ENERGY-EFFICIENT DISTILLATION SYSTEM
Methods and devices are provided for an energy-efficient distillation system ( 42 ). An energy-efficient distillation system ( 42 ) can include a fluid inlet ( 24 ), one or more heat-yielding purification elements ( 7, 15, 44 ) downstream of the fluid inlet ( 24 ), one or more heat pipes ( 6 ), and a fluid outlet ( 23 ) downstream of the heat-yielding purification element ( 7, 15, 44 ). The heat-yielding purification element ( 7, 15, 44 ) can be, for example, a degasser ( 7 ), a demister ( 15 ), or an evaporation chamber ( 44 ). A heat pipe ( 6 ) has a first end operably connected to the heat-generating purification element(s) ( 7, 15, 44 ), a second end operably connected to the fluid inlet ( 24 ), and a body therebetween. The heat pipe ( 6 ) is configured to transfer latent heat energy from the first end to the second end, thereby heating a fluid ( 8 ) within the fluid inlet ( 24 ). The distillation system ( 42 ) can also include one or more descaling elements ( 21 ) for reducing scale formation of the fluid ( 8 ).
1 . An energy-efficient distillation system, comprising:
a fluid inlet;
a heat-yielding purification element downstream of the fluid inlet;
a first heat pipe with a first end, a second end, and a body therebetween; said first end operably connected to the heat-yielding purification element and said second end operably connected to the fluid inlet; said heat pipe configured to transfer latent heat energy from the first end to the second end, thereby heating a fluid within the fluid inlet; and;
a fluid outlet downstream of the heat-yielding purification element and configured to receive a purified fluid from the heat-yielding purification element.
2 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is a degasser.
3 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is a demister.
4 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is an evaporation chamber.
5 . The distillation system of claim 1 , further comprising a second heat pipe with a first end, a second end, and a generally tubular body; said second heat pipe operably connected to the fluid outlet at a first end and the fluid inlet at a second end; said second heat pipe configured to transfer latent heat energy from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, thereby heating the fluid within the fluid inlet.
6 . The distillation system of claim 1 , further comprising a descaling element configured to reduce scale formation of the fluid.
7 . The distillation system of claim 6 , wherein the descaling element reduces scale formation using magnetic energy.
8 . The distillation system of claim 6 , wherein the descaling element reduces scale formation using electromagnetic energy.
9 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is configured to withstand a vacuum of between about 0-760 mm Hg without collapse.
10 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is configured to withstand a vacuum of between about 100-700 mm Hg without collapse.
11 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a metal.
12 . The distillation system of claim 11 , wherein the metal is stainless steel.
13 . The distillation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe further comprises capillary media.
14 . A method of recovering heat within a fluid distillation system, comprising the steps of:
passing fluid through a heat-yielding purification element of the fluid distillation system;
absorbing latent heat energy from the heat-yielding purification element; and
transferring the latent heat energy from the heat-yielding purification element to a fluid within a fluid inlet of the fluid distillation system, causing the fluid to be heated.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of reducing scale formation of the fluid by excitation of ions within a fluid.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein excitation of ions within the fluid is performed using magnetic energy.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein excitation of ions within the fluid is performed using electromagnetic energy.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein absorbing latent heat energy from the heat-yielding purification element and transferring the latent heat energy from the heat-yielding purification element to a fluid within a fluid inlet of the fluid distillation system is accomplished using a heat pipe.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is a degasser.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is a demister.
21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is an evaporation chamber.
22 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
absorbing latent heat energy from purified fluid within an outlet of the fluid distillation system; and
transferring the latent heat energy to the fluid within the fluid inlet, causing the fluid to be heated.
23 . An energy-efficient distillation system, comprising:
a heat-yielding purification element;
a heat-receiving element; and
a first heat pipe with a first end, a second end, and a body therebetween; said first end operably connected to the heat-yielding purification element and said second end operably connected to the heat-yielding purification element and said second end operably connected to the heat-receiving element; said heat pipe configured to transfer latent heat energy from the first end to the second end, thereby heating a fluid within the heat-receiving element.
24 . The distillation system of claim 23 , wherein the heat-yielding purification element is selected from the group consisting of: an evaporation chamber, a degasser, a demister, and a condenser.
25 . The distillation system of claim 23 , wherein the heat-receiving element is a fluid heater.
26 . The distillation system of claim 25 , wherein the fluid heater heats fluid at a fluid inlet to the system, such that fluid entering the system is pre-heated prior to downstream processing of the fluid.
27 . The distillation system of claim 25 , wherein the fluid heater heats fluid in a hot-fluid storage chamber.