GB2352193A

GB2352193A - Solar powered zeolite water purifier.

Info

Publication number: GB2352193A
Application number: GB9916854A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Raymond Bower
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-20
Filing date: 1999-07-20
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-20
Also published as: GB9916854D0; GB2352193B

Abstract

A solar powered zeolite water purifier, has a gas tight container 1 filled with zeolite. An inlet pipe 4 is connected to the container 1 through a one way gas tight pressure operated valve 5. A partial vacuum is established in the zeolite container 1 and inlet pipe 4 by the application of a vacuum pump to pipe 7 as a once only event. The gas tight one way pressure operated valve 6 prevents air from re-entering the system, and the vacuum pump is removed. A liquid water collection tank 9 is connected to the zeolite container 1 through a gastight one way pressure operated valve 3. The zeolite inside the zeolite container 1 is heated by solar energy sufficiently to cause water to desorb, leave the zeolite container 1 via the one way gas tight pressure operated valve 3, and condense into the water collection container 9. The zeolite container 1 will cool at night, resulting in sorption of water vapour into the zeolite and boiling of the water 12 in the inlet pipe 4 due to low pressure. Water which collects in the container 9 will be clean irespective of the state of the supply water. Water which is located in very deep bore holes may be accessed.

Description

2352193 SOLAR POWERED ZEOLITE WATER PUMPING PURIFIER This invention

relates to a solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier.

Water is often plentiful, even in arid regions, and is extracted for use by humans or in agriculture by the use of a variety of mechanical pumps. The water recovered may require processing to produce a quality suitable for drinking or agricultural use. Typical methods which are currently used to purify water are the filter bed, and reverse osmosis.

The use of filter beds or reverse osmosis methods for cleaning, desalinating or purifying water requires the use of materials which require periodic replacement, refurbishment or cleaning of the materials, and additionally often require an electrical power input. The water which is available may also need to moved by a separate pump, or the water may be located at a depth which is beyond the pumping capability of surface mounted pumps.

According to the present invention there is provided a solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier comprising a gas tight container of zeolite which is heated by solar energy, the container has three gas tight pipe connection points, three gas tight one way pressure operated valves, a water vapour inlet and down hole pipe, a water vapour outlet pipe connecting to a liquid water collection tank which has a water draw- off tap, and a pipe connected to a pressure operated one way gas tight valve which is used to withdraw air from the system.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 shows in schematic form the system components, structure, and functionality.

Referring to the drawing, the solar powered water pumping purifier comprises a gas tight zeolite container I filled with natural or synthetic zeolite, which acts as a water vapour 2 sorbant having the property of being able to sorb water vapour even at low partial pressures of vapour. Solar energy 2 heats the zeolite through the thermally conductive container causing water vapour to desorb through one way valve 3. The one way valve 3 will allow water vapour to pass out of the zeolite container 1, but prevent air from entering. A water vapour inlet pipe 4 is capable of maintaining a partial vacuum and connects the system to the supply water 12 via a gas tight pressure operated one way valve 5. A vacuum pump is applied to the pipe 7 as a once only event to establish a partial vacuum and remove air, in the zeolite container 1, zeolite, and inlet pipe 4. The gas tight pressure operated one way valve 6 prevents air from re-entering the system. There is a vented water collector 9 connected to the outlet valve 3. A draw-off tap 10 allows water 8 to be removed from the collector 9.

The pump establishes inside the zeolite container 1, through the pipe 7, a partial vacuum which is passed through the one way valve 6 and is applied via one way valve 5 to the inlet pipe 4, causing the water 12 to boil at ambient temperature. At night, the zeolite container 1 and zeolite will cool, and most water vapour in the inter particle voids will be sorped into the zeolite. A pressure which is lower than the pressure in the inlet pipe 4 will occur in the zeolite container 1, and the one way valve 5 will open. Water vapour will pass into the zeolite container 1 to replace that which was sorped, and in its turn will be sorped into the zeolite causing the pressure in the zeolite container 1 to remain lower than the pressure in the inlet pipe 4. The water 12 will continue to boil until the zeolite is fully charged with water. Zeolites will typically hold 15% to 30% of water by weight of zeolite.

During the day, solar energy 2 will heat the zeolite container 1 and the zeolite, causing water vapour to desorp into the inter particle voids. The pressure of water vapour in the zeolite container 1 will exceed the external atmospheric pressure, and water vapour will pass through one way valve 3. Condensed water 8 will accumulate in the collection chamber 9. Water may be drawn off for use through the tap 10.

The water vapour inlet pipe 4 penetrates into the water source which is to be accessed, and in the example shown in Figure 1 is inserted into a bore hole. The water vapour inlet pipe 4 may alternatively be inserted into other water sources including but not exclusively a river, sewage plant liquids, industrial effluent, reservoir, lake, or salt sea. It is a critical system design requirement that the vertical distance between the surface of the water supply outside of the inlet pipe 4 and the top of the vapour inlet pipe 4 is greater than the maximum possible rise of liquid water 12 in the inlet pipe 4 under maximum attainable partial vacuum in the inlet pipe 4. The vertical distance is therefore required to be 11.0 metres or greater. The maximum vertical distance may be large, and pumping water from very deep bore holes is possible. It is acceptable in the circumstance of a surface water supply to provide an 11.0 metre rise, and then typically a 10.0 metre fall to the inlet 3 valve 5. In the conditions described concerning the water vapour inlet pipe 4, liquid water will never enter the system, and at all times of sorbtion by the zeolite, distilled water by way of vapour will enter the zeolite container 1. In the manner presented, the system is able to obtain pure water from a dirty water source. The dirty water source may include but is not exclusively limited to brackish water, water containing high quantities of suspended solids, water containing chemical contamination, or saline water.

The liquid water 8 collection tank 9 is vented to atmosphere. Condensation of water vapour which is desorped from the zeolite container 1 occurs in pipe work between the one way valve 3 and the collection tank 9, and will also occur in the collection tank 9. The liquid water collection tank 9 may be above or below the zeclite container 1, and the water level in the inlet pipe 4.

Claims

4 CLAIMS

A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier comprising a gas tight container of zeolite which is heated by solar energYF the container has three gas tight pipe connection points, three gas tight one way pressure operated valveSF a water vapour inlet and down hole pipe, a water vapour outlet pipe connecting to a liquid water collection tank which has a water draw-off tap, and a pipe connected to a pressure operated one way gas tight valve which is used to withdraw air from the system.
2 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the physical vertical dimension of an inlet pipe is such that liquid water may not enter the zeolite container.
3 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the physical dimensions of an inlet pipe is such that water vapour may enter the zeolite container.
4 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the physical dimensions and construction materials are such that a partial vacuum may be maintained within the zeolite container and inlet vapour pipe.
A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein synthetic or natural zeolite causes a partial vacuum to be maintained within the system by sorbing water vapour molecules.
6 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein heated synthetic or natural zeolite causes water vapour to be desorped into the zeclite container.
7 A solar powered zeclite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein a condensing collector tank is connected via an outlet one way pressure operated valve to the zeolite container.
8 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein gas tight one way pressure operated valves are provided at each inlet or outlet connection of the zeolite container.
9 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein a means of establishing a partial vacuum within the system is provided.
10 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein a means of heating the zeolite container by solar energy is provided.
11 A solar powered zeolite water pumping purifier as substantially described herein with reference to Figure I of the accompanying drawing.