Patent US3557863A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3557863A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for obtaining fresh water from saline water
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1968-03-25
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Granted: 1971-01-26
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Expires: 1988-03-25
Abstract
Abstract For extracting fresh water from saline water, saline water is injected into a hot, high-pressure gaseous stream directed into an evaporation chamber from which the vapor-gas mixture generated therein is withdrawn from the upper portion, and from a lower portion precipitated salts and mineral constituents are withdrawn in a solid, liquid and/or concentrated dissolved form. The vaporgas mixture is engine-expanded in at least one stage and a fresh water condensate is extracted therefrom by cooling.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf Becker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:47
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/02; C02F1/04; C02F1/10; C02F1/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said vapor phase is superheated to a temperature of about 500 to 900 and preferably 600 to 800* K. before at least one of said expansion stages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous stream consists of the cycle cooling gas from an atomic reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous stream consists of the cycle gas from a closed gas turbine plant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous stream consists of exhaust gases from an open gas turbine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the required temperature level is maintained in said evaporation chamber by introducing the fresh water therein through nozzles at a rate of about 3 to 12 and preferably 4 to 8 gal./hr. per 100 gal./hr. sea water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said vapor phase is superheated to a temperature of about 500 to 900 and preferably 600 to 800* K. immediately following evaporation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said vapor phase is introduced into a second evaporation chamber having a controlled water feed after said first evaporation chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous stream is introduced at a pressure of about 20 to 100, preferably 30 to 60 atma.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein said gaseous stream is introduced at a temperature of about 1,000 to 3,000, preferably 1,500 to 2,000* K.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous stream consists of combustion gases from pressurized combustion of carbonaceous fuels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said combustion is conducted externally of said evaporation chamber, the gases produced by said combustion being transmitted to said evaporation chamber under pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein condensation of said expanded vapor is accomplished in tow stages and wherein the vapor condensate produced in the first of said stages is utilized for postwashing said vapor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 13 wherein at least the last stage of said condensation is ventilated in order to drive off incondensable gases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said vapor phase is superheated before expansion thereof by heat exchange with a portion of said hot gaseous stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process in accordance with claim 15 wherein the transfer of heat between said gaseous stream and said vapor phase is accomplished indirectly through a heat transfer medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process for obtaining fresh water from saline water, comprising the steps of: subjecting saline water to Partial evaporation in a first saline water evaporator, separating the vapors and introducing a portion of the compressing the vapors from said first evaporator to serve as a heating medium in said first evaporation; simultaneously directing a hot pressurized gaseous stream into said second chamber to evaporate said portion of liquid and generate a vapor phase and a precipitate therefrom; separately withdrawing said gas-vapor phase and said precipitate from said second chamber; engine expanding said gas-vapor phase in at least one stage; utilizing the energy produced by said engine expansion of the gas-vapor phase for compressing the vapors separated in said vapor separatorized; and cooling the expanded gas-vapor phase to condense out fresh water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein the saline water is enriched in salt content in said separate evaporator prior to introduction into said evaporation chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein the saline water is prewarmed in heat exchange relationship with vapor condensate from said separate evaporator and a reheated residual vapor from a condensation stage of said expanded vapor, enriched with salts in a condenser-evaporator prior to introduction into said vapor separator, a portion of the precipitate from said vapor separator being introduced directly into said evaporation chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein a portion of the vapor condensate of said separate evaporator is reevaporated by reheating and returned to said condenser-evaporator as the heating medium therefor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said residual vapor is reheated by heat transfer with a portion of said hot gaseous stream.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process in accordance with claim 21 wherein the transfer of heat between said gaseous stream and said expanded vapor is accomplished indirectly through a heat transfer medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 20 wherein said vapor condensate portion is reheated by heat transfer with a portion of said hot gaseous stream.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein the transfer of heat between said vapor condensate portion and said hot gaseous stream is accomplished indirectly through a heat transfer medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 24 wherein said heat transfer medium comprises a portion of the reheated vapor from said first condensation stage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein an oil having a strong affinity to metallic surfaces, minimum solubility in water, minimum solubility for salts contained in the saline water, and minimum vapor pressure is admixed in the saline water prior to heat exchange thereof in said separate evaporator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 26 wherein said oil is separated at least partially from the saline water prior to introduction thereof into said evaporation chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 27 wherein the residual oil contained in the saline water introduced into said evaporation chamber is afterburned therein by providing an excess of oxygen thereto.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for obtaining fresh water from saline water comprising a substantially vertical evaporation chamber, means to supply a hot gaseous stream under pressure, laterally to the lower section of said chamber, means to controllably introduce saline water through first nozzles in the upper section of said chamber to produce a vapor phase and a precipitate by direct contact of the saline water with the hot gaseous stream under pressure, additional nozzle means disposed above said first nozzles in said evaporation chamber to introduce fresh water for postwashing said vapor phase, and exhaust conduit for said vapor phase communicative with the uppermost section of said evaporation chamber, at least one turbine and an intermediate superheating unit communicative with said conduit for engine expanding said vapor phase, at least one condenser communicative with the exhaust of said turbine for condensation of turbine exhaust vapor into fresh water and separation of gas from the expanded vapor, and at an outlet pipe at the lower section of said evaporation chamber for the control discharge of said precipitate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein baffle means are disposed in said evaporation chamber below said additional nozzle means for improving the washing effect thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein a second evaporation chamber with controllable fresh water nozzles is communicative with the outlet of the first-mentioned of said evaporation chambers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein a superheater is communicate with said exhaust conduit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said superheater is heated by a partial stream from said hot gaseous stream.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 40 wherein means are provided for improving the degassing step in the last stage of said condenser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said means for improving the degassing step comprise an additional column connected after the last stage of said condenser.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 further including a separate saline water evaporator comprising a heat exchanger, conduit means communicating said heat exchanger with a source of saline water and the evaporator flow path of a condenser-evaporator, a vapor separator communicative with the evaporator flow path of said condenser-evaporator, a vapor exhaust conduit in said vapor separator, a compressor communicative with said vapor exhaust conduit, and means communicating the exhaust from said compressor to the condenser flow path of said condenser-evaporator to be condensed therein and means coupling said turbine with said compressor to provide drive therefor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus according to claim 36 further including a saline water pump wherein one flow path of said heat exchanger transmits flow between said saline water pump and said condenser-evaporator; said vapor separator further having a discharge conduit for enriched brine communicative with an evaporator cycle conduit through the evaporator flow path of said condenser-evaporator and through said separator, a branch-off conduit means from said cycle conduit downstream of said separator including a control valve providing communication between the cycle discharge conduit of said separator and said first nozzles.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
142 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein means are provided to communicate a second flow path of said heat exchanger with the discharge condensate flow path of said condenser-evaporator, an expansion turbine communicative with said second flow path downstream of said heat exchanger, and a fresh water reservoir communicative with the exhaust of said expansion turbine and wherein said condenser comprises two condenser stages, a third flow path of said heat exchanger carrying the vapor from a first of said condenser stages, through the heat exchange through a reheater in said third flow path between said heat exchanger and said first condenser stage, through the heat exchanger, through the second of said condenser stages communicative with said third flow path downstream of said heat exchanger and the condensate from the second of said condenser stages exhausting into said fresh water reservoir.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 37 wherein an oil storage tank and a metering pump are communicative with the conduit means 129 between said saline water pump and said heat exchanger.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said condenser is constructed in at least two stages, a condensate pump communicative with the first of said stages for conveying the condensate therefrom to said additional nozzle means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 40 further comprising a heat exchanger, means to transmit flow from said condensate pump to said additional nozzle means through one flow path of said heat exchanger, and means transmitting flow between the exhaust of said turbIne and said condenser through the other flow path of said heat exchanger.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 40 wherein at least the last stage of said condenser is provided with air inlet and outlet conduits to purge incondensable gases therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3285834A
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US3336207A
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US3215189A
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US3323575A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-25 | 1974-07-27 | 1975-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-25 | 1978-07-27 | 1979-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-25 | 1982-07-27 | 1983-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |