GB759641A - Improved method of and apparatus for separating water from a water-bearing gaseous fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

759,641. Water supplies. COLBY, M. R. March 10, 1954 [March 12, 1953], No. 7025/54. Class 68(1) [Also in Group XIII] Water is obtained by directing water-bearing gaseous fluids into contact with a spray of an hygroscopic solution in an absorber 10 wherein a, substantial portion of the water in the fluids is absorbed by the solution. On leaving the absorber 10, the fluid, e .g. air and the solution are separated, the air being drawn off through trunking 19 and discharged into storage spaces, e.g. the holds of a ship, and the solution being collected in a sump 16. Part of this solution so collected is removed at 37 from the sump 16 and is passed through a preheater 39 to an evaporator 52 where the water content of the solution is reduced by boiling-off the water therefrom. The steam is condensed in a condenser 65 and the water stored, whilst the hot solution of now reduced water content is returned via the preheater 39, in which it is cooled on transferring heat to the solution about to enter the evaporator 52, to the rest of the solution for recirculation through the absorber 10. The plant may be automatically controlled to maintain a given rate of absorption by sensing means 41 determining the water content of the solution in one part of the flow circuits and subsequently regulating the intake of gaseous fluid or the quantity of solution passed to the evaporator if the water content of the solution being sampled differs from a predetermined value. A condenser system 58 is provided in the path of the vapours leaving the evaporator to remove vapours of the hygroscopic solution. Alternative lay-outs of plant, to that shown, are also described.