Multi-effects desalination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309129-B1
Application number	US-201514667626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A multi-effects desalination system includes a housing having a heating box, a plurality of vessels, a plurality of heat rods within each of the vessels, and a condenser unit. Each vessel is separated by a separator wall. Each heat rod extends through one of the separator walls, such that each heat rod has a first end extending into one vessel and a second end extending into an adjacent vessel. The desalination system also includes a plurality of sprayers, a plurality of demisters, and a plurality of trays. Each sprayer is configured to discharge feed water FW onto the second end of each heat rod in a respective vessel and each tray being configured to collect condensate or fresh water. The condensate collected in one to tray can be transferred to the condensate collection tray in an adjacent vessel. Further, the desalination system can also include a thermocompressor unit.

First claim

We claim:

1. A desalination system, comprising:
a housing including a heating box, a condenser unit, a plurality of vessels, and a plurality of separator walls, each separator wall between adjacent vessels;
a first tubing;
a thermocompressor unit operatively connected to the heating box by the first tubing;
a plurality of demisters, each of the plurality of demisters being substantially vertically disposed in a respective one of the plurality of vessels;
a plurality of heat rods disposed horizontally in each vessel, each heat rod having a first end and a second end, the first end extending into one of the plurality of vessels and the second end extending into an adjacent one of the plurality of vessels;
wherein each of the plurality of heat rods extend through the separator wall between adjacent vessels;
a plurality of sprayers, each of the plurality of sprayers positioned in a respective one of the plurality of vessels;
a plurality of preheaters, each of the plurality of preheaters positioned in a respective one of the plurality of vessels;
at least one condensate tray disposed in each one of the plurality of vessels for receiving condensate;
a second tubing extending between a feed water source, the plurality of preheaters, and the plurality of sprayers; and
a plurality of pumps, each pump designed and configured for selectively moving fluid;
wherein the fluid is selectively moved through the second tubing, and from the at least one condensate tray.

2. The desalination system according to claim 1 , further comprising a steam source.

3. The desalination system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fresh water tray in communication with each one of the at least one condensate tray in each of the plurality of vessels for receiving fresh water.

4. A desalination system, comprising:
a heating box;
a condenser unit;
a plurality of vessels disposed between the heating box and the condenser unit wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels consisting of:
a preheater;
a sprayer;
at least one condensate tray for receiving condensate;
a demister vertically disposed therein for separating water droplets from water vapor; and
a floor for collecting brine;

a plurality separator walls;
wherein the plurality of separator walls operatively disposed between the heating box, the plurality of vessels, and the condenser unit;
each one the separator walls between adjacent vessels and the condenser unit including an opening configured to allow brine to flow therethrough;
a plurality of heat rod groups, each heat rod group extending horizontally through one of a corresponding separator wall;
wherein a first end of each heat rod in each of the heat rod groups being disposed on one side of the separator wall, and a second end of each heat rod in each of the heat rod groups being disposed on an opposite side of the separator wall, such that each vessel has the first end of one of the heat rod groups and the seconds end of another one of the heat rod groups; and
wherein the heating box has the first end of the first heat rod group, and the condenser unit has the second end of the ultimate heat rod group;
whereby the preheater of each vessel receives heat the first end of the heat rod group and the sprayer of each vessel deposit feedwater onto the second end of the heat rod group, the second end of the heat rod group condensing freshwater into the condensate tray;
a fresh water tray in communication with each condensate tray of each vessel for receiving fresh water;
a first tubing;
a thermocompressor unit;
a steam source;
wherein the first tubing coupling the steam source to the thermocompressor, and the thermocompressor to the heating box;
a second tubing serially coupling the plurality of sprayers and preheaters of each vessel to a feedwater source;
a first pump for pumping feed water into the condenser unit;
a second pump for pumping feed water from the condenser unit into the second tubing;
a third pump for pumping freshwater from the freshwater tray; and
at least one other pump, the at least one other pump for pumping brine to the feedwater source.

5. A method for desalinating seawater, comprising the steps of:
providing a housing successively including a heating box, a plurality of vessels, and a condenser unit: a separator wall disposed between each of adjacent ones of the heating box, the plurality of vessels, and the condenser unit, each one of the plurality of vessels including a demister positioned vertically therein, a thermocompressor unit being connected to the heating box by a first tubing, a plurality of heat rods disposed horizontally between each of the adjacent heating box, plurality of vessels, and condenser unit, each heat rod having a first end on one side of one of the separator walls and a second end on the opposite side of the separator wall, a plurality of preheaters, each of the plurality of preheaters in a respective one of the plurality of vessels, a plurality of sprayers, each of the plurality of sprayers disposed in a respective one of the plurality of vessels, a second tubing extending between a feed water source, the plurality of preheaters, and the plurality of sprayers, and a plurality of pumps for selectively pumping feedwater, brine, and freshwater through the housing;
introducing a first vapor from a steam source into the first tubing and through the thermocompressor unit;
producing a second vapor in at least one of the plurality of vessels;
combining the first vapor and the second vapor to form a third vapor;
directing the third vapor into the heating box;
heating the first ends of the plurality of heat rods in the heating box;
discharging feed water from the feed water source onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods in a first vessel of the plurality of vessels to create steam;
preheating the feed water prior to discharging the feed water onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods;
separating water droplets from the steam produced in the first vessel using the demister in the first vessel;
heating the first ends of the plurality of heat rods in the first vessel by the steam;
discharging feed water from the feed water source onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods in a second vessel of the plurality of vessels to create steam;
preheating the feed water prior to discharging the feed water onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods;
separating water droplets from the steam produced in the second vessel using the demister in the second vessel;
condensing the steam produced in the second vessel of the plurality of vessels on the condenser unit; and
collecting fresh water.

6. The method for desalinating seawater according to claim 5 , wherein feed water is discharged from the feed water source onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods in the first vessel before feed water is discharged from the feed water source onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods in the second vessel.

7. The method for desalinating seawater according to claim 5 , wherein feed water is simultaneously discharged from the feed water source onto the second ends of the plurality of heat rods in the first vessel and the second vessel.

Assignees

• Univ King Saud

Inventors

• Zeitoun Obida Mohamed
• Alansary Hany Abdelrahman
• Nuhait Abdullah Othman

Classifications

• B01D1/26 Primary

  Multiple-effect evaporating · CPC title

• B01D1/28

  with vapour compression · CPC title

• C02F1/04 Primary

  by distillation or evaporation · CPC title

• C02F2103/08

  Seawater, e.g. for desalination · CPC title

• C02F1/041

  by means of vapour compression · CPC title