WO2002030540A1 - Distillateur d"eau domestique et fourniture d"eau chaude - Google Patents

Distillateur d"eau domestique et fourniture d"eau chaude Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002030540A1
WO2002030540A1 PCT/US2001/031181 US0131181W WO0230540A1 WO 2002030540 A1 WO2002030540 A1 WO 2002030540A1 US 0131181 W US0131181 W US 0131181W WO 0230540 A1 WO0230540 A1 WO 0230540A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hot water
condenser
water
water tank
tank
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/031181
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Charles R. Cutler
Original Assignee
Cutler Charles R
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 Cutler Charles R filed Critical Cutler Charles R
Publication of WO2002030540A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002030540A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention is an improved apparatus and method used for distilling water.
  • the invention is for an apparatus that works in conjunction with home hot water systems to generate quality distilled water for the home while recovering the heat from that distillation to supply hot water for the home or small business.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a reliable system for generating good quality distilled water and providing all the hot water for a household or small business for extended periods of operation.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a system that works in cooperation with a conventional hot water heater without requiring modification or replacement of the hot water heater.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a system that ensures the typical reliability of a hot water system by falling back to conventional hot water heater operation during down time of the distilled water system.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a system that is not shut down frequently by scale formation.
  • the invention is a water distillation apparatus for coupling to an electrically heated hot water tank. It includes at least a distiller unit for generating steam from feed water; a heating element for the distiller unit connected to draw electric power from the hot water tank power source and responsive to the thermostat of the hot water tank; a condenser connected to the distiller unit for condensing the steam; and a pump connected to continuously draw hot water from the hot water tank exit line and circulate hot water through the condenser for return to the hot water tank.
  • the invention also includes a method for generating distilled water in conjunction with a hot water tank including at least pumping, in a continuous manner, hot water from the hot water tank exit line through a condenser and back to the hot water tank inlet line; feeding a distiller unit with feed water, the feeding responsive to a level measurement in the distiller unit; heating the feed water with electric heating element to produce steam that flows to a condenser, the heating element connected to and responsive to the thermostat reading of the hot water tank; and condensing the steam in the condenser, via heat exchange with the hot water being pumped from the hot water tank exit line through the condenser.
  • the concept of the invention is to use a circulating pump to put a conventional home hot water heater on continuous circulation through a heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger is a condenser for a water distiller.
  • the condenser is sized to condense all of the steam output from a boiler that receives power from the electric power source of the hot water heater in response to the thermostat of the hot water tank.
  • the steam is condensed at the temperature of the hot water and flows by gravity to a distilled water receiver for use in the household.
  • the distilled water boiler supplies all the heat necessary for the hot water needs of the household.
  • the hot water needs of a typical U.S. home would result in 4-5 gallons of distilled water per day using this concept. This would provide all the distilled water needs of a typical household. Any excess distilled water would simply overflow to the drain.
  • This concept results in design simplicity in that the only controllers needed are the thermostats of the existing hot water heater and a simple float level control to regulate feed water to the boiler
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an integrated water distiller system and hot water heater according to a first embodiment of the system.
  • FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the distilled water system, in connection with more than one hot water heater.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a two-chamber distiller module used in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the arrangement of the float in a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • the invention is a distilled water unit and heat exchanger condenser connected in heat transfer relation to a conventional hot water heater by means of a continuous circulating pump.
  • a pump 11 is connected on the suction side to a block valve 4A on an exit hot water line 9 of a hot water tank 1.
  • the pump discharges through a condenser 3.
  • the exit side of the condenser is connected to another block valve 4B, which is connected back to an inlet line 10 of the hot water tank.
  • This structure completes a continuous circulating loop of hot water from the hot water tank exit line 9 through the condenser 3 and back to the hot water tank inlet line 10.
  • Figure 2 illustrates, in detail, the construction of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the distillation sub-system operates in connection with multiple hot water heaters 1 , useful in applications such as apartment complexes, office buildings, or larger homes. While use with multiple hot water heaters 1 is illustrated in Figure 2, it is too be understood that the system works with one hot water heater if desired.
  • FIG. 2 shows a feed water source 13 connected to a filter 14, which is connected to a water softener unit 15.
  • the water softener unit 15 is connected via line 6 to a control valve 16 set above the liquid level in a distiller unit 2.
  • the control valve 16 is mechanically connected for control purposes to a float 17 in the distiller unit 2.
  • the distiller unit also contains an electrical heating element 18, connected electrically to draw power from the hot water tank (or tanks) power source when the built in thermostat 23 of the hot water tank indicates a need to raise the hot water tank temperature.
  • the power 12 from the hot water tanks 1 is also electrically connected to and activates a solenoid valve 25 at the base of the distiller that periodically purges water from the distiller unit.
  • the solenoid valve is connected to a cooling unit 19 to cool the purged hot water before discharge to the drain.
  • the distiller unit 2 a preferred embodiment is shown in figure 3.
  • the distiller unit is divided into a boiling chamber and a float chamber.
  • a weir 22 separates the two chambers but allows both the liquid phase and the vapor phase to freely communicate via openings in the top and bottom of the weir.
  • the boiling chamber contains the electric heating element 18.
  • the float chamber contains the water inlet valve 16, connected to feed water via line 6.
  • the valve 16 is mechanically connected to the float 17.
  • a steam outlet 21 is connected to line 7, which is connected to condenser 3 and to an internal condensing coil in the condenser.
  • the condensing coil exits the condenser and is connected to distilled water line 5 which flows to distilled water storage (not shown).
  • a vapor disengager 24 Directly on the distilled water line 5 is a vapor disengager 24, which allows any volatile impurities to separate from the distilled water and be vented.
  • feed water for the distiller unit 2 passes through a filter 14 to remove particulate material and prolong system operation.
  • the filtered water then passes through a water softener unit 15 to remove hard mineral salts such as calcium and magnesium salts that can lead to fouling and shutdown of the distiller unit.
  • This aspect of the preferred embodiment was found experimentally to be critical to avoiding the formation of hard salt scale in the inlet valve. Scale formation is a strong function of water temperature and the positioning of this valve well above the hot water allows the cool inlet water to keep the valve 16 cool enough for extended operation without scale formation.
  • the inlet valve 16 is operated by a float 17 mechanism that opens the valve when the water level of distiller unit 2 falls below a pre-determined value.
  • the heating element 18 remains well below the level of water in the distiller at all times and is the only heat source for the system during normal operation, since the distiller unit provides all the necessary heat for both distilled water and hot water.
  • purge lines located at the bottom of each chamber of the distiller are used to remove impurities and fouling agents from the bottom of the boiler.
  • the purge lines pass through a solenoid operated valve 25 driven by a timer, which can be preset at any desired frequency of operation. .
  • the power to the solenoid valves and the timer are turned on when the thermostat on the hot waster tank activates the heating element of the boiler. This arrangement prevents the purging of water from the distiller when the distiller is not in operation.
  • distiller unit 2 has two separate chambers and a designed vapor space over the water level.
  • Experimentation with a one and two chamber system showed significant advantages to separating the distiller into a float chamber and a boiling chamber, separated by a weir 22 that allows communication of both water and steam between the two chambers.
  • the two chamber system confines the most violent boiling action to the boiling side, resulting in less dynamic play on the float mechanism 17, significantly extending the life of the float. Floats in most typical boiling environments suffer high torque on the float-valve extension, leading to eventual mechanical failure.
  • the use of two chambers in the distiller unit 2 also effectively stages the distillation to give better separation of water from the impurities, leading to higher quality and improved taste of the water.
  • the steam generated in the boiling chamber passes through an outlet at the end of the chamber that turns the steam 90 degrees as it enters the second (float) chamber. In the float chamber the steam is forced to turn another 90 degrees and flow the length of the chamber to the exit port. This 180 turn knocks out entrained droplets, significantly increasing resulting distilled water quality.
  • float 17 is constructed as an elongated rectangular metal box with square ends.
  • the float 17 is positioned such that a diagonal drawn between the opposite corners of the square end of the float is parallel with the water. This positioning causes the float 17 to ride stable in the water and does not transmit torque to the coupling of the valve resulting from the turbulent action of boiling.
  • the square end on the float 17 represents the maximum volume for a rectangular box, which permits the use of a thicker and heavier metal for the float. The thicker metal increases reliability of the float.
  • the distilled water exit the condenser in line 5 was condensed at the temperature of the hot water in the hot water system and is thus at an ideal temperature for removal of any trace volatile organics that can lead to odor or taste problems in distilled water intended for drinking.
  • the distilled water (condensed steam) exit the condenser enters a vapor disengagement device 24 where the volatiles are disengaged and vented overhead 20.
  • the distilled water 5 then flows by gravity to a distilled water receptor.
  • the only mechanical modification needed in a household with a conventional hot water heater is the minor external plumbing needed to connect the circulating pump to a hot water tank exit line and to return the hot water to a hot water inlet line. Electrically the power controlled by the thermostat of the hot water heater is connected by a switching arrangement to the heating element of the distiller unit 2 instead of to the heating element of the hot water heater. A plumber and electrician can easily make these two modifications. The beauty of this arrangement is that if a shutdown of the distiller - condenser system is needed for maintenance the electric power is switched back to the hot water tank and two block valves 4A and 4B are closed to isolate the hot water tank form the circulating pump 11 and circulating loop 8. The hot water tank then reverts to normal operation.
  • the invention described here has several benefits over other systems.
  • the concept of creating a hot water system continuously pumped in a circulating manner through the distiller condenser provides several improvements that lead to improved operating utility, improved system capacitance, and improved water quality.
  • This approach of a circulating loop of hot water makes it possible to connect such a system to multiple hot water heaters in cases of a larger household or apartment or a small business.
  • the circulating pump runs continuously to normalize the temperature in the hot water tank.
  • the resultant mixing permits the thermostat to see any change in temperature sooner, since there is stratification of the water in the tank under normal once through operation.
  • the continuous circulation thus improves the temperature control and effectively raises the capacitance of the hot water system.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Water, Waste Water Or Sewage (AREA)
  • Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un dispositif et un procédé de distillation d"eau à domicile avec approvisionnement en eau chaude. Un réservoir d"eau chaude (1) fonctionne en mode de circulation continue par l"intermédiaire d"un condenseur (3) et d"une petite pompe de circulation (11). Le condenseur, qui est combiné à l"unité de distillation (2), s"enclenche chaque fois que le thermostat (23) du réservoir d"eau chaude indique qu"il faut augmenter la température de l"eau chaude dans ledit réservoir. L"unité de distillation produit de la vapeur à partir de l"eau d"alimentation, cependant qu"un élément chauffant (18) de ladite unité est connecté de manière à tirer de l"énergie électrique de la source d"énergie pour l"eau chaude en fonction des indications fournies par le thermostat du réservoir d"eau chaude. L"unité de distillation, le condenseur et le système d"alimentation en eau (13) sont conçus pour produire une eau distillée de qualité au moyen d"un système fiable et durable avec éléments de commande directs.
PCT/US2001/031181 2000-10-11 2001-10-04 Distillateur d"eau domestique et fourniture d"eau chaude WO2002030540A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68623300A 2000-10-11 2000-10-11
US09/686,233 2000-10-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002030540A1 true WO2002030540A1 (fr) 2002-04-18

Family

ID=24755476

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2001/031181 WO2002030540A1 (fr) 2000-10-11 2001-10-04 Distillateur d"eau domestique et fourniture d"eau chaude

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2002030540A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2224882A1 (es) * 2003-08-26 2005-03-01 F. Javier Porras Vila Planta des-salinizadora de agua por evaporacion.
EP3268704A4 (fr) * 2015-03-10 2018-11-14 Thermobar AB Dispositif de commande et réservoir d'eau pour l'abreuvage de bétail et de chevaux

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4549936A (en) * 1983-09-30 1985-10-29 Erickson James L Combined distillation apparatus and hot liquid system
US4690102A (en) * 1984-12-06 1987-09-01 Glen Sundquist Water heater and distiller apparatus
US4906337A (en) * 1987-03-26 1990-03-06 Palmer David G Water supply system
US5348623A (en) * 1988-12-09 1994-09-20 Terrill Designs, Inc. Water heating and distilling apparatus
US6113744A (en) * 1996-01-12 2000-09-05 Munro; James Water distillation apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4549936A (en) * 1983-09-30 1985-10-29 Erickson James L Combined distillation apparatus and hot liquid system
US4690102A (en) * 1984-12-06 1987-09-01 Glen Sundquist Water heater and distiller apparatus
US4906337A (en) * 1987-03-26 1990-03-06 Palmer David G Water supply system
US5348623A (en) * 1988-12-09 1994-09-20 Terrill Designs, Inc. Water heating and distilling apparatus
US6113744A (en) * 1996-01-12 2000-09-05 Munro; James Water distillation apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2224882A1 (es) * 2003-08-26 2005-03-01 F. Javier Porras Vila Planta des-salinizadora de agua por evaporacion.
EP3268704A4 (fr) * 2015-03-10 2018-11-14 Thermobar AB Dispositif de commande et réservoir d'eau pour l'abreuvage de bétail et de chevaux

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5348623A (en) Water heating and distilling apparatus
US5304286A (en) Water supply system
US5286351A (en) Water distilling method
US3980526A (en) Liquid distillation apparatus
US7217343B2 (en) Point of use water purification method and apparatus
US5126041A (en) Faucet with removable filter for a water distiller
US6294054B1 (en) Water purification system
US6402897B1 (en) Apparatus for distilling, heating and storing liquid
US6290819B1 (en) Distillation apparatus
US5110418A (en) Water distiller having a heating element with temperature sensing and control elements
CA2187916A1 (fr) Purificateur d'eau portatif
US3825491A (en) Water distiller and cooler unit
US5266170A (en) Low profile water distiller
US3687817A (en) Household water distillation system
US5932073A (en) Distillation apparatus
US5188710A (en) Continuous water distillation system
JP2000517236A (ja) 過熱蒸気による浄水
AU648633B2 (en) A low profile water distiller
US5200039A (en) Steam chamber for a water distiller with contamination prevention baffle and check valve
WO2002030540A1 (fr) Distillateur d"eau domestique et fourniture d"eau chaude
US5435891A (en) Home water distillation apparatus
US5196093A (en) Water distiller having operating portions that can be removed for cleaning
KR200474897Y1 (ko) 고효율 증류기
US11192799B1 (en) Apparatus for heating and distillation of fluid
KR970010160B1 (ko) 증류 장치 및 증류 방법

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CA JP MX

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP