WO1987007250A1 - Procede de congelation - Google Patents

Procede de congelation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1987007250A1
WO1987007250A1 PCT/AU1987/000152 AU8700152W WO8707250A1 WO 1987007250 A1 WO1987007250 A1 WO 1987007250A1 AU 8700152 W AU8700152 W AU 8700152W WO 8707250 A1 WO8707250 A1 WO 8707250A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
solution
crystals
brine
liquid
ice
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1987/000152
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert Blackmore Collins
Original Assignee
Robert Blackmore Collins
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Robert Blackmore Collins filed Critical Robert Blackmore Collins
Publication of WO1987007250A1 publication Critical patent/WO1987007250A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • 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
    • C02F1/22—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by freezing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B29/00—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
    • F25B29/003—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously of the compression type system
    • 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
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W10/00—Technologies for wastewater treatment
    • Y02W10/30—Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies
    • Y02W10/37—Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies using solar energy

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved freezing process, more particularly for a process utilizing density gradients in conjunction with the freezing of water for useful purposes
  • brine solutions have the property that the freezing temperature of the solution is lowered at higher solution densities. Also it is known that brine solutions can have a salt density gradient layer (or halocline) in which the density of the salt solution increases with depth there being virtually fresh water at the upper surface, the salt density increasing with depth. This property is exploited in the present invention to freeze water "at a distance"
  • a process for the production of fresh water ice, or fresh water from a brine solution of increasing density levels with depth the process providing means to lower the temperature of the solution so that the bottom salinity layer is at a temperature below 0° C, the temperature increasing upwardly in the solution so that the ice crystals form in the solution at a level in the solution below the means for cooling the solution, the ice crystals either being removed or melted at the top of the solution or in a further low density liquid for the production of fresh water.
  • an apparatus for producing fresh water ice or fresh water from a brine solution including means for providing increasing density levels in the brine with depth, means for cooling the lower level of the brine to below 0° C, the brine solution increasing in temperature towards the top thereof, whereby ice crystals form in the solution at a level below the means for cooling, means for removing the ice from the surface of the brine solution or from a further low density liquid by either ice removal, or by melting the ice on the surface for removing the fresh water
  • FIG 1 illustrates a process for salt gradient freezing desalination
  • FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment
  • FIG 3 shows a still further embodiment
  • FIG. 4 shows another embodiment using a further low density liquid
  • FIG. 5 shows a typical salt balance example.
  • the density of the brine solution increases with depth from virtually fresh water at the top to the higher density brine solution at the bottom.
  • any density gradient there is a diffusion of the solute from the more concentrated regions to the less concentrated regions. This rate of diffusion depends on the gradient and the temperature and is very low for most salt solutions near freezing, For sodium chloride solutions near freezing it is less than 0.2 grams per hour per metre squared.
  • the freezing process can be used to maintain the density gradient against the diffusion which is tending to equalize the solution and eliminate the density gradient when solutions, such as seawater freeze, the ice is nearly pure water as the salt is excluded during the crystallization process Freezing can thus be used to extract fresh water from a region of the density gradient and transported upward to the surface This provides the mechanism for counteracting diffusion and maintaining a density gradient over time.
  • the whole system can be controlled by the rate of heat extraction of the refrigeration equipment and/or the rate of feed water addition.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates one form of the invention.
  • An insulated container 1 holds the brine solution 2 in which a density gradient has been established
  • a mechanical refrigeration unit 3 having an evaporator 4 and condenser 5 with expansion valve 6 maintains a temperature gradient with the coldest temperature at the bottom. The temperature is maintained so that the freezing of water occurs at the desired level below the evaporator 4 in the density gradient. The ice crystals float to the surface without disturbing the density gradient where they are melted by the heat from the refrigerant condenser 5.
  • a dynamic equilibrium is set up with the temperature and density gradients remaining stationary while fresh water is removed from the surface by pipe 7, feed water through pipe 8 is added at or preferably below the level as the refrigerant evaporator 4 and heavier waste brine is removed from the bottom through outlet pipe 9.
  • the pipes, 7, 8 and 9 pass through a heat exchanger 10 to conserve the energy requirements of the system.
  • FIG. 2 there is illustrated a further embodiment with the brine solution 2 in the insulated container 1.
  • the brine solution is circulated outside of the container 1 , by a pump 1 1 passing the brine solution through a heat exchanger 12 to chill the brine solution, the brine flowing through outlet 13 and being injected through inlet 14.
  • the fresh water is removed through outlet 7 at the top of the brine solution 2, with the feed water again being fed into the bottom of the container through the inlet 8.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a further development of the embodiment of FIG. 2
  • the feed water is fed into the recirculated brine by feed pipe 15 into injector 16 in the inlet pipe 14. In this way the feed water will immediately freeze into pure water ice particles which will float to the surface.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown in FIG. 4 a freeze separation process using immiscible fluids with different freezing temperatures.
  • a layer of a liquid of lower specific gravity than the brine there is provided a layer of silicon oil 17 having a specific gravity of 0.95, the water below having a specific gravity of 1.00.
  • a cooling coil 18 which may be the evaporator of a refrigeration plant is situated in the silicon oil 17, and in operation ice crystals will form at the interface of the two immiscible liquids, and float into the silicon oil where they can be mechanically separated.
  • the oil can be at a temperature of -5° C. with the water at 0° C.
  • the water can be a brine solution, or can be pure water if desired.
  • the invention has been particularly described in relation to brine and water for the production of ice and desalination, it is to be realized that the invention is not limited thereto but includes fluids immiscible with each other and which have different freezing points, or using fluids with different salt, sugar or other dissolved solids concentrations which have different freezing points.
  • fluids with different freezing points in contact with each other produce ice.
  • One fluid can be Injected into the other, or the colder can float on top.
  • the application of the invention includes any situation where ice or other crystals need to be separated from a fluid solution.
  • Commercial applications include ice production for off-peak energy storage, concentration of liquids in the processing industry, concentration of waste water and desalination.
  • the salt content of the product water can be controlled by the rate of ice production. This ice production rate is many thousands of times greater than the salt diffusion rate and insures that the product water is of whatever quality desired
  • the salt density gradient layer or halocline is easily maintained in a brine solution and this has been applied in what are called solar ponds
  • the thermal density gradient is opposite that of a solar pond, and hence the thermal density gradient is of no adverse effect, and in fact the haloclme and thermal density gradients reinforce each other
  • the only loss is that the salt concentration tends to rise slowly to the top because of diffusion, and the present invention provides means to maintain the linear density gradient in the halocline
  • Simple ice production can also be accomplished with this concept, without the mechanical complexities of conventional ice making equipment, thus in other freezing type equipment the cooling coils are often covered in ice which acts as an insulator, and in known units this problem is usually overcome by having a large number of coils or surface area.
  • saline solution for example seawater, borewater or the like
  • the invention is particularly adaptable also to other solutions which have the effect of lowering the freezing point of water, and in which a concentration gradient can be established, for example in sugar solutions.
  • sodium chloride solutions other saline solutions can also be used.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physical Water Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

L'appareil et le procédé décrits servent à la production de glace et/ou à la concentration d'un fluide. Un récipient isolé (1) contient une solution (2), telle que de l'eau salée, dont la concentration augmente avec la profondeur, les couches inférieures ayant une température plus basse que les couches supérieures. Lors du refroidissement de l'eau salée (4), des cristaux de glace se forment à une certaine distance des organes de refroidissement, la glace flottant à la surface. Dans un autre mode de réalisation, la densité varie avec la profondeur et, dans un mode de réalisation encore différent, un liquide (7) immiscible avec la solution (2) et de densité inférieure flotte sur la solution (2), d'où les cristaux de glace sont recueillis.
PCT/AU1987/000152 1986-05-23 1987-05-25 Procede de congelation WO1987007250A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPH6075 1986-05-23
AUPH607586 1986-05-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1987007250A1 true WO1987007250A1 (fr) 1987-12-03

Family

ID=3771629

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1987/000152 WO1987007250A1 (fr) 1986-05-23 1987-05-25 Procede de congelation

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1987007250A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015008273A1 (fr) * 2013-07-18 2015-01-22 S.G.B.D. Technologies Ltd. Production, tri, extraction et rinçage de minéraux
US9399224B2 (en) 2013-07-18 2016-07-26 S.G.B.D. Technologies Ltd. Underwater mineral sorting methods and systems
EP3676546A4 (fr) * 2017-09-01 2021-06-02 Rebound Technologies, Inc. Procédés, systèmes et dispositifs de production de solide
US11441830B2 (en) 2018-12-26 2022-09-13 Rebound Technologies, Inc. Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2821304A (en) * 1958-01-28 Method for separating the solvent from
US3098735A (en) * 1962-02-12 1963-07-23 Appleton Wire Works Corp Art of separating water from aqueous liquids
US3368362A (en) * 1964-04-17 1968-02-13 Herbert H Clark Jr Freeze process for the separation of water
US3399538A (en) * 1965-11-26 1968-09-03 Universal Eng Method for separating relatively pure water from aqueous solutions
US3813892A (en) * 1971-08-23 1974-06-04 Avco Corp Water purification system
US3835658A (en) * 1972-02-11 1974-09-17 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Freeze crystallization of saline water with a direct contact refrigerant

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2821304A (en) * 1958-01-28 Method for separating the solvent from
US3098735A (en) * 1962-02-12 1963-07-23 Appleton Wire Works Corp Art of separating water from aqueous liquids
US3368362A (en) * 1964-04-17 1968-02-13 Herbert H Clark Jr Freeze process for the separation of water
US3399538A (en) * 1965-11-26 1968-09-03 Universal Eng Method for separating relatively pure water from aqueous solutions
US3813892A (en) * 1971-08-23 1974-06-04 Avco Corp Water purification system
US3835658A (en) * 1972-02-11 1974-09-17 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Freeze crystallization of saline water with a direct contact refrigerant

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015008273A1 (fr) * 2013-07-18 2015-01-22 S.G.B.D. Technologies Ltd. Production, tri, extraction et rinçage de minéraux
US9399224B2 (en) 2013-07-18 2016-07-26 S.G.B.D. Technologies Ltd. Underwater mineral sorting methods and systems
EP3676546A4 (fr) * 2017-09-01 2021-06-02 Rebound Technologies, Inc. Procédés, systèmes et dispositifs de production de solide
US11236935B2 (en) 2017-09-01 2022-02-01 Rebound Technologies, Inc. Solid production methods, systems, and devices
US11441830B2 (en) 2018-12-26 2022-09-13 Rebound Technologies, Inc. Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces
US11913701B2 (en) 2018-12-26 2024-02-27 Rebound Technologies, Inc. Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces

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