Low energy ejector desalination system
AssigneeBechtel Energy Technologies & Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJorge T. Aguinaldo, Joseph P. Kanzleiter, David Ladd, Saurabh S. Tonapi, Baki E. Goktepe, Mukesh K. Shah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for treating a raw wastewater feed stream using a low energy ejector, which works as a heat pump to increase the pressure and temperature of a two-phase distillate stream used, in part, to heat the raw wastewater feed stream. The systems and methods utilize heat from a liquid distillate stream and a concentrated liquid wastewater stream to pre-heat the raw wastewater feed stream and produce a liquid distillate product stream.
Claims19
A system for treating a raw wastewater feed stream, comprising:
- a heat exchanger to heat a wastewater stream and create a two-phase stream;
- a column in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for separating the two-phase stream into a vapor distillate stream and a concentrated liquid wastewater stream;
- an ejector in fluid communication with the column for combining the vapor distillate stream from the column and a liquid distillate stream to produce an ejector two-phase stream;
- a separator in fluid communication with the ejector that separates the ejector two-phase stream into another vapor distillate stream and the liquid distillate stream, wherein the vapor distillate stream and the another vapor distillate stream are in fluid communication;
- a pump in fluid communication with the ejector to send the liquid distillate stream as a motive fluid to the ejector;
- and
- another pump in fluid communication with and positioned downstream from the column for pumping at least a portion of the concentrated liquid wastewater stream to the heat exchanger.
A method for treating a raw wastewater feed stream, comprising:
- heating a wastewater stream to create a two-phase stream;
- separating the two-phase stream into a vapor distillate stream and a concentrated liquid wastewater stream;
- combining the vapor distillate stream and a liquid distillate stream to produce another two-phase stream with a temperature higher than a temperature of the vapor distillate stream, wherein the liquid distillate stream is recirculated through a column, a distillate tank, and an ejector;
- separating the another two-phase stream into another vapor distillate stream and the liquid distillate stream;
- and
- pumping at least a portion of the concentrated liquid wastewater stream to the heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.