IL133746A - Water distillation system - Google Patents

Abstract

A water distillation system comprising a closed structure having transparent walls forming a greenhouse wherein said structure comprises: an inlet pipe (2) providing sea water or other salty water intended for distillation, a holding chamber (3) connected to said inlet pipe and receiving the salty water; a black metallic sheet (4) horizontally oriented and located somewhat above the water surface providing the holding chamber sealing wherein said metallic sheet has small apertures (13) allowing vapors to escape upwardly out of said holding chamber, transparent plates (11) located near and under a structure roof (1) for directing condensed water droplets falling from the ceiling to a collecting tank (7), a network of pipes (12) traversing said salty water holding chamber to further enable the flow of condensed water droplets to a collecting tank, at least one collecting tank for receiving condensed water, and an outlet (5) in the holding chamber for the removal of salts and other solids that remain after the evaporation process. 3662 כ" ו בכסלו התשס" ג - December 1, 2002

Description

A WATER DISTILLATION SYSTEM The present invention relates to a water distillation system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a water distillation system based on a transparent, closed structure that traps solar energy inside, forming a greenhouse wherein salty water is evaporated in said greenhouse and subsequently recondensed on the ceiling of the greenhouse. Two preferred embodiments are disclosed in the present invention, one for use on the sea, and one for use on dry land, each "trapping" solar energy through the "greenhouse effect" in order to form distilled and/or drinking water (hereinafter referred to as "drinking quality water") from seawater or any other source of salty water.

Many countries in the world are experiencing shortages in the supply of drinking quality water. While populations continue to grow, drinking quality water resources continue to be diminished. There exists a need to develop an inexpensive, low-energy requiring, and highly efficient system for converting salty water into drinking quality water. While many systems have been developed, not many have been successfully implemented on a large-scale.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a system for the conversion of sea water or any other salty water into drinking quality water that is highly efficient, low-maintenance, inexpensive, and that does not require the input of electrical or mechanical energy.

The present invention relates to a water distillation system, more specifically, to a system that "traps" solar energy within, producing a greenhouse heating effect and using said energy for the water distillation process. Two preferred embodiments are disclosed in this application, one for use on the sea, and one for use on dry land, each that trap solar energy through the "greenhouse effect" in order to form drinking quality water from salty water.

"Salty water" in this application means any water whose source may be an ocean, sea, lake, or well, that is unfit for drinking due to the high level of salt, chlorine, and other compounds in it.

The present invention relates to a water distillation system comprising a closed structure having transparent walls that absorb and "trap" solar energy inside, thus forming a greenhouse. Said transparent walls are comprised of glass, plexiglass, plastic or any other transparent synthetic material capable of forming a greenhouse.

The system will be described in detail by way of the preferred embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, In both preferred embodiments, said system contains a dome shaped roof (1 ) that allows the maximum possible absorption of solar energy.

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred "sea" embodiment of the system, said preferred embodiment having an air filled tank (9) located at the bottom of the system allowing said system to float on water. The salty water enters the distillation system though an inlet pipe (2). The salty water is transferred by said inlet pipe (2) into a salty water holding chamber (3). A float-ball device (10) controlling the inlet water passage (or any other device fitted to maintain a predetermined water level) in the interior opening of said inlet pipe (2) causes the water level in said salty water holding chamber (3) to be maintained at approximately 5- 10cm high. When the water level in the salty water holding chamber (3) is at the predetermined level, the float-ball device (10) operates as a seal on said inlet pipe (2) and blocks the entry of salty water into said salty water holding chamber (3). When said water level falls below the predetermined level, the float-ball device (10) sinks and temporarily opens the inlet pipe (2), again allowing water to flow into the salty water holding chamber (3). Said inlet pipe (2) is submerged in water, so that salty water flows inward instantaneously when said inlet pipe (2) is open.

Solar energy is the only source of energy for the preferred "sea" embodiment. Solar energy enters through the transparent walls of the dome shape roof (1) and the heat is trapped inside the structure. Once trapped, a portion of said heat energy is absorbed by a corrugated black metallic sheet (4) horizontally oriented and located directly above the water surface in the salty water holding chamber (3). Said energy absorbed by the metallic sheet (4) is used to heat the salty water (17) in said salty water holding chamber (3) to the point of vaporization. Said metallic sheet (4) is comprised of iron, containing small apertures (13) for the "escape" of vapors (15) produced in evaporation process from said salty water holding chamber (3) into the interior of the dome roof (1 ). Said vapors (15) rise through the said apertures to the top of the dome. The vapors cool and condense along the ceiling. Cooling and condensing can be aided by a ventilation fan (6) located near the ceiling and by a plate (19). Condensate water droplets (14) forming on ceiling fall down by gravity back into the dome interior. Transparent plates (1 1) located near and under the dome ceiling catch said water droplets (14) and direct them to flow to the drinking quality water collecting tank (7) located below the salty water holding tank (3). When water droplets (14) are not caught by the transparent plates (1 1) or when the system cools at night causing condensation to form on the metallic sheet (4) above the salty water holding chamber (3), then a network of vertical pipes (12) traversing the salty water holding chamber (3) carry distilled water droplets (14) across salty water holding chamber (3) (in order not to mix with salty water) and into drinking quality water collecting tank (7) (for purposes of clarity in Figure 1 , only two pipes are shown, but it should be understood that the pipe network (12) extends uniformly across the area of the system). The distilled water droplets (14) are collected in the drinking quality water collecting tank (7). The distilled water (16) collected in said drinking quality water collecting tank (7) may be transferred through a drain (8) to any appropriate receiving vessel or pipe network.

Salts and other solid compounds that accumulate and precipitate in the salty water holding tank (3) are expelled from the system through an outlet (5) located at the far end of the salty water holding tank (3). When the temperature in the system is high enough so that evaporation of salty water (17) occurs, the outlet (5) remains closed, and the concentration of salts and other compounds in the salty water (17) increases as more water is evaporated. When the temperature drops, for example at night, the outlet (5) opens and the highly concentrated salty water flows out. The outlet (5) closes again when the temperature rises sufficiently for evaporation to occur. Thus the concentration of salts and other compounds remains at a level that will not be inhibitory to the distillation process.

A cross-sectional view of the preferred "land" embodiment is illustrated in Figure 2. This preferred embodiment has nearly the same components and operation as the above-described preferred "sea" embodiment, with a few differences. Hence with respect to component parts common to the first preferred embodiment, they are given the same reference numerals in the drawings and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The preferred "land" embodiment may have a secondary source of energy (the primary source being solar energy) such as the energy released from the decomposition of organic matter, said organic matter being held and decomposed in a decomposition chamber (20) located in the lowermost section of the system. Said energy released (in the form of heat) from said decomposition rises to the central region of the system and heats the salty water (17), allowing a faster vaporization of said water in the salty water holding chamber (3).

The preferred "land" embodiment has two drinking quality water tanks (7), located on either side of the structure. It should be understood that each drinking quality water tank contains a drain (8) (only one drain is illustrated in the diagram for the sake of simplification.)

Claims (2)

1. Claims 1) A water distillation system comprising closed structure having transparent walls forming a greenhouse wherein said structure comprises; an inlet pipe providing sea water or other salty water intended for distillation, a holding chamber connected to said inlet pipe and receiving the salty water; a black metallic sheet horizontally oriented and located somewhat above the water surface providing the holding chamber sealing wherein said metallic sheet has small apertures allowing vapors to escape upwardly out of holding chamber, transparent plates located near and under the structure roof for directing condensed water droplets falling from the ceiling to a collecting tank, a network of pipes traversing salty water holding chamber to further enable the flow of condensed water droplets to a collecting tank, at least one collecting tank for receiving condensed water, and an outlet in the holding chamber for the removal of salts and other solids that remain after the evaporation process.

2. ) A water distillation system according to claim 1 wherein said transparent walls are comprised of glass, plexiglass, plastic or any transparent synthetic material capable of forming a greenhouse. 1 3 3 7 4 6 / 2 chamber so as not to mix with salty water and into drinking quality water collecting tank. 1 1) A water distillation system according to claim 1 for usage on land. 12) A water distillation system according to claims 1 or 1 1 whose source of energy is primarily solar energy. 13) A water distillation system according to any of claims 1 , 1 1 and 12 using as a secondary source of heat energy the decomposition of organic matter in a chamber located below the system. Dr. MEIR NOAM ADVOCATE & PATENT ATTORNEY P.O.B. 34335, Jerusalem TEL. (972) 2-6518880