# US 2014/0190817 A1 · Method for purifying water and water treatment system therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190817 A1 - Document ID: US20140190817A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/733,941 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey A. Mays - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190817A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/04: by distillation or evaporation - B01D 1/0088: {Cascade evaporators} - C02F 1/045: {for obtaining ultra-pure water} - F01K 13/006: {Auxiliaries or details not otherwise provided for} - F22B 1/1853: {coming in direct contact with water in bulk or in sprays} - 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) - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) - F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS ## Abstract A method for purifying water involves heating impure water in a first reboiler, a second reboiler and a combustion steam generator to ultimately produce about 3 parts by weight of clean water and about 1 part by weight of clean steam for every 4 parts by weight of the impure water. A water treatment system includes a gas-fired combustion steam generator that is operable to produce a hot steam stream. A reboiler is connected in receiving communication with the gas-fired combustion steam generator to receive the hot steam stream. A separator is connected with the reboiler and is operable to separate an output stream from the reboiler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of purifying water, the method comprising: (a) heating impure water in a first reboiler to produce clean water and a first concentrated impure water stream; (b) providing the first concentrated impure water stream into a second, different reboiler to produce additional clean water and a second concentrated impure water stream; (c) providing the second concentrated impure water stream into a gas-fired combustion steam generator to produce a steam stream including particulate matter precipitated from the second concentrated impure water stream; (d) separating the particulate matter from the steam stream to produce clean steam; and (e) providing the clean stream into the first reboiler and the second reboiler to transfer heat to, respectively, the impure water and the first concentrated impure water stream, said steps (a)-(e) producing about 3 parts by weight of the clean water and about 1 part by weight of the clean steam for every 4 parts by weight of the impure water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further including providing the clean water from the first reboiler into a turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further including providing the clean water from the second reboiler into a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further including pressurizing and heating the first concentrated impure water stream between the first reboiler and the second reboiler. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said steps (a)-(e) produce 3 parts by weight of the clean water and 1 part by weight of the clean steam for every 4 parts by weight of the impure water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first reboiler produces the clean water and the first concentrated impure water stream in a ratio, by weight, of about 1:1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second reboiler produces the additional clean water and the second concentrated impure water stream in a ratio, by weight, of about 1:1. ### Claim 8 A water treatment system comprising: a gas-fired combustion steam generator operable to produce a hot steam stream; a reboiler including an inlet connected in receiving communication with the gas-fired combustion steam generator to receive the hot steam stream; and a separator connected with an outlet of the reboiler and operable to separate an output stream from the reboiler into a steam stream and a liquid water stream. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as recited in claim 8, further including a solids separator arranged between the gas-fired combustion steamed generator and the reboiler. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as recited in claim 8, further including an additional reboiler connected in receiving communication with the reboiler. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, further including an additional separator connected in receiving communication with the additional reboiler and operable to separate a product stream from the additional reboiler. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as recited in claim 11, further including a preheater heat exchanger arranged between the reboilers and connected in receiving communication with the additional separator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, further including an additional preheater heat exchanger connected in receiving communication with a second outlet of the additional reboiler. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system as recited in claim 11, further including a preheater heat exchanger connected in receiving communication with the separator and connected in receiving communication with the additional separator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system as recited in claim 14, further including a turbine connected in receiving communication with the preheater heat exchanger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the preheater heat exchanger is connected in supplying communication to the gas-fired combustion steam generator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the separator is connected in supplying communication to a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. ### Claim 18 A water treatment system comprising: a gas-fired combustion steam generator operable to produce a hot steam stream; a plurality of reboilers serially connected in receiving communication with the gas-fired combustion steam generator to receive the hot steam stream; and a plurality of separators connected in receiving communication with the plurality of reboilers and operable to separate product streams from the plurality of reboilers into steam streams and liquid water streams. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system as recited in claim 18, further including a preheater heat exchanger connected between two of the plurality of separators. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, further including a turbine connected in receiving communication with the preheater heat exchanger. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the preheater heat exchanger is connected in supplying communication to the gas-fired combustion steam generator.