Patent Application
20120228119
The present invention is generally related to a distillation system, and more particularly is related to a distillation system with vertically oriented rotating plates.
The use of a distillation process, which is evaporation and condensation of the vapors, for the separation of liquids has been known for some time. Most commercial distillation systems utilize a simpler boiler to vaporize the liquid and draw off a vapor into a condenser where it is condensed and recovered. Such systems, however, require a significant amount of energy, which is in short supply in many third world countries that have trouble producing safe drinking water.
Vapor compression distillation has also been known for some time and is a more thermally efficient system of distillation wherein a compressor is utilized to elevate the temperature of steam. The steam temperature enables systemic thermal exchange wherein heat dissipated in condensation is exchanged through a thermally conductive barrier to induce heat for vaporization in a continuous process of thermal exchange. Vapor compression distillation systems present operational and commercialization challenges wherein opportunities for configuration improvements are presented.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for distilling water. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a liquid-tight enclosure. An input source is connected to the liquid-tight enclosure for inputting a quantity of water into the liquid-tight enclosure. A plurality of substantially vertical rotatable plates aligned along a substantially horizontal axis within the liquid-tight enclosure, wherein at least a portion of each of the substantially vertical rotatable plates is submerged within the quantity of water inside the liquid-tight enclosure, and wherein each of the substantially vertical rotatable plates has an opening. At least one manifold, having one or more exit ports, extends through a plurality of the openings of the substantially vertical rotatable plates, wherein a portion of the quantity of water is transferred via the substantially vertical rotatable plates to the manifold during a rotation of the plurality of substantially vertical plates. An output opening is formed in the liquid-tight enclosure, the output opening arranged in fluid communication with the manifold.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for distilling liquid. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: inputting a liquid into a liquid-tight enclosure; heating the liquid within the liquid-tight enclosure; rotating a plurality of substantially vertical rotatable plates aligned along a substantially horizontal axis within the liquid-tight enclosure, wherein at least a portion of each of the substantially vertical rotatable plates is submerged within the liquid inside the liquid-tight enclosure, and wherein each of the substantially vertical rotatable plates has an opening; moving at least a portion of the liquid to at least one manifold traversing the openings of the substantially vertical rotatable plates with the plurality of rotating substantially vertical plates; and outputting the portion of the liquid from the manifold.
The present invention can also be viewed as an apparatus for distilling fluid. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. The apparatus includes a liquid-tight chamber having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion housing a quantity of liquid. A plurality of disks having a radii are aligned on a substantially horizontal central axis, wherein the radii of the plurality of disks are situated perpendicular to the substantially horizontal central axis and the plurality of disks are submerged at least partially within the quantity of liquid. A gas-fired boiler is in thermal communication with the liquid-tight chamber, wherein activation of the gas-fired boiler induces a change in a temperature of the quantity of liquid and a change in a pressure within the liquid-tight chamber. A rotation mechanism is situated to rotate and wet the plurality of disks, wherein a portion of the quantity of liquid is movable between and along the radii of at least two of the plurality of disks.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
In the first exemplary embodiment, the liquid-tight enclosure 20 includes a sump pan 12 and a steam chamber 16. The liquid-tight enclosure 20 may be constructed of any of a number of materials that are known to those having ordinary skill in the art. The sump pan 12 may generally be characterized as an enclosure capable of housing a quantity of liquid. The liquid-tight enclosure 20 may include at least one opening for inputting water and at least one output opening 30 for dispensing fluid. As used herein, fluid may include water, steam, a combination thereof, or any other liquid or gas or combination thereof. The input water is intended to be tap water, although other water sources may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention, such as mineral-infused, organic or inorganic chemical infused, biological, or pathogens-infused water, or water that includes added compositions.
The heating element 142 (shown in
The plurality of substantially vertical plates 24 is shown in
Each of the substantially vertical plates 24 may or may not have one or more grooves 26 (the grooves 26 are depicted in
The substantially vertical plates 24 may also include other design features, such as chamfered edges, textured edges, arced faces or other features, which may be included to optimize or otherwise improve the distillation process. One such design feature that may be included on the substantially vertical plates 24 is a surface finish applied to the face of the substantially vertical plates 24, which may optimize adhesion of the quantity of water to each of the substantially vertical plates 24. The surface finish may include dimples stamped into each of the substantially vertical plates 24 or may be formed from the application of a coating, a chemical treatment, a laser etching process, an abrasion or stamping die, or any other available to alter the surface of the substantially vertical plates 24, as one having ordinary skill in the art would recognize.
It should be noted that the orientation of the faces of the substantially vertical plates 24 is vertical, with each of the substantially vertical plates 24 partially submerged in the water. A vertical orientation also may be defined as substantially vertical, where the face of the substantially vertical plates 24 is configured substantially perpendicular to the axis of the substantially vertical plates 24, and the axis is disposed horizontally. This vertical orientation allows surface wetting of the substantially vertical plates 24 with relatively slow rotation speed. A vertical orientation is contrasted with distillation plates having horizontally oriented faces, which require rapid rotation speed that can spray water. Spraying water may result in cross-contamination by introducing undistilled water droplets into the steam vapor. Reduced rotational speed of the substantially vertical plates 24 may also contribute to reduced wear on the substantially vertical plates 24 and other elements of the distiller 10, thereby prolonging a useful lifetime of the distiller 10. The distiller 10 having a vertical orientation can be effective with a rotational speed of the substantially vertical plates 24 below 100 rotations per minute.
Each of the substantially vertical plates 124 may or may not have a groove formed thereon (
The distiller 110 may also include a boiler 144 in thermal and/or fluid communication the manifold 128 and/or the liquid-tight enclosure 120, via a flow tube 146. The boiler 144 may operate by burning fossil fuels, such as natural gas or any other fossil fuel, to heat and pressurize the liquid within the liquid-tight enclosure 120. A collection chamber 164 may be in fluid communication with a second end of the manifold 128. The boiler 144 may be in communication with the plurality of substantially vertical rotating plates 124 via a steam manifold. The steam manifold may connect the boiler 144 to any part of the plurality of substantially vertical rotating plates 124, such as an interior portion or interior chamber of the plurality of substantially vertical rotating plates 124. When the boiler 144 is operating, the liquid-tight enclosure 120 may be pressurized, such that fluid may be forced through the manifold 128, through a valve 170 and into the collection chamber 164 via a separation chamber 156. The use of the boiler 144 may provide for efficient operational conditions of the distiller 110. For example, liquid-tight enclosure 120 may be pressurized to 6-8 PSI corresponding to a temperature of steam within the liquid-tight enclosure 120 rising of 230-236° F. At these conditions, there exists a significant change in temperature over the sump water supply, which is approximately 210° F. or less. Overall, use of the boiler 144 may allow for around a 30% reduction in capital costs of the distiller 110 by eliminating the need for converting electrical energy into thermal energy with a compressor versus capturing thermal energy from the burning of natural gas as it comes for the source at the gas well head. As such, the complexity of the distiller 110 is reduced by eliminating any need for a compressor and motor.
The collection chamber 164 and the separation chamber 156 may be configured as a single vessel, wherein distillate is collected within the collection chamber 164. The separation chamber 156 may have a negative pressure from the connection with the liquid-tight enclosure 120. Steam from the liquid-tight enclosure 120 may force fluid through the manifold 128 and into the collection chamber 164. A distillate flow path 152 may be in communication with the collection chamber 164, whereby distilled water is released using a valve 169. The manifold 128 may include a thermal insulator sleeve (not shown) applied to an exterior of the manifold 128. The thermal insulator sleeve may reduce heat transfer from the steam flow into the distillate stream.
The present invention may be described as a vapor compression distiller. Vapor compression distillation, which is an established art, uses a compressor 144 to collect steam from a source, in this case the liquid-tight enclosure 120, via pressure deltas and elevates the pressure, thus the temperature of the steam. Within the liquid-tight enclosure 120, the pressure drops, lowering the boiling temperature thus increasing the steam supply. Water to steam is known to expand 1600×. Thus, a purpose of the heating element 142 is to maintain the required temperature to induce boiling, whereas the compression of the steam may be a substantial source of heat generation.
The compressor 144 is arranged such that steam is ported from the liquid-tight enclosure 120 to the compressor 144, which may elevate the pressure (thus temperature) of steam to approximately 1 atmosphere or greater in the interior of the paired-plate array. At least partially concurrently, the compressor 144 may induce a reduction in pressure within the liquid-tight enclosure 120 inducing vaporization at a temperature at approximately 1 atmosphere or less than that of effectuating a thermal delta on opposing sides of the substantially vertical plates 124. The thermal delta may result in systemic thermal recycling. The compressor 144 may thereby regulate a pressurized atmosphere within the liquid-tight enclosure 120.
The distiller 110 may also include a counter-flow heat exchanger 154 in fluid communication with both the distillate water flow path 152 and the input source 140. The distilled water in the distillate flow path 152 is hot from the distiller 110 and the input water 140 is a relatively ambient temperature, cooler than the recently distilled water, such that the distilled water heats the input water and the input water cools the distilled water within the counter-flow heat exchanger 154. In the configuration utilizing a gas burner, a counterflow heat exchanger may be utilized wherein exhaust heat will be exchange with input water at a lower temperature.
A separation chamber 156 may also be in communication with the distillate flow path 152. The separation chamber 156 may release steam back into the liquid-tight enclosure 120 through a re-feed path 158 while releasing distilled water through the output opening 130. A distillate pump 160 may assist in releasing the distilled water from the separation chamber 156 and/or feeding the counter-flow heat exchanger 154.
The plurality of substantially vertical plates 124 may further be arranged as an array of paired substantially vertical plates 124, wherein pairs of the substantially vertical plates 124 are abutting. The abutting pairs of the substantially vertical plates 124 may have the grooves formed symmetrically, wherein the grooves combine to form a channel between the abutting pairs of the substantially vertical plates 124.
The distiller 110 may also include a rotation motor 150 in mechanical communication with the plurality of substantially vertical plates 124 for rotating the plurality of substantially vertical plates 124. As shown in
The distiller 110 may also include a valve plate 131 in communication with the one or more exit ports 133 of the manifold 128. The exit port 133 may be any outlet structure in communication with the manifold 128. The valve plate 131 may maintain a vapor pressure within the plurality of vertical plates 124 during at least a portion of a horizontal rotation cycle of the plurality of substantially vertical plates 124. The valve plate 131 may also release the vapor pressure within a specified dwell angle range of rotation, or any number of dwell angle ranges of rotation, which allows expulsion of a distillate from the manifold 128, effectuating communication with the separation chamber 156. The valve plate 131 may include a variety of different designs, as one having ordinary skill in the art would recognize. All valve design and structures that enable maintaining vapor pressure within the plurality of vertical plates 124 and allow a release vapor pressure accordingly are considered within the scope of the present disclosure.
The distiller 110 may also include a plurality of wiper blades 162. The wiper blades 162, which may also be referred to as cleaning scrapers, may be generally characterized as any number of structures that may wipe or scrape the face of the substantially vertical plates 124. Each wiper blade 162 may be positioned between a portion of two of the substantially vertical plates 124. Each wiper blade 162 may be positioned to clean a portion of a surface of at least one substantially vertical plate 124, removing sediment deposited from evaporation. The wiper blades 162 may also include an abrasive texture on at least a portion of the wiper blades 162. The abrasive texture may optimize a surface finish on the face of the plurality of substantially vertical plates 124, which may result in a better wetting of the substantially vertical plates 124. The abrasive texture may include surface treatments or design configurations on the wiper blades 162, including, but not limited to serrations, friction enhancing textures and rigid or flexible scraping blades. The abrasive texture may also maintain the substantially vertical plates 124 face for optimal wetting. Cleaning may be achieved also by means of a transversion pressure washer having a spray head positioned to inject a stream of water between each of the plurality of substantially vertical rotatable plates 124. For example, the spray head may be moved parallel to the axis of rotation such that a high pressure spray is injected between the faces of the rotating substantially vertical plates 124.
The distiller 110 may also include the compressor 144 in fluid communication with a first end of the manifold 128 and separately in fluid communication with the liquid-tight enclosure 120, via a flow tube 146. The compressor 144 may be used without a boiler or in conjunction with the boiler, as may be dependent on the design and use of the distiller 110. The compressor 144 may be controlled by a system controlled motor (not shown) and supported by a plurality of legs 139. The compressor 144 may force fluid through the manifold 128 and into the collection chamber 164. The compressor 144 may utilize steam from the liquid-tight enclosure 120, via the flow tube 146, to force fluid through the manifold 128 and into the collection chamber (
As is shown by block 202, a liquid is input into a liquid-tight enclosure 120. The liquid is heated within the liquid-tight enclosure 120 (block 204). A plurality of substantially vertical plates 124 aligned along a substantially horizontal axis 114 is rotated within the liquid-tight enclosure 120, wherein at least a portion of each of the substantially vertical plates 124 is submerged within the liquid inside the liquid-tight enclosure 120, and wherein each of the substantially vertical plates 124 has an opening 125 (block 206). At least a portion of the liquid is moved to at least one manifold 128 traversing the openings 125 of the substantially vertical rotatable plates 124 with the plurality of rotating substantially vertical plates 124 (block 208). The fluid is output from the manifold 128 (block 210). The method may also include a number of other steps or variations thereof, including steps relating to any of the functions disclosed with respect to
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claim.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/572,570, entitled, “Distillation System with Vertically Oriented Rotating Plates” filed Oct. 2, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/106,168 filed Oct. 17, 2008, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61106168 | Oct 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12572570 | Oct 2009 | US |
| Child | 13466575 | US |
