# US 2016/0251237 A1 · System, method, and apparatus for water desalination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0251237 A1 - Document ID: US20160251237A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/807,355 - Filed: 2015-07-23 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26 - Inventors: Shaker Ahmed REDA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160251237A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/14: using solar energy - B01D 1/0035: {Solar energy (for treatment of water C02F1/14)} - B01D 1/28: with vapour compression - B01D 3/06: Flash distillation - B01D 3/106: {with the use of a pump for creating vacuum and for removing the distillate} - B01D 3/4211: {of columns} - B01D 5/0063: {Reflux condensation} - B01D 5/0066: {Dome shaped condensation} - C02F 1/041: {by means of vapour compression} - C02F 1/06: Flash evaporation - C02F 2101/10: Inorganic compounds - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/32: Details relating to UV-irradiation devices - Y02A 20/124: Water desalination - Y02A 20/141: Wind power - Y02A 20/142: Solar thermal; Photovoltaics - Y02A 20/212: Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation - 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 A desalination system includes a vertical column with a lower end submerged into a body of liquid to be treated. The column has a dark-colored outer surface able to absorb electromagnetic energy, and at least one vacuum compressor is connected to provide a vacuum pressure in the vertical column such that the liquid is drawn into the vertical column through openings in the vertical column. A condensing dome has a main shell and that receives vapor of the liquid in the vertical column via a vapor port joining the vertical column and the condensing dome. A wind-driven outer turbine surrounds the main shell of the condensing dome and draws outside air into a space around the main shell of the condensing dome. A tank is connected to the condensing dome via a pipe and receives desalinated liquid from the condensing dome. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A desalination system comprising: a vertical column with a lower end that may be submerged into a liquid to be treated, wherein the column has a dark-colored outer surface able to absorb electromagnetic energy; a reservoir having predetermined dimensions configured to hold the liquid to be treated; an inlet pump configured to maintain a predetermined level of the liquid to be treated within the reservoir; at least one vacuum compressor connected to provide a vacuum pressure in the vertical column such that the liquid may be drawn into the vertical column through at least one opening in the vertical column; a condensing dome having a main shell and configured to receive vapor of the liquid in the vertical column via a vapor port joining the vertical column and the condensing dome; one or more internal elongated fins spaced at predetermined patterns around an inner surface of the main shell of the condensing dome; one or more external elongated fins spaced at predetermined patterns around an outer surface of the main shell of the condensing dome; a wind-driven outer turbine surrounding the main shell of the condensing dome and configured to draw outside air into a space around the main shell of the condensing dome; and a tank connected to the condensing dome via a pipe and configured to receive desalinated liquid from the condensing dome. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a height of the vertical column is based on ambient temperature of an area surrounding the vertical column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the height of the vertical column is approximately 33 feet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the dark-colored outer surface for the vertical column has an emissivity of approximately one. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum compressor establishes a predetermined vacuum pressure throughout the desalination system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the vacuum compressor establishes a predetermined vacuum pressure via at least one connection on the tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising pressure detectors installed at one or more locations throughout the desalination system to measure an actual pressure within the desalination system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, further comprising circuitry configured to output alarms when a difference between the actual vacuum pressure and the predetermined vacuum pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the circuitry is further configured to issue control signals to increase the vacuum pressure drawn by the vacuum compressor when the difference between the actual vacuum pressure and the predetermined vacuum pressure is greater than the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the vacuum compressor receives electrical power from at least one solar panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tank includes one or more level indicators and associated circuitry to determine at least one of a level or volume of the desalinated liquid in the tank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is further configured to output alarms when the level of the desalinated liquid in the tank is at least one of greater than a predetermined upper threshold or less than a predetermined lower threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the condensing dome includes a condensation collector connected to a lower end of the condensing dome to collect the desalinated liquid that has condensed from the vapor in the condensing dome. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the pipe connects to the condensing dome at a level corresponding to a level of the condensation collector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the tank is positioned at a location that is lower than the level of the condensation collector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry associated with the inlet pump configured to determine the predetermined level of the liquid to be treated within the reservoir based on at least one of a height and pressure of liquid within the vertical column. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the outer turbine includes an axial fan to drive outside air into the space around the main shell of the condensing dome. ### Claim 18 A desalination method comprising absorbing, into a dark-colored outer surface of the vertical column, electromagnetic energy that is transferred as heat energy to the liquid within the vertical column until the liquid evaporates into a vapor; providing, via at least one drawing, due to vacuum pressure established by a vacuum compressor, liquid into at least one opening in a vertical column with a lower end submerged into a body of the liquid to be treated; receiving, into a condensing dome having a main shell, vapor of the liquid in the vertical column via a vapor port joining the vertical column and the condensing dome; condensing, via one or more internal elongated fins spaced at predetermined patterns around an inner surface of the main shell of the condensation chamber, the vapor into desalinated liquid; exchanging heat, via one or more external elongated fins spaced at predetermined patterns around an outer surface of the main shell of the condensation chamber, between the vapor and the outside air; drawing, via a wind-driven outer turbine surrounding the main shell of the condensing dome, outside air into a space around the main shell of the condensing dome; receiving, into a tank connected to the condensing dome via a pipe, the desalinated liquid from the condensing dome. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the outer turbine includes an axial fan to drive outside air into the space around the main shell of the condensing dome. ### Claim 20 A desalination apparatus comprising: a vertical column with a lower end that may be submerged into a body of liquid to be treated, wherein the column has a dark-colored outer surface able to absorb electromagnetic energy; at least one vacuum compressor connected to provide a vacuum pressure in the vertical column such that the liquid may be drawn into the vertical column through at least one opening in the vertical column; a condensing dome having a main shell and configured to receive vapor of the liquid in the vertical column via a vapor port joining the vertical column and the condensing dome; one or more internal elongated fins spaced at predetermined patterns around an inner surface of the main shell of the condensing dome; one or more external elongated fins spaced at predetermined patterns around an outer surface of the main shell of the condensing dome; and a wind-driven outer turbine surrounding the main shell of the condensing dome and configured to draw outside air into a space around the main shell of the condensing dome.