Power generation and potable water recovery from salinous water

A process for the simultaneous generation of power and the recovery of potable water from a source of salinous water which comprises the sequential steps of:

• a. introducing a first salinous water portion, obtained from a first depth proximate to the surface of said source, into a solar radiation heat sink;
• b. exposing said first salinous water portion, within said solar radiation heat sink, to radiant solar energy for a time sufficient to raise the temperature thereof to a level of at least about 160.degree. F.;
• c. introducing the thus-heated salinous water into a first vacuum flash separation zone, maintained at a subatmospheric pressure in the range of about 2.5 psia. to about 8.5 psia., to provide a first non-salinous vaporous phase and a first salinous liquid phase, and passing said first vaporous phase through a first turbine;
• d. introducing said first liquid phase into a second vacuum flash separation zone, maintained at a subatmospheric pressure in the range of about 1.5 psia. to about 5.5 psia., to provide a second non-salinous vaporous phase and a second salinous liquid phase, and passing said second vaporous phase through a second turbine;
• e. introducing said second liquid phase into a third vacuum flash separation zone, maintained at a subatmospheric pressure of from about 0.9 psia. to about 3.5 psia., to provide a third non-salinous vaporous phase and a third salinous liquid phase, and passing said third vaporous phase through a third turbine;
• f. generating power from the resulting motion of said first, second and third turbines;
• g. vaporizing a hydrocarbon, via indirect heat-exchange with said third liquid phase, passing the resulting hydrocarbon vapors through a fourth turbine, and generating additional power from the resulting motion thereof;
• h. introducing said third liquid phase, following the vaporization of said hydrocarbon, into a fourth vacuum flash separation zone, maintained at a subatmospheric pressure of about 0.35 psia. to about 0.75 psia., to provide a fourth non-salinous vaporous phase and a fourth liquid phase;
• and,
• i. admixing said fourth vaporous phase with the exiting vapors from said first, second and third turbines, and condensing the resulting mixture, via indirect contact with a second salinous water portion, obtained from a second depth substantially below the surface of said source, to recover liquid potable water.