US3699006A - Vacuum still having heat exchange coils and particle means therewith - Google Patents

Vacuum still having heat exchange coils and particle means therewith Download PDF

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US3699006A
US3699006A US63863A US3699006DA US3699006A US 3699006 A US3699006 A US 3699006A US 63863 A US63863 A US 63863A US 3699006D A US3699006D A US 3699006DA US 3699006 A US3699006 A US 3699006A
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conduit
distillate
valve
liquid
compartment
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James G Hasslacher
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JAMES G HASSLACHER
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D3/00—Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping
    • B01D3/007—Energy recuperation; Heat pumps
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/02—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating
    • C02F1/04—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/02—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating
    • C02F1/04—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation
    • C02F1/14—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation using solar energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y02A20/138—Water desalination using renewable energy
    • Y02A20/142—Solar thermal; Photovoltaics
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
    • Y02A20/208—Off-grid powered water treatment
    • Y02A20/212—Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/52—Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S159/00—Concentrating evaporators
    • Y10S159/902—Concentrating evaporators using natural heat
    • Y10S159/903—Solar
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S203/00—Distillation: processes, separatory
    • Y10S203/01—Solar still
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S203/00—Distillation: processes, separatory
    • Y10S203/04—Heat pump
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S203/00—Distillation: processes, separatory
    • Y10S203/07—Start up or shut down
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S203/00—Distillation: processes, separatory
    • Y10S203/18—Control

Definitions

  • FIG. 2 VACUUM STILL HAVING HEAT EXCHANGE COILS AND ARTICLE MEANS THEREWITH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1970 FIG. 2
  • a method and apparatus for distilling liquids including a closed housing vertically divided into feed and distillate compartments having respectively intercommunicating evaporation and condensation chambers thereabove.
  • a vacuum is induced in the chambers by introducing a priming charge to fill the housing and expel the free gases from a vent in the top, followed by closing the vent and discharging a portion of the priming charge.
  • Distillation is accomplished by heating the liquid in the feed compartment to produce vapor in the evaporation chamber and by cooling the vapor transmitted to the condensation chamber to produce distillate which drips into the bottom of the distillate compartment.
  • An irreversible heat pump may be the main source of both heat and cold.
  • the transmission of vapor from evaporation to condensation chambers may be increased by using a ducted fan, which would also serve both to decrease the vapor pressure in the evaporation chamber and to increase the vapor pressure in the condensation chamber.
  • a ducted fan which would also serve both to decrease the vapor pressure in the evaporation chamber and to increase the vapor pressure in the condensation chamber.
  • nonbuoyant spheres may be used on top of the coils and buoyant spheres may be used below the coils.
  • jets operating by the suction of the vacuum may be used to inject the liquid into the chamber or into the feed compartment.
  • This invention relates generally to distillation apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for purifying polluted, brackish or salt water.
  • This invention provides a distillation apparatus which is ideally suited to purify water in economically developed 3,699,006 Patented Oct. 17, 1972 "ice areas where pollution is a problem or in arid, economically underprivileged areas by furnishing a device which has inexpensive construction costs, which is simple in operation, and which operates with a low power requirement.
  • This invention also provides water of the greatest purity which can be used in such other devices as steam boilers.
  • This invention further provides a means of salvaging chemicals which in the past have been discarded because of too great a dilution but which after distillation would be concentrated in the residue.
  • This invention also provides an apparatus which can be employed to reduce such factors as thermal pollution from nuclear reactors by providing a still which is adapted to utilize waste heat from reactors as a source.
  • This invention further provides a use for natural gas in regions where it has had to be discarded because the region was remote from the area in which the natural gas could be utilized.
  • This invention also provides a distillation device which is ideally suited for operation at low power requirements by furnishing an apparatus which utilizes, to a maximum degree, the ambient resources such as gravity, solar heat, and atmospheric pressure.
  • This invention further provides an apparatus which has a minimum of moving parts whereby it is simple and rugged in construction, relatively maintenance-free, and, therefore, suited for operation in remote and/or technically backward areas.
  • the invention provides a distillation device having a housing; a wall vertically dividing the housing into a feed compartment and a distillation compartment; the feed and distillation compartments each having an inlet and outlet at its base; the feed and distillate compartments including respectively evaporation and condensation chambers in the upper ends thereof; means for establishing a vacuum in the chambers; means for transmitting vapor between the chambers; thermal means supplying heat to the feed compartment and cold to the condensation chamber; means to prevent the sudden formation of vapor on the heating coils; and means to increase the liquid surface in the feed compartment.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a distillation device in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the use of a ducted fan, a variation in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the use of buoyant and nonbuoyant spheres, variations in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the use of jets, a variation in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing a valve-pump system in detail in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGS. 1 and 4, combined, showing a more sophisticated valve-pump system in detail in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a view of the device of FIG. 1 showing a preferred installation of a desalinization device in an arid area near a large body of salty water and near a supply of natural gas,
  • FIG. 1 a still, generally indicated at 100, comprises a housing 101 which is in the form of a frustoconical enclosure having top, side, and bottom walls 102, 103, and 104 thereto.
  • the housing may be fabricated, as illustrated, from precast or cast in situ concrete or may be fabricated from steel or any other material as desired.
  • the structure may also comprise combinations of materials and/or structural techniques as may be found appropriate from the location and environment at the site.
  • the housing may be cylindrical, square, triangular, or any other shape found desirable within the limits of practicality.
  • the generally tapering walls illustrated structurally compensate for the change in local pressure on the walls due to static head as is common in the design of water-containing structures.
  • the walls may have parallel surfaces or be otherwise conformed as design requirements dictate.
  • the housing 101 includes bottom, side, and top wall means and is vertically divided into a feed compartment 105 and a distillate compartment 106 by a dividing wall or partition means 107 which extends upwardly within the housing 101 to a point spaced from the top wall 102.
  • the dividing wall 107 could also extend to the top of the housing 101 and be provided with openings for the purposes of providing communication between the compartments. If a barometric leg is used, the minimum height of the dividing wall 107 or any opening therein is dictated by the liquid to be distilled and is a function of the head or external height of liquid to be distilled and the external pressure, and the density of the liquid. The minimum height above the outside liquid height, for example, can be ascertained by dividing the external, ambient pressure by the liquid density.
  • the minimum height is 33.9 feet above the outside water level. If a barometric leg is not used, the dividing wall 107 or any opening therein must be sufficiently high to keep the liquid in the feed compartment 105 separate from the liquid in the distillate compartment 106.
  • the areas above the levels of the liquids in the feed and distillate compartments 105 and 106 comprise evaporation and condensation chambers 108 and 109 respectively.
  • a vent 110 controlled by an on-oif valve 111, is disposed at the uppermost point in the still through the top wall 102 to provide venting of the chambers 108 and 109.
  • the feed compartment is provided with a heat exchange means comprising a heating coil 112 which connects through insulated conduits 113 to the heat output side of a heat pump .114.
  • the coil 112 is preferably disposed to be totally immersed in the liquid in the feed compartment 105 and is preferably coated with a deposit and corrosion resistant material such, for example, as polytetrailuoroethylene or the like. Other portions of the still which may be subject to deposit or attack may be similarly coated if so desired.
  • the condensation chamber 109 is provided with a heat exchange means comprising a cooling coil 115 which is connected to the cold producing side of the heat pump .114 through insulated conduits 116. Care should be taken that, due to low temperatures, condensate does not solidify or accumulate on the coil 115, thereby reducing the efiiciency thereof. Such conditions may be avoided, if encountered, by providing temperature sensing means (not shown) which will signal controls to adjust the pressures of the refrigerant in the heat pump.
  • heat pumps suitable for use with this invention are well known in the art as is evidenced by Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (1953), Kirk- Othmer, vol. 11, page 642, and the operation thereof is understood to those skilled in the art. In areas where natural gas is abundant, it should probably be used as fuel for the heat pump, which would be similarly constructed to those used in a gas refrigerator.
  • Means other than the heat pump 114 may be utilized in place of or to augment heating and/or cooling if so desired. Such means would be particularly appropriate where waste heat or cold is produced as a by-product of some other operation, and such means would be even more desirable where use of waste heat from a nuclear reactor, for example, would preclude or reduce thermal pollution of the environment while, at the same time, reducing or eliminating the heat requirements of the still. Solar heaters and other similar devices may also be incorporated to similarly reduce heat input requirements.
  • the housing 101 is provided with a feed conduit 117 which is communicative with both a lower portion of the feed compartment 105 and a valve-pump system 118.
  • the housing is also provided with a distillate conduit 119 which is communicative with both a lower portion of the distillate compartment 106 and the valve-pump system 118.
  • the valve-pump system 118 is also communicative with and controls the flow in: a residue conduit 120', which goes to the residue storage area; an intake conduit 121, which comes from the supply of the liquid to be distilled; an output conduit 122, from which the pure distillate leaves the still 100; and a tank conduit 123, which goes to the priming storage tank.
  • a residue conduit 120' which goes to the residue storage area
  • an intake conduit 121 which comes from the supply of the liquid to be distilled
  • an output conduit 122 from which the pure distillate leaves the still 100
  • a tank conduit 123 which goes to the priming storage tank.
  • the vent valve 111 is opened, and a priming charge is introduced into the housing 101.
  • the priming charge comprises distilled liquid, preferably from a previous cycle.
  • the priming charge must comprise undistilled liquid, and the liquid in the distillate compartment 106 must be routed to the feed compartment 105 until the liquid in the distillate compartment 106 is pure. This routing takes place through the distillate conduit 11 9, the valve-pump system 118, and the feed conduit 117.
  • the housing 101 is filled at least to the top of sloped top wall 102 to eliminate all of the free gases from the interior, whereupon the vent valve 111 is closed. Then the priming charge is allowed to drain or is pumped out of the housing 101 until the liquid level in the compartments 105 and 106 is below the top of the dividing wall 107 or any openings therein. Next, the heat pump 114 is turned on, and after the distillate has become pure, the distillate is removed from the still 100. The operation of the still is continuous, until, in some cases, the residue has to be removed.
  • FIG. 2 components thereof corresponding to like components in the preceding embodiments are indicated by like numerals, only of the next higher order.
  • the primary distinction over the embodiment in FIG. 1 is the fan structure 224.
  • the fan in this embodiment is ducted because it sits in a round opening in the dividing wall 207. There may be more than one fan, and the fans may not be ducted, although ducting greatly increases the efiiciency of the fan operation, as is known in the art.
  • vents 210a and 21% are valved by means of on-otf valves 211a and 211b, respectively.
  • the fan or fans are turned on at the same time as the heat pumps.
  • the remainder of the device of FIG. 2 is identical to and operates in the same manner as the above-described embodiment.
  • the fans serve a quintuple purpose, as is known in the art. They decrease the pressure in the evaporation chamber and increase the circulation over the surface of the undistilled liquid, thereby causing increased evaporation of the undistilled liquid. They increase the flow between the evaporation and condensation chambers. They increase the pressure in the condensation chamber and increase the circulation over the cooling coils, thereby causing increased condensation of the distillate.
  • chem ists use glass beads or bits of broken crockery in test tubes and flasks, which are heated externally. A similar problem arises in an internally heated device. If thumping occurs, large quantities of undistilled liquid will mix with pure vapor and pass over to the condensation chamber, thereby polluting the distillate.
  • FIG. 3 which is also a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, illustrates a solution to this problem.
  • Buoyant particles or spheres 327a, 327b, and 327a are placed below each layer of horizontal grid.
  • Nonbuoyant particles or spheres 328a, 328b, 9280, and 328d are placed above each layer of horizontal grid.
  • Both types of spheres may be made of the same material if buoyancy is controlled by using heavier cores or by using hollow centers.
  • the spheres will not pass through a horizontal grid if the transverse dimension or width of every particle or diameter of every sphere is greater or larger than the horizontal gap between each part of the heating coils or between the coils and the side wall 303 or between the coils and the dividing wall 307. Care should be taken that the spheres do not bend the coils, which may be strengthened by fins or transverse rods anchored to the adjacent walls.
  • buoyant low density
  • non buoyant particles high density particles, spheres, and the like in gasliquid contacting systems
  • Applicant has adapted the theories expressed in such disclosures in the present vacuum still and the above patents are incorporated by reference in this application.
  • FIG. 4 which is also a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, jets which operate on the principle that a vacuum Will suck in a liquid are illustrated.
  • the jet nozzles 429 In a still using the barometric leg, the jet nozzles 429 must be below the minimum height of the dividing wall 407 or any opening therein.
  • a float 430 may be used to sense the level of the liquid in the feed compartment 405. The float 430 may not be too close to the nozzles 429, because it might be pushed up by the action of the jet and, thereby, lose its elfectiveness.
  • the nozzles 429 must also not be too near a fan, because the fan might transport spray with vapor.
  • the jet nozzles 429 are part of upstanding jet conduits 431, which branch from a jet conduit 432.
  • the jet conduit 432 comes from a valve-pump system 418.
  • a base conduit 433 also comes from the valve-pump system 418 and goes to the feed compartment 405.
  • the base conduit 433 and the jet conduit 432 together take the place of the feed conduit 117.
  • FIG. is a fragmentary view of FIG. 1, except that the tank conduit 123 is omitted, and illustrates a valve-pump system 518 which is used in a less expensive variation of the still where the distillate is of primary importance.
  • the intake conduit 521 communicates with a first T member, which further consists of a flow conduit 534 and a pump inlet conduit 535. [Each small circle with a V indicates a valve which will be described below.
  • the pump inlet conduit 535 leads to a unidirectional pump 536, from which comes a pump outlet conduit 537.
  • the pump outlet conduit 537 communicates with a second T member, which also consists of the residue conduit 520 and a priming conduit 538.
  • the priming conduit 538 next leads to a third T member, which further is composed of the feed conduit 517 and a connector conduit 539.
  • the connector conduit 539 then forms a fourth T member, the other parts of which are the flow conduit 534 and a separation conduit 540.
  • the separation conduit 540 also communicates with a last T member, which also consists of the distillate conduit 519 and the output conduit 522.
  • This valve-pump system 518 also consists of the following on-ofl?
  • Pump 536 is controlled by an on-otf switch.
  • valve-pump system 518 In the below description of the valve-pump system 518 in operation, the pump and all valves are considered to be oif unless they are specified as being on.
  • the still operates without jets and on a barometric leg.
  • the pump 536 To prime the still the pump 536 is turned on, and the vent valve 111 (FIG. 1) and valves 541 and 544 are opened. In forming the vacuum only valves 541, 542, and 545 are opened. If recycling is needed to purify the distillate after priming or at any other time, only valve 545 is opened. Normal operation of the still takes place when only valves 541, 542, and 546 are opened. The residue is removed by turning on the pump 536 and opening valves 542 and 543, during which time valve 546 may be left open.
  • the housing may be emptied by opening the vent valve 111, valve 546 and either valves 543 and 544 if the residue is to be saved, or valves 541 and 542 if the residue is not concentrated enough to be saved.
  • the heat pump and/or the fan or fans are turned on only during recycling and normal operation.
  • FIG. 6 A more sophisticated valve-pum system 618, used where the residue is of primary importance, is shown in FIG. 6, which has the embodiments of FIG. 1 as modified by the embodiments of FIG. 4.
  • the still in this case, does not operate by using a barometric leg, nor would its priming storage tank return flow be operated mainly by the force of gravity.
  • This variation of the still has jets and probably fan or fans.
  • Valves are controlled by electric power.
  • Such devices usually work on electrical conductivity. Electrically signaling monitors capable of distinguishing between air and liquid are required on the base conduit 633, on the distillate conduit 619, and on the vent above the vent valve 111. Two unidirectional pumps 653 and 660 are also used. The still operates both continuously and automatically.
  • An intake conduit 621 communicates with a first T member, which also consists of a controlled feed conduit 647 and a reversible connector conduit 648.
  • the reversible connector conduit 648 goes to a second T member, from which also comes a reversible conduit 649 and a first alternate priming conduit 650.
  • the first alternate priming conduit 650 leads to a third T member, which further consists of a feed operational conduit 651 and a feed pump inlet conduit 652. After a feed pump 653, comes a feed pump outlet conduit 654.
  • the feed pump outlet conduit 654 communicates with a first cross member, which also communicates with the reversible conduit 649, a residue conduit 620, and a second alternate priming conduit 655.
  • the second alternate priming conduit 655 then goes to a fourth T member, which also connects with a base conduit 633 and with the feed operational conduit 651.
  • the controlled feed conduit 647 leads to a fifth T memher, to which also comes a jet conduit 632 and a separation conduit 640.
  • the separation conduit 640 communicates with a sixth T member, which further communicates with an irreversible connector conduit 656 and a distillate operational conduit 657.
  • the distillate operational conduit 657 goes to a seventh T member, from which comes a first preferred priming conduit 658 and a distillate pump inlet conduit 659.
  • the distillate pump 660 communicates with a distillate pump outlet conduit 661.
  • the distillate pump outlet conduit 661 leads to a second member, which also connects with an output conduit 622, a storage filling conduit 662, and a second preferred priming conduit 663.
  • the storoge filling conduit 662 goes into an eighth T member, from which comes the first preferred priming conduit 658 and a tank conduit 623, and the second preferred priming conduit 663 goes into a ninth T member, from which comes the irreversible connector conduit 656 and a distillate conduit 619.
  • the valve-pump system 618 also consists of the following electrically controlled on-off valves, each of which is designated by a small circle with a V: a reversible valve 664 on the reversible conduit 649, a first alternate priming valve 665 on the first alternate priming conduit 650, a feed operational valve 666 on the feed operational conduit 651, a residue valve 643 on the residue conduit 620, a second alternate priming valve 667 on the second alternate priming conduit 655, a controlled feed valve 668 on the controlled feed conduit 647, a separation valve 645 on the separation conduit 640, a distillate operational valve 669 on the distillate operational conduit 657, a first preferred priming valve 670 on the firs-t preferred priming conduit 658, an output valve 646 on the output conduit 622, a storage filling valve 671 on the storage filling conduit 662, and a second preferred priming valve 672 on the second preferred priming conduit 663.
  • the automatic control switch is turned on. If there is sufiicient liquid to fill the housing as determined by the fioat inside the priming storage tank, pump 660 is turned on and vent valve 111 and valves 670 and 672 are opened. If there is insufiicient liquid, pump 653 is turned on and vent valve 111 and valves 665 and 667 are opened. After the housing has been primed as determined by liquid being above the vent valve 111, all valves including the vent valve 111 are closed, and if it is on, pump 660 is turned off. A vacuum is formed by opening valves 664, 666 and 645, and if it is not already on, by turning on pump 653.
  • valve 669 is opened, pump 660 is turned on, and either valve 671 is opened if the priming storage tank needs filling as determined by the float in the tank or valve 646 is opened.
  • the monitor which measures the impurity of the residue in the feed compartment determines when the residue should be removed.
  • valves 666 and 643 are opened and pump 653 is turned on.
  • the automatic control switch is turned off.
  • the heat pump and the fan or fans, if they areused, are turned off by the automatic control switch, which also turns on pump 653 and 660 and opens the vent valve 111 and valves 666, 669 and 646. If the residue is concentrated enough to send to the residue storage area as determined by the purity monitor in the feed compartment, valve 643 is opened. If the residue is not concentrated enough, valve 664 is opened. All other valves are closed. Pump 653 runs until air begins coming into the base conduit 633, and pump 660 runs until air begins coming into the distillate conduit 619. When both pumps 653 and 660 stop, all valves including the vent valve 111 are closed, and the still is ready to begin operation again.
  • FIG. 7 shows a preferred installation of the still 700 already shown in FIG. 1. It is the type built in an arid area, preferably near a large supply of natural gas, since the heat pump 714 can use natural gas as fuel and the electricity for the pump or pumps can be generated by also using natural gas as fuel.
  • the still would not only make pure water but would allow salt to be recovered as a by-product.
  • the housing 701 would be so constructed that the feed chamber would face into the sun and the distillate chamber would face away from the sun (i.e., in the northern hemisphere the feed chamber would be southward, and in the southern hemisphere the feed chamher would be northward).
  • the housing 701 would also be built on a hill so that it would not have to be so high and its walls would not have to be so thick. Internal rinsing of the housing 701 would also be lessened since the volume of the distillate compartment would be made smaller. Incidentally, evaporation in the distillate compartment would be even less if surface area of the distillate were reduced.
  • a priming storage tank 773 is located above the housing 701 on supports 774 so that the preferable priming can be done by gravity.
  • a residue storage area 775 would be shallow, would be open and would have its bottom coated black in order to increase final evaporation. In wetter areas, of course, the residue area would be covered, and the shape of the tank would be engineered so as to hold the residue better.
  • An intake storage area 776 would also have its bottom coated black for preheating purposes, but it would be deeper to slow evaporation.
  • the intake storage area 776 would be separated from a nearby body of salty water 777 by a dam 778 having a dam conduit 779 with a dam valve 780.
  • the whole dam structure prevents fluctuation of the barometric leg caused by tides and waves if the dam valve 780 is opened only at high tides. Operation of the still 700 would occur as described above.
  • a liquid distillation device comprising wall means including bottom, side, and top wall means defining a housing, vertically extending partition means projecting upwardly from said bottom and dividing the interior of said housing into side by side feed and distillate compartments, conduit means communicating with the lower portion of each of said compartments, vent means at the top of said housing, valve means for controlling said vent means, said partition means having at least one opening therein beneath the top wall means of said housing to provide vapor intercommunication between said compartments, means for controlling liquid flow through both said conduit means, means for establishing a vacuum in the upper portion of said compartments so as to constitute the same as evaporation and condensation chambers comprising priming means communicating with one of said conduit means for introducing a priming charge of liquid into the lower portion of at least one of said compartments with said valve means for said vent means open to completely fill said compartments to exclude noncondensable gases from within said housing, the closing of said valve means and the discharge of a portion of said liquid from the other of said compartments establishing a vacuum in said chambers above the level
  • a liquid distillation device comprising wall means including bottom, side, and top wall means defining a housing, vertically extending partition means projecting upwardly from said bottom and dividing the interior of said housing into side by side feed and distillate compartments, conduit means communicating with the lower portion of each of said compartments, vent means at the top of said housing, valve means for controlling said vent means, said partition means having at least one opening therein beneath the top wall means of said housing to provide vapor intercommunication between said compartments, means for controlling liquid flow through both said conduit means, means for establishing a vacuum in the upper portion of said compartments so as to constitute the same as evaporation and condensation chambers comprising priming means communicating with one of said conduit means for introducing a priming charge of liquid into the lower portion of at least one of said compartments with said valve means for said vent means open to completely fill said compartments to exclude non-condensable gases from within said housing, the closing of said valve means and the discharge of a portion of said liquid from the other of said compartments establishing a vacuum in said chambers above the
  • a liquid distillation device comprising wall means including bottom, side, and top wall means defining a housing, vertically extending partition means projecting upwardly from said bottom and dividing the interior of said housing into side by side feed and distillate compartments, conduit means communicating with the lower portion of each of said compartments, vent means at the top of said housing, valve means for controlling said vent means, said partition means having at least one opening therein beneath the top wall means of said housing to provide vapor intercommunication between said compartments, means for controlling liquid flow through both said conduit means, means for establishing a vacuum in the upper portion of said compartments so as to constitute the same as evaporation and condensation chambers comprising priming means communicating with one of said conduit means for introducing a priming charge of liquid into the lower portion of at least one of said compartments with said valve means for said vent means open to completely fill said compartments to exclude non-condensable gases from within said housing, the closing of said valve means and the discharge of a portion of said liquid from the other of said compartments establishing a vacuum in said chambers above the
  • a method of distilling liquid comprising providing an enclosure around side by side feed and distillate compartments, providing inter communication between the upper portions of said compartments, opening a vent at the top of at least one of said compartments, introducing a priming charge of liquid into the lower portion of at least one of said compartments sufficient to fill both compartments with liquid so as to exclude all noncondensable gases therefrom, closing said vent, discharging a portion of said introduced liquid from the lower portion of at least one of said compartments to induce a vacuum in the upper portion of both of said compartments, applying heat directly to the liquid in one compartment through at least one layer of a heat exchanging coil disposed beneath the level of the liquid in said one compartment to evaporate liquid therein to produce vapor in the upper portion thereof to flow into the upper portion of the other compartment, preventing too rapid a formation of vapor by providing buoyant particles beneath the coil of the layer with such particles having a transverse dimension greater than any gap formed between and relative to the coil of such layer, condensing said vapor in said other compartment by contacting the same
  • a method of distilling liquid comprising providing an enclosure around side by side feed and distillate compartments, providing intercommunication between the upper portions of said compartments, opening a vent at the top of at least one of said compartments, introducing a priming charge of liquid into the lower portion of at least one of said compartments sufiicient to till both compartments with liquid so as to exclude all noncondensable gases therefrom, closing said vent, discharging a portion of said introduced liquid from the lower portion of at least one of said compartments to induce a vacuum in the upper portion of both of said compartments, applying heat directly to the liquid in one compartment through at least one layer of a heat exchanging coil disposed beneath the level of the liquid in said one compartment to evaporate liquid therein to produce vapor in the upper portion thereof to flow into the upper portion of the other compartment, preventing too rapid a formation of vapor by providing non-buoyant particles on top of the coil of the layer with such particles having a transverse dimension greater than any gap formed between and relative to the coil of such layer, condensing said said
  • a method of distilling liquid comprising providing an enclosure around side by side feed and distillate compartments, providing intercommunication between the upper portions of said compartments, opening a vent at the top of at least one of said compartments, introducing a priming charge of liquid into the lower portion of at least one of said compartments suflicient to fill both compartments with liquid so as to exclude all noncondensable gases therefrom, closing said vent, discharging a portion of said introduced liquid from the lower portion of at least one of said compartments to induce a vacuum in the upper portion of both of said compartments, applying heat directly to the liquid in one compartment through at least one layer of a heat exchanging coil disposed beneath the level of the liquid in said one compartment to evaporate liquid therein to produce vapor in the upper portion thereof to flow into the upper portion of the other compartment, preventing too rapid a formation of vapor by providing buoyant and non-buoyant particles respectively beneath and on top of the coil of the layer with such particles having a transverse dimension greater than any gap formed between and relative to the coil of such layer, con

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Water, Waste Water Or Sewage (AREA)
US63863A 1970-08-14 1970-08-14 Vacuum still having heat exchange coils and particle means therewith Expired - Lifetime US3699006A (en)

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AU (1) AU3151171A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE770891A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH544560A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2135442A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES394223A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2101951A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1347545A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IL (1) IL37262A0 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7111175A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ZA (1) ZA714603B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4078974A (en) * 1976-03-10 1978-03-14 Mccord James William Vapor generating and recovering apparatus including vapor condenser control means
US4235678A (en) * 1978-03-17 1980-11-25 Mckeen Joseph E Solar powered water desalination system with a regenerative fixture
US4267022A (en) * 1977-04-27 1981-05-12 Pitcher Frederick L Energy efficient process and apparatus for desalinizing water
US4357212A (en) * 1980-12-29 1982-11-02 Allied Chemical Corporation Energy efficient apparatus for vaporizing a liquid and condensing the vapors thereof
US4444623A (en) * 1980-10-09 1984-04-24 Youngner Philip G Distilling apparatus
US4525242A (en) * 1981-07-31 1985-06-25 Tomimaru Iida Desalting system utilizing solar energy
US4555307A (en) * 1983-07-20 1985-11-26 Williams, Inc. Sea water distillation system
US5090431A (en) * 1990-06-01 1992-02-25 K & M Electronics, Inc. Cleaning apparatus with vapor containment system
US5108548A (en) * 1987-10-26 1992-04-28 Valuepace Limited Low pressure distillation apparatus
WO2004076359A1 (en) * 2003-02-26 2004-09-10 Sven Olof Sonander Water desalination
WO2005082784A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2005-09-09 Sven Olof Sonander Isothermal gas-free water distillation
US20080308403A1 (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-18 Maloney Gerald F Method and apparatus for vacuum or pressure distillation
US20100155044A1 (en) * 2008-12-23 2010-06-24 Tai-Her Yang Fixed type heat exchange apparatus with automatic flow rate exchange modulation
WO2013107469A1 (en) * 2012-01-19 2013-07-25 Anes Sbuelz Desalination station using a heat pump and photovoltaic energy
CN107117677A (zh) * 2017-06-09 2017-09-01 浙江大学 气液双循环聚光热咸淡水分离器
WO2018162777A1 (es) * 2017-03-08 2018-09-13 Joan Pons Semelis Dispositivo destilador de líquidos

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2600398C2 (de) * 1976-01-07 1985-01-10 Jakob Dr.-Ing. 8000 München Hoiß Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Rohwasser-Destillation
DE3015525C2 (de) * 1980-04-23 1982-07-01 Langbein-Pfanhauser Werke Ag, 4040 Neuss Anlage zum Destillieren von Flüssigkeiten mit einer Wärmepumpe
AT404467B (de) * 1997-03-11 1998-11-25 Johannes Dipl Ing Markopulos Methode der wasserverdunstung durch verdampfung aus sonnenenergie
RU2210423C1 (ru) * 2002-08-22 2003-08-20 ООО "Предприятие Контакт-Сервис" Лабораторное устройство для перегонки
CN109626469B (zh) * 2018-12-18 2024-02-02 内蒙古工业大学 一种基于聚光直热的内嵌式太阳能海水蒸馏装置

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4078974A (en) * 1976-03-10 1978-03-14 Mccord James William Vapor generating and recovering apparatus including vapor condenser control means
US4267022A (en) * 1977-04-27 1981-05-12 Pitcher Frederick L Energy efficient process and apparatus for desalinizing water
US4235678A (en) * 1978-03-17 1980-11-25 Mckeen Joseph E Solar powered water desalination system with a regenerative fixture
US4444623A (en) * 1980-10-09 1984-04-24 Youngner Philip G Distilling apparatus
US4357212A (en) * 1980-12-29 1982-11-02 Allied Chemical Corporation Energy efficient apparatus for vaporizing a liquid and condensing the vapors thereof
US4525242A (en) * 1981-07-31 1985-06-25 Tomimaru Iida Desalting system utilizing solar energy
US4555307A (en) * 1983-07-20 1985-11-26 Williams, Inc. Sea water distillation system
US5108548A (en) * 1987-10-26 1992-04-28 Valuepace Limited Low pressure distillation apparatus
US5090431A (en) * 1990-06-01 1992-02-25 K & M Electronics, Inc. Cleaning apparatus with vapor containment system
WO2004076359A1 (en) * 2003-02-26 2004-09-10 Sven Olof Sonander Water desalination
WO2005082784A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2005-09-09 Sven Olof Sonander Isothermal gas-free water distillation
US20060278079A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2006-12-14 Sonander Sven O Isothermal gas-free water distillation
US7811420B2 (en) 2004-02-26 2010-10-12 Sven Olof Sonander Isothermal gas-free water distillation
US20080308403A1 (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-18 Maloney Gerald F Method and apparatus for vacuum or pressure distillation
US20100155044A1 (en) * 2008-12-23 2010-06-24 Tai-Her Yang Fixed type heat exchange apparatus with automatic flow rate exchange modulation
US8726979B2 (en) * 2008-12-23 2014-05-20 Tai-Her Yang Heat exchange apparatus with automatic heat exchange fluid flow rate exchange modulation
WO2013107469A1 (en) * 2012-01-19 2013-07-25 Anes Sbuelz Desalination station using a heat pump and photovoltaic energy
WO2018162777A1 (es) * 2017-03-08 2018-09-13 Joan Pons Semelis Dispositivo destilador de líquidos
US10987608B2 (en) 2017-03-08 2021-04-27 Joan PONS SEMELIS Liquid-distilling device
AU2018231717B2 (en) * 2017-03-08 2023-04-27 Joan Pons Semelis Liquid-distilling device
CN107117677A (zh) * 2017-06-09 2017-09-01 浙江大学 气液双循环聚光热咸淡水分离器
CN107117677B (zh) * 2017-06-09 2024-01-09 浙江大学 气液双循环聚光热咸淡水分离器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE770891A (fr) 1971-12-16
ZA714603B (en) 1972-05-31
NL7111175A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-02-16
FR2101951A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-03-31
CH544560A (de) 1973-11-30
IL37262A0 (en) 1971-10-20
ES394223A1 (es) 1973-12-01
DE2135442A1 (de) 1972-02-17
AU3151171A (en) 1973-01-25
GB1347545A (en) 1974-02-27

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