Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
A Desalination Apparatus with Power Generation
Technical Field
This invention relates to a heat pump process and
apparatus which is applicable to desalination and power
generation, water distillation and power generation, cooling
- of thermal plant cooling water discharges. More parti-
cularly, this invention relates to a process and apparatus
comprising an evaporator and a condenser where the heating
and cooling sources are both obtained from the ocean waters
and the products of the process are distilled or desalinated
water and electrical energy in excess of that required to
operate the apparatus as a result of the ~ass flow of vapors
between the evaporator and the condenser driving a prime
15 mover coupled to an electrical generator.
Background Art
-
The shortage of oil and natural gas is rapidly becoming
a significant problem for manufacturers and producers in the
United States The increasing price of fossilized fuel
presents a very serious problem to producers of electrical
energy and to desalination plants in particular. Accord-
ingly, other sources of energy are being investigated and it
is natural that the oceans of the world are being investigated,
particularly in those areas of the ocean such as the Gulf of
Mexico, the Gulf Stream off Florida, the Carribbean and the
equatorial waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans where
considerable temperature differences exist ~etween the
surface waters, say 78 F to 88 F and the deep water
several thousand feet deep, say 40 F. The natural approach
to the utilization of these differential temperatures has
led to research of various refrigeration cycles using the
warm surface water to "boil" a low boiling point refrigerant
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such as ammonia or freon and the cold deep water to effect
cond~nsing of the refrigerant. A turbine type of device in
the refrigerant loop would drive electrical generators to
producé electricity and to further operate desalination
plants.
In the very areas where the ocean waters provide
significant temperature differentiais, fossilized fuel is
used to operate large desalination plants for the conversion
of ocean or salt water to drinking water.
The thermal pollution as a result of hot water dis-
charge from thermal and thermal nuclear generating plants
and the usual nearby water cooling sources offer additional
opportunities for devices using temperature differentials as
energy sources.
Therefore an object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus using ocean or other waters with high
temperature differentials to produce distilled or desali-
nated water with excess electricity as an additional product.
The balance of said outpùts of distilled or desalinated
water and electricity being a function of a particular
individual design. This invention provides an improvement
which is a significant improvement to the advancement of the
art of distillation and desalination and the art of thermal
energy conversion.
Another object of this invention is to provide a means
whereby the oceans that are warmed by the sun and the cold
deep ocean waters can be used directly to evaporate and
condense ocean waters for desalinating.
Another object of this invention is to provide a means
for using any sources of water that have large temperature
differentials to operate an apparatus that distills or
desalinates water and produces electrical energy.
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Another object of this invention is to incorporate in
said process and apparatus a means of using the vapors from
the evaporating and condensing process to drive a prime
mover which is connected to a generator providing the
electrical energy to operate the apparatus and additionally
to provide excess electrical energy for external usage.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a barometric leg to maintain the
process and apparatus at the saturation pressure level of
the warm ocean water, or other warm water source, in the
apparatus while permitting thermal circulation of the warm
water to the evaporator.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a barometric leg at the condenser
to permit removal of condensed vapors from the negative
pressure of the system while maintaining this pressure.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a vacuum pump to establish the
initial saturation, or negative, pressure of the process and
~0 apparatus and to remove non-condensable vapors during
operation of the process and apparatus.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a pump and conduit means to bring
d~ep ocean water, or other coolins water, in contact with
the condenser and to return this condensing water to the
ocean or other return source.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with an evaporator wherein ocean, or
other warm water, is evaporated.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus, with a condenser wherein the vapors
from the evaporator are brought into thermal contact with
the condensing water in the condenser.
.,
;
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Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a barometric conduit in con-tact
with the evaporator and located between the evaporator and
the ocean surface, or other warm water source, of such
sufficient size as to allow thermal circulation of the ocean
water, or other warm water source, in the barometric conduit
to replace the warm water in the evaporator which is cooled
when evaporation takes place removing the heat of vapori-
zation from the surface of the warm water in the evaporator.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a pump and conduit means to draw
in warm surface ocean water, or other warm water source, and
direct it upwardly in the barometric conduit between the
evaporator and the ocean surface, or surface of any other
warm water source, to induce and assist thermal circulation
in the barometric conduit,
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a particle separation chamber
located above the evaporator and between the evaporator and
the conduit connecting the evaporator and the condenser.
This particle separation means comprises an enlarged chamber
wherein the vapors from the evaporator are reduced in
velocity to allow liquid or particles to settle back into
the evaporator.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with a barometric conduit at the
condenser, a liquid level control at the top of the baro-
metric conduit and a condensate water out valve at the
bottom of the said conduit to maintain the desired height of
condensate water in the barometric conduit and the outlet
pressure of the condensate water at the outlet valve.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and apparatus with an electrical control to direct
electrical energy from the above mentioned electrical
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generator to the elements of the apparatus that require
power such as the vacuum pump, cooling water pump, and
recirculating pump and to further direct any excess elec-
trical power for external usage.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and an apparatus with a means of using ocean water,
or other warm water source, as the refrigerant fluid,
eliminating the necessity of additional refrigerants. The
vapors of the fluid will be at the saturation pressure
corresponding to the temperatures in the various portions of
the apparatus.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and an apparatus with a heat source, a conduit of
such sufficient height as to form a barometric leg, a pump
and conduit means to induce and direct circulation in the
barometic leg, an evaporator means, a particle separation
means, a conduit means to connect said evaporator means to a
cond~nser means, a prime mover interposed in said condui~
means, a generator means coupled to said prime mover means,
an electrical control means, a condenser means, pump and
conduit means to pump cooling water to said condenser means
and to return the condensing or cooling water to the cooling
water source, a conduit from said condenser means of such
height as to form a barometric leg and of such additional
height as to obtain the desired pressure of condensate water
in the barometric conduit means to remove the same from the
apparatus, a level control, a condensate water out valve and
a vacuum pump means.
Other objects and a fuller understanding of this
invention may be had by referring ~o the summary of the
invention, the description and the claims, taken in con-
junction with the accompanying drawing
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Disclosure of the Invention
The invention may be incorporated into a distilling
or desalination apparatus with power generation comprising a
conduit connecting an evaporator to the surface of the
ocean, or other warm water source and having sufficient
height as to form a barometric leg in which the ocean water,
or other warm water source, will only rise to the level
determined by the magnitude of the negative pressure or the
saturation pressure which is a function of the temperature
of the warm water source in the evaporator section of the
apparatus. An evaporator means with an attached particle
separation chamber is connected by a conduit means to a
condenser means. A prime mover of the turbine type or the
positive displacement type is interposed into the said
conduit means. A generator means coupled to the prime mover
means converts the power generated by the prime mover means
to electrical energy. A pump and conduit means deliver cold
deep water or other cooling water to a co~denser and returns
the cooling or condensing water to the cooling water source.
A conduit means connected to the condenser means has suffi-
cient height to create a pressure head equal to the sum of
the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the
pressure within the apparatus, plus the desired head pres-
sure at the condensate water outlet. Valve means is connected
to the condensate water outlet to allow removal of con-
densate water from the apparatus. A liquid level control
means is located at the top of the barometric conduit means
to control the condensate water out valve means for the
purpose of allowing condensate water out of the condensate
water out valve in such a manner as to control the desired
height of condensate water in the b~rometric conduit means.
A vacuum pump means initially reduces the pressure in the
apparatus to the saturation pressure of the ocean water, or
other warm water source, and then further removes any non-
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condensable vapors from the apparatus during operation. Anelectrical control means connects the output of the elec-
trical generator means to the elements of the apparatus
which require power such as the cold water pump, the vacuum
S pump, and the recirculating pump, thereby making the process
self-sustaining with only the differential temperatures in
the heating and cooling waters providing the power for the
apparatus. A pump and conduit means draw in warm surface
ocean water, or other warm water source, and directs the
warm water upwardly in the barometric conduit between the
evaporator means and the ocean surface, or surface of other
: warm water source, to induce and assist thermal circulation
in the barometric conduit means.
A fundamental characteristic of the heat pump system
comprises a closed loop system established between an
evaporator means where a fluid, in this case warm water, i5
evaporated and becomes a vapor carrying with it the heat of
vaporization, and a condenser means wherein the vapor is
condensed thereby liberating the heat of condensation. In
the case of the subject invention, the heat to the evaporator
means is furnished by warm surface ocean water, or other
warm water source, and the cooling means for the condenser
means is furnished by cold deep ocean water, or other
cooling water source. The prime mover means interposed in
the closed loop provides the power to drive an electrical
generator means and supplies power to an electrical control
means to direct electrical energy to the elements of the
apparatus thereby providing distilled or desalinated water
in addition to excess electrical energy for external usage.
Barometric conduits allow entry and exit of the warm water
source and the exit of condensate water, now distilled or
desalinated, from the apparatus. A vacuum pump establishes
the initial negative pressure of the apparatus and during
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operation removes any non-condensable vapors. The practice
of t~he instant invention enables a distillation or desali-
nation apparatus with power generation to utilize the
differential temperatures present in the ocean, and such
other sources of water in which temperature differentials
are present, to produce distilled or desalinated water and
electrical energy.
This invention accordingly comprises a process and an
apparatus possessing the features, properties and the
relationship of elements which will be exemplified in the
article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention
will be indicated in the claims.
Brief Description of the Drawing
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of
1~ the invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed de~cription taken in connection with the accom-
panying drawing in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a desalination apparatus with power
generation.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
-
The drawing illustrates a desalination apparatus with
power generation 10 including an evaporator 14 and a con-
denser 26. The evaporator 14 is connected to the surface of
the ocean by means of a conduit 12. Said conduit 12 being
- 25 of sufficient height that the ocean ~Jater will rise to the
desired level in the evaporator 14 taking into account the
~ariation in the levels of the ocean, when the evaporator 14
is at the saturation pressure for the corresponding temper-
ature of the ocean water Said conduit is also of such
sufficient size as to permit thermal circulation of the
ocean water in said conduit 12 to allow the warm surface
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ocean water to rise to the evaporator 14 to replace the
ocean water in the evaporator 14 that becomes cooled as
ocean water evaporates taking with it the heat of vapori-
zation. A pump means 46 draws warm surface ocean water
S through conduit 44 and discharges it through conduit 48
upwardly in conduit 12 to induce and assist in thermal
circulation. A particle separation chamber 16 is located
above the evaporator 14 of such diameter that the vapors
from the evaporator 14 are sufficiently reduced in velocity
to prevent particles or liquid from reaching other portions
of the system. Conduit 18 connects the evaporator 14 and
the particle separation chamber 16 to the condenser 26.
Although there are various types of condensers, the con-
denser 26 illustrated is a simple serpentine condenser for
ease of illustration although more elaborate types of
condensers such as plate or tubular could be used on given
designs. Vapors from the evaporator 14 come in thermal
conta~t with the condenser Z6 and condense, liberating the
heat of condensation to the condensing water in the con-
denser 26. A prime mover 20 is interposed in the conduit18. The prime mover derives power from the mass flow of
vapors which fl~w from the evaporator 14, which is at the
saturation pressure for the temperature of the warm surface
ocean water, and the condenser 26 which is at the saturation
pressure for the temperature of the colder sub-surface ocean
water, The type of prime mover is, for clarity, shown as a
simple axial turbine, although the variety of applications
of the invention might dictate other prime movers such as
multi-stage turbines, roots type positive displacement prime
movers, and others well ~nown and used to derive rotary
motion from the flow of vapors. An electrical generator 22,
is coupled to the prime mover 20 and converts the power of
the prime mover 20 to electrical enerqy, An electrical
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control 28 directs the electrical power from the generator
22 for use to operate the various elements of the apparatus
and further to direct such excess electrical power for
external usage. A conduit 42 is extended deep into the
ocean to a depth satisfactory to obtain cold ocean water for
input to the inlet of a pump 40 for pumping cold ocean water
to the condenser 26 through conduit 34. This cold or
condensing water is returned to the ocean from the condenser
26 through a conduit 36. Conduit 32 is connected to the
condenser 26 and is of such height as to create a head
pressure equal to the difference in atmospheric pressure and
the pressure in the condenser 26 plus a head sufficient to
give the desired head pressure at the condensate water valve
38. A liquid level control 30 located at the top conduit 32
controls the condensate water valve 38 and allows the valve
to ~ischarge condensate water while maintaining the desired
head in the conduit 32. Vacuum pump 24 is connected to the
condenser 2~ portion of the apparatus and initially reduces
the pressure in the apparatus to the initial saturation
pressure of the ocean water and subsequently removes any
non-condensable vapors from the process during operation.
The process is instituted initially by the vacuum pump
24 evacuating the air from the closed system. The vacuum
pump 24 reduces the pressure in the closed system until the
pressure in the system reaches the saturation pressure
dictated by the temperature of the ocean surface water. In
the case of surface ocean water at 80 F the pressure left
in the apparatus 10 would be the saturation pressure o~
water at 80 F or approximately 0.507 psia. With the
continued operation of the vacuum pump 24, the closed
apparatus 10 then fills with water vapor at the saturation
temperature and pressure of 80 F and 0.507 psia.
Because of the difference in the pressure in the closed
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apparatus 10 and the pressure of the atmospheric air surroun-
ding the closed apparatus 10, the ocean wa~er in conduit 12
rises until the ocean water in conduit 12 has created a head
pressure at the ocean surface equal to the atmospheric
pressure. In the case of atmospheric pressure at 14.7 psia,
the difference in pressure between the inside of the closed
apparatus 10 and the atmospheric pressure outside the closed
apparatus 10 would be approximately 14.193 psi and would
therefore cause the ocean water in conduit 12 to rise
approximately 31.8 feet above the surface of the ocean.
The pump 40 is then started to draw cold deep ocean
water through conduit 42 and pump the same through conduit
34 to the condenser 26. Conduit 36 returns the condensing
water to the ocean. Cold water flowing through the condenser
26 causes the water vapors in the condenser 26 to condense
releasing the heat of condensation to the condensing water.
The warmer vapors present in the evaporator 14 then flow to
the conden5er 26 where they are condensed to a liquid. The
rapid flow of vapors then existing from the evaporator 14 to
the condenser 26 is caused by the reduction in volume of the
vapors in the condenser 26 as they are condensed to a liquid
and the difference in the saturation pressure in the evap-
o~ator 14 and the lower saturation pressure in the condenser
26 as a result of the lower temperature of the condensing
water in the condenser 26. This difference in pressure
between the evaporator 14 and the condenser 26 and the mass
flow of vapors, low temperature steam, from the evaporator
14 to the condenser 26 drives the prime mover 20 located in
the conduit 18 between the evaporator 14 and the condenser
26. Power is thus provided to the electrical generator 22
which is coupled to the prime mover 20. Heat for continued
evaporation in the evaporator 14 is supplied by the thermal
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circulation of the warm surface ocean water in conduit 12.
This thermal circulation is induced and assisted by the pump
46 which draws warm surface ocean water through conduit 44
and discharges this flow through conduit 48 upwardly in
conduit 12 thus establishing a non-random thermal circu-
lation. The heat of vaporization lost to the vapors evap-
orated in the evaporator 14 are thus constantly replaced.
The vapors caused by evaporation in the evaporator 14
are pure water and do not contain the salts or minerals
present in the ocean water. The evaporator 14 is separated
from the condenser 26 by a particle separation chamber 16
and a vapor conduit 18 and the condensate water obtained as
a result of the condensation of the vapors in the condenser
26 is desalinated, or distilled, wate..
Condensate water from the condenser 26 collects in the
conduit 32 until this condensate water reaches the liquid
level control 30 at which time the liquid level control 30
then regulates the action of the condensate water valve 38
letting condensate water out of the apparatus 10 sufficiently
to maintain the condensate water level in the conduit 32 at
the liquid level control 30. The conduit 32 is of such
height that the head of water in the conduit 32 is equal to
the difference between the saturation pressure in the
condenser 26 and the atmospheric pressure outside of the
apparatus plus the desired pressure head at the condensate
water valve 38.
It can thus be seen that the head of ocean water in the
conduit 12 and the head of condensate water in the conduit
32 provides a means of bringing ocean water in contact with
the evaporator 14 and removing condensate water from the
condenser 26 even though the apparatus 10 is at a pressure
considerably lower than that of the atmospheric air outside
of the closed apparatus 10.
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An electrical control 28 directs the electrical output
of the generator 22 to necessary elements of the apparatus
and the excess diverted for external usage. The apparatus
has thus provided for itself a power source to sustain its
own operation and provide external energy for other uses.
During initial startup of the apparatus 10, since no elec-
tricity exists at the electrical control 28, the power to
initiate the process and apparatus 10 must be external and
most easily could be provided by storage batteries which
would be recharged during system operation.
A desalination apparatus with power generation providing
desalinated water and electrical energy has thus been
described. The temperature differential present at various
parts in the ocean waters being the energy necessary to
operate the said process and apparatus.
The foregoing process and apparatus has a substantial
savings over that of the prior art in that no conventional
energy 50urce~ are required to operate the apparatus so
de~cribed.
The present disclosure includes that contained in the
appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing descrip-
tion. Although this invention has been described in its
preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is
understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form
has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in
the details of construction and the combination and arrange-
ment of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
