Water desalination apparatus
An apparatus for desalination of water is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing defined by a base portion, a wall structure extending upwardly from the base portion, and a cover enclosing the wall structure, collectively defining a chamber to receive and contain non-potable water. The housing is defined with a heat transfer surface and a condensation surface. At least one thermoelectric module is disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to a power source. The thermoelectric module comprises a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the heat transfer surface and is configured to generate heat for heating or boiling the non-potable water to induce vaporization and form water vapor. The second side is coupled to the condensation surface and is configured to cool the condensation surface to condense water vapor into potable water.
1 . An apparatus for desalination of water, the apparatus comprising:
a housing defining by a base portion, a wall structure extending upwardly from the base portion and a cover enclosing the wall structure, collectively defining an enclosed chamber to receive and contain non-potable water, wherein, the housing is defined with a heat transfer surface and a condensation surface, and
at least one thermoelectric module disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to a power source, the at least one thermoelectric module comprising a first side and a second side,
wherein the first side being coupled to the heat transfer surface and configured to generate heat for heating or boiling the non-potable water to induce vaporization and form water vapor, and the second side being coupled to the condensation surface and being configured to cool the condensation surface to condense water vapor into potable water, wherein both vaporization of the non-potable water and condensation of resulting water vapor occur within the enclosed chamber.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a collection reservoir disposed within or adjacent to the chamber and configured to receive and retain the potable water.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the housing is defined with a discharge outlet to discharge residual concentrated water or brine after evaporation.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more heat pipes disposed within the chamber, each heat pipe being configured to transfer thermal energy from the at least one thermoelectric module to at least one of the heat transfer surface and the condensation surface.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more heat pipes comprises an elongated structure having a working fluid and a capillary wick, and is configured to transfer thermal energy by phase transition of the working fluid and capillary action within the capillary wick.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer surface comprises at least one heat dissipation element in thermal communication with the first side of the at least one thermoelectric module, and the at least one heat dissipation element is at least one of metal fins, honeycomb structures, and conductive mesh.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wall structure of the housing comprises at least one wall portion defining a cavity configured to store a phase change material, the phase change material being thermally coupled to the chamber to regulate internal temperature conditions.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one thermoelectric module and the one or more heat pipes are disposed within at least one of the base portion, and the wall structure of the chamber.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a first valve located at the base portion of the housing and configured to control the entry of non-potable water into the chamber;
a second valve positioned near the cover of the housing and configured to control the discharge of potable water from the chamber; and
a third valve positioned at the discharge outlet in the base portion of the housing and configured to control the discharge of residual concentrated water or brine after evaporation.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a control unit operatively coupled to the first valve to regulate supply of non-potable water into the chamber, and to the power source to supply power to at least one thermoelectric module.
11 . A method for desalinating water, the method comprising the steps of:
operating, by a control unit, a first valve associated with an entry port for supplying non-potable water into an enclosed chamber of a housing; and
operating, by the control unit, a power source to supply power to at least one thermoelectric module having a first side and a second side, the at least one thermoelectric module being configured to generate heat at the first side and cooling at the second side;
wherein, the heat generated in the first side is transferred to a heat transfer surface for heating or boiling the non-potable water to induce vaporization and form water vapor; and
wherein, the second side is configured to cool a condensation surface, and the condensation surface is configured to condense the water vapor into potable water, wherein both vaporization of the non-potable water and condensation of resulting water vapor occur within the enclosed chamber.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising discharging residual concentrated water through a discharge outlet positioned at a base portion of the housing.
13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein transferring heat to the non-potable water comprises using one or more heat pipes disposed within the chamber, each heat pipe being configured to transfer thermal energy from the at least one thermoelectric module to at least one of the heat transfer surface and the condensation surface.
14 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising receiving and retaining the potable water into a collection reservoir disposed within or adjacent to the chamber.