Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
" D~:SALAT ION SYSTEM "
BA,CKGROUND OF THE INVENTI ON
This invention relates to new and useful improvements
in desalination systems or systems in which vacuum evaporation
of a liquid enables fresh water to be extracted from the con-
taminated water source such as sea water, sewage or the like.
While it is known to use evaporation methods facili-
tated by vacuum, nevertheless such devices are normally quite
inefficient, and the principal advantage of the present inven-
tion is to overcome these inefficiencies and produce an eco-
nomical, low cost operating and relatively efficient plant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a
desalination system for contaminated water comprising in combin-
ation a sealed enclosure, an evaporation chamber within said en-
closure, a vacuum pump connected between said evaporation cham-
ber and said enclosure and means conveying the contaminated
water to the interior of said evaporation chamber, evaporated
water vapour passing through said vacuum pump and condensing
within said enclosure externally of said evaporation chamber
and discharge means in said enclosure for the condensed water
collected therein~
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this
invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention
is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings
.... .
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forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the
preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present
invention, in which:
DES~RIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
.
Figure 1 is a schematic vertical cross sectional
view of the preferred embodiment.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of Figure 1.
In the drawings like characters of reference indi-
cate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in de-
tail, reference character 10 illustrates schematically, a sub-
stantially cylindrical housing preferably insulated and includ-
ing the vertical surrounding wall 11, an upper wall 12, and a
base 13. An annular tank 14 is formed within the lower part
of the enclosure 10 and is adapted to receive contaminated
water such as salt water, through an inlet 15 adjacent the base
thereof and it will be observed that this tank is sealed on the
upper side by means of upper wall 16. An annular inner wall
17, together with a portion of the casing 10, defines the an-
nular chamber 14 and the speed of intake through the inlet 15,
is such that the level of the water within the tank is substan-
tially as shown by reference character 17A althou~h it could be
varied depending upon design.
A substantially cylindrical evaporation chamber 18 is
situated within the enclosure 10 preferably centrally thereof,
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and within the space defined by the annular tank 14. This ex-
tends from the base 13 upwardly to adjacent the upper side 12
and it is preferable that the portion of this evaporation tank
be frustro-conical as indicated by reference character 19.
A vacuum pump such as a multi-staged turbo blower is
situated at the upper end of the evaporation chamber 18 and is
indicated schematically by reference character 20. It is
driven by a motor 20A connected to a source of electrical energy
via cables 20B.
A discharge conduit 21 extends from the annular space
between the evaporation tank 18 and the tank 14, and a discharge
22 as clearly illustrated, it being understood that this an-
nular space indicated by reference character 23, is the fresh
water collection area and that this fresh water level 24, is
maintained by the position of the discharge 22, to a convenient
collection and storage area such as indicated by reference
character 25, exteriorly of the device.
A source of heat (not illustrated~ may be provided to
pre-heat the water entering the inlet 15 and in this connection,
solar heat could be used advantageously, it being understood
that the warmer the intake water, the more efficient will the
system be and the less energy required.
Also to be observed is a plurality of substantially
horizontal conduits or pipes 26 extending from the storage tank
14, horizontally across the area 23 and into the evaporation
chamber 18 so that the head of water within tank 14, forces the
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salt water or the like to enter the evaporation chamber through
the conduits 26 to be expelled substantially horizontally,
across tbe evaporation chamber in a spray fashion thus present-
ing the greatest surface area to the vacuum formed within the
evaporation chamber by operation of the vacuum pump 20. If,
desired, needle valves 26A may be incorporated within each of
the pipes 26, to control the amount of water passing into the
pipes 26 from the annular tank 14 via inlet apertures 26B.
These needle valves are screw threadably engaged within the
outer ends of pipes 26 and extend through the wall of the en-
closure 10.
The action of the vacuum, evaporates the sprayed
water so that fresh water vapour moves upwardly through the
pump 20 while solids such as salt in a relatively dry form,
drop downwardly as indicated by arrows 27 to be collected at
the base of the evaporation chamber as indicated by reference
character 28. A conventional lock system shown substantially
at 29 may be provided at the base of the evaporation chamber
and extend to the outside of the enclosure 10 so that the solids
may be removed from time to time. The water vapour is dis-
charged from the.vacuum pump into the outer chamber as indicated
by arrows 20C.
The fresh water vapour passing through the vacuum
pump 20, condenses within the outer chamber and falls to be
collected within the area 23 surrounding the evaporation cham-
ber whereupon it passes through the discharge 22, to the collec-
8109
tion area 25. It will be understood that the vacuum pump
maintains a pressure below atmosphere in chamber 18 and a pres-
sure above atmospheric pressure in the collection area 23.
Heat exchange is shown by arrows 30 and the material
used for the construction of the ~evice should facilitate this
heat exchange. If desired, a heat transfer grid of copper,
bronze or the like can be situated within the chambers to faci-
litate the heat transfer and assist in stabilization of the
temperature in all chambers. This heat transfer grid is shown
substantially by reference character 30.
The system is automatic and continuous in operation
and is extremely efficient, particularly if pre-heating of the
intake water can take place due to solar action.
Since various modifications can be made in my inven-
tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely dif-
ferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of
the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is
intended that all matter contained in the accompany specifica-
tion shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a
limiting sense.
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