# US 10,479,700 B2 · System and method of desalination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,700 B2 - Document ID: US10479700B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/306,196 - Filed: 2014-04-25 - Published: 2017-06-22 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-25 - Applicants: Alain El Ayi - Inventors: Alain El Ayi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479700B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/06: Flash evaporation - B01D 3/06: Flash distillation - B01D 3/103: {by using a barometric column} - B01D 3/42: Regulation; Control - B01D 5/0048: {Barometric condensation} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/04: by distillation or evaporation - C02F 1/046: {under vacuum produced by a barometric column} - C02F 1/16: using waste heat from other processes - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - Y02A 20/124: Water desalination - Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract The present invention relates to a system and method using a reservoir specially designed for desalinating sea water. The invention makes it possible to evaporate the sea water and condense the resulting vapor at low pressure. Discharges into the sea resulting from said desalination operations have a low salt concentration. The present system and method can be used to recycle energy, even energy which is difficult to recycle, for desalinating sea water, or can be combined with other desalination techniques, for example such as MSF evaporation or MED distillation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of desalination of sea water, comprising: provision of a sealed reservoir disposed at the edge of the sea, comprising a filling device disposed on the roof, along with one or more openings disposed below sea level and being in communication with the sea; filling of the reservoir with sea water by the filling device, with the openings being hermetically sealed, followed by closing of the filling device to render the reservoir sealed; opening of the openings, placing the water which is inside the reservoir in communication with the water of the sea, wherewith the water level in the reservoir will decrease and will stabilize at a height h above the level of the sea, wherewith water vapor is produced in the reservoir above said height h, and wherewith the ceiling of the reservoir will have a height above the level of the sea greater than the height h to allow treatment of the water vapor produced in the reservoir; condensation of the water vapor produced, to obtain desalinated water; and removal of water from the water surface located at a height h in the reservoir toward the sea, in order to maintain the temperature of the water at the surface of the reservoir at the temperature of the water of the sea. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the base of the reservoir is disposed below the level of the sea, with the openings being disposed on the face of the reservoir facing the sea, below the level of the sea. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein part of the water vapor is continuously removed from the reservoir, prior to being condensed outside the reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more superposed basins are provided in the interior of the reservoir, above the surface of the water in the reservoir and parallel to the surface of the water in the reservoir, wherewith the sea water from inside the reservoir is pumped into these basins, and the water in these basins is continuously removed toward the sea, wherewith the water vapor is condensed in each basin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a first reservoir, and the method further comprises: feeding sea water to a second reservoir which functions in the same manner as the first reservoir, the feeding being by means of pumps and pipes, from an intake point of the water inside the sea at a depth Z below the sea level, with the temperature of the water in the second reservoir being lower than the temperature of the water in the first reservoir, wherewith the water in the second reservoir is used to condense the water vapor of the first reservoir, and wherewith the water from the second reservoir, which undergoes a temperature increase during the condensation, is removed to the sea; wherein the water from the second reservoir is injected into pipes disposed in the space in which the water vapor of the first reservoir is disposed, so as to condense a part of the water vapor and to pass the water of condensation to reservoirs intended to collect that water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the level of the sea facing the openings of the reservoir is stabilized by means of walls which provide closed containment spaces, and wherein a system of treatment is provided being disposed in the containment walls, for treating the water of the sea which enters into the containment spaces and is used to feed the reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising recycling of energy provided by other facilities, with injection of heat into the reservoir via tubes traversing the reservoir, and distillation of the water of the reservoir which has been heated is accomplished via a system of successive basins equipped with condensers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising multistage flash evaporation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising desalination by means of multi-effect distillation.