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Process and apparatus for separating water from non-volatile solutes

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专利汇可以提供Process and apparatus for separating water from non-volatile solutes专利检索,专利查询,专利分析的服务。并且Apparatus and method for distilling aqueous solutions, especially saline water, for the purpose of producing fresh water, wherein a heat transfer medium in the form of a lower boiling immiscible liquid is employed in a manner to give up its latent heat of condensation directly to the solution and the resulting condensate is re-evaporated by heat from the resulting fresh water; such apparatus and method providing certain advantages such as ability to work with a small heat differential between the temperature of the source of external heat and the temperature of the heat sink.,下面是Process and apparatus for separating water from non-volatile solutes专利的具体信息内容。

1. APPARATUS FOR THE DIRECT CONTACT TRANSFER OF LATENT HEAT OF CONDENSATION OF THE VAPOR OF AN IMMISCIBLE LIQUID A TO A DILUTE SOLUTION S COMPRISING A LIQUID B, SUCH SOLUTION CONTAINING A NON-VOLATILE SOLUTE, AND FOR EVAPORATION OF LIQUID B FROM THE SOLUTION S, SAID LIQUIDS A AND B BEING IMMISCIBLE AND LIQUID A HAVING A NARROW BOILING RANGE LOWER THAN THE BOILING POINT OF LIQUID B AND HAVING A DENSITY DIFFERENT THAN THE DENSITY OF SOLUTION S, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A. A FIRST (SOLUTION S HEATING) ZONE (ZONE I) DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF STAGES AND INCLUDING AN INPUT STAGE AN OUTPUT STAGE AND A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE STAGES, B. MEANS PRODIVING FOR FLOW OF SOLUTION S BETWEEN BUT PREVENTING FLOW OF VAPOR BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF ZONE I EXCEPT FOR MINOR FLOW OF BLEED GASES. C. A SECOND (LIQUID A VAPORIZING) ZONE (ZONE II) DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF STAGES CORRESPONDING TO AND PAIRED WITH THE STAGES OF ZONE I AND INCLUDING AN INPUT STAGE, SAID ZONE I STAGES AND A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE STAGES, SAID ZONE I AND ZONE II STAGES BEING ARRANGED FOR COUNTERCURRENT FLOW OF LIQUIDS IN THE TWO ZONES, D. MEANS PROVIDING FOR FLOW OF LIQUID BETWEEN BUT PREVENTING FLOW OF VAPOR BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF ZONE II EXCEPT FOR MINOR FLOW OF BLEED GASES, E. VAPOR TRANSFER MEANS BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF CORRESPONDING STAGES OF ZONES II AND ZONE I WHEREBY VAPOR OF LIQUID A GENERATED IN THE RESPECTIVE STAGE OF ZONE II IS CAUSED TO PASS IN FINELY DIVIDED FORM INTO A BODY OF SOLUTION S IN THE RESPECTIVE STAGE OF ZONE I AND TO FORM A LIQUID CONDENSATE (LIQUID A) THEREIN H THUS HEATING SOLUTION S, F. A THIRD (SOLUTION S FLASHING) ZONE (ZONE III), G. A FOURTH (LIQUID B VAPOR CONDENING) ZONE (ZONE IV), H. MEANS FOR SEPARATING HEATED SOLUTION S FROM CONDENSATE (LIQUID A) DERIVED FROM THE OUTPUT STAGE OF ZONE I, I. MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE RESULTING SEPARATED CONDENSATE OF LIQUID A TO THE INPUT STAGE OF ZONE II FOR RE-EVAPORATION THEREIN, J. MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING RESULTING SEPARATED HEATED SOLUTION S TO AND THROUGH ZONE III TO BE FLASHED THEREIN TO PRODUCE VAPOR OF LIQUID B AND MEANS FOR RECYCLING A PORTION OF THE UNEVAPORATED SOLUTION S FROM THE OUTPUT STAGE OF ZONE II TO THE INPUT STAGE OF ZONE I AND WITHDRAWING THE REMAINDER OF UNEVAPORATED SOLUTION S FROM THE SYSTEM, K. MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING VAPOR OF SOLUTION S FORMED BY FLASHING IN ZONE III TO LIQUID B FLOWING IN ZONE IV AND CONDENSING SUCH VAPOR THEREIN, AND I. MEANS FOR CIRCULATING RESULTING CONDENSATE OF VAPOR OF SOLUTION S IN ADMIXTURE WITH LIQUID B THROUGH ZONE IV TO THE INPUT STAGE OF ZONE II IN ADMIXTURE WITH LIQUID A FROM ELEMENTS (H) THROUGH ZONE II AND BACK TO ZONE IV TO CONDENSE VAPOR OF SOLUTION S IN ZONE IV AND TO EVAPORATE LIQUID A IN ZONE II.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein zone III (solution S flashing) and zone IV (vapor of liquid B condensing) are provided each with a plurality of stages including an input stage, an output stage, and a plurality of intermediate stages arranged in corresponding pairs that permit liquid flow but prevent vapor flow between successive stages, each such pair comprising a stage in zone III and a stage in zone IV, and vapor transfer means extending from the vapor space in each stage of zone III into the liquid space within the corresponding stage of zone IV and terminating in a device for breaking up the vaPor of liquid B into bubbles within the body of liquid B in zone IV.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein zone II is located above zone I with the stages of zone II in substantial vertical alignment with the respective stages of zone I and the vapor transfer means of each pair of corresponding stages comprises a tube extending from the vapor space in the stage of zone II into the liquid space in the stage of zone I and bubbler means within such liquid space adapted to break up incoming vapor into bubbles.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein zones I and II slope downwardly from the input stage of zone I (and the output stage of zone II) whereby solution S and condensate of the vapor of liquid A will flow by gravity to the output stage of the zone I and the hydrostatic head in zone II diminishes from its input stage to its output stage.
5. Apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a marine installation comprising a submerged structure and a surface structure and means connecting the two structures, said zones I and II being located in the submerged structure and said third and fourth zones being located in the surface structure.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus is buoyant and the surface structure is floating.
7. In the production of fresh water (FW) from a dilute aqueous solution (SW) of a non-volatile solute by evaporation, wherein heat is imparted to the solution (SW) by direct contact with and condensation of the vapor (IV) of a water immiscible liquid (IL) that boils below the boiling point of water and the solution (SW), and wherein the resulting condensate (IL) of vapor (IV) of immiscible liquid (IL) is heated and re-evaporated by direct contact with hot fresh water (FW) produced in the process, the improvement which comprises: a. circulating hot aqueous solution (SW) heated as aforesaid by direct contact condensation of the vapor (IV) of immiscilbe liquid (IL) through a series of shallow bodies of solution (SW) in an evaporation zone and delivering the circulating solution (SW) to each such body in finely divided form, b. circulating fresh water (FW), cooled as aforesaid by diirect contact evaporation of immiscible liquid (IL) through a series of shallow bodies of fresh water (FW) in a condensing zone and delivering the circulating fresh water (FW) to each such body in finely divided form, c. causing evaporation of water (FW) from said bodies of solution and condensation of the resulting vapor (WV) in said bodies of fresh water (FW), d. recirculating the resulting fresh water (FW) to re-evaporate immisciible liquid (IL) by direct contact of the fresh water (FW) and immiscible liquid (IL) e. recirculating unevaporated solution (SW) to step (a), and f. conducting the steps of evaporation of solution (SW) and condensation of water vapor (WV) at successively diminishing pressures and with the flow of solution (SW) being counter to the flow of fresh water (IW).
8. A method of transferring heat from a liquid A to a solution S of a non-volatile solute in a liquid B, said liquids being immiscible and liquid A having a narrow boiling range lower than the boiling point of liquid B and solution S, such method comprising the following: a. providing a solution S heating and liquid A condensing zone (zone I) and a liquid A vaporizing and liquid B cooling zone (zone II), each having a plurality of stages including an input stage, an output stage, and a plurality of intermediate stages, said stages being arranged for flow of liquid through zone I counter-currently to the flow of liquid through zone II, the stages of the two zones being paired and the pairs being in vapor contact but not in liquid communication whereby vapor of liquid A produced in the stages of zone II may pass into the corresponding stages of zone I, the stages of each zone preventing vapor communicatiOn between one another except for minor flow of bleed gases, b. establishing and maintaining the circulation of solution S through the stages of zone I from the input stage to the output stage thereof and heating solution S by condensation in zone I of the vapor of liquid A from zone II then passing heated solution S from the output stage of zone I through a flashing zone III to flash evaporate solution S and then in cooled condition back to the input stage of zone I, c. condensing the vapor of solution S produced by flashing in zone III in a condensing zone IV via contact with a cooler body of liquid B in zone IV to provide a body of hot condensate (hot liquid B), d. establishing and maintaining circulation of such body of liquid B in zone IV deriving from the flashing step of zone III to the input stage of zone II in admixture with liquid A from the output stage of zone I and through zone II to its output stage, thence in cooled condition back to the condensing zone IV to condense further quantities of vapor of solution S, e. establishing and maintaining concurrent flow of liquid A and liquid B through zone II whereby sensible heat of liquid B is absorbed by liquid A and liquid A is caused to vaporize, and diminishing the pressure in zone II from the input stage to the output stage thereof to facilitate such vaporization in the various stages of zone II, and f. establishing and maintaining a flow of vapor of liquid A resulting from step (e) to the corresponding stages of zone I and causing and maintaining a flow of condensate (liquid A) resulting from step (e) back to the input stage of zone II.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein liquid B is fresh water and is present in zones I and III in the form of solvent in a dilute solutions of a non-volatile solute, and liquid A is lighter in density than fresh water and solution S.
10. A method of evaporating water from a dilute aqueous solution (SW) of a non-volatile solute such as sea water wherein at least a major heat input to the solution (SW) is accomplished by direct contact of the vapor (IV) of a lower boiling immiscible liquid (IL) with the solution (SW) and condensation of such vapor (IV) within the body of solution (SW) to transfer its latent heat of condensation to the solution (SW) and wherein an external heat input is provided to make up for heat losses and for the thermal energy required to separate water from solute, said method comprising: a. providing four zones (zones I, II, III, IV) which are the solution (SW) heating, immiscible liquid (IL) vaporizing, solution (SW) flashing and water vapor (WV) condensing zones, respectively, each such zone having an input stage, an output stage and a plurality of intermediate stages; the stages of each zone having liquid communication such that the liquid processed in such zone may flow into the input stage, thence to and through the intermediate stages, thence to the output stage of the respective zone; the stages of zone I being paired with those of zone II and the stages of zone III being paired with those of zone IV, and the paired stages being in vapor communication such that vapor (IV) but not liquid (IL) may pass from the stages of zone II to the corresponding stages of zone I and vapor (WV) but not liquid (SW) (IL) may pass from the stages of zone III to the corresponding stages of zone IV, the paired stages being provided with vapor transfer means to effect intimate contact of the vapor from the stages of zones II and III with the bodies of liquid in the corresponding stages of zones I and IV; the stages of zone I and zone II being arranged for countercurrent flow of liquids in zone I and zone II and the stages of zone III and zone IV being arranged for countercurrent flow of liquids in zone III and zone IV; b. causing circulation of solution (SW) into the input stagE of zone I and through the successive intermediate stages thereof to the output stage of zone I, thence to the input stage of zone III and through the successive intermediate stages thereof to the output stage of zone III, thence back to the input stage of zone I; meanwhile withdrawing a portion of the circulating solution (SW) to prevent unwanted build-up of solute and also introducing new quantities of solution (SW) to make up for fresh water (FW) removed from the system; c. causing circulation of fresh water (FW) to the input stage of zone II and through the successive intermediate stages thereof to the output stage of zone II, thence to the input stage of zone IV and through the successive intermediate stages thereof to the output stage of zone IV, thence back to the input stage of zone II, meanwhile withdrawing a portion of the circulating fresh water (FW) as product; d. causing flow of said immiscible liquid (IL) through the stages of zone II from the input stage and through the intermediate stages to the output stage of zone II in intimate contact with the fresh water (FW) circulating through zone II, thereby evaporating an increment of immiscible liquid (IL) in each stage of zone II and producing an increment of vapor (IV) of immiscible liquid (IL) in each such stage; e. transferring each such increment of vapor (IV) of immiscible liquid (IL) through the vapor transfer means of the respective pair of zone I - zone II stages, thereby effecting intimate contact of such increment of vapor (IV) with and within the body of solution (SW) in the corresponding stage of zone I and causing such increment of vapor (IV) to condense and to transfer its latent heat of condensation to such body of solution (SW) and to heat the body of solution (SW) by an increment; f. separating condensate of the vapor (IV) of immiscible liquid (IL) resulting from step (e) from the heated solution (SW); g. causing the separated condensate (IL) of vapor (IV) of immiscible liquid (IL) resulting from step (f) to flow into the input stage of zone II; h. vaporizing an increment of solution (SW) in each stage of zone III by progressively diminishing the pressure from the input stage to the output stage of zone III, thereby producing an increment of water vapor (WV) in each stage of zone III; i. transferring each such increment of water vapor (WV) produced in step (h) through the vapor transfer means of the respective pair of zone III - zone IV stages to the respective zone IV stage and effecting intimate contact therein of such increment of vapor (WV) with and within the body of fresh water (FW) in the corresponding stage of zone IV and causing such increment of vapor ((WV) to condense and to transfer its latent heat of condensation to such body of fresh water (FW) and thereby heating the circulating fresh water (FW) by an increment.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the immiscible liquid (IL) is lighter in density than water.
12. Multi-stage apparatus for evaporating a dilute aqueous solution (SW) of a non-volatile solute and condensing the resulting water vapor (WV), such apparatus being adapted to operate on a small temperature difference between the respective evaporating and condensing areas, said apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of enclosed compartments sealed from one another except for transfer of liquids from compartment to compartment and for minor flow of bleed gases between compartments, b. an evaporating assembly and a condensing assembly in each compartment which are in vapor communication but not in liquid communication such that a stream of solution (SW) may flow through the evaporation assemblies in successive compartments separately from a stream of fresh water (FW) flowing through the condensation assemblies in successive compartments, and such that water vapor (WV) resulting from evaporation of solution (SW) in each evaporation assembly may condense in the condensation assembly of the same compartment, c. the compartments and assemblies being arranged for flow of solution (SW) in one direction from an input evaporating assembly through a plurality of successive down-stream evaporating assemblies to an output evaporating assembly and for flow of fresh water (FW) in the opposite direction from an input condensing assembly through a plurality of successive downstream condensing assemblies to an output condensing assembly, d. solution transfer and delivery means for transferring solution (SW) from each upstream evaporating assembly to the next downstream assembly, at least some of such solution transfer and delivery means acting to deliver solution to the respective downstream assemblies in the form of a multiplicity of streams of solution providing a large, continuously replenished evaporating surface, e. fresh water transfer and delivery means for transferring fresh water (FW) from each upstream condensing assembly to the next downstream condensing assembly, at least some of such fresh water transfer and delivery means acting to deliver fresh water (FW) to the respective downstream assemblies in the form of a multiplicity of streams of fresh water (FW) providing a large, continuously replenished condensing surface, and f. means for continuously supplying hot solution (SW) to the input evaporation assembly, withdrawing cooled, partially evaporated solution (SW) from the output evaporating assembly, supplying cold fresh water (FW) to the input condensing assembly and withdrawing heated fresh water (FW) including condensate (FW) from the output condensing assembly.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the compartments are of progressively increasing size from a smallest size to a largest size, the compartment of smallest size containing the input evaporating assembly and the output condensing assembly, the compartment of largest size containing the output evaporating assembly and the input condensing assembly and the compartments of intermediate size being arranged in progressively increasing size from the smallest compartment to the largest compartment and containing the corresponding evaporating and condensing assemblies.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the solution (SW) and fresh water (FW) transfer and delivery means that deliver liquid in the form of a plurality of streams each comprises a perforated member receiving liquid from the preceding upstream assembly and causing the liquid to fall through its perforations to form the aforesaid multiplicity of streams.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the hot solution (SW) supply and fresh water (FW) supply means of (f) comprise a direct contact heat transfer assembly including a solution (SW) heating zone (zone I) having a solution (SW) inlet connected to the aforesaid output evaporating assembly and a solution (SW) outlet connected to the aforesaid input evaporation assembly, an immiscible liquid (IL) evaporating zone (zone II) having a fresh water (FW) inlet connected to the aforesaid output condensing assembly and a freshwater (FW) outlet connected to the aforesaid input condensing assembly, immiscible vapor (IV) transfer means for transferring vapor of immiscible liquid (IL) from zone II to zone I, means for providing intimate contact of vapor (IV) so transferred with solution (SW) in zone I to condense the vapor (IV) and heat the solution (SW), means for separating resulting condensate (IL) from solution (SW) and means for transferring the separated condensate (IL) from zone I for re-evaporation in zone II by contact with hot fresh water (FW); said apparatus also having means for replenishing the stream of circulating solution (SW), for removing solution (SW) to avoid unwanted build-up of solute, for withdrawing fresh water (FW) as product and for input of heat from an external source to make up for hEat losses and to supply the thermal energy required to separate water from solute.
16. A multistage method of evaporating ater from a dilute aqueous solution (SW) of a non-volatile solute such as in sea water and condensing the resulting water vapor (WV), said method comprising: a. providing a series of evaporation stages for evaporating solution (SW) including an input stage, an outout stage and a plurality of intermediate stages, such upstream stage having delivery means for delivering its input of solution (SW) to the next downstream stage, at least some of such delivery means serving to deliver solution (SW) in the form of a multiplicity of streams which present a large and continuously replenished liquid evaporating surface; b. providing also a series of paired, corresponding condensation stages for condensing water vapor (WV) from the evaporation stages including an input stage, an output stage and a plurality of intermediate stages, each upstream stage having means for delivering its input of fresh water (FW) to the next downstream stage, at least some of such delivery means serving to deliver fresh water (FW) in the form of a multiplicity of streams which present a large and continuously replenished liquid condensing surface, c. such evaporation and condensation stages being arranged for flow of solution (SW) through the evaporation stages counter to the flow of fresh water (FW) through the condensation stages, the members of each pair of evaporation and condensation stages being in open vapor communication with one another, d. causing solution (SW) to flow through the evaporation stages from the input stage to the output stage and delivering solution (SW) to at least some of the stages in the form of a multiplicity of streams, e. causing fresh water (FW) to flow through the condensation stages from the input stage to the output stage and delivering fresh water (FW) to at least some of the stages in the form of a multiplicity of streams, f. supplying to the circulating solution (SW) from the condensing stages and recirculating the cooled fresh water (FW) to the input condensation stage. g. cooling the hot effluent fresh water (FW) from the condensing stages and recirculating the cooled fresh water (FW) to the input condensation stage h. withdrawing some of the circulating fresh water (FW) as product, withdrawing some of the circulating solution (SW) to prevent unwanted build up of solute and supplying make up solution (SW) to the circulating stream of solution (SW).
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the incoming heated solution derives its heat at least in part from exhaust steam.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the circulating fresh water (FW) is cooled at least in part by direct contact evaporation of a lower boiling immiscible liquid (IL) and the resulting vapor (IV) of immiscible liquid (IL) is employed to heat the circulating solution (SW) by direct contact condensation with the solution (SW).
19. The method of claim 16 wherein at least part of the heat input supplied in step (f) is in the form of direct injection of steam into zone IV.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein such direct injection of steam is into the output stage of zone IV.
21. In combination with a high pressure steam power facility, including a boiler for generating high pressure steam, a prime mover operated by the high pressure steam, a steam condensor for condensing exhaust steam from the prime mover, means for supplying high pressure steam from the boiler to the prime mover and steam and condensate circulating means for passing steam from the prime mover to the condensor and for returning condensate from the condensor to the boiler: a desalination plant for recovery of fresh water (FW) from saline water (SW) by distillation, said desalination plant comprising a multi-stage evaporating apparatus comprising a plurality of the evaporation stages including an iNput stage, an output stage and a plurality of intermediate stages and a plurality of condensing stages paired with the evaporation stages and comprising an input stage, an output stage and a plurality of intermediate stages, each condensation stage being paired with and in vapor communication with but not in liquid communication with the corresponding evaporation stage, the evaporation and condensation stages being arranged for flow of saline water (SW) through the evaporation stages countercurrently to flow of fresh water (FW) through the condensation stages; at least some of the upstream evaporation stages and some of the upstream condensation stages having liquid delivery means for delivering liquid in finely divided form to the downstream stages; said desalination plant also including a saline water (SW) circulating system for circulating saline water (SW) to the aforesaid input evaporation stage, through the successive downstream evaporation stages to the output evaporation stage and thence back to the input evaporation stage, such saline water (SW) circulating means also including means for withdrawing sufficient circulating saline water (SW) to prevent unwanted build-up of solute and means for supplying make up saline water (SW); said desalinating plant also including a fresh water (FW) circulating system for circulating fresh water (FW) which is separate from the aforesaid steam and condensate circulating means, said fresh water (FW) circulating system comprising means for circulating fresh cool water (FW) to the aforesaid input condensation stage, then through the successive downstream condensation stages to the output condensation stage, then through cooling means separate from the aforesaid steam and condensate circulating means, and then back to the input condensation stage, such fresh water (FW) circulating system also comprising means for withdrawing a portion of the circulating fresh water (FW) as product; and an interlock between the high pressure steam power facility and the desalination plant in the form of means for circulating either the circulating stream of saline water (SW) or the circulating stream of fresh water (FW) or both such streams through said steam condensor for out-of-contact transfer of heat from the exhaust steam of the steam power plant to the circulating stream or streams of fresh water (FW) and/or saline water (SW).
22. The system of claim 21 including means for cooling circulating fresh water employed in said condensation stages by commingling with and evaporation of a water immiscible liquid boiling lower than water and means for heating the circulating saline water employed in said evaporation stages by commingling the same with and condensation of the resulting vapor of immiscible liquid.
23. The combination of claim 21 wherein only the stream of fresh water is circulated through the steam condensor.
24. The combination of claim 23 including a direct contact assembly for reheating saline water (SW) passing between the output evaporation stage and the input evaporation stage and for cooling fresh water (FW) passing from the output condensation stage to the input condensation stage, such assembly comprising a zone I wherein circulating cold saline water (SW) is directly contacted with immiscible vapor (IV) or its hot condensate (IL) of a lower boiling immiscible liquid (IL) having a different density than the saline water (SW), whereby condensing such vapor (IV) and transferring its latent heat of condensation to the saline water (SW), said assembly also comprising a zone II wherein immiscible liquid (IL) is contacted directly with the circulating hot fresh water (FW) to evaporate the immiscible liquid (IL) and cool the fresh water (FW) together with means for separating condensate (IL) of immiscible vapor (IV) produced in zone I, returning such condensate (IL) to zone II and transferring vapor (IV) of immiscible liquiD (IL) from zone II to zone I.
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