Low energy fluid purification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016376168-A1
Application number	US-201615149084-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 7, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A low energy fluid purification system and method of implementation including some embodiments having a vacuum-rated first chamber placed in or near a body of water with higher temperature near the surface and lower temperatures at greater depths. The vacuum-rated first chamber holds a quantity of non-potable water and a low pressure area less than or equal to the water's vapor pressure. Vaporization occurs when the higher temperature surface water is brought into contact with the low pressure area. A tubular vapor transport passage allows the vaporized water to pass to a lower temperature and lower pressure condensation chamber. The lower temperature condensation chamber is cooled by lower temperature water from a selected depth below the surface. As the temperature of the vapor lowers, the vapor will condense. This condensation is collected as a quantity of potable water. Additional embodiments and methods are also provided.

First claim

1 . A method for purifying, e.g. desalinating, water utilizing naturally occurring temperature gradients, comprising the steps of:
identifying a non-potable body of water having temperatures decreasing with depth comprising a first section of water having a first or higher temperature near an upper surface and a second section of water underneath said first section of water a with a second or lower temperature that is at least a condensation temperature required to condense water from water vapor at said first or higher temperature; providing a vacuum-rated first chamber and a quantity of said first section of water and disposing said first chamber in or in proximity to said first section of water; determining a vapor pressure for said first section of water using a measuring system and a vapor pressure determination system; establishing a partial vacuum in said first chamber less than or equal to the vapor pressure of a first quantity of water in said first chamber, and introducing said first quantity of water at a first temperature to said partial vacuum so as to achieve boiling of said first quantity of water, resulting in a quantity of water vapor; providing a condenser-heat exchanger exposed to a second temperature water; transporting the pure water vapor away from a first container by a pressure differential and into contact with said condenser-heat exchanger; and employing said condenser-heat exchanger to lower the vapor's temperature and pressure sufficiently to create said pressure differential and achieve condensation so as to produce condensed water; capturing said condensed water resulting in a quantity of potable water; and storing said condensed water as potable water in a potable water storage system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said partial vacuum is established by positioning said first chamber to apply a first force from gravity on said first quantity of water and thereby establishing a column of said first quantity of water topped with a partial vacuum at a top section of said first chamber less than or equal to the vapor pressure of the said first quantity of water in said first chamber.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
providing a pump to transport a quantity of a first section-higher temperature water up said column of said first quantity of water to a spray nozzle disposed within said partial vacuum, and dispersing a quantity of said first section-higher temperature water as a quantity of droplets within said partial vacuum;
providing a vacuum-rated second chamber, disposing said second chamber in or in proximity to said first section of water, and providing a portion of potable water;
positioning said second chamber and disposing said portion of potable water into said second chamber to apply a first force from gravity on said portion of potable water and thereby establishing a column of potable water topped with a partial vacuum at a top section of said second chamber greater than or equal to the vapor pressure of the potable water in said second chamber;
coupling said first and second chambers with a gas transfer structure adapted to transfer said water vapor within said first chamber to said second chamber; and
disposing said condenser-heat exchanger within said partial vacuum within said second chamber.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein said condenser-heat exchanger is exposed to said second temperature water by providing a pump to draw said second temperature water from a selected depth, and piping to carry said second temperature water from an intake at said depth, through said condenser-heat exchanger and discharging at a selected depth less than the intake, a portion of said piping designated for discharge being a larger diameter than a portion of said piping designated for intake, the intake portion being disposed within the larger discharge portion but extending to a greater depth then said discharge portion.

5 . A method as in claim 4 , wherein the positioning of said first and second chambers comprises raising said first and second chambers from a first elevation to a second elevation whereby said first quantity of water and said potable water are in unsupported columns and thereby drop from the upper sections of said first and second chambers and thereby create a partial vacuum between an upper surface of the non-potable water column and an end section of said first chamber and create a partial vacuum between an upper surface of said potable water column and an end section of said second chamber.

6 . A method as in claim 5 , further comprising transferring said potable water to a second storage system spaced apart from said potable water storage system or distributing said potable water to a consumer.

7 . A method as in claim 5 , further comprising:
providing a storm protection system including a submergence system comprising a support structure, a control system, motors, pumps, buoyancy tanks and an anchoring system, wherein said buoyancy tanks are coupled with said first and second chamber, said submergence system is adapted for submerging and raising said first and second chambers above or below said non-potable body of water; reducing said submergence system's buoyancy when conditions at or above a surface of body of non-potable water indicate a present risk to said structure and coupled with a low energy fluid purification system; increasing said submergence system's buoyancy when conditions at or above said surface of body of non-potable water indicate conditions are within selected operating limits for said low energy fluid purification system; evacuating any non-potable water from a container two and returning said low energy fluid purification system to a selected operating condition.

8 . A method as in claim 7 , further comprising transferring said potable water to a second storage system spaced apart from said potable water storage system or distributing said potable water to a consumer.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said first vacuum-rated chamber is a boiler-heat exchanger configured in a manner that maximizes surface area to allow heat from first section-higher temperature water to enter said low energy fluid purification system, and disposing said first chamber within said first section-higher temperature water.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein said partial vacuum is established by providing a vacuum pump, vacuum line and valve; coupling said vacuum pump, vacuum line and valve to said boiler-heat exchanger; and establishing said partial vacuum.

11 . The method of claim 10 further including the steps of:
providing a vacuum-rated manifold chamber, disposing said manifold chamber below said first section of water, and coupling said manifold chamber to an input port of said boiler-heat exchanger and to a vapor-output port of said boiler-heat exchanger; and regulating a flow of non-potable water into said boiler-heat exchanger to replenish water lost due to boiling and conversion to vapor;
providing a first storage tank coupled to a first plurality of valves, an input port on said manifold chamber, and a non-potable water output port on said boiler-heat exchanger;
providing a second storage tank coupled to a second plurality of valves, an input port on said manifold chamber, and a non-potable water output port on said boiler-heat exchanger;
configuring a pluralities of valves so that a first portion of said first section of water is drawn into said first storage tank and a second portion of said first section of water is drawn into said second storage tank;
manipulating said first plurality of valves closing off said first storage tank from said first section of water while allowing said first portio

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Macdougall Craig A
• Switzer Dylan
• Wiest Aaron

Classifications

• C02F2103/08

  Seawater, e.g. for desalination · CPC title

• Y02W10/37

  using solar energy · CPC title

• C02F1/043 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• C02F2209/40

  Liquid flow rate · CPC title

• C02F2209/02

  Temperature · CPC title