GB2236687A

GB2236687A - Distillation apparatus including heated wick

Info

Publication number: GB2236687A
Application number: GB8922303A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carolyn Billie Campbell
Original assignee: NATURAL PUREWATER PLC
Current assignee: NATURAL PUREWATER PLC
Priority date: 1989-10-05
Filing date: 1989-10-05
Publication date: 1991-04-17
Also published as: GB8922303D0

Abstract

A distillation apparatus, for purifying water for example comprises a heated distilled evaporating section, a cooled condensing section and a distillate collection section with the heated distilland evaporating section incorporating electromechanically heated wick (16) means to which the distilland is supplied for vaporisation and ducted as a thermal vapour flow to the cooled condensing section. <IMAGE>

Description

DISTILLATION APPARATUS This invention relates to distillation apparatus especially but not exclusively for domestic and/or laboratory use.

Like known distillation apparatus, the distillation apparatus of the present invention, which is used primarily for purifying water, comprises a (heated) distilland evaporating section, a (cooled) condensing section and a distillate collection section.

According to the present invention the heated distilland evaporating section of the distillation apparatus comprises electromechanically heated wick means.

The wick means is preferably vertically arranged and is preferably plate-like in form.

The wick means may alternatively be of cylindrical or other geometrically configured form.

The term "electromechanical" used herein embraces all forms of suitable heating.

Preferably the distillation apparatus comprises a ducted thermal syphon vapour flow system between the evaporation, condenser and distillate collection sections.

Preferably fan means (blower or suction) is provided for inducing a cooling air flow through the condenser section and a return section of the ducted syphon flow system.

Preferably the condenser section is a relatively large area condenser of plate or tube form.

A preferred condenser section suitable for use not only in the distillation apparatus according to the present invention but also other distillation apparatus comprises an array of condenser tubes, each being of top-dished and flat-bottomed configuration in cross-section.

Preferably the array of tubes comprises a plurality of vertically-spaced rows of inclined condenser tubes.

The condenser tubes of one row may be staggered relative to the condenser tubes of a row disposed above and/or below said one row.

Preferably, the distilland is supplied to the wick means from a supply (mains supply for example) via a pipe system, the supply being controlled by a solenoid valve/timer arrangement.

Preferably the distillate collection section comprises a receptacle incorporating a float-operated cut-out switch operatively associated with the cooling fan means and electromechanical heating means, whereby a predetermined quantity of distillate within the receptacle is not exceeded.

The wick means is preferably, as aforesaid, of platelike form and preferably is constituted by suitable paper material possibly incorporating granulate material. The wick means may be a laminate of, for example, a layer of paper possibly including granulate material sandwiched between reinforcing or strengthening membranes of PTFE for example.

Preferably, those parts of the distillation apparatus likely to come into contact with the distillate are formed from, inter alia, polycarbonate, glass and/or stainless steel.

Preferably, the distillate collection receptacle is provided with a tap (valve) - controlled outlet tube incorporating crushed rock, preferably in cartridge form, to effect re-mineralising of the distillate.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a distillation apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the distillation apparatus; Fig. 3 is a perspective top view of the distillation apparatus with the condenser section omitted; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred condenser section with a cross-sectional view of a condenser tube; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative condenser section; and Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of the distillate collection section.

Referring to the drawing, the distillation apparatus 10 according to the present invention comprises a distilland evaporation section 11, a condenser section 12 and a distillate collection section 13 all housed within a casing 14.

Parallel with the distilland evaporation section 11 is a return cooling air duct arrangement 15 forming part of a ducted thermal syphon vapour flow system incorporated within the housing 14 of the distillation apparatus 10.

Distillate from the condenser section 12 passes into the distillate collection section 13 via the return duct arrangement 15.

In the present example the distilland evaporation section 11 houses a plurality of cylindrical fibrous wicks indicated at 16 with which is associated one or more electrical heating elements 17 connectible to an electricity supply (mains supply, for example) and with which is associated a thermostatic control (not shown) which ensures that the maximum temperature to which the distilland is heated is below boiling point.

The distilland is supplied to the wicks 16 via a pipe system 18 which is connected to a water supply (mains supply for example) via a solenoid valve/timer arrangement (not shown).

The water supply pipe system 18 is arranged in a series of coils within the wicks 16 with a multiplicity of holes through which the distilland percolates-to the wicks 16.

The distilland evaporation section 11 opens at its top to the condenser section 12 which, in this embodiment, is closed at its top by a sheet 19 of glass, the condenser section 12 incorporating an array 20 of condenser tubes 21.

Each condenser tube 21 has a cross sectional configuration (see Fig. 4) of a flat bottom 21A and a dished upper surface 21B The array of tubes 21 comprises a series of vertically spaced rows 22 of inclined open ended condenser tubes 21.

The return ducting arrangement 15 comprises a series of vertical ducts 23 extending into the distillate collection section 13 with each duct 23 being closed at its bottom save for a substantially reduced cross sectional hole 24.

Each duct 23 has a branch pipe 25 communicating with the interior of a respective wick 16 (see Fig. 2) and it is to be noted that the junction of the branch pipe 25 with its respective duct 23 is a Y-branch to ensure that any distillate passing down the duct 23 is not returned into the distilland evaporation section 11.

The distillation apparatus according to the present invention provides a ducted thermal syphon vapour flow between the distilland evaporation section 11, the condenser section 12, and, via the return duct arrangement 15, into the distillate collection section 13. At the branch pipes 25 there is a separation of cooling air which returns into the distilland evaporation section 11 and distillate which passes down into the distillate collection section 13.

In the present distillation apparatus there is a mechanical cooling of the condenser section 12 and the return duct arrangement 15 of the ducted thermal syphon vapour flow system. This is effected by a fan 26 arranged in a wall of the casing 14 at the distilland evaporation section 11. An air inlet grill 27 of any convenient form is mounted in an adjacent wall of the casing 14 at the lower end of the distilland evaporation section 11.

Finally, the distillate collection section 13 has an outlet shown, in this instance, as a pipe 28 controlled by a cap 29 the pipe 28 incorporating a cartridge 30 containing crushed rock whereby the distillate is remineralised prior to use.

Incorporated in the distillate collection section 13 is a cut-out switch 31 operated by a float 32, the switch 31 being in circuit with the solenoid valve/timer in the electrical heating elements 17 and the cooling fan 26.

The arrangement is such that when a predetermined quantity or volume of distillate is held in the distillate collection section 13 the float 32 operates the cut-off switch to render the distillation apparatus nonoperational, i.e. electrical heating elements 17 and the fan 26 are rendered inoperative.

In operation, the distilland is electrically heated into the vapour stage and carried by the mechanically induced air flow into the cooled condenser section 11 whereat condensation occurs, the distillate and cooling air passing through the return duct arrangement 15 and separating at the branch pipes, the distillate passing into the distillate collection section 13 and the cooling air returning into the distilland evaporation section 11.

When the distillate collection section 13 is sufficiently filled the float switch 32 will close down via the cut-off switch 31 the operation of the distillation apparatus until a sufficient quantity of distillate has been drawn off through the outlet pipe 28.

An alternative condenser section 13A shown in Fig. 5 comprises an opening 33 through which the distilland evaporation section 11 can communicate with the condenser section 13A and a series of openings 34 through which the latter can communicate with the return duct arrangement 15.

In this instance, the water vapour carried in the induced air flow condenses against the top glass sheet 35 and the condensate falls into a trough 36 which communicates at the region 37 with the holes 34 with which the return ducting arrangement 15 is aligned.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A distillation apparatus comprising a distilled evaporating section constituted by electromechanically heated wick means.

2. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the wick means is vertically arranged.

3. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the wick means is plate-like in form.

4. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and 2 in which the wick means is of cylindrical or other geometrically configured form used herein embraces all forms.

5. A distillation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising a ducted thermal syphon vapour flow system between evaporation, condenser and distillate collection sections.

6. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which fan means (blower or suction) is provided for inducing a cooling air flow through the condenser section and a return section of the ducted syphon flow system.

7. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the condenser section is a relatively large area condenser of plate or tube form.

8. A distillation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the condenser sections comprises an array of condenser tubes, each being of top-dished and flat-bottomed configuration in cross-section.

9. A distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the array of tubes comprises a plurality of vertically-spaced rows of inclined condenser tubes.

10. A distillation apparatus as in claimed in claim 9 in which the condenser tubes of one row are staggered relative to the condenser tubes of a row disposed above and/or below said one row.

11. A distillation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the distilland is supplied to the wick means from a supply (mains supply for example) via a pipe system, the supply being controlled by a solenoid valve/timer arrangement.

12. A distillation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 11 in which the distillate collection section comprises a receptacle incorporating a float-operated cut-out switch operatively associated with the cooling fan means and electromechanical heating means, whereby a predetermined quantity of distillate within the receptacle is not exceeded.

13. A distillation apparatus as claims in any one of claims 5 to 12 in which the distillate collection receptacle is provided with a tap (valve) - controlled outlet tube incorporating crushed rock, preferably in cartridge form, to effect re-mineralising of the distillate.

14. A distillation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.