Patent Application
20130269372
This application does not claim priority from any other application.
This invention relates to a waste oil-based water production system and a process which utilizes waste oil via a chiller to produce, store, treat and/or dispense potable and/or drinkable water.
In many parts of the world there is a significant issue with the disposition of waste oil generated from numerous sources, including from automobiles and other industrial equipment. At the same time and in many of the same and other parts of the world, there is a shortage of water sufficient quality for use as potable water and/or for use as drinking water.
This invention provides a solution for these issues by providing an air to water conversion that, while cleanly burning waste oil, also provides a source of water derived from the condensation of the moisture or humidity (water) in the ambient air.
It is therefore an object of embodiments of this invention to provide a system which concurrently and relatively cleanly burns waste oil and converts the water vapor in the ambient air to potable or drinkable water.
It is also an object of embodiments of this invention to provide a process which utilizes by combusting in a relatively clean manner waste oil to provide energy to a chiller which causes vapor in the air to condense for collection, treatment, storage and/or dispensation.
While the invention was motivated in addressing some objectives, it is in no way so limited. The invention is only limited by the accompanying claims as literally worded, without interpretative or other limiting reference to the specification, and in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents. Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of this invention, it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible to change in design and structural arrangement, with only one practical and preferred embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as required.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art or science; therefore, they will not be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application or embodiment of any element may already be widely known or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science; therefore, each will not be discussed in significant detail.
The terms “a”, “an” and “the” as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “at least one”.
At step 120, the water chiller circulates cold fluid to and through the one or more evaporators 110a and 110b. It will be appreciated that based on relative sizing and the desired application or embodiment, one or any number of additional evaporators may be utilized within the contemplation of this invention. The ambient air is condensed at 122, thereby producing usable water from the water vapor that was previously in the air. The condensed water may then be collected in a water collector 127, which may also be combined with and as a water storage container 114. In some embodiments of this invention the water may be treated for bacteria and/or other undesirables, illustrated by box 112. The water is then provided to a water storage container or tank 114, and then further provided for possible use by a water dispenser 115, as reflected by step 125.
A water dispenser which may be utilized as contemplated by this invention, may be any one of a number of different known water dispensers available with no one in particular being required to practice this invention. For example a water dispenser as is publicly available from AWG International, Bellingham, Wash., as well as any one of a number of other brands and models, may be used.
In order to provide a workable system, a form of water treatment is preferably used via water treatment apparatus 112. The water treatment apparatus may provide any one of a number of different levels of water treatment and purification, such as water purification at 124 for drinking water, hot water or other desired levels of purification. Once the water is purified as desired at step 124, then the water may be stored in a water storage apparatus 114—although those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the treatment may occur at or before the water collector 127, at or before the water storage 114 and/or at or before the water dispenser 115, within the contemplation of this invention.
The water as treated may then be dispensed in any one of a number of different ways, including that shown by step 125 wherein the water is provided to a water dispenser 115 wherein it may be removed as desired for the intended use(s). The dispenser may also be a dispensing machine which are generally known, and wherein a fee may be charged, for the dispensing of the water.
As one example of a chiller unit which may be utilized in practicing some embodiments of this invention, U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,829, which is hereby incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein.
For thermostatically controlled chillers, when the thermostat calls for the space to be cooled, a source of heat or burner heats the generator 201, causing the ammonia solution in the generator 201 to boil. During the boiling process within the generator 201, the ammonia in solution is separated from the water, leaves the generator 201 and enters the condenser 202, where it is condensed to liquid form. As the liquid ammonia leaves the condenser 202, it passes through a refrigerant restrictor 203, which lowers the pressure as the ammonia enters the evaporator 204.
In the evaporators 204 and 265, the liquid ammonia may vaporize to a gaseous state, and during the vaporization, heat is absorbed from the water dripping over the outer surface of the evaporator coils 204a and 265a, thereby cooling the water to a predetermined temperature, generally in the forty five degrees Fahrenheit range. The chilled water is then pumped to the space where cooling is desired. It will be appreciated that this invention is not limited to a particular type or manufacture of evaporator.
The gaseous ammonia from the evaporator 204 then enters the absorber 205 where it is absorbed into water and the ammonia-water solution is then pumped by solution pump 206 back to the generator 201 for re-use. The generator 201 may be an enclosure with a heat exchanger connected to it.
The system may include a means for controlling the actuation of the source compressed air, the preferred embodiment of which includes a solenoid, set to actuate an air valve 237 at pre-determined time intervals, operates the air valve 237 thereby causing it to open and release the compressed air through the air holes 234 and over the heat transfer surface on the generator 201. The operation of the air valve every ten minutes is currently the preferred time interval to maintain the heat transfer surface on the generator sufficiently clean. The solenoid causes the valve to open for approximately two seconds. The blast of air removes the soot and residue from the heat transfer surface, which is then blown against exhaust assembly wall 239, where it drops into particulate removal container 236. The other products of combustion, which are at elevated temperatures, flow through exhaust assembly 235 and are thereby discharged.
It will be appreciated that
Examples of waste oil heater assemblies and systems which can be utilized in combination with the chiller are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,089 and 4,877,395, issued to the inventors herein, and are incorporated herein by reference.
The steps illustrated in
As will be appreciated by those of reasonable skill in the art, there are numerous embodiments to this invention, and variations of elements, components and combinations, which may be used, all within the scope of this invention.
One embodiment of this invention, for example, is a waste oil based chiller water production system comprising: a source of waste oil; a waste oil burner with a combustion chamber, operatively connected to the source of waste oil to receive waste oil therefrom for combustion; a water chiller configured to receive heat from the waste oil burner, an evaporator configured to receive fluid from the chiller with the evaporator further configured to allow water vapor in air surrounding the evaporator to condense; and a water collector configured relative to the evaporator to receive water condensed on the evaporator.
Further embodiments of that described in the preceding paragraph may include a waste oil based chiller water production system further comprising a water treatment system operatively connected to the water collector and configured to receive water therefrom and treat or purify the water; or such a waste oil based chiller further comprising a water storage tank operatively connected to the water collector and configured to receive water from the water storage collector. The foregoing may further include a water dispenser operatively connected to the water storage tank and configured to receive water from the water storage tank for dispensation.
The embodiments described above may also include a water dispenser operatively connected to the water collector and configured to receive water from the water collector for dispensation. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the water dispenser may be of any one of a number of different types, such as a vending machine type of dispenser.
In yet other embodiments of this invention, a process for the utilization of waste oil to produce usable water via a chiller may be provided which includes the following: providing a source of waste oil; providing a waste oil storage tank; providing a waste oil burner operatively connected to the waste oil storage tank; providing waste oil to the storage tank; pumping said waste oil from said storage tank to the waste oil burner; combusting the waste oil in the waste oil burner and thereby producing heat energy; providing a water chiller; utilizing the heat energy from the combustion of the waste oil in the water chiller; providing one or more evaporators operatively connected to the water chiller, collecting condensate water from the evaporator; and providing the condensate water for further dispensation.
Further embodiments of that described in the preceding paragraph may include further treating the condensate water for bacterial after it is collected. Still further embodiments may also include providing a water storage tank operatively connected to receive condensate water collected and provide storage therefore; and a water dispenser operatively connected to receive water from the water storage tank and facilitate its dispensation. Again, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the water dispenser may be any one of a number of different types of water dispensers, such as a vending machine type of water dispenser.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
