WO2009148324A1 - Method and device for desalination of water - Google Patents

Method and device for desalination of water Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009148324A1
WO2009148324A1 PCT/NO2009/000202 NO2009000202W WO2009148324A1 WO 2009148324 A1 WO2009148324 A1 WO 2009148324A1 NO 2009000202 W NO2009000202 W NO 2009000202W WO 2009148324 A1 WO2009148324 A1 WO 2009148324A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
water
chamber
evaporation
desalination plant
condensation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2009/000202
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Trond Aas Bjerkan
Original Assignee
Viking Desalination System As
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 Viking Desalination System As filed Critical Viking Desalination System As
Publication of WO2009148324A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009148324A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • C02F1/046—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation under vacuum produced by a barometric column
    • 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
    • B01D3/10—Vacuum distillation
    • B01D3/103—Vacuum distillation by using a barometric column
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D5/00—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation
    • B01D5/0057—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation in combination with other processes
    • B01D5/006—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation in combination with other processes with evaporation or distillation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/08—Seawater, e.g. for 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

Definitions

  • a method and a device for desalination of water More particularly it relates to a method for desalination of water where salt water is led into a desalination plant and where water having a much lower salt content than the supplied salt water is led away from the desalination plant. There is also provided a device for performing the method .
  • the object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks .
  • the object is achieved according to the invention by the features stated in the below description and in the following claims .
  • the method is characterised in that it comprises:
  • vapour pump brings the water vapour from the evaporation chamber and into the condensation chamber where the vapour condenses due to the higher pressure .
  • the salt water may be such as seawater, brackish water or other water in need of desalination.
  • a liquid column extends for example from a liquid surface and up to the evaporation chamber.
  • the method may comprise establishing an underpressure in the condensation chamber by means of a liquid column extending for example from a liquid surface and up to the condensation chamber.
  • the method may be performed by means of said desalination plant for salt water where the evaporation chamber communicates with the condensation chamber, as the desalination plant is characterised in that a vapour pump is connected be- tween the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber.
  • Pumps according to a per se known art such as a fan, a gas pump or a compressor may provide the vapour pump.
  • the evaporation chamber may communicate with a first reservoir of salt water via a submerged riser.
  • the submerged riser may be given a relatively large cross-section to make it possible for circulating out water, which due to the evaporation has got a raised salt content.
  • the riser may comprise more channels ending at different levels in the evaporation chamber to accelerate said outcircula- tion.
  • the evaporation chamber may be possible to raise and lower in relation to the first reservoir for salt water. If the first reservoir is exposed to the tides it is suitable to be able to adjust the evaporation chamber elevation accordingly. Changes in the ambient air pressure also calls for change of the evaporation chamber elevation relative to the first reservoir.
  • the condensation chamber may communicate with a second reservoir with desalinated water via a submerged downcomer.
  • the condensation chamber may be possible to raise and lower in relation to the second reservoir for desalinated water.
  • the elevation of the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber are adjustable relative to each other to be able to adjust the respective underpressures in the chambers.
  • An equalisation connection, being sealed from the surroundings, is connecting the chambers.
  • the desalination plant may comprise a condensation heat exchanger associated with the condensation chamber also cooper- 5 ating with an evaporation heat exchanger associated with the evaporation chamber.
  • the condensation heat in the condensation chamber may thus be transferred to the evaporation chamber where the heat contributes to increase evaporation.
  • the condensation heat exchanger and the evaporation heat ex- io changer are interconnected by means of a circulation pump and a circulation pipe.
  • Adjustment of the underpressure may be done manually or may be automated by means of per se known control systems .
  • a method and a device according to the invention makes de- i5 salination of salt water possible with trifling consumption of external power at the same time as the desalination plant is relatively simple, and thereby also reasonable to install.
  • the desalination plant is suitable for use onshore and onboard vessels of various types.
  • Figure 1 shows schematically a desalination plant during starting up
  • FIG. 2 shows schematically the desalination plant where 25 the underpressure is being adjusted
  • FIG. 3 shows schematically the desalination plant during operation.
  • the reference numeral 1 indicates a desalination plant comprising an evaporation chamber 2 and a condensation chamber 4.
  • the evaporation chamber 2 is connected to a foundation 6 in a way that it may be raised or lowered by means of an inlet lift 8.
  • the condensation chamber 4 is correspondingly connected to the foundation 6 in a way that it may be raised or lowered by means of an inlet lift 10.
  • the foundation 6 represents in this embodiment a dam between a first reservoir 12 for salt water and a second reservoir 14 for desalinated water.
  • a riser 16 which lower portion is submerged in the first reservoir 12 extends up to the evaporation chamber 2.
  • the riser 16 lower portion is provided with a closable inlet valve 18 and a filling pump 20.
  • a downcomer 22 extends down into the second reservoir 14 where the downcomer 22 lower portion is submerged.
  • the downcomer 22 is provided with an outlet-filling valve 24 and an outlet-filling pump 26.
  • the balancing connection makes possible individual height adjustment of the evaporation chamber 2 and the condensation chamber 4 respectively.
  • the evaporation chamber 2 and the condensation chamber 4 are at the top provided with a closable venting valve 34 each.
  • a condensation heat exchanger 36 is provided in the condensation chamber 4.
  • the condensation heat exchanger 36 communicates with an evaporation heat exchanger 38 in the evapora- tion chamber 2 via a circulation pump 40 and circulation pipe 42.
  • the inlet valve 18, the outlet valve 24 and the vapour valve 32 are closed.
  • the two vent valves 34 are opened.
  • the inlet -filling pump 20 is started and pumps salt water into the riser 16 and the evaporation chamber 2 until water flows out of that vent valve 34 which communicates with the evaporation chamber 2, whereafter the inlet-filling pump 20 is stopped.
  • the outlet filling pump 26 is started and it pumps desalinated water into the downcomer 22 and the condensing chamber 4 until water flows out of that vent valve 34 which communicates with the condensing chamber 4, whereafter the outlet- filling pump 26 is stopped, see Fig. 1 where water levels s and f are indicated.
  • vent valves 34 are closed.
  • the inlet valve 18 is opened, some salt water flows out through the riser 16 whereby an underpressure is formed in the evapora- tion chamber 2.
  • the underpressure falls below the boiling pressure at the existing temperature, water vapour filling the evaporator chamber 2 boils off until equilibrium is reached and boiling off no longer takes place, see Fig. 2.
  • opening the vapour valve 32 at the same time as the height of the respective levels of the evaporation chamber 2 and the condensing chamber 4 above the respective reservoirs 12, 14 are adjusted, a stable position as shown in Fig. 2 is achieved.
  • the vapour pump 28 When the vapour pump 28 is subsequently started, the water level in the evaporation chamber 2 is lifted somewhat, whereby further evaporation takes place, see Fig. 3.
  • the pressure in the condensation chamber 4 increases somewhat at the same time, for example to 50 mbar, giving an evaporation temperature of about 50 0 C.
  • the vapour is thereby condensed to liquid flowing down the downcomer 22 and out into the second reservoir 14.
  • the heat of condensation is taken up through the condensation heat exchanger 36 an is transferred by the circulation pump 40 and the circulation pipes 42 to the evaporation heat exchanger 38 in the evaporation chamber 2.

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)

Abstract

A method and a device for desalination of water where salt water is led into a desalination plant (1) and where water with a considerably lower salt content than the supplied salt water is led away from the desalination plant (1), and where the method comprises: - leading the salt water into an evaporation chamber (2); - exposing the salt water to an underpressure causing the salt water to boil at the actual temperature; - pumping vapour from the evaporation chamber (2) into a condensation chamber (4) where the vapour condenses at the prevailing temperature.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DESALINATION OF WATER
- There is provided a method and a device for desalination of water. More particularly it relates to a method for desalination of water where salt water is led into a desalination plant and where water having a much lower salt content than the supplied salt water is led away from the desalination plant. There is also provided a device for performing the method .
There exists a considerable demand for desalinated water in large parts of the world. In dry territories considerable areas might be used for crop production if adequate quantities of desalinated water were available.
Known desalination plants are often based on heating of the water by means of an energy source, whereby the water turns into a vapour phase before it thereafter is cooled and condensed. It is self evident that the power demands in this method are considerable.
Another method for desalinating water utilises so-called reversed osmosis. During recent years considerable development work has been carried out around this method, but the method does not seem to be adapted for use on an industrial scale .
The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks . The object is achieved according to the invention by the features stated in the below description and in the following claims .
There is provided a method for desalination of water where salt water is led into a desalination plant and where water having a much lower salt content than the supplied salt water is led away from the desalination plant. The method is characterised in that it comprises:
- leading salt water into an evaporation chamber; - exposing the salt water to an underpressure being established by means of a liquid column, and where the underpressure causes the salt water to boil at the actual temperature;
- pumping vapour from the evaporation chamber and into a condensation chamber where the vapour condenses at the prevail - ing temperature .
By reducing the pressure to a level where the water boils at the actual temperature, for example near the ambient temperature, the water may be transformed to vapour under little or no supply of energy from an external source . A vapour pump brings the water vapour from the evaporation chamber and into the condensation chamber where the vapour condenses due to the higher pressure .
The salt water may be such as seawater, brackish water or other water in need of desalination.
A liquid column extends for example from a liquid surface and up to the evaporation chamber.
The method may comprise establishing an underpressure in the condensation chamber by means of a liquid column extending for example from a liquid surface and up to the condensation chamber. The method may be performed by means of said desalination plant for salt water where the evaporation chamber communicates with the condensation chamber, as the desalination plant is characterised in that a vapour pump is connected be- tween the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber.
Pumps according to a per se known art such as a fan, a gas pump or a compressor may provide the vapour pump.
The evaporation chamber may communicate with a first reservoir of salt water via a submerged riser. The submerged riser may be given a relatively large cross-section to make it possible for circulating out water, which due to the evaporation has got a raised salt content.
The riser may comprise more channels ending at different levels in the evaporation chamber to accelerate said outcircula- tion.
The evaporation chamber may be possible to raise and lower in relation to the first reservoir for salt water. If the first reservoir is exposed to the tides it is suitable to be able to adjust the evaporation chamber elevation accordingly. Changes in the ambient air pressure also calls for change of the evaporation chamber elevation relative to the first reservoir.
The condensation chamber may communicate with a second reservoir with desalinated water via a submerged downcomer.
The condensation chamber may be possible to raise and lower in relation to the second reservoir for desalinated water. The elevation of the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber are adjustable relative to each other to be able to adjust the respective underpressures in the chambers. An equalisation connection, being sealed from the surroundings, is connecting the chambers.
The desalination plant may comprise a condensation heat exchanger associated with the condensation chamber also cooper- 5 ating with an evaporation heat exchanger associated with the evaporation chamber. The condensation heat in the condensation chamber may thus be transferred to the evaporation chamber where the heat contributes to increase evaporation.
The condensation heat exchanger and the evaporation heat ex- io changer are interconnected by means of a circulation pump and a circulation pipe.
Adjustment of the underpressure may be done manually or may be automated by means of per se known control systems .
A method and a device according to the invention makes de- i5 salination of salt water possible with trifling consumption of external power at the same time as the desalination plant is relatively simple, and thereby also reasonable to install. The desalination plant is suitable for use onshore and onboard vessels of various types.
2o In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 shows schematically a desalination plant during starting up;
Figure 2 shows schematically the desalination plant where 25 the underpressure is being adjusted; and
Figure 3 shows schematically the desalination plant during operation. In the drawings the reference numeral 1 indicates a desalination plant comprising an evaporation chamber 2 and a condensation chamber 4.
The evaporation chamber 2 is connected to a foundation 6 in a way that it may be raised or lowered by means of an inlet lift 8. The condensation chamber 4 is correspondingly connected to the foundation 6 in a way that it may be raised or lowered by means of an inlet lift 10.
The foundation 6 represents in this embodiment a dam between a first reservoir 12 for salt water and a second reservoir 14 for desalinated water.
A riser 16 which lower portion is submerged in the first reservoir 12 extends up to the evaporation chamber 2. The riser 16 lower portion is provided with a closable inlet valve 18 and a filling pump 20.
From the condensation chamber 4 a downcomer 22 extends down into the second reservoir 14 where the downcomer 22 lower portion is submerged. The downcomer 22 is provided with an outlet-filling valve 24 and an outlet-filling pump 26.
The evaporation chamber 2 and the condensation chamber 4 communicate via a vapour pump 28, a balancing connection 30 and a closable vapour valve 32. The balancing connection makes possible individual height adjustment of the evaporation chamber 2 and the condensation chamber 4 respectively.
The evaporation chamber 2 and the condensation chamber 4 are at the top provided with a closable venting valve 34 each.
A condensation heat exchanger 36 is provided in the condensation chamber 4. The condensation heat exchanger 36 communicates with an evaporation heat exchanger 38 in the evapora- tion chamber 2 via a circulation pump 40 and circulation pipe 42.
When the desalination plant is being set to operate, the inlet valve 18, the outlet valve 24 and the vapour valve 32 are closed. The two vent valves 34 are opened.
The inlet -filling pump 20 is started and pumps salt water into the riser 16 and the evaporation chamber 2 until water flows out of that vent valve 34 which communicates with the evaporation chamber 2, whereafter the inlet-filling pump 20 is stopped.
The outlet filling pump 26 is started and it pumps desalinated water into the downcomer 22 and the condensing chamber 4 until water flows out of that vent valve 34 which communicates with the condensing chamber 4, whereafter the outlet- filling pump 26 is stopped, see Fig. 1 where water levels s and f are indicated.
Subsequently the vent valves 34 are closed. When the inlet valve 18 is opened, some salt water flows out through the riser 16 whereby an underpressure is formed in the evapora- tion chamber 2. When the underpressure falls below the boiling pressure at the existing temperature, water vapour filling the evaporator chamber 2 boils off until equilibrium is reached and boiling off no longer takes place, see Fig. 2.
At for example 25 0C water vaporises at a pressure of 33 mbar. If the atmospheric pressure is 1013 mbar and the density of the salt water is 1.03 kg/1 the liquid column will stabilise at (1013-33) / (1.03*100) = 9.515 m.
Correspondingly the liquid column of desalinated water having a density of 1.0 kg/1 will stabilise at an elevation of (1013-33) / (1.0*100) = 9.80 m when the outlet valve is opened. By opening the vapour valve 32 at the same time as the height of the respective levels of the evaporation chamber 2 and the condensing chamber 4 above the respective reservoirs 12, 14 are adjusted, a stable position as shown in Fig. 2 is achieved.
When the vapour pump 28 is subsequently started, the water level in the evaporation chamber 2 is lifted somewhat, whereby further evaporation takes place, see Fig. 3. The pressure in the condensation chamber 4 increases somewhat at the same time, for example to 50 mbar, giving an evaporation temperature of about 50 0C. The vapour is thereby condensed to liquid flowing down the downcomer 22 and out into the second reservoir 14.
The heat of condensation is taken up through the condensation heat exchanger 36 an is transferred by the circulation pump 40 and the circulation pipes 42 to the evaporation heat exchanger 38 in the evaporation chamber 2.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s
1. Desalination plant (1) for salt water where the desalination plant (1) comprises an evaporation chamber (2) which communicates with a condensation chamber (4) , and that the evaporation chamber (2) communicates with a first reservoir (12) with salt water via a submerged riser (16), c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the evaporation chamber (2) can be raised and lowered relative to the first reservoir (12) for salt water.
2. Desalination plant (1) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the condensation chamber (4) communicates with a second reservoir (14) of desalinated water via a submerged downcomer (22) .
3. Desalination plant (1) according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the condensation chamber (4) can be raised and lowered relative to the second reservoir (14) for desalinated water.
4. Desalination plant (1) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the condensation heat exchanger (36) which is connected to the condensation chamber (4) cooperates with an evaporation heat exchanger (38) which is connected to the evaporation chamber (2) .
5. Desalination plant (1) according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the condensation heat exchanger (36) and the evaporation heat exchanger (38) are interconnected by means of a circulation pump (40) and a circulation pipe (42) .
6. Desalination plant (1) according to claim 1, k c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the condensation chamber (4) may be closed off from the evaporation chamber (2) .
PCT/NO2009/000202 2008-06-05 2009-05-29 Method and device for desalination of water WO2009148324A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20082640 2008-06-05
NO20082640A NO20082640L (en) 2008-06-05 2008-06-05 Method and apparatus for desalinating water

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009148324A1 true WO2009148324A1 (en) 2009-12-10

Family

ID=40973086

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NO2009/000202 WO2009148324A1 (en) 2008-06-05 2009-05-29 Method and device for desalination of water

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NO (1) NO20082640L (en)
WO (1) WO2009148324A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011142676A1 (en) * 2010-05-12 2011-11-17 Viking Desalination System As Water treatment device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4536257A (en) * 1981-05-06 1985-08-20 George Atwell Desalination system
US5282979A (en) * 1992-09-30 1994-02-01 Wilson Henry A Desalination system having rechargeable syphon conduit
WO2007006323A1 (en) * 2005-07-08 2007-01-18 Andreas Buchmann Sea water desalination plant comprising a gravity-assisted vacuum
EP1840089A1 (en) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-03 Oleg Muzyrya Method of seawater desalination and the device for its implementation

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4536257A (en) * 1981-05-06 1985-08-20 George Atwell Desalination system
US5282979A (en) * 1992-09-30 1994-02-01 Wilson Henry A Desalination system having rechargeable syphon conduit
WO2007006323A1 (en) * 2005-07-08 2007-01-18 Andreas Buchmann Sea water desalination plant comprising a gravity-assisted vacuum
EP1840089A1 (en) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-03 Oleg Muzyrya Method of seawater desalination and the device for its implementation

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011142676A1 (en) * 2010-05-12 2011-11-17 Viking Desalination System As Water treatment device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20082640L (en) 2009-07-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN101481154B (en) Method and apparatus for seawater desalination by comprehensive utilization of solar energy
US4686009A (en) Distillation system
WO2010026953A1 (en) Energy-efficient method and device for manufacturing distilled water and/or concentrated water
US7811420B2 (en) Isothermal gas-free water distillation
JP5398046B2 (en) Vacuum boiling desalination apparatus and method
KR20170091430A (en) Seawater desalination equipment
AU2002317163B2 (en) Wind power plant comprising a seawater desalination system
JP2015202445A (en) Reduced-pressure boiling-type seawater desalination apparatus with power generating function
WO2009148324A1 (en) Method and device for desalination of water
KR101320890B1 (en) System and Method for Controlling Booster Pump for Fresh Water Generator in Vessels
CN104649353A (en) Vacuum-distillation seawater desalinating device and seawater desalinating method thereof
US20160376168A1 (en) Low energy fluid purification system
KR101162977B1 (en) Apparatus for producing drinking-water
KR101384207B1 (en) Seawater Desalination System Using Solar Energy For Off-shore Facilities
WO2006075930A1 (en) Method for producing distilled water and device for carrying out said method
CN101538071A (en) Energy-saving seawater distilling method and device thereof
KR101701470B1 (en) Apparatus for making fresh water by vacuum evaporation method
US20160107097A1 (en) Distallation System with Heat Recovery
US127197A (en) Improvement in vacuum-stills
CN208237846U (en) A kind of constant pressure oxygen-eliminating device
WO2014058306A1 (en) Membrane distillation system, method of starting such a system and use thereof
JP2005349922A (en) Marine movable body having fresh water generating function and fresh water generating method of marine movable body
CN111302421B (en) Seawater desalination device and working method thereof
US20230286836A1 (en) System and Method for Purification of Water by Membrane Distillation
JP2011191004A (en) Exhaust steam recovery device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 09758571

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 09758571

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1