Desalination system
A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid, which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation. Additionally, vapor exiting the submerged gas evaporator is condensed in a condensing unit thus precipitating vapor into a liquid for removal.
1. A desalination system, comprising:
an evaporator unit, the evaporator unit including an evaporator vessel, an ambient air supply tube extending into the evaporator vessel, the ambient air supply tube including an open end within the vessel, a saltwater inlet port for supplying saltwater into the evaporator vessel, a condensed saltwater outlet port for releasing condensed saltwater from the evaporator vessel, a gas exit port that directs gas out of the evaporator vessel, and a weir disposed within the evaporator vessel adjacent the ambient air supply tube, a space between the weir and the ambient air supply tube defining a first confined volume;
a level sensor disposed within the evaporator vessel for sensing a level of saltwater within the evaporator vessel and a control system operatively connected to the level sensor, the control system controlling fluid flow through the saltwater inlet port and through the saltwater outlet port to maintain an operating level of saltwater within the evaporator vessel at or above the open end of the ambient air supply tube; and
a condensing unit, the condensing unit including a condensing vessel having an inlet and an outlet for supplying a cooling liquid to an interior of the condensing vessel, a vapor pipe passing through the condensing vessel and located at least partially within the condensing vessel at an elevation below a normal operating surface level of the cooling liquid, the vapor pipe being fluidly connected to the gas exit port, and a condensed water removal valve for removing condensed water from the vapor pipe,
wherein the weir includes a first weir end and a second weir end, a first circulation gap being defined between the first weir end and a first wall of the evaporator vessel and a second circulation gap being defined between the second weir end and a second wall of the evaporator vessel, dispersal of ambient air through the open end of the ambient air supply tube causing a continuous flow pattern of combined ambient air and saltwater upward through the first confined volume, outward through the first circulation gap, where ambient air separates from the saltwater, down through a second confined volume between the weir and the evaporator vessel, and through the second circulation gap back into the first confined volume.
2. The desalination system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a baffle disposed in the evaporator vessel proximate the second circulation gap and generally perpendicular to the weir.
3. The desalination system of claim 1 , further including a plurality of gas exit ports disposed proximate the open end of the ambient air supply tube, wherein each gas exit port is substantially rectangular in shape.
4. The desalination system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reinforcing plate attached to the evaporator vessel and attached to the weir.
5. The desalination system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a stabilizer ring attached to the reinforcing plate and disposed between the tube and the weir.
6. The desalination system of claim 1 , wherein the ambient air supply tube is connected to a source of solar energy heat.
7. The desalination system of claim 1 , wherein the saltwater inlet port is connected to a source of saltwater.
8. The desalination system of claim 1 , further comprising a demister connected to the gas exit port.
9. The desalination system of claim 7 , wherein the source of saltwater is a source of seawater.
10. The desalination system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling liquid inlet is a seawater inlet.
11. The desalination system of claim 10 , wherein the seawater inlet is connected to a source of seawater.
12. The desalination system of claim 1 , wherein the ambient air supply tube is supplied with ambient air directly from an ambient air line without being heated.
13. The desalination system of claim 1 , wherein the source of saltwater is a source of brine.
14. A desalination system, comprising:
an evaporator unit, the evaporator unit including an evaporator vessel, an ambient air supply tube extending into the evaporator vessel, the ambient air supply tube being connected directly to an ambient air line, the ambient air supply tube including an open end within the vessel, a saltwater inlet port for supplying saltwater into the evaporator vessel, a condensed saltwater outlet port for releasing condensed saltwater from the evaporator vessel, a gas exit port that directs gas out of the evaporator vessel, and a weir disposed within the evaporator vessel adjacent the ambient air supply tube, a space between the weir and the ambient air supply tube defining a confined volume;
a level sensor disposed within the evaporator vessel for sensing a level of saltwater within the evaporator vessel and a control system operatively connected to the level sensor, the control system controlling fluid flow through the saltwater inlet port and through the saltwater outlet port to maintain an operating level of saltwater within the evaporator vessel at or above the open end of the ambient air supply tube; and
a condensing unit, the condensing unit including a condensing vessel having an inlet and an outlet for supplying a cooling liquid to an interior of the condensing vessel, a vapor pipe passing through the condensing vessel and located at least partially within the condensing vessel at an elevation below a normal operating surface level of the cooling liquid, the vapor pipe being fluidly connected to the gas exit port, and a condensed water removal valve for removing condensed water from the vapor pipe,
wherein ambient air passing through the ambient air line and the ambient air supply tube is not actively heated before entering the evaporator vessel, and the weir includes a first weir end and a second weir end, a first circulation gap being defined between the first weir end and a first wall of the evaporator vessel and a second circulation gap being defined between the second weir end and a second wall of the evaporator vessel, dispersal of ambient air through the open end of the ambient air supply tube causing a continuous flow pattern of combined ambient air and saltwater upward through the first confined volume, outward through the first circulation gap, where ambient air separates from the saltwater, down through a second confined volume between the weir and the evaporator vessel, and through the second circulation gap back into the first confined volume.
15. The desalination system of claim 14 , wherein the weir is disposed concentric with and adjacent to the ambient air supply tube.
16. The desalination system of claim 14 , further comprising a baffle disposed in the evaporator vessel.
17. The desalination system of claim 16 , wherein the baffle is oriented substantially perpendicular to the weir.