US 4,391,676 A · Arrangement for passing a first liquid close to, but without mixing it with a second liquid, for example an arrangement for sea water desalination

Abstract

An arrangement for permitting a first liquid to flow close to a second liquid, but without being intermixed therewith, includes a first plurality of plates (12) and a second plurality of plates (12), which are located between plates in the first plurality of plates but spaced therefrom by means of separating pieces. Each separating piece includes a frame formed about plate-shaped plane-parallel partial pieces, viz. an outer porous and hydrophobic plastic disphragm, an intermediate distance network of plastic and an outer thin plastic foil. The frame includes infeed holes for air and outfeed holes for water. The voids of the plastic diaphragm have a radius within the range of 2 to 5 .mu.m. The distance network has a thickness of 1 to 2 mm and consists of intersecting strips. The plastic foil has a thickness of about 0.1 mm. The plates include a frame with four through holes, of which two holes have connection to a recess in the plate, while the other two holes have no such connection. The plates in the two pluralities of plates are so turned that holes with connection in the first plurality of plates correspond to holes without connection in the remaining plurality of plates. The frames of the separating pieces include four through holes (131, 132, 133, 134) corresponding to the holes of the plates. Inflow means (101, 103) and, respectively, outflow means (104, 102) are connected to respective holes (111, 123; 114, 122) with connection in the two pluralities of plates.

Claims3

Dependent claims

An arrangement providing a first liquid to flow close to a second liquid but without the liquids being intermixed, for example for the recovery of freshwater by distillation of sea water and for the transfer of heat from a relatively warm liquid to a relatively cold liquid, comprising:

A. a first plurality of plates carrying the first liquid;
B. a second plurality of plates carrying the second liquid, the second plurality of plates being placed interleaved between but separated from the first plurality of plates;
and
C. separating pieces located between and separating the first and second plurality of plates from one another, each separating piece including a frame which receives plate-shaped mutually plane-parallel partial pieces that include:
1. an outer porous and hydrophobic plastic diaphragm with void radii dimensioned to prevent the passage of liquid water through the plastic diaphragm at the hydrostatic pressures prevailing in the arrangement while rendering possible the passage of water vapor,
2. an outer thin plastic foil, and
3. an intermediate distance network located between the diaphragm and the foil positioned and dimensioned to maintain an airgap therebetween so that the plastic diaphram will be supplied constantly with air and will be free of air depletion or partial filling of liquid,
said frame further being provided in its upper portion with inflow holes for air to pass to said airgap, and in its lower portion with outflow holes for water condensed in said airgap.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Arrangement for passing a first liquid close to, but without mixing it with a second liquid, for example an arrangement for sea water desalination

Life of this patent

Arrangement for passing a first liquid close to, but without mixing it with a second liquid, for example an arrangement for sea water desalination

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims3