Control of hot air flow circulation within a solar desalination system

A method for circulating hot air in a solar desalination system, the method including:

• providing a desalination structure, the desalination structure having:
• an outer surface with an external surface layer, and an internal surface layer, with an air flow path defined between the external surface layer and the internal surface layer providing an external fluid flow path in a direction from a base to a peak;
• a return flow conduit, the return flow conduit providing an internal fluid flow path in a direction from the peak towards the base, where the return flow conduit extends parallel to the air flow path, and has an opening located at a peak end of the return flow conduit;
• a fan, a check valve, and a control valve located along the return flow conduit, where the fan is located upstream of the control valve and the check valve, and the control valve is located upstream of the control valve;
• and
• a center column having an internal bore and located along an axis of the desalination structure;
• pumping a saline water through a water supply line located within the center column;
• spraying the saline water to provide a mist to an evaporization zone within the desalination structure exterior of the center column;
• heating an air flow from a base within the air flow path to form a hot air supply;
• heating the mist with the hot air supply delivered through the air flow path to the evaporization zone to evaporate the mist within the evaporization zone and form an evaporated fluid;
• operating the fan to divert a diverted portion of the hot air supply into the opening of the return flow conduit so that the diverted portion is directed within the return flow conduit in a direction from the peak towards the base, and mixing the diverted portion of the hot air supply with an ambient air to form the air flow;
• controlling a volume of the diverted portion of the hot air supply that is mixed with the ambient air with the control valve that is located within the return flow conduit;
• preventing fluids from traveling through return flow conduit in a direction from the base towards the peak with the check valve that is located within the re urn low conduit;
• and
• condensing the evaporated fluid within the center column;
• where
• the diverted portion of the hot air supply heats the air flow;
• and
• the evaporated fluid traveling in a direction from the peak towards the base heats the saline water as the saline water travels in a direction from the base towards the peak.

A system for circulating hot air in a solar desalination system, the system including:

• a desalination structure, the desalination structure having:
• an inclined outer surface with a base that is larger in diameter than a peak, the inclined outer surface having an external surface layer that is transparent, and an internal surface layer that is dark in color, with an air flow path defined between the external surface layer and the internal surface layer providing an external fluid flow path from the base towards the peak;
• a return flow conduit, the return flow conduit providing an internal fluid flow path in a direction from the peak towards the base, where the return flow conduit extends parallel to the air flow path, and has an opening located at a peak end of the return flow conduit;
• a fan, a check valve, and a control valve located along the return flow conduit, the check valve being a one way valve operable to prevent fluids from traveling through return flow conduit in a direction from the base towards the peak, and where the fan is located upstream of the control valve and the check valve, and the control valve is located upstream of the control valve;
• and
• a center column having an internal bore and located along an axis of the desalination structure;
• and
• a nozzle that extends through a sidewall of the center column operable to deliver a saline water through the nozzle to provide a mist within the desalination structure exterior of the center column;
• where
• the air flow path is oriented to heat an air flow from a base within the air flow path to form a hot air supply so that the hot air supply heats the mist to form an evaporated fluid;
• the fan is oriented to divert a diverted portion of the hot air supply through the opening of the air flow path and into the return flow conduit, so that the diverted portion is directed within the return flow conduit in a direction from the peak towards the base, mixing the diverted portion of the hot air supply with an ambient air to form the air flow, the diverted portion of the hot air supply heating the air flow;
• and
• the control valve that is located within the return flow conduit is operable to control a volume of the diverted portion of the hot air supply that is mixed with the ambient air.