US4487659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar distillation apparatus
Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN UTILITY CONSTRUCTION Corp A NY CORP
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Filing: 1980-10-23
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Granted: 1984-12-11
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Expires: 2000-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Solar distillation apparatus is disclosed in which the released heat of condensation of the condensing liquid is recovered in a transparent conduit disposed over the liquid to be distilled. Solar energy passes through the transparent conduit and is received on an undulated plate system over which the liquid to be distilled is conducted. A cooling fluid is circulated through the conduit to absorb heat released by the condensing liquid. In one embodiment, the conduit does not concentrate the solar energy. The conduit is preferably disposed at an angle of up to about 25° with the horizontal so that the system is subjected to minimal pressure. In another embodiment the conduit defines a fluid lens system which concentrates the solar energy on the plate system. Provision is also made to recover heat from the condensate and a concentrate of the liquid to be distilled.
Inventors
- 👤 Virgil Stark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:46
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/02; C02F1/04; C02F1/14; F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/30; F24S23/31; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/208; Y02A20/212; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/902; Y10S159/903; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/01; Y10S203/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for distilling liquids utilizing solar energy comprising: (a) means for conducting the liquid to be distilled at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal; (b) conduit means transparent to visible light for conducting a liquid therethrough in a heat exchange relationship with the conduit means, the conduit means being disposed above said means for conducting so as to conduct liquid therethrough at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal generally in the same direction as the liquid conducted by the means for conducting and allow solar energy to pass through said conduit means and be received without substantial concentration in or on the means for conducting; (c) means supplying liquid to said conduit means for assisting the condensation on said conduit means of liquid evaporated from said means for conducting and absorbing heat released by the condensing liquid, the supplying means providing sufficient liquid to the conduit means and the conduit means being structured such that a substantial amount of liquid passes through the conduit means unevaporated and absorbs heat released by the liquid condensing on the conduit means while assisting the condensation on said conduit means of liquid evaporated from said means for conducting; and (d) means for collecting the condensed liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for distilling liquids utilizing solar energy comprising: (a) means for conducting the liquid to be distilled at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal; (b) conduit means transparent to visible light for conducting a liquid therethrough in a heat exchange relationship with the conduit means, the conduit means being disposed above said means for conducting so as to conduct liquid therethrough at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal generally in the same direction as the liquid conducted by the means for conducting and allow solar energy to pass through said conduit means and be received without substantial concentration in or on the means for conducting; (c) means supplying liquid to said conduit means for assisting the condensation on said conduit means of liquid evaporated from said means for conducting and absorbing heat released by the condensing liquid, the supplying means providing sufficient liquid to the conduit means and the conduit means being structured such that a substantial amount of liquid passes through the conduit means unevaporated and absorbs heat released by the liquid condensing on the conduit means while assisting the condensation on said conduit means of liquid evaporated from said means for conducting; and (d) means for collecting the condensed liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for conducting and the conduit means are generally elongated and generally coextensive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the conduit means comprises a double plate conduit having upper and lower plates transparent to visible light, the upper and lower plates being spaced to permit a thin flow of liquid therebetween, the lower plate being disposed above the means for conducting so as to provide space therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the conduit means comprises a plate transparent to visible light disposed above the means for conducting so as to provide space therebetween, and means disposed about the perimeter of the plate for forming in cooperation with the plate an enclosure for liquid flowing on the plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 or 4 and comprising means cooperating with the lower of said plates for closing off said space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 and comprising another plate transparent to visible light disposed above said plate so as to form a double plate conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the plates are spaced by a distance so as to exceed substantially the depth of the liquid flowing between the plates and allow liquid to be evaporated between the plates and condense on an upper of the two plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and comprising means for collecting liquid condensed on the lower surface of said upper plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the plates are parallel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the plates form an acute angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for conducting comprises an undulated plate system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said plate system has undulations with a depth on the order of up to 90 mm separated by approximately by 120 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for collecting the condensed liquid includes a compartment which is disposed below a portion of said means for conducting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 and comprising heat exchange means connected to said compartment for transferring heat to the liquid to be distilled before the liquid is conducted over said means for conducting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for collecting the liquid conducted over said means for conducting, said means for collecting being disposed below a portion of said means for conducting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 and wherein said means for collecting comprises a compartment, said apparatus including means connecting said compartment with said means for conducting for supplying liquid in said compartment to said means for conducting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and comprising means for collecting the liquid conducted through said conduit means, said means for collecting being disposed below a portion of the means for conducting.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 17 comprising heat exchanging means connected to said conduit means and to a source of liquid to be distilled, said heat exchange means transferring heat from the liquid passing through the conduit means to the liquid to be distilled, the heat exchanging means including means for connecting the heat exchanging means to the means for conducting to transfer thereto liquid to be distilled.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 17 comprising additional conduit means disposed below said means for conducting and in a heat exchanging relationship therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 and comprising means connecting said additional conduit means and said conduit means for conducting said liquid through said additional conduit means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for distilling liquid utilizing solar energy comprising: (a) means for conducting the liquid to be distilled at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal; (b) fluid lens means disposed above said means for conducting for concentrating solar energy on the means for conducting, said fluid lens means comprising a planar lower plate and an upper plate having a plurality of elongated convex sections, the upper and lower plates being spaced, and elongated supports being disposed between the upper and lower plates extending parallel to sides of adjacent convex sections, each convex section together with a portion of the bottom plate and the associated supports forming a conduit through which a liquid can flow in a heat exchange relationship with said lower plate, said fluid lens means being disposed to conduct the liquid therethrough at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal generally in the same direction as the liquid conducted by the means for conducting; (c) means supplying liquid to said fluid lens means for assisting the condensation on said fluid lens means of liquid evaporated from said means for conducting and absorbing heat released by the condensing liquid; and (d) means for collecting the condensed liquid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for distilling liquid utilizing solar energy comprising: (a) means for conducting the liquid to be distilled at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal; (b) fluid lens means disposed above said means for conducting for concentrating solar energy on the means for conducting, said fluid lens means comprising a planar lower plate and an upper plate having a plurality of elongated convex sections, the upper and lower plates being spaced, and elongated supports being disposed between the upper and lower plates extending parallel to sides of adjacent convex sections, each convex section together with a portion of the bottom plate and the associated supports forming a conduit through which a liquid can flow in a heat exchange relationship with said lower plate, said fluid lens means being disposed to conduct the liquid therethrough at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal generally in the same direction as the liquid conducted by the means for conducting; (c) means supplying liquid to said fluid lens means for assisting the condensation on said fluid lens means of liquid evaporated from said means for conducting and absorbing heat released by the condensing liquid; and (d) means for collecting the condensed liquid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 21 and comprising an array of photovoltaic cells disposed on said means for conducting at a location to receive concentrated solar energy from said fluid lens means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 and further including means encapsulating said array and means supplying a cooling fluid to said encapsulating means to cool said array.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises parallel upper and lower plates spaced by elongated supports, the elongated supports and the upper and lower plates forming individual passages for liquid to be passed through the conduit means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 and including means for connecting said passages so as to provide a parallel liquid flow through said conduit means in one direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 and including means for connecting said passages so as to provide a serial liquid flow through said conduit means in opposed directions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liquid to be distilled comprises water.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said liquid passing through the conduit means comprises distilled water.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein said distilled water comprises condensate obtained from said water to be distilled, said apparatus also including means for cooling said condensate prior to supplying the condensate to said conduit means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said liquid comprises water to be distilled.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 and further including an insulating base member below said plate system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 and further including at least one storage means disposed below said insulating member for storing fluids used in said apparatus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein said plate system is made out of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, steel and copper.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said plate system is covered with an anticorrosive material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 and further including a blackened flexible material disposed over at least part of said plates in a manner such that it is removable to permit removing deposits therefrom.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and including a tank filled with said liquid connected with and disposed above said conduit means so as to supply liquid to said conduit means at substantially low pressure.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 and including a tank filled with said liquid connected to and disposed above said additional conduit means so as to supply liquid to said additional conduit means at substantially low pressure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and including heat exchange means for transferring heat from the condensate of the liquid to the liquid to be distilled.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and including means for introducing a concentrate of the liquid being distilled into the means for conducting after the liquid being distilled has been conducted over the means for conducting.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said direction is downwardly inclined.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-12-11 | 1988-06-11 | 1988-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-11 | 1992-06-11 | 1992-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-11 | 1996-06-11 | 1996-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |