SE1850744A1 - A method for treatment of a fluid and a fluid treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treatment of a fluid (8) in a fluid treatment device (1), comprising at least one container (2) for holding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate (4); a fluid supply station (6) for bringing fluid (6) in contact with the salt crystal substrate (4); and at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12) from the salt crystal substrate (4). The method comprises the steps of: conveying (s101 ) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) to the fluid supply station (6); supplying (s102) fluid (8) to the salt crystal substrate (4) in the fluid supply station (6), so that the salt crystal substrate (4) binds fluid (8) and forms a crystal hydrate; conveying (s103) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) to the at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C); and heating (s104) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) in the at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12) from the salt crystal substrate (4). The invention also relates to a fluid treatment device (1).

Description

A method for treatment of a fluid and a fluid treatment device TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method for treatment of a fluid and a fluid treatment deviceaccording to the appended ciaims.

BACKGROUND Devices for treatment of fluid, such as sait water desaiination devices are known.These known devices generate fresh water obtained toy hoiiirtg saitwater. These de-vices comprise a vesset, whieh is intended to reoeive satt water and to disohargefresh water in vaoour or stearn condition and to discharge sait concentrate. The ves-set inoiudes heating eienterits for hoiting the satt water present in the vessei and forgenerating the vattour or stearn of fresh water.

Another known device for treatment of fluid is a water desatination device that in»ctudes a vessei, whioh is provided with heating eiements. A satt taver contprisingivtgsttšfíšßiirrniigífi), is stipported in an upper part of the vessei hy a perforated partitionwaii, wherein the heating eiernents are disposed to tteat the satt iayer and are oon~nected to an energy source. The device further comprising a ciosahte sait water sup-oiy pipe, a vapour discharge oipe and a ctosahie dtscharge pipe connected to thevessei. The vesset is charged tvith satt water through the satt water suppty pipe. Thesatt iaver ioinds water and forms a orystai hydrate. Rentaining satt water is coitectedand discharged from the vessei through the discharge pipe. The satt iayer is heatedhy the heating eientents, tivherehy the water of the orystai hydrate is reieased as va-potir. The vapotir is coiieoted through the vapoor discharge pipe and iinaiiy the va-pour is cooted to ohtain desaiinated water.

A method for treatment of fluid is aiso known in vvhich the formation of crvstat hv-drates is used in order to pttitifv seawater. "the crystats are separated frorn the sus-pension and are washed with tvater. Thereafter the orystats are rnoiten in order to odtain fresh water and tiduid satt.

A further knovvn method for treatment of fluid is the separation of ethanoi from a ioyv-grade ethyl-aicohol seiution. Etharioi, such as bioethaitoi, rnay be produced by bio-chernicai processes, such as fermentation of a rriixture of water and sugars. By ter»rrieittatiori of the rtiixttire, a mash is produced, comprising ia. a soiution, having a iowconcentration of ethyhaicohoi. Usuaity, bidethanoi is obtained by a fermentation of a6-6 suger/water soiutien having a iow eoneentration. By extraeting high-grade alco-hol from the ton/grade soiution, a usefui product is obtained, tfvhich can be used asfuei. The iiquid rnixturte or soiution frorn which the ethanei is extracted nway be usefuiin different applications.

SUMMARY Despite known solutions in the art for treatment of fluid, it is desired to develop amethod for treatment of a fluid and a fluid treatment device, which produce a largevolume of treated fluid in a short period of time and which require a reduced energyinput. Atso, it is desired to develop a method and a device for treatment of a largevolume of water based liquid, such as seawater, which produce a large volume of fresh water in a short period of time and which require a reduced energy input, An object of the invention is therefore to achieve a method for treatment of a fluid anda fluid treatment device, which produce a large volume of treated fluid in a short pe-riod of time and which require a reduced energy input.

Another object of the invention is to achieve a method and a device for treatment of alarge volume of water based liquid, such as seawater, which produce a large volume of fresh water in a short period of time and which require a reduced energy input.

These objects are achieved with the above-mentioned method and device for treat-ment of a fluid according to the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention a method for treatment of a fluid in a fluidtreatment device comprising at least one container for holding a fluid absorbing saltcrystal substrate; a fluid supply station for bringing fluid in contact with the salt crystal substrate; and at least one heating station for releasing treated fluid from the saltcrystal substrate, wherein the method comprises the steps of: conveying the at leastone container with the salt crystal substrate to the fluid supply station; supplying fluidto the salt crystal substrate in the fluid supply station, so that the salt crystal substratebinds fluid and forms a crystal nycirate; conveying the at least one container with thesalt crystal substrate to the at least one heating station; and heating the at least onecontainer with the salt crystal substrate in the at least one heating station for releas-ing treated fluid from the salt crystal substrate.

According to a further aspect of the invention a fluid treatment device, comprising atleast one container for holding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate; a fluid supplystation for bringing fluid in contact with the salt crystal substrate; and at least oneheating station for releasing treated fluid from the salt crystal substrate, wherein thedevice further comprises: a conveying means for conveying the at least one con-tainer with the salt crystal substrate to the fluid supply station and to the at least oneheating station; a fluid supplying means for supplying fluid to the salt crystal substratein the fluid supply station, so that the salt crystal substrate binds fiuid and forms acrystal hydrate.

Such method for treatment of a fluid and a fluid treatment device produce a large vol-ume of treated fluid in a short period of time and require a reduced energy input. Themethod and device may treat a large volume of water based liquid for producing alarge volume of fresh water in a short period of time, requiring a reduced energy in-put.

Additional objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparentto one skilled in the art from the following details, and through exercising the inven-tion. While the invention is described below, it should be apparent that the inventionmay not be limited to the specifically described details. One skilled in the art, havingaccess to the teachings herein, will recognize additional applications, modifications and incorporations in other areas, which are within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Below is a description of, as examples, preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a fluid treatment device in a side view according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a fluid treatment device in a view from above accord- ing to an embodiment, Figure 3a illustrates a flow chart of a method for treatment of a fluid according to an embodiment; and Figure 3b illustrates a flow chart of a method for treatment of a fluid according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The need of fluids, such as fresh water in household and industrial applications in-creases. Depending on different climate conditions the availability of fresh water mayvary. The availability of water based liquid, such as seawater is however often satis-fying, but the salinity and/or unwanted substances in the seawater often make sea-water unsuitable in household and industrial applications.

Therefore a method for treatment of fluids has been developed in which a large vol-ume of treated fluid may be produced in a short period of time and which requires areduced energy input. This method may treat a large volume of water based liquid,such as seawater for producing a large volume of fresh water in a short period of time, requiring a reduced energy' input.

According to an aspect, the method for treatment of a fluid in a fluid treatment device,comprising at least one container for holding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate; a fluid supply station for bringing fluid in contact with the salt crystal substrate; and atleast one heating station for releasing treated fluid from the salt crystal substrate,wherein the method comprises the steps of: conveying the at least one container withthe salt crystal substrate to the fluid supply station; supplying fluid to the salt crystalsubstrate in the fluid supply station, so that the salt crystal substrate binds fluid andforms a orystai hydrafe; conveying the at least one container with the salt crystal sub-strate to the at least one heating station; and heating the at least one container withthe salt crystal substrate in the at least one heating station for releasing treated fluidfrom the salt crystal substrate.

The feature of conveying the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate tothe fluid supply station enables and facilitates treatment of large volumes of fluids.Several containers with the salt crystal substrate may be conveyed to the fluid supplystation at the same time and/or in sequence. ln the fluid supply station the fluid issupplied to the salt crystal substrate, so that the salt crystal substrate binds fiuid andforms a crystal hydrate. The ftuid may be any water based liquid, adueous fiuid or tio-oid, such as seavirater, water from a take, water from a river, water from setivage ordraizwage, or rainwater. The seavxfater may contain satt, such as NaCi or any othertype of saft. The seawater may contain sobstances, such as hazardous substances.The seawater' may aiso contain objects, such as wood pieces and metai pieces. Alarge volume of fluid to be treated may be supplied to the containers with the saltcrystal substrate, since several containers with the salt crystal substrate may be con-veyed to the fluid supply station. lf the fluid to be treated is seawater containing salt,the salt crystal substrate in the containers absorbs the water of crystallisation, where-with pure desalinated water is bound to the salt, which therewith forms a crystal hy-drate. The remainder of the supplied saltwater delivered to the fluid supply station willhave a higher salt concentration. The containers with the salt crystal substrate arethereafter conveyed to the heating station. Depending on the number of containerswith salt crystal substrate more than one heating station may be needed. Alterna-tively, the heating station may be large enough to housing several containers with thesalt crystal substrate. ln the heating station the containers with the salt crystal sub-strate are heated, so that fluid is released from the salt crystal substrate.

Heating the containers with the salt crystal substrate causes said salt crystal sub-strate to emit the fluid that the salt absorbing the water of crystallisation has earlierbound to itself to form a hydrate. The fluid restored from the hydrate is emitted in va-pour form in the heating station. lf the fluid to be treated is seawater containing salt,pure or fresh water is released from the salt crystal substrate in the heating station.Heating the containers with the salt crystal substrate causes said salt crystal sub-strate to emit the pure or fresh water that the salt absorbing the water of crystallisa-tion has earlier bound to itself to form a hydrate. The water restored from the hydrateis emitted in vapour form in the heating station. A further fluid treatment process can be carried out upon completion of a preceding fluid treatment process.

Conveying the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate to the fluid supplystation and to the heating station will make it possible produce a large volume oftreated fluid. The fluid to be treated may already been brought to the fluid supply sta-tion before the containers with the salt crystal substrate are conveyed to the fluidsupply station. ln this situation the containers with the salt crystal substrate may bathin the fluid to be treated and the fluid supply station will have function similar to abathtub. Alternatively, the fluid to be treated may enter the fluid supply station afterthe containers with the salt crystal substrate have been conveyed to the fluid supplystation. The containers with the salt crystal substrate may in this situation be show-ered with the fluid to be treated. After the fluid has been supplied to the salt crystalsubstrate in the fluid supply station and the salt crystal substrate has bounded fluidand 'formed a crystal hydrate, the containers with the salt crystal substrate are con-veyed to the at least one heating station. When the containers with the salt crystalsubstrate are leaving the fluid supply station another container or a number of othercontainers with salt crystal substrate may be conveyed to the fluid supply station. Atthe same time as the first containers with the salt crystal substrate are heated in theheating station, the containers with the salt crystal substrate in the fluid supply stationare supplied with fluid, so that the salt crystal substrate binds fluid and forms a crystalhydrate. in a further step, after the containers with the salt crystal substrate havebeen heated in the heating station, they may be conveyed to the fluid supply stationat the same time as the containers with the salt crystal substrate, which have beensupplied with fluid in the fluid supply station, are conveyed to the heating station. Thisway, a large volume of treated fluid may be produced in a short period oftime. Only the crystal hydrate need to be heated after having bound pure or fresh fluid from thesupplied fluid to be treated. Therefore, less heat is required to obtain the sameamount of pure or fresh fluid than that required if all the fluid supplied should beheated.

According to an example the method comprising the further step of: collecting the re-leased fluid from the salt crystal substrate.

Heating the containers with the salt crystal substrate causes said salt crystal sub-strate to emit the fluid that the salt absorbing the water of crystallisation has earlierbound to itself to form a hydrate. The fluid restored from the hydrate is emitted in va-pour form in the heating station. lf the fluid to be treated is seawater, the water re-stored from the hydrate is emitted in water vapour form in the heating station. The re-leased fluid or water vapour from the salt crystal substrate is collected and may aftercooling be collected as pour or fresh fluid or water.

According to an example the method comprising the further step of: cleaning the atleast one container with the salt crystal substrate after supplying the fluid to the saltcrystal substrate in the fluid supply station and before heating the at least one con-tainer with the salt crystal substrate in the at least one heating station.

The fluid to be treated may contain substances, such as hazardous substances, andalso objects, such as wood pieces and metal places. Therefore, the containers withthe salt crystal substrate are cleaned after the fluid has been supplying to the saltcrystal substrate in the fluid supply station. The cleaning may take place in the fluidsupply station or after the containers with the salt crystal substrate has left the fluidsupply station and during the conveying of the containers with the salt crystal sub-strate to the heating station. During the cleaning process any stebstances, such ashazardous substances, and objects, such as tft/sed places and metal places are re~rnoved from the containers with the salt crystal substrate.

According to an example, heating the at least one container with the salt crystal sub-strate in the at least one heating station for releasing treated fluid from the salt crystal substrate comprises: heating the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate in at least two steps at two different temperatures.

The heating of the container with the salt crystal substrate may be performed at afirst temperature under a first predetermined period of time and at a second tempera-ture under a second predetermined period of time. The first temperature may belower than the second temperature. The first and second period of times may beequal or they may be different. The first and second temperatures and the first andsecond period of times may depend on the type of salt crystal substrate, the weightand volume of salt crystal substrate and the number of containers with the salt crystalsubstrate that should be heated.

According to an example, conveying the at least one container with the salt crystalsubstrate to the fluid supply station and to the at least one heating station comprisesconveying the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate on a track.

Conveying the containers with the salt crystal substrate may be performed on a track,such as a railway track or a monorail. The track may also be a road, such a concreteroad. The containers with the salt crystal substrate may be arranged on railway carsor on wheeled trailers. Conveying the at least one container with the salt crystal sub-strate to the fluid supply station, supplying fluid to the salt crystal substrate in the fluidsupply station, so that the salt crystal substrate binds fluid and forms a crystal hy~drate, conveying the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate to the atleast one heating station and heating the at least one container with the salt crystalsubstrate in the at least one heating station for releasing fluid from the salt crystalsubstrate may be performed along the track. The track may be endless and mayhave a shape as a circle or an oval, such as an ellipse. A number of railway cars oron wheeled trailers loaded with containers containing the salt crystal substrate maybe driven on the track. When one car or trailer has been conveyed into the fluid sup-ply station another car or trailer may be situated at the heating station.

According to an example, heating the at least one container with the salt crystal sub-strate in the at least one heating station for releasing fluid from the salt crystal sub-strate is performed by solar energy.

Electrical energy transformed from solar energy generated by solar cells can be usedto heat the containers with the salt crystal substrate in the heating station. Other re-newable energy sources may be used, such as wind power and water power. Differ-ent types of renewable energy sources may be used in combination for generatingpower to the heating station. The heating may also be performed in combination with conventional energy sources.

According to an example the fluid absorbing sait crystal substrate contprisingïytga(PO4)2°i'lf°H2Û.

A suitable iiuid absorblng salt crystal substrate that absorbs water and other fluids ofcrystallisation is one that has a dissolution index of not higher than 1024. Above thisdissolution index the need to add new crystals becomes greater. A fluid absorbingsalt crystal substrate cornprieing l\1'lg3(PQ«i)2~=n~=i-l2Q wherein n=12-22 may be used forthe method according to the present disclosure. However, it may also be possible touse a tiuici absorbing salt crystal substrate comprising l\1'lg3(PQ«i)2~=n~=t-i2O whereinn=0-22. Thus, the method may be used for expelling water from litfigsíPíïttlrmi-igí),n= 0-22.

According to an example the 'liuid to be treated is seawater.

The seawater rnay contain salt, such as Naíšl or any other type el salt. The seawaterrnay contain suhstances, such as hazardous substancee. The seawater may alsocontain objects, such as wood pieces and ntetai places. However, the method ac-cording to the present disclosure may treat the seawater in order to achieve pure wa-ter or fresh ytfater. The pure water or fresh water rnay be distiilated water with a highgrade of purity.

Also a fluid treatment device has been developed in which a large volume of treatedfluid may be produced in a short period of time and which fluid treatment device re-quires a reduced energy ineut. This fluid treatment device may treat a large volumeof seawater for producing a large volume of fresh water in a short period of time, re- quiring a reduced energy input.

The fluid treatment device comprising at least one container for holding a fluid ab-sorbing salt crystal substrate; a fluid supply station for bringing fluid in contact withthe salt crystal substrate; and at least one heating station for releasing treated fluidfrom the salt crystal substrate, wherein the device further comprises: a conveyingmeans for conveying the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate to thefluid supply station and to the at least one heating station; a fluid supplying means forsupplying fluid to the salt crystal substrate in the fluid supply station, so that the saltcrystal substrate binds tttttd and fornts a crystal nydrate.

The container htay comprise a perforated container rnade ot' eteet, ptaetäo, tiesue oranother suttabte materiat that aitows the 'ttotd to be treated to enter through the perfo-rated vtfatis of the container. The container sheutd atso atiew ptrre er fresh fiuäd toteave the container through the eerforated watts. However, the container shoutd beconfigured to hoid the fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate and thus prevent the fluidabsorbing salt crystal substrate to escape from the container. The device may beprovided with a conveying means for conveying the at least one container with thesalt crystal substrate to the fluid supply station and to the at least one heating station.The conveying means may comprise suspension means for suspending the con-tainer in a wire, such as a traverse. The conveying means may alternatively comprisea stand for arranging the container on a movable train car or on a wheeled trailer.The fluid supply station and the heating station may be arranged on a path definedby the conveying means. The fluid supplying means for supplying fluid to the saltcrystal substrate in the fluid supply station may comprise a pipe system for transport-ing the fluid to be treated from a reservoir, a sea, a lake, a river, water tron: sewageor drainage, or rathwater depending on the type of fluid to be treated. The pipe sys-tem may comprise a pump for generating a fluid flow in the pipe system. The pipesystem may comprise a valve for regulating the fluid flow. The pipe system may com-prise a nozzle for showering the container with the fluid absorbing salt crystal sub-strate. The pipe system may comprise a connecting pipe to the fluid supply station forfilling a tank with the fluid to be treated. The tank may be provided with a dischargepipe for discharging fluid from the tank. A valve for opening and closing the dischargepipe may be arranged on the discharge pipe. The discharged fluid is collected in avessel. The discharged fluid may be taken care of in a separate treatment plant in an 11 environment friendly process. The heating station for releasing fluid from the saltcrystal substrate may comprise a heating device for heating the container with thefluid absorbing salt crystal substrate. The heating device may be an electrical heatingdevice which may be provided with electrical energy. The heating device may a warmair element, which may be provided with electrical energy. The warm air element maybe provided with a fan, which may circulate heated air in the heating station. Theheating device may be enclosed in a housing, which forms the heating station.

According to an example the device further comprising a collecting means for collect- ing the released fluid from the at least one heating station.

The fluid restored from the hydrate is emitted in vapour form in the heating station. lfthe fluid to be treated is seawater, the water restored from the hydrate is emitted inwater vapour form in the heating station. The released fluid or water vapour from thesalt crystal substrate is collected in a collecting mean. The collecting means maycomprise a cooling means. The cooling means may comprise a heat exchanger forcooling the fluid or water vapour. The fluid or water vapour may after cooling be col-lected as pour or fresh fluid or water in a vessel or the pour or fresh fluid or watermay be feeded or transported in to an external pipeline. Before the fluid or water va-pour enter the cooling means the fluid or water vapour may pass a filter in order to remove any unwanted substances in the fluid or water vapour.

According to an example the device further comprising a cleaning means for cleaningthe at least one container with the salt crystal substrate.

The cleaning means may comprise a vapour pipe system comprising a collector forvapour, a valve for regulating the vapour flow and a nozzle for showering the con-tainer with the fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate. Vapour may be collected fromthe collecting means of the heating station.

According to an example the heating device comprises a heating device for heatingthe at least one container with the salt crystal substrate in at least two steps at twodifferent temperatures. 12 The heating device for heating the at least one container with the salt crystal sub-strate may be at least one heating element. A first set of heating elements may beconfigured for heating the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate at afirst temperature. A second set of heating elements may be configured for heatingthe at least one container with the salt crystal substrate at a second temperature.Further sets of heating elements may be configured for heating the at least one con-tainer with the salt crystal substrate at other temperatures. The heating device maybe an electrical heating device which may be provided with electrical energy. Thusthe heating device may be an electrical heating element. The electrical heating ele-ment may be a warm air element. The warm air element may be provided with a fan,which may circulate heated air in the heating station. The sets of heating elementsmay be enclosed in different housings, which form the heating station. ln a first hous-ing the first set of heating elements may be configured for heating the at least onecontainer with the salt crystal substrate at a first temperature. ln a second housingsecond set of heating elements may be configured for heating the at least one con-tainer with the salt crystal substrate at a second temperature. Further housings maybe arranged with further sets of heating elements may be configured for heating the at least one container with the salt crystal substrate at other temperatures.

According to an example the conveying means comprises a track for conveying theat least one container to the fluid supply station and to the at least one heating sta- tion.

The track may be a railway track or a monorail. The track may also be a road, such aconcrete road. The containers with the salt crystal substrate may be arranged on rail-way cars or on wheeled trailers, which are configured to be driven on the track. Thetrack may be endless and may have a shape as a circle or an oval, such as an el-lipse. A number of railway cars or on wheeled trailers loaded with containers contain-ing the salt crystal substrate may be configured to be driven on the track. The trackmay be configured to pass through the fluid supply station, the cleaning station, theheating station and any other possible station, such as a service station for the rail-way cars or the wheeled trailers, or a station for loading containers containing the saltcrystal substrate on the railway cars or on the wheeled trailers. When one car or 13 trailer has been conveyed into one of the stations, another car or trailer may be situ-ated in another station.

According to an example the device comprises a solar energy generator for generat-ing heat in the at least one heating station.

The solar energy generator for generating heat in the at least one heating stationmay be a solar panel or a set of solar panels comprising solar cells. The solar cellsmay produce electrical energy, which is transmitted to the heating device in the heat-ing station.

The present disclosure will now be further illustrated with reference to the appendedfigures.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a fluid treatment device in a side view according to an embodiment.

The fluid treatment device 1 according to the embodiment comprising a container 2for holding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4. A fluid supply station 6 is config-ured for bringing fluid 8 in contact with the salt crystal substrate 4. A heating station10 is configured for releasing treated fluid 12 from the salt crystal substrate 4. A con-veying means 14 is configured for conveying the container 2 with the salt crystal sub-strate 4 to the fluid supply station 6 and to the at least one heating station 10. Ac-cording to the embodiment the conveying means 14 may be a traverse. A fluid sup-plying means 16 is configured for supplying the fluid 8 to the salt crystal substrate 4in the fluid supply station 6.

The fluid supplying means 16 for supplying fluid 8 to the salt crystal substrate 4 in thefluid supply station 6 may comprise a pipe system 18 for transporting the fluid 8 to betreated from a reservoir 20, a sea, a lake, a river, water 'from sewage or drainage, orrainwater depending on the type of fluid 8 to be treated. The pipe system 18 maycomprise a pump 22 for generating a fluid flow in the pipe system 18. The pipe sys-tem 18 may comprise a valves 24 for regulating the fluid flow. The pipe system 18may comprise a nozzle 26 for showering the container 2 with the fluid absorbing salt 14 crystal substrate 4. The pipe system 18 may comprise a connecting pipe 28 to thefluid supply station 6 for filling a tank 30 of the fluid supply station 6 with the fluid 8 tobe treated. The tank 30 may be provided with a discharge pipe 32 for dischargingfluid 36 from the tank 30. A discharging valve 34 for opening and closing the dis-charge pipe 32 may be arranged on the discharge pipe 32. The discharged fluid 36 iscollected in a discharging fluid vessel 38.

The heating station 10 for releasing treated fluid 12 from the salt crystal substrate 4may comprise a heating device 40 for heating the container 2 with the fluid absorbingsalt crystal substrate 4. The heating device 40 may comprise a warm air element 42,which may be provided with electrical energy. The warm air element 42 may be pro-vided with a fan 44, which may circulate heated air in the heating station 10. Theheating device 40 may be enclosed in a housing 46, which forms the heating station10.

A collecting means 48 is configured for collecting the released, treated fluid 12 fromthe heating station 10. The collecting means 48 may comprise a cooling means 50.The cooling means 50 may comprise a heat exchanger 52 for cooling the treatedfluid 8 from vapour form to liquid form. The collecting means 48 may comprise a filter54 in order to remove any unwanted substances in the treated fluid 8.

A cleaning means 56 may be configured for cleaning the container 2 with the saltcrystal substrate 4. The cleaning means 56 may comprise a vapour pipe system 58comprising a vapour collector 60, a vapour valve 62 for regulating the vapour flowand a vapour nozzle 64 for showering the container 2 and the fluid absorbing saltcrystal substrate 4 with vapour. The vapour pipe system 58 may be connected to thecollecting means 48 of the heating station 10.

A solar energy generator 66 may be configured for generating heat in the heatingstation 10. The solar energy generator 66 may be a solar panel 68 or a set of solarpanels 68 comprising solar cells 70. The solar cells 70 may produce electrical en-ergy, which is transmitted to the heating device 40 in the heating station 10.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a fluid treatment device 1 in a view from above ac-cording to an embodiment. According to this embodiment the conveying means 14comprises a track 14 for conveying a number of containers 2 to the fluid supply sta-tion 6, a cleaning station 72, to a number of heating stations 10A, 10B, 10C and to a service station 74.

The track 14 may be a railway track, a monorail or a road. The containers 2 with thesalt crystal substrate 4 may be arranged on railway cars 76 or on wheeled trailers,which are configured to be driven on the track 14. The track 14 is endless and has ashape of a circle. The track 14 is configured to pass through the fluid supply station6, the cleaning station 72, the heating stations 10A, 10B, 10C and the service station74. When one car 76 or trailer has been conveyed into one of the stations 6, 72, 10A-10C, 74, another car or trailer may be situated in another station. The cars 76 or trail-ers may be coupled in pairs. More than two cars 76 or trailers may be coupled toeach other. Each car 76 or trailer may be provided with a propulsion unit (not shown)or the track 14 may be provided with the propulsion unit for propulsion of the cars 76 or trailers.

The fluid supply station 6 comprises the fluid supplying means 16 for supplying fluid 8to the salt crystal substrate 4 in the fluid supply station 6. The pipe system 18 is con-figured to transporting the fluid 8 to be treated from the reservoir 20, a sea, a lake, ariver, water from sewage or drainage, or rašnwatez' depending on the type of fluid 8 tobe treated. The pipe system 18 may comprise the pump 22 for generating a fluid flowin the pipe system 18. The pipe system 18 may comprise the valves 24 for regulatingthe fluid flow. The pipe system 18 may comprise the nozzle 26 for showering the con-tainer 2 with the fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4. The pipe system 18 maycomprise the connecting pipe 28 to the fluid supply station 6 for filling the cars 76with the fluid 8 to be treated. The fluid supply station may be provided with a dis-charge pipe 32 for discharging fluid 36 from the fluid supply station 6. A dischargingvalve 34 for opening and closing the discharge pipe 32 may be arranged on the dis-charge pipe 32. The discharged fluid 36 is collected in a discharging fluid vessel 38.

The heating stations 10A, 10B, 10C for releasing treated fluid 12 from the salt crystalsubstrate 4 may comprise heating device 40 for heating the containers 2 with the 16 fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4. The heating device 40 may comprise a warmair elements 42, which may be provided with electrical energy. The warm air element42 in each heating station 10A, 10B, 10C may be provided with a fan 44, which maycirculate heated air in the respective heating stations 10A, 10B, 10C. Each heatingdevice 40 may be enclosed in a housing 46, which forms each heating station 10A,10B, 10C. ln the first heating station 10A the warm air element 42 may be configured for heating the containers 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 at a first temperature. ln the second heating station 10B the warm air element 42 may be configured for heating the con- tainers 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 at a second temperature. ln the third heating station 10C the warm air element 42 may be configured for heating the containers 10with the salt crystal substrate 4 at a third temperature. The first, second and thirdtemperatures may be adapted to the type of the salt crystal substrate 4 used in theprocess.

A collecting means 48 is configured for collecting the released, treated fluid 12 fromthe heating stations 10A, 10B, 10C. The collecting means 48 may comprise a coolingmeans 50. The cooling means 50 may comprise a heat exchanger 52 for cooling thetreated fluid 8 from vapour form to liquid form. The collecting means 48 may com-prise filters 54 in order to remove any unwanted substances in the treated fluid 8.

The cleaning station comprises a cleaning means 56, which is configured for clean-ing the containers 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4. The cleaning means 56 maycomprise a vapour pipe system 58 comprising a vapour collector 60, a vapour valve62 for regulating the vapour flow and a vapour nozzle 64 for showering the contain-ers 2 and the fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4 with vapour. The vapour pipesystem 58 may be connected to the collecting means 48 of the heating station 10.

A solar energy generator 66 may be configured for generating heat in the heatingstation 10. The solar energy generator 66 may be a solar panel 68 or a set of solarpanels 68 comprising solar cells 70. The solar cells 70 may produce electrical en-ergy, which is transmitted to the heating device 40 in the heating stations 10A, 10B,10C. 17 Fig. 3a illustrates a flow chart of a method for treatment of a fluid 8 according to anembodiment. The method thus relates to the fluid treatment devices 1 disclosed infigures 1 and 2. The fluid treatment device 1, comprising at least one container 2 forholding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4, a fluid supply station 6 for bringingfluid 8 in contact with the salt crystal substrate 4, and at least one heating station 10,10A, 10B, 10C for releasing treated fluid 12 from the salt crystal substrate 4. Themethod comprises the steps of: conveying s101 the at least one container 2 with thesalt crystal substrate 4 to the fluid supply station 6; supplying s102 fluid 8 to the saltcrystal substrate 4 in the fluid supply station 6, so that the salt crystal substrate 4binds fluid and forms a crystal hydrate; conveying s103 the at least one container 2with the salt crystal substrate 4 to the at least one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C;and heating s104 the at least one container 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 in theat least one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C for releasing treated fluid 12 from thesalt crystal substrate 4.

According to an aspect the heating s104 the at least one container 2 with the saltcrystal substrate 4 in the at least one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C for releasingtreated 12 fluid from the salt crystal substrate 4 comprises: heating s104 the at leastone container 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 in at least two steps at two differenttemperatures. According to a further aspect conveying s101, s103 the at least onecontainer 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 to the fluid supply station 6 and to the atleast one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C comprises conveying s101, s103 the atleast one container 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 on a track 14. According to afurther aspect heating s104 the at least one container 2 with the salt crystal substrate4 in the at least one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C for releasing treated fluid 12from the salt crystal substrate 4 is performed by solar energy. According to a furtheraspect the fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4 comprising MgßíPíIhilænd-åzil). Ac-cording to a further aspect the fluid 8 may be seawater.

Fig. 3b illustrates a flow chart for a method for treatment of a fluid 8 according to anembodiment. The method thus relates to the fluid treatment devices 1 disclosed in figures 1 and 2. The fluid treatment device 1, comprising at least one container 2 forholding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate 4, a fluid supply station 6 for bringing 18 fluid 8 in contact with the salt crystal substrate 4, and at least one heating station 10,10A, 10B, 10C for releasing treated fluid 12 from the salt crystal substrate 4. Themethod comprises the steps of: conveying s101 the at least one container 2 with thesalt crystal substrate 4 to the fluid supply station 6; supplying s102 fluid 8 to the saltcrystal substrate 4 in the fluid supply station 6, so that the salt crystal substrate 4binds fluid 8 and forms a crystal hydrate; conveying s103 the at least one containerwith the salt crystal substrate 4 to the at least one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C;heating s104 the at least one container 2 with the salt crystal substrate 4 in the atleast one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C for releasing treated fluid 12 from the saltcrystal substrate 4; collecting s105 the released and treated fluid 12 from the saltcrystal substrate 4; and cleaning s106 the at least one container 2 with the salt crys-tal substrate 4 after supplying s102 the fluid to the salt crystal substrate 4 in the fluidsupply station 6 and before heating s104 the at least one container 2 with the saltcrystal substrate 4 in the at least one heating station 10, 10A, 10B, 10C.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been furnished for illustrative anddescriptive purposes. lt is not intended to be exhaustive, or to limit the embodimentsto the variants described. Many modifications and variations will obviously be appar-ent to one skilled in the art. The embodiments have been chosen and described inorder to best explicate principles and practical applications, and to thereby enableone skilled in the art to understand the embodiments in terms of its various embodi-ments and with the various modifications that are applicable to its intended use. Thecomponents and features specified above may, within the framework of the embodi-ments, be combined between different embodiments specified.

Claims (14)

19 Claims

1. A method for treatment of a fluid (8) in a fluid treatment device (1), comprising at least one container (2) for holding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate(4); a fluid supply station (6) for bringing fluid (6) in contact with the salt crystalsubstrate (4); and at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12)from the salt crystal substrate (4),wherein the method comprises the steps of: conveying (s101) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate(4) to the fluid supply station (6); supplying (s102) fluid (8) to the salt crystal substrate (4) in the fluid supply sta-tion (6), so that the salt crystal substrate (4) binds fluid (8) and forms a crystal hy-drate; conveying (s103) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate(4) to the at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C); and heating (s104) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4)in the at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12)from the salt crystal substrate (4).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprising the further stepof: collecting (s105) the released and treated fluid (12) from the salt crystal sub-strate (4).

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the method compris-ing the further step of: cleaning (s106) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4)after supplying (s102) the fluid (8) to the salt crystal substrate (4) in the fluid supplystation (6) and before heating (s104) the at least one container (2) with the salt crys-tal substrate (4) in the at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein heating (s104)the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) in the at least oneheating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12) from the salt crys-tal substrate (4) comprises: heating (s104) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4)in at least two steps at two different temperatures.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein conveying(s101, s103) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) to thefluid supply station (6) and to the at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C)comprises conveying (s101, s103) the at least one container (2) with the salt crystalsubstrate (4) on a track (14).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein heating (s104)the at least one container (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) in the at least oneheating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12) from the salt crys-tal substrate (4) is performed by solar energy.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid at»sorbing salt crystal substrate (4) coinprising Mg3(šï*C}4)2~n~i-š2<3.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid (S) tobe treated is seawater.

9. A fluid treatment device (1 ), comprising at least one container (2) for holding a fluid absorbing salt crystal substrate(4); a fluid supply station (6) for bringing fluid (8) in contact with the salt crystalsubstrate (4); and at least one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for releasing treated fluid (12)from the salt crystal substrate (4),wherein the device (1) further comprises: 21 a conveying means (14) for conveying the at least one container (2) with thesalt crystal substrate (4) to the fluid supply station (6) and to the at least one heatingstation (10, 10A, 10B, 10C); a fluid supplying means (16) for supplying fluid (8) to the salt crystal substrate(4) in the fluid supply station (6), so that the salt crystal substrate (4) binds 'fluid (8)and forms a crystal hydrate;

10. The device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the device (1) further comprising acollecting means (48) for collecting the released and treated fluid (12) from the atleast one heating station (10, 10A, 10B, 10C).

11. The device (1) according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein the device (1)further comprising a cleaning means (56) for cleaning the at least one container (2)with the salt crystal substrate (6).

12. The device (1) according to any one of the claims 9 - 11, wherein the heating de-vice (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) comprises a heating device (40) for heating the at least onecontainer (2) with the salt crystal substrate (4) in at least two steps at two different temperatures.

13. The device (1) according to any one of claims 9 - 12, wherein the conveyingmeans (14) comprises a track for conveying the at least one container (2) with thesalt crystal substrate (4) to the fluid supply station (6) and to the at least one heatingstation (10, 10A, 10B, 10C).

14. The device (1) according to any one of claims 9 - 13, wherein the device (1) com-prises a solar energy generator (66) for generating heat in the at least one heatingstation (10, 10A, 10B, 10C).