Water processing apparatus
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water purification. The unit can include a boiler chamber, a degasser, and a demister.
1 . A method of removing at least one contaminant from a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
first, degassing a sample;
second, heating the sample to a steam; and
third, demisting the steam; thereby removing a contaminant from the sample.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is water.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one contaminant has a lower boiling point than water.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein at least one contaminant is MTBE.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the sample is heated before it is degassed.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the sample is heated in the boiler.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the degassing comprises mixing steam with the sample and flowing at least the sample over glass spheres.
8 . A method of removing a contaminant from a sample, said method comprising:
adding heat to a liquid sample in a sufficient amount to remove a contaminant from the liquid sample;
transforming the liquid sample into a steam;
separating the steam into a clean steam and a dirty steam;
isolating the clean steam; and
allowing the clean steam to condense.
9 . An apparatus for removing a contaminant from a sample, said apparatus comprising:
a degasser;
a boiling chamber in fluid communication with the degasser; and
a demister, in vapor communication with said boiling chamber.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the boiling chamber is in vapor communication with the degasser.
11 . The apparatus claim 9 , wherein said boiling chamber contains at least one solid object that can prevent scaling through physical agitation.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the solid object is a bead.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the degasser contains a material that assists in the removal of an unwanted gas.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the material that assists in the removal of an unwanted gas comprises at least one structure selected from the group consisting of: a ball, a bead, a disc, a screen, and a shard.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the structure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: glass, ceramic, and metal.
16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the degasser is configured so that liquid from the degasser drains by gravity through a lower drain into the boiling chamber, and wherein the degasser is further configured so that a relatively volatile gas in said degasser leaves the degasser via a top drain.
17 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the demister comprises:
an incoming steam port;
a steam guide configured to rotate the steam;
a mist collector whereby dirty steam is removed;
a clean steam collector, whereby clean steam is removed; and
a condenser in vapor communication with said clean steam collector.
18 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus does not contain any moving parts for functionality of water purification.
19 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the demister shares a wall with a wall of the boiling chamber.
20 . A water processing apparatus comprising:
a water feed line;
a degasser, wherein said water feed line empties water into the degasser;
a boiling chamber, wherein at least a bottom section of said degasser is in fluid connection with a portion of said boiling chamber, wherein said boiling chamber supplies heat to said degasser, and wherein at least a portion of said water feed line is housed within said boiling chamber;
a cyclone demister in vapor communication with said boiling chamber, wherein said cyclone demister is configured to separate steam into a clean steam and a dirty steam through centrifugal forces; and
a condenser, in vapor communication with the cyclone demister and connected to the cyclone demister in a manner so as to collect the clean steam.