IP Library Granted Patent US 10,946,302
Granted Patent B2
US 10,946,302 · App. 16/017,458 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Water vapor distillation apparatus, method and system

Inventors: Dean Kamen (Bedford, NH); Prashant Bhat (Bedford, NH); Ryan K. LaRocque (Manchester, NH); Otis L. Clapp (Manchester, ME); Andrew A. Schnellinger (Merrimack, NH); Christopher C. Langenfeld (Nashua, NH); Stanley B. Smith, III (Raymond, NH)
Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
B01D3/00B01D1/28B01D5/006B01D45/08C02F1/048C02F1/16F04C19/002F04D13/06F04D23/008F04D25/026F04D29/023F04D29/057F04D29/063F05D2300/43F05D2300/512Y02W10/37
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,946,302
App. No.
16/017,458
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid vapor distillation apparatus. The apparatus includes a source fluid input, and an evaporator condenser apparatus. The evaporator condenser apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical housing and a plurality of tubes in the housing. The source fluid input is fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser and the evaporator condenser transforms source fluid into steam and transforms compressed steam into product fluid. Also included in the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the source fluid input and a product fluid output. The heat exchanger includes an outer tube and at least one inner tube. Also included in the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is a regenerative blower fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser. The regenerative blower compresses steam, and the compressed steam flows to the evaporative condenser where compressed steam is transformed into product fluid.

Claims (69)

1. A distillation apparatus comprising:

a source liquid input;

an evaporator condenser apparatus, wherein source liquid is converted to a vapor in the evaporator portion and a compressed vapor is converted to a product liquid;

a heat exchanger fluidly connected to said source liquid input and a product liquid output; and

a vapor compressor fluidly connected to said evaporator condenser comprising:

an impeller comprising a disk and a plurality of blades;

a casing comprising:

an inlet port to receive vapor; and

an outlet port to provide compressed vapor;

a stripper plate positioned between said inlet port and said outlet port, the stripper plate having a clearance relative to the plurality of blades, whereby only within the blades does vapor pass the stripper plate;

a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprising:

a shaft; and

at least one liquid fed bearing; and

a motor configured to drive the shaft, the motor comprising:

an inner magnet;

an outer magnet; and

a drive motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the evaporator condenser apparatus comprising:

a substantially cylindrical housing; and

a plurality of tubes in said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger fluidly connected to said source fluid input and a product liquid output, said heat exchanger comprising:

at least one outer tube; and

at least one inner tube aligned with the outer tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inner magnet and said outer magnet are axially positioned one to another.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic coupling shell positioned between said inner magnet and outer magnet wherein said magnetic coupling shell seals steam that is being compressed.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heat exchanger is disposed about said housing of said evaporator condenser.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger further comprising at least three inner tubes.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said at least three inner tubes are twined to form a substantially helical shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said evaporator condenser tubes further comprising packing inside at least one of said plurality of tubes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said packing is a rod.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said evaporator condenser further comprising a steam chest fluidly connected to said plurality of tubes.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vapor compressor is a regenerative blower.

13. A distillation apparatus comprising:

a source liquid input;

an evaporator condenser apparatus wherein source liquid is converted to a vapor in the evaporator portion and a compressed vapor is converted to a product liquid;

a heat exchanger fluidly connected to said source liquid input and a product liquid output;

a vapor compressor fluidly connected to said evaporator condenser comprising:

an impeller comprising a disk and a plurality of blades;

a casing comprising:

an inlet port; and

an outlet port;

a shaft assembly wherein said shaft assembly comprising:

a shaft; and

at least one product liquid fed bearing; and

a motor configured to drive said shaft, the motor comprising:

an inner magnet;

an outer magnet; and

a drive motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a stripper plate positioned between said inlet port and said outlet port, the stripper plate having a clearance relative to the plurality of blades, whereby only within the blades does vapor pass the stripper plate.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said inner magnet and said outer magnet are axially positioned one to another.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a magnetic coupling shell positioned between said inner magnet and outer magnet wherein said magnetic coupling shell seals steam that is being compressed.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the vapor compressor is a regenerative blower.

18. A distillation apparatus comprising:

a vapor compressor fluidly connected to an evaporator condenser comprising:

an impeller comprising a disk and a plurality of blades;

a casing comprising:

an inlet port for receiving vapor; and

an outlet port for providing compressed vapor;

a stripper plate positioned between said inlet port and said outlet port; the stripper plate having a clearance relative to the plurality of blades, wherein the flow of compressed vapor to inlet port is reduced;

a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprising:

a shaft; and

at least one water fed bearing; and

a motor configured to drive the shaft, the motor comprising:

an inner magnet;

an outer magnet; and

a drive motor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said inner magnet and said outer magnet are axially positioned one to another.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a magnetic coupling shell positioned between said inner magnet and outer magnet wherein said magnetic coupling shell seals steam that is being compressed.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the vapor compressor is a regenerative blower.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2022
From: KAMEN, DEAN; LANGENFELD, CHRISTOPHER C.; SMITH, STANLEY B., III; BHAT, PRASHANT; LAROCQUE, RYAN K.; SCHNELLINGER, ANDREW A.; CLAPP, OTIS L.
To: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Reel/Frame 060112/0068 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation 14080176 · Nov 14, 2013
Continuation 13311227 · Dec 5, 2011
Continuation 12135035 · Jun 6, 2008
Continuation In Part 11480294 · Jun 30, 2006
Continuation In Part 10713617 · Nov 13, 2003
Continuation In Part 11168239 · Jun 28, 2005
Continuation In Part 10720802 · Nov 24, 2003
Continuation In Part 10713617 · Nov 13, 2003
Continuation 10713591 · Nov 13, 2003
Continuation In Part 10713617 · Nov 13, 2003
Provisional Application 60933525 · Jun 7, 2007
Provisional Application 60518782 · Nov 10, 2003
Provisional Application 60490615 · Jul 28, 2003
Provisional Application 60425820 · Nov 13, 2002
Related Publication 20180304169A1 · Oct 25, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,428,316