ES1229209U - Self-propelled floating platform for desalination - saltwater potabilization and electric power generation (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Self-propelled floating platform or ship, for desalination-purification, distribution and transport of drinking water, desalinated from seawater, by reverse osmosis and purified on the same platform, while producing electrical energy through an electric generation plant, supplying it to all the equipment and services on the platform and to land by submarine cable. The platform or ship, to carry out its work on the high seas, is equipped with all the equipment, systems and devices necessary for its proper functioning and operation. The electric power generating groups on board are established in the platform or ship project, in agreement with the owner and in accordance with the consideration of the ease of purchase and use of existing fuels in the platform's area of operation or of the ship and its costs. This model is characterized by the union of tried and tested elements for drinking water supply and energy supply and comprises: - Floating platform or ship. - Salt water aspiration and pumping equipment. - Cooling equipment of the propulsion plant. - Reverse osmosis plants for desalination. - Water treatment plants. - Equipment for pumping the product water (desalinated water), at the outlet of the reverse osmosis plants to drive it towards the purification plants. - Brine pumping equipment (reject water) at the outlet of reverse osmosis plants. - Brine pipes and diffusers in a wide area of the sea. - Desalination water purification plants. - Storage tanks for drinking water suitable for human consumption. - Pumping equipment for drinking water to be transferred to land. - Electric power generation plant, with marine generator groups. - Electric power transformation centers. - AC inverters. - Fuel tanks for the electric power generation plant. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Self-propelled floating platform for desalination-potabilization of salt water and generation of electrical energy.

Sector of the technique

The present utility model fits into the technical sector of the production of water from seawater and the production of electrical energy by the self-propelled platform, through the use of groups of marine generators.

Background of the invention

Drinking water is one of the most scarce goods in certain regions of the planet. Its supply, in certain points of the Earth, constitutes a problem more and more frequent and critical in emergency situations and natural catastrophe, as it happens with the supply of electrical energy.

The production of drinking water from seawater is currently carried out in land-based desalination plants, generally by reverse osmosis, whose systems are supplied with electricity, either from the distribution network or from electricity sources installed in the same plant, with or without contribution of calcium energy produced with fossil fuels.

The production of electrical energy entails difficulties in certain areas of the Earth, to which we must add environmental pollution as a result of exhaust gases and waste products, which expel the electricity generating groups, almost all driven by low speed diesel engines. (N <400 rpm).

Currently the production of electrical energy is basically done in land plants or off-shore platforms at anchor and with anchors in a fixed point of the sea. The terrestrial plants for the production of electricity are supplied with fossil fuels, with gas, by means of waterfalls, or with unconventional alternative means wind or photovoltaic energy.

There are terrestrial generating plants or stationary mahtimas with high electric power production yields that, however, by the very nature of their installation in a fixed point, both on land and at sea, prevents the displacement of said plants to other points with electrical power needs.

On the other hand, the high costs of construction and operation of the infrastructures necessary for stationary land or sea plants, both desalination-potabilization and generation of electricity can be considered.

It is known that all vessels and floating platforms have installed a distillation plant and an electric plant to provide fresh water and electricity, both to their endowments and to the various services of the vessel.

The plants of reverse osmosis, dating from the nineteenth century have reached a high degree of perfection and the same can be said of the alternators, which also date from the nineteenth century and currently reach yields of more than 96% in generation of electric power.

In this utility model of floating platform or desalination-purification vessel, based on the above, the two basic drinking water and electric energy needs are combined for life, combining the production and transport of both.

On the other hand, the internal combustion machines chosen to drive these generating groups have several advantages, inherent to almost all propulsion and auxiliary engines installed on ships since the implementation of the IMO Tier III regulations.

The high speed generator sets (n> 1,000 rpm) have the advantage that, due to their size, and their high speed of rotation, they have very low emission levels, maxime when a post-treatment of the exhaust gases is made. On the other hand, air and structural noise levels are also very low, given the special mounting on elastic elements. Finally, they have the additional advantage of the multiplicity of equipment on board, favoring redundancy, and with it security.

High-speed gas engines, known since the invention of the explosion engine, are entering a new era. Gas propulsion engines with a speed greater than 1,000 rpm have the advantage of a drastic reduction in emission levels, gas admission of various Methane Numbers, and very low levels of air and structural noise.

Hydrogen engines have been used in trucks and buses for about 20 years, especially those produced by the firm MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, with optimal results in terms of pollutant levels and air and structural noise. The only problem lies in the storage of the hydrogen that, for the moment, is only done by double-wrapped tanks, with nitrogen between both envelopes, or by means of metal hydride tanks, whose problems are, on the one hand, their high value of cost, and, on the other, its small volume to store inert hydrogen (only 2% of the volume of the tank). Despite the above, are developing hydrogen engines up to 5,000 kW, which will see the light in a short time.

Medium- or high-speed dual-fuel engines (n> 500 rpm) presently have the advantage that the pilot fuel used for the ignition of the gas is extremely pure diesel, which eliminates sulfur emissions, and with the post-treatment of exhaust gases, extremely low emission levels are achieved.

Gas turbines, widely used in the military naval sector, have always had the disadvantage of their high levels of emissions, especially in NOX1 SOX1, and in air and structural noise. However, currently very positive results are being achieved through the injection of water, selective catalltica reduction (SCR), and the control of the temperature of the flame. The use of sulfur-free fuels, such as JP 5, JP 7, eliminates the risk of formation of SOX1 emissions, and the systems previously indicated drastically reduce NOX emissions. On the other hand, the acoustic encapsulation of these machines, and the simple or double elastic support, reduce the levels of air and structural noise to minimum levels.

Finally, the 2-stroke engines, operating with natural gas (NG), completely eliminate the risk of formation of SOX1 emissions) while the post-treatment of the exhaust gases promotes emission levels that comply with the IMO regulations Tier III, obtaining high power.

Explanation of the invention

It consists, in a self-propelled floating platform or deseller-potabilizador vessel of variable length, 20 <L <400 meters, depending on the amount of water and electrical energy required, moving through all the seas, with enough capacity to provide water potable water and electricity to deficient areas and lacking these goods, or to populations of a certain entity, with a strong reduction of costs with respect to land plants or stationary marltima, and avoiding contamination in the case of desalination by brine in the coastal areas at one point, as a consequence of their discharge and influence of marine currents, which can diminish and even end marine flora and fauna.

The platform has, on board, laboratories for the realization of physical-chemical analyzes of both the salt water inlet, and the water output product and the reject water (brine), in order to effect the purification of the product water, same time directly on the platform, taking into account the guidelines of the World Health Organization.

With regard to the generation of electrical energy and its transport to land, the platform adopts a unique configuration. The transport of the electrical energy produced on board, to the electrical ground network is done by submerged cables.

The use of wind turbines in the floating platform or off-shore platform, presents difficulties of stability due to the high location of the center of gravity of the generators, which has given rise to the parks with the wind generators anchored in the bottom.

The invention is limited to a self-propelled floating platform or ship, with variable length between 20 and 400 meters and with the necessary equipment to produce desalinated and purified water, and electric power to transfer both to the land distribution networks.

The present model refers to a salt water desalination-potabilization system, in a self-propelled floating platform or ship, using as energy source for the reverse osmosis plants, the energy produced by marine generators, at 400 V -11 kV / 50Hz or 440V- 11 kV / 60 Hz, driven according to the following alternatives:

- High speed diesel engines (n> 1000 rpm)

- High-speed gas engines (n> 1,000 rpm) (LNG, NG, LPG, GLP, CH4)

- High speed motors (n> 1,500 rpm), powered by hydrogen (H2)

- Dual-fuel engines, medium or high speed (n> 500 rpm)

- Gas turbines

- 2-stroke gas engines (NG).

The marine generating groups working with MDO (Marine Diesel Oil) at high speed, comply with the IMO Tier III, US EPA Tier 4, CCNR II, IMO II and IMO III regulations with respect to the stricter requirements for NOx and CO2 emissions .

In a short time, marine generators with engines that _consume L _n G will also be available, _{with NOX emissions equivalent to 10% of the normal ones in low speed diesel engines; C02 emissions of 75% of the usual also in these} low speed diesel engines; null SOX emissions and only 2% of the emissions of particles in these same diesel engines.

The heat dissipated in the exhaust gases of these groups is used by an auxiliary distiller / water treatment plant and part of the electricity generated is sent to the transformers and distribution boards of the platform for distribution to all systems, equipment and services of the platform.

In general, the platform as a producer of drinking water can have two configurations for the transfer of water to port or point of destination. A first configuration of production of potable water with storage on board and a pump station with electric drive that drives the water by direct transfer to the destination point, and a second configuration of production of potable water with the transport of the same by shuttle ship (cistern or shuttle), through floating deposits and towed from the ground a system of winches, or by direct transfer by floating pipe or pipeline on the seabed, and, on the other hand, as a generator of electricity can transfer to the ground the surplus of the electrical production, with the means of on board described from paragraph 34, page 5, to 21 of page 6, with respect to the necessary for desalination - purification and operation of all equipment and services of the platform - ship.

This utility model for industrial use provides the following advantages:

- Considerable reduction of costs, with respect to the costs of the infrastructures necessary for the desalination-potabilization facilities and the production of terrestrial or stationary electric power (off-shore) at sea.

- The possibility of taking the salt water at a variable temperature and depth where it does not reach the light, thus eliminating! the capture of marine microorganisms and materials that may decrease the efficiency of desalination membranes.

- As the modular platform installations, a possible failure or maintenance duration of one of the modules, does not reduce performance while still producing potable water and electric power.

- Minimal contamination by air and structural noise.

- As the system is modular and scalable, it can be installed on platforms / ships of lengths between 20 and 400 meters and can satisfy, in this way, needs of different entity of possible shipowners, or populations of varied population census. - Being self-propelled, elimination of barges or auxiliary vessels to transport the offshore platform to the desired location and its operating costs.

- In the event that there is a need to use vessels of a certain size and length, the transformation and recycling of oil tankers that do not comply with the MARPOL and IMO requirements for double hulls, which entails cleaning and decontamination of tanks, the installation of the necessary equipment that is lacking, and that of the generator groups and the reverse osmosis plants, save the construction costs of a new vessel and with a shorter delivery time.

- Possibility of producing 145 MW of electric power and a volume of more than 1 million cubic meters of drinking water per day.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1: Elevation and plant of a desalinator-purifier and producer of electrical energy. (1) Electric energy production plant with marine generators. (2) Desalination plant of reverse osmosis. (3) Electric azipodal thrusters. (4) Telescopic tube for saltwater collection. (5) Water treatment plant. (6) Distilling plant. (7) Desalinated and potabilized water tanks. (8) Brine diffusers in the sea. (9) Bow propellers.

Figure 2: Bow section of the desalinator-potabilizer vessel and electric power producer. (3) Helix of the azipodal propulsion system. (9) Bow propellers. (10) Lars of drinking water outlet to land. (11) Drinking water outlet pipe.

Figure 3: 160 meters long desalination vessel. (7) Drinkable water tanks.

Figure 4: Main deck of desalinator-potabilizer vessel and electric power producer. (1) Marine generating groups, of 7,000 kW each. (12) Salt water filtering and prefiltering system. (7) Drinking water tanks.

Figure 5: Drinking water transfer system direct to shore from ship. (13) Terrestrial storage tanks. (14) Drinking water supply pipe. (15) Ship.

Figure 6: Transfer system with flexible inflatable tanks. (16) Flexible tanks. (15) Ship.

Figure 7: System of transfer to land of water made potable by underwater pipelines. (17) Submarine fixed pipe.

Figure 8: System of transfer to land of water made drinkable by tanks or shuttle. (15) Ship-desalination vessel (23) Shuttle vessels or reservoirs.

Figure 9: Levels of exhaust gas emissions from different types of internal combustion machines.

Figure 10: Elevation of off-shore marine platform for the production of electric power.

Figure 11: Off-shore marine platform plant for the production of electrical energy: (1) Generator groups. (19) Enabling. (20) Electric power control and distribution systems. Figure 12: Typical transport system of off-shore platform for the production of electrical energy from one place to another.

Figure 13: Electric power system from the ship to the terrestrial network: (15) Ship. (22) Land electricity network or distribution center. (21) Ship power cables to ground.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is a self-propelled floating platform or ship, of an approximate length of 50 meters and a production of potable water of 3,000 m3 / day by means of two reverse osmosis plants, each of 1,500 m3 / day, with storage at board and transport to port or destination point, driven by groups of electric motor pumps.

The propulsion of the platform will be electrical, being available for it on board, of a source of production of ecological electrical energy with multiple plant, because in the case of failure of one of the marine generating groups, navigation and water desalination can continue salted with dynamic positioning.

This floating platform, as a utility model, comprises:

Energy production systems or energy generation means, consisting of a series of diesel high speed marine generator sets; or gas (LNG, NG, LPG, GLP, CH4); of hydrogen (H2); or dual fuel engines; gas turbines, or gas 2-stroke engines (NG), which include all possible current energy production systems and which are configured to supply power to both the floating platform, and the means of desalination and supply to the network land.

Equipment for the desalination of water composed of a suction and saltwater pumping equipment configured for the extraction of water from the sea at variable depth depending on the characteristics of said water, and its impulsion to the desalination plant by reverse osmosis and its subsequent potabilization on board.

Pumping equipment to the tanks for the storage of drinking water; a service for the evacuation of the waste brine comprising a brine exit conduit of variable length for diffusion at variable depth or, configured with diffusers installed covertly and arranged in such a way as to spread the brine over a wide area, generally with currents; which leads to a null concentration of salts compared to those of terrestrial facilities, which can contaminate very large areas with salt.

The equipment of propulsion and electric government of the floating platform, is constituted by the main propellers azipodales that also develop functions of rudders, the propeller of bow for maneuver and dynamic positioning of the platform fed by the power generation plant.

In work maneuvers, as a desalination platform and water treatment plant, the long vessel uses the hose or suction tube of salt water of variable length. In this way sea water can be raised to an equally variable depth, depending on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Since this water intake is filled with salt water as soon as it is submerged, the water suction height is only, due to the effect of communicating vessels, from the surface of the sea, that is to say the freeboard of the platform, requiring less energy electric for its aspiration coming from the means of generation.

It is known that as the depth in the sea increases, the water temperature decreases, more or less conditioned by the selected geographical area and the time of the year in which it is working. Therefore, a first stage involves exploring which area is the most suitable for obtaining a desalinated water of high quality with a minimum of electrical energy. For which, the ship carries the necessary instrumentation for analysis of the different water samples obtained, depending on the area in which it operates.

A second stage is, selected the operation area and with the propulsion machinery of the vessel in operation, positioning the vessel at the required point through the dynamic positioning system; start up the set of pumps that make up the system: from water aspiration to the desired depth; and the pressure to propel it towards the reverse osmosis plant for its desalination; the impulsion for the storage of the product water, as well as the pumps of the brine diffuser conduits with a high content of salts, while the necessary analysis of the product water is carried out to corroborate the results of the exploratory phase.

The brine is poured into the sea either at variable depth or by the cover diffusers, so that the maximum dilution of the salts in the sea is obtained, which supposes no marine contamination given the proportion between the amount of brine poured and the extension of the sea in the chosen area.

As a generator of electrical energy, this preferred model of a self-propelled floating platform or ship, requires the use of a source of energy installed in its own platform, and that can be constituted by any of the following generating systems according to the fuel that is used:

- High speed marine generator sets with diesel fuel.

- Marine generator sets with gas (LNG, NG, LPG, GLP, CH4).

- Hydrogen generating groups (H2).

- Marine generating groups with dual-fuel engines.

- Marine generators groups with gas turbines.

- Marine generator sets with 2-stroke gas engines (NG).

The generation of electrical energy on board is sufficient for the maneuver of the platform and supply to all equipment and necessary services of the same. The remaining energy between the produced one and the own consumption of the platform for the desalination, is taken to the terrestrial network. The transport of energy to the terrestrial electrical network is carried out by submerged cables.

The operation capacity of the platform is very diverse: it can produce drinking water and electric power at the same time, as required by both products on land, possible case of natural disasters; produce only potable water as the only product required on land; or to produce only the electrical energy required for its transport to ground and supply of the electrical network or to a distribution substation.

This model as an industrial application is very important, given that with a single platform it can cover the production objectives of potable water suitable for human consumption and the generation of electric energy to supply the terrestrial network.

Claims (4)

1. Self-propelled floating platform or ship, for desalination-potabilization, distribution and transportation of potable water, desalinated from seawater, by reverse osmosis and water treatment on the same platform, while producing electrical energy through an electric generation plant , supplying it to all the equipment and services of the platform and to land by submarine cable. The platform or vessel, to develop its work, on the high seas, is equipped with all the equipment, systems and devices necessary for its proper operation and operation. The electricity generating groups on board, are established in the project of the platform or ship, according to the shipowner and according to the consideration of the ease of purchase and use of existing fuels in the operation zone of the platform or of the ship and its costs. This model is characterized by the union of tested and experienced elements for the supply of drinking water and energy supply and includes: - Floating platform or ship. - Aspiration and salt water pumping equipment. - Refrigeration equipment for the propulsion plant. - Plants of reverse osmosis for desalination. - Drinking water plants. - Product water pumping equipment (desalinated water), at the exit of the reverse osmosis plants for their impulse towards the potabilization plants. - Equipment for pumping the brine (water reject) at the exit of the reverse osmosis plants. - Tubes and brine diffusers in a wide area of the sea. - Desalinated water potabilization plants. - Storage tanks for drinking water suitable for human consumption. - Drinking water pumping equipment for transfer to the ground. - Power generation plant, with marine generators. - Electric power transformation centers. - AC inverters. - Fuel tanks for the power generation plant. 2. Self-propelled floating platform for desalination-potabilization of salt water, according to revindication 1, characterized because: - The marine generators of 400 V - 11 kV / 50 Hz, or 440V - 11 kV / 60 Hz, of the floating platform are driven by: - High speed diesel engines (n> 1,000 rpm). - High-speed gas engines (n> 1,000 rpm) (LNG, NG, LPG, GLP, CH4). - High speed motors (n> 1,500 rpm) powered by hydrogen (H2). - Medium or high speed dual-fuel engines (n> 500 rpm). - Gas turbines. - 2-stroke gas engines (NG). - Includes electric azipodal propulsion and government equipment. - Includes electric bow thrusters for maneuvers. - Includes dynamic positioning system. 3. Self-propelled floating platform for saltwater desalination-potabilization, according to previous claims, characterized in that the transport of drinking water from the floating platform or ship to land is done by: - Direct drift through underwater tubing. - Direct drilling by floating tubing. - Towed floating tanks. - Cesspool vessels. 4. Self-propelled floating platform for saltwater desalination-potabilization, according to previous claims, characterized in that the supply of electrical energy from the floating platform or ship to land is done by submarine cable.