Patent Application
20120205233
The present invention generally relates to purification of water, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for purifying water using thermal energy.
Rising population and increased urbanization have increased the demand for treated water, particularly healthy potable water. Consequently there has been a demand for apparatuses and processes that derive fresh water from salt water or contaminated water. Contaminated and polluted ground water can be rendered drinkable through a variety of purification processes. For example, such water purification processes include filtration, biological treatment, thermal water desalination, reverse osmosis, and distillation. Reverse osmosis processes typically produce large amounts of concentrated contaminated waste, which may be environmentally hazardous. Further, a ratio of purified water to contaminated water decreases with an increase in level of contamination in the contaminated water. Thus, the reverse osmosis process rejects a large quantity of water. Additionally, in reverse osmosis processes, contaminated water needs pre-filtration, cooling, and chemical treatment prior to being treated. Finally, a membrane used in the reverse osmosis process needs periodic replacement.
In many applications, distillation is regarded as superior to other purification processes due to usefulness of this process in distilling fresh water from salt water, and in removing toxic chemicals from contaminated water. However, a typical distillation process uses filtration operations that generate salts or contaminants as residue when the salt water or the contaminated water is converted into steam. These salts and contaminants left behind as residue cause scaling and “blow-down” in filters. Blow-down is the process that involves settling of mineral deposits in the filters. The scaling and the “blow-down” in the filters, in turn has detrimental effects on purifying ability of the distillation process. Furthermore, in order to efficiently purify the water using the distillation process, the filter requires frequent maintenance to overcome the scaling and the “blow-down”.
Additionally, these distillation processes utilize thermal energy from metered energy or other expensive energy sources for converting the contaminated water into steam. Further, condensation of the steam by bringing the steam to a lower temperature to obtain a purified water also requires expensive forms of energy.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for purifying water using thermal energy derived from efficient energy sources and with less water rejects. Additionally there is a need for a process for effective removal of contaminants that remain when contaminated water is converted into the steam.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.
Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to method and apparatus for purifying water. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for purifying water using thermal energy. The apparatus includes one or more fluid pipes for transporting a hot fluid and a heating unit capable of receiving the hot fluid from the one or more fluid pipes and water. The water is heated using the hot fluid to generate steam and a condensed fluid. The apparatus further comprises one or more steam pipes for transporting the steam and a fluid circulation pipe connected to the heating unit and the at least one fluid pipe. The fluid circulation pipe receives the condensed fluid from the heating unit. At least a portion of each steam pipe is arranged in a heat-exchanging relationship with the fluid circulation pipe for condensing the steam passing through each steam pipe using the condensed fluid to obtain purified water.
Apparatus 100 includes one or more fluid pipes such as, a fluid pipe 105, a heating unit 110, one or more steam pipes such as, a steam pipe 115, a fluid circulation pipe 120, and one or more water pipes such as, a water pipe 125. Apparatus 100 processes the water received from the external sources to provide purified water. The one or more fluid pipes are connected to heating unit 110. The one or more fluid pipes transport and supply a hot fluid to heating unit 110. The hot fluid may include, but is not limited to, air, a gas, a mixture of two or more gases, a liquid, and a mixture of liquids. The hot fluid may be generated by heating a fluid passing through the one or more fluid pipes using thermal energy. In this scenario, the one or more fluid pipes may be configured to receive the thermal energy from one or more thermal energy sources for heating the fluid. The one or more thermal energy sources may include, but is not limited to a solar energy source, a heating coil, a waste process heat source and a geothermal heat source. For example, fluid pipe 105 is configured to receive solar energy from the sun for heating the fluid passing through fluid pipe 105. In an embodiment, a fluid pipe such as, fluid pipe 102 may include an electric heating coil for heating the fluid passing through the fluid pipe. The electric heating coil may be placed within the fluid pipe for heating the fluid. Alternatively, the electric heating coil may be configured in any other location in proximity to the fluid pipe for heating the fluid. However, the fluid may be heated using any other heating mechanisms known in the art.
In an embodiment, the one or more fluid pipes may be positioned in parallel with respect to each other. Alternatively, the one or more fluid pipes may be arranged concentrically with respect to each other. In another embodiment, the one or more fluid pipes may be arranged in a coiled manner or a serpentine manner. However, it would be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the one or more fluid pipes may be positioned at any angle and arranged in any fashion for facilitating the transfer of the thermal energy to the fluid. The hot fluid obtained is then supplied to heating unit 110. The hot fluid is passed into a cavity within heating unit 110. The direction of flow of the hot fluid within apparatus 100 is illustrated by arrows shown in the
Heating unit 110 includes one or more water pipes such as, a water pipe 125 for receiving the water. In an embodiment, water pipe 125 is configured within heating unit 110 as illustrated in
In an embodiment, the hot fluid received from the one or more fluid pipes may be directly passed into heating unit 110. Alternatively, the hot fluid may be compressed using a fluid blower 135 prior to being passed into heating unit 110. Further, the hot fluid may be diffused using one or more diffusers present in heating unit 110. The working of the one or more diffusers is explained in further detail in conjunction with
The steam is collected by the one or more steam pipes such as, steam pipe 115 from heating unit 110. In an embodiment, the one or more steam pipes such as, steam pipe 115 may be connected to one or more water pipes such as, water pipe 125 for collecting the steam. In response to converting the water into the steam, waste matter may settle within the one or more water pipes. The waste matter may be, for example, but not limited to salts and contaminants. Further, since the water is converted into the steam, the waste matter that remains in heating unit 110 may be solid waste matter. The waste matter may be removed using one or more waste removers such as, a waste remover 145. A waste remover of the one or more waste removers used for the removal of the waste matter is described in detail in conjunction with in
The steam collected is then condensed using the condensed fluid passing through fluid circulation pipe 120. More specifically, at least a portion of steam pipe 115 may be positioned within fluid circulation pipe 120 to form a heat-exchanging relationship between steam pipe 115 and fluid circulation pipe 120. Thus, a transfer of heat energy occurs from the steam to the condensed fluid to obtain a purified water. The process of condensing the steam within apparatus 100 is explained in detail in conjunction with
Diffuser 205-1 facilitates transfer of the thermal energy from the hot fluid to the water passing through the one or more water pipes such as, water pipe 125, to convert the water into the steam. When the hot fluid flows through diffuser 205-1, the hot fluid is allowed to diffuse from a smaller area towards a larger area. In an embodiment, the speed of the hot fluid with diffuser 205-1 may be below the speed of sound. Thus, when the hot fluid moves from the smaller area to the larger area, speed of the hot fluid reduces and the pressure and temperature of the hot fluid increases. As a result, the heat energy from the hot fluid is efficiently transferred to the water passing through the one or more water pipes such as, water pipe 125. Diffuser 205-1 may also allow efficient flow of the hot fluid from the one or more fluid pipes into heating unit 110 by reducing resistance. Diffuser 205-2 is connected to fluid circulation pipe 120 for circulating the condensed fluid out of heating unit 110.
The steam generated within the one or more water pipes such as, water pipe 125 is then converted into the purified water. A steam pipe such as, steam pipe 115 is used to collect the steam from water pipe 125.
The steam transferred is then condensed using the condensed fluid received from heating unit 110. A fluid circulation pipe such as, fluid circulation pipe 120 used to circulate the condensed fluid out of heating unit 110, may be connected to the one or more steam pipes, such as steam pipe 115. At least a portion such as, a portion 305 of steam pipe 115 may be arranged in a heat exchanging relationship with the fluid circulation pipe for condensing the steam. For example, portion 305 of steam pipe 115 may be configured within the fluid circulation pipe such as, fluid circulation pipe 120 to establish the heat exchanging relationship. The steam passes through steam pipe 115 to reach portion 305. The steam is then condensed to obtain the purified water using the condensed fluid circulated within the fluid circulation pipe.
In an embodiment, portion 305 may be coiled within the fluid circulation pipe. As portion 305 is coiled, surface area available for facilitating the heat exchange between the steam and the condensed fluid is increased. Due to the increased surface area, efficient transfer of heat energy from the steam to the condensed fluid may be achieved. Transfer of the heat energy of the steam to the condensed fluid may result in reuse of the latent heat by an apparatus such as, apparatus 100. In another embodiment, portion 305 may be tapered at the top and widened at the bottom, thereby allowing the steam to diffuse while passing through portion 305. However, it will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that portion 305 may be configured in any other manner to enable efficient transfer of the heat energy from the steam to the condensed fluid.
The purified water obtained after the condensation is collected through a purified water outlet 310. Further, a heated fluid received after the condensation of the steam may be circulated into the one or more fluid pipes by the fluid circulation pipe. Alternatively, the heated fluid may be compressed using a fluid blower such as, fluid blower 135. As described in conjunction with
Now referring back to the waste matter generated within the one or more water pipes such as, water pipe 125, the waste matter needs to be continuously removed from the water pipe. Thus, the waste matter may be removed from each water pipe using a waste remover.
Waste remover 405 may driven by a driving unit 425. In an embodiment, driving unit 425 may include a motor unit 430 connected to a pulley 435 through a shaft 440. Pulley 435 is connected to waste remover 405 using a belt 445. In this case, when motor unit 430 is operated, shaft 440 rotates. Consequently, pulley 435 operates to run belt 445 in order to rotate waste remover 405. In another embodiment, driving unit 425 may include a motor unit connected to a gear through a shaft. The gear may be connected to a shaft of the waste remover using a belt. When the shaft connected to the motor unit rotates, the gear rotates to operate the shaft connected to the waste remover. Thus, the waste remover operates within the water pipe such as, water pipe 400 or water pipe 125 to remove the waste matter. It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that driving unit 425 may be any other driving units known in the art, but not limited to a belt driving unit, a viscous torque coupling driving unit and a chain driving unit.
Now moving to
Thereafter, at step 608 the steam is carried from the heating unit by one or more steam pipes. The one or more steam pipes may have a heat-exchanging relationship with the one or more fluid circulation pipes. For example, at least a portion of a steam pipe may be configured within a fluid circulation pipe to establish a heat-exchanging relationship between the steam and the condensed fluid flowing through the fluid circulation pipe. In an embodiment, the steam is transported through a coiled portion of a steam pipe configured within the fluid circulation pipe for condensing the steam. The arrangement of the portion of the steam pipe within the fluid circulation pipe is explained in conjunction with
Moreover, the condensed fluid is converted into a heated fluid within the one or more fluid circulation pipes in response to condensation of the steam. Thereafter, the heated fluid is supplied to the one or more fluid pipes to be further heated using the one or more thermal energy sources. In an embodiment, the heated fluid is compressed prior to circulating a compressed fluid into the one or more fluid pipes. The hot fluid thus obtained in the one or more fluid pipes is then delivered to the heating unit. This is explained in detail in conjunction with
Various embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for purifying water using thermal energy. The method includes receiving water and hot fluid in a heating unit. The received water is converted into steam using the thermal energy of the hot fluid. The thermal energy is received from a thermal energy source, such as, for example a solar energy source, a waste process heat source, or a geothermal heat source. Therefore, the apparatus converts the water into the purified water using an energy source that is less expensive. Further, as the steam is condensed using a condensed fluid circulated from the heating unit to obtain the purified water, a latent heat of the steam is used for re-heating the condensed fluid. This heated fluid is then supplied back to the heating unit for heating the water such as, raw water. Thus, apparatus re-uses the latent heat of the steam for conversion of the raw water to obtain a purified water.
The conversion of the water into the steam leaves behind waste matter in the one or more water pipes. However, the apparatus includes one or more waste removers used for continuously removing the waste matter from the one or more water pipes. The removal of the waste matter prevents scaling and “blow-down” from occurring in a water storage unit of a water pipe. This continuous removal of the waste matter from the heating unit allows usage of water with high concentrations of salts or high levels of contamination to be purified effectively.
The steam obtained is transported from the heating unit by a steam pipe. The steam pipe may be configured to have a heat-exchanging relationship with a fluid circulation pipe. Therefore, a portion of the steam pipe is configured within a fluid circulation pipe to facilitate the exchange of heat energy between the condensed fluid passing through the fluid circulation pipe and the steam to obtain purified water. Thus, the apparatus is designed in a compact manner such as to re-circulate the fluid within the apparatus for heating the raw water to obtain a purified water.
Those skilled in the art will realize that the above recognized advantages and other advantages described herein are merely exemplary and are not meant to be a complete rendering of all of the advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The present invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
