Solar desalination system employing a humidification-dehumidification process
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
C02F-001/14
B01D-001/00
B01D-001/14
B01D-003/16
B01D-003/34
B01D-005/00
B01D-003/00
C02F-103/08
출원번호
US-0711325
(2015-05-13)
등록번호
US-9834455
(2017-12-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Frolov, Sergey
Cyrus, Michael
Bruce, Allan James
출원인 / 주소
Sunlight Photonics Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Mayer & Williams, PC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portio
A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.
대표청구항▼
1. A solar-powered desalination system, comprising: a desalination module that includes:an electro-mechanical section (EMS) that includes a photovoltaic module for converting solar energy to electrical energy and at least one pump powered by the electrical energy; anda hydro-thermal section (HTS) fo
1. A solar-powered desalination system, comprising: a desalination module that includes:an electro-mechanical section (EMS) that includes a photovoltaic module for converting solar energy to electrical energy and at least one pump powered by the electrical energy; anda hydro-thermal section (HTS) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification process, said HTS including a solar collector for capturing solar energy that at least in part causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water, the solar collector being arranged to supply solar energy to a portion of a fresh water conduit circuit for heating the fresh water therein, wherein said at least one pump is configured to pump water through said HTS, the HTS further including:feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting the feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively;an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit circuit and the gas conduit circuit pass,said evaporator causing evaporation of a portion of the feed water in the feed water conduit circuit to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit circuit;a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit circuit and the fresh water conduit circuit pass, said condenser having input and output ports for coupling said gas and fresh water conduit circuits;said condenser extracting moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit circuit, wherein the extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit circuit; anda heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit circuit and the feed water conduit circuit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats said portion of the feed water that subsequently passes through the evaporator. 2. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the EMS further comprises a feed water pump for pumping feed water in the feed water conduit circuit into the evaporator and a gas pump for pumping gas in the gas conduit circuit into the condenser, wherein the fresh water and gas pumps are electrically powered at least in part by the photovoltaic module. 3. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 2, the EMS further comprises a fresh water pump for pumping fresh water in the fresh water conduit circuit from the condenser to the heat exchanger, wherein the fresh water pump is electrically powered at least in part by the photovoltaic module. 4. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the gas conduit circuit is a closed loop circuit to recycle the gas in sequential humidification-dehumidification cycles. 5. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the fresh water conduit circuit is a partially closed looped circuit in which a portion of the fresh water in the fresh water conduit circuit is recycled and a remaining portion is discharged. 6. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 5, wherein the fresh water conduit circuit further comprises a splitter unit for discharging excess fresh water. 7. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the feed water conduit circuit is a partially closed looped circuit in which a portion of the feed water in the feed water conduit circuit is recycled and a remaining portion is discharged. 8. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, further comprising a heating unit for heating feed water in the feed water conduit circuit prior to entering the evaporator, wherein the heating unit is electrically powered at least in part by the photovoltaic module. 9. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the HTS is configured in a closed star configuration. 10. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the HTS is configured in an open star configuration. 11. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 2, wherein the HTS further comprises a second heat exchanger for extracting residual heat from outgoing feed water and outgoing fresh water such that the residual heat heats incoming feed water. 12. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 3, wherein the HTS further comprises a second heat exchanger for extracting residual heat from outgoing feed water and outgoing freshwater such that the residual heat heats incoming feed water. 13. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, wherein the HTS further comprises a plurality of serially connected HTSs, wherein a downstream-most one of the HTSs is arranged in an open-star configuration and remaining ones of the plurality of HTSs are arranged in a closed-star configuration. 14. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, further comprising a floatable vessel that houses the photovoltaic module and the HTS. 15. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 14, further comprising positioning equipment configured to varying a position of the solar collector and the photovoltaic panel. 16. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 15, wherein the positioning equipment is further configured to change an orientation and/or location of the vessel on a water surface in coordination with the position of the solar collector and the photovoltaic panel. 17. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 16, wherein the positioning equipment includes a motor for imparting translational motion to the vessel. 18. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of desalination modules;a common feed water supply conduit operatively coupled to an input conduit of the feed water conduit circuit of each desalination module; anda common fresh water discharge conduit operatively coupled to an output conduit of the fresh water conduit circuit of each desalination module. 19. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic module powers all components of the EMS, including a controller. 20. The solar-powered desalination system of claim 3 in which the residual heat from the fresh water that heats the feed water heats the feed water before the feed water passes through the evaporator. 21. The system of claim 1 wherein the feed water conduit is arranged so that at least a portion of the feed water passing therethrough is conveyed from the heat exchanger to the evaporator while only traversing any given portion of the feed water conduit a single time. 22. The system of claim 1 wherein the feed water conduit is arranged so that feed water passing therethrough is conveyed from the heat exchanger to the evaporator without returning to a source of the feed water. 23. The system of claim 1 further comprising a feed water pump located in the feed water conduit circuit at an output of the heat exchanger for pumping feed water in the feed water conduit circuit to the evaporator. 24. A desalination system, comprising: a plurality of serially coupled HTSs for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification process, said plurality of HTSs including an upstream-most HTSs and a downstream-most HTS, each of said HTS including:a feed water conduit, fresh water conduit and gas conduit circuit for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively;an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass;a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass;a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water, wherein a feed water output conduit from a heat exchanger in an immediately preceding upstream HTS is connected to a feed water input conduit to the evaporator of an immediately following downstream HTS unit and a fresh water output conduit from the condenser of the upstream HTS is connected to a fresh water input conduit to the heat exchanger of the immediately preceding upstream HTS;a solar collector array for capturing solar energy, the solar collector being arranged to supply solar energy to a portion of the fresh water conduit circuit for heating the fresh water therein;at least one EMS that includes a photovoltaic module for converting solar energy to electrical energy and at least one pump powered by the electrical energy, wherein the at least one pump is configured to pump water through at least one of said HTSs.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Elmore Carl L. (Glens Falls NY), Carrier gas apparatus for evaporation and condensation.
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