said working fluid (F) is circulated in said closed circuit (31), so as to evaporate the working fluid (F) as it passes through the evaporator (310) and condensing said working fluid (F) as it passes through the condenser (31 1), wherein said working fluid (F) is cooled in said condenser (31 1) with water (L) in liquid form pumped in a natural environment.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the evaporation chamber (10) is supplied with said water (L) in liquid form pumped in a natural environment, after its heating by the working fluid (F).

35. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 34, for the production of electricity, in which electricity is produced by recovering at least part of the energy of condensing said water vapor from the evaporation chamber (10).

36. The method of claims 33 and 35, wherein, before the passage of the working fluid (F) in the condenser (31 1), the working fluid (F) is used to rotate at least one electric turbine (32). ).

37. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the water vapor from the evaporation chamber is condensed.

(10) by putting in contact with the cooling circuit (301) means for cooling the heat exchanger (3 '), in which said water is circulated in said cooling circuit (301), said water liquid form (L) which is pumped in a natural environment and which acts as heat transfer fluid for said cooling circuit (301), and in which the evaporation chamber (10) is fed with said water in liquid form (L) from the cooling circuit (301) after being heated by the steam from the evaporation chamber (10).

38. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein the evaporation chamber (10) is at a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure. 39. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein the evaporation chamber (10) is depressed.

40. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 39, during which the pressure is automatically regulated in the evaporation chamber (10) above the liquid (1 1).

41. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 40, during which the flow of gas entering the water is automatically regulated. (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

42. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 41, during which part of the water in liquid form (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is continuously replaced with water containing a temperature (Tf + ΔΤ1 or Tf) higher than the temperature (Tf - ΔΤ2) of the water which is evacuated outside the evaporation chamber (10).

43. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 42, during which the flow of liquid entering the evaporation chamber (10) is automatically regulated.

44. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 43, wherein the gas introduced into the liquid (1 1) is air or an air-based gas mixture.

45. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 44, wherein the gas introduced into the water in liquid form (1 1) comprises an inert gas and in particular helium.

46. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 45, in which part of the water (1 1) in liquid form contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is evaporated at a lower evaporation temperature than the boiling temperature of said water.

47. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 46, in which part of the water (1 1) is evaporated in the evaporation chamber (10) at an evaporation temperature of less than 100 ° C. and preferably below 60 ° C, and more preferably below 25 ° C.

48. Method according to any one of claims 28 to 47, during from which the water resulting from the condensation of the water vapor is recovered.

49. A method according to any one of claims 28 to 48, wherein at least a portion of the gas injected into the water in liquid form (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is from air taken from ambient air.

50. Process according to any one of claims 28 to 49, during which at least a portion of the gas injected into the water in liquid form (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10) is recycled by being reinjected into the liquid (1 1) contained in the evaporation chamber (10).

51. Use of the plant according to any one of claims 1 to 27 or the process according to any one of claims 28 to

50 to generate electricity from water pumped in a natural environment, including sea water, lake water or water from a watercourse, or groundwater , 52. Use of the installation according to any one of claims 1 to 27 or the method referred to in any one of claims 28 to 50, for purifying and if necessary desalting and / or depolluting pumped water in the natural environment, including seawater, lake water or water from a watercourse, or groundwater.

53. Use of the installation according to any one of claims 1 to 27 or the method referred to in any one of claims 28 to 50, for cooling and / or depolluting the gas injected into the water in contained liquid form. in the evaporation chamber.