Apparatus and process for desalination of seawater
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJoseph F. Pizzino, David B. Patchett
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Abstract
An apparatus and process for desalination of seawater using a hydrophobic por permeable membrane. Heated seawater is passed across one surface of a membrane at rates which cause the flow to be turbid such that its turbidity is characterized by Reynolds numbers in excess of 1000. Fresh water is passed across the other surface of the membrane to act as a condenser and collector of vapor which passes through the membrane.
Claims19
An apparatus for obtaining fresh water from seawater, comprising:
- a membrane distillation module further comprising a shell having a saline inlet port, a saline outlet port, a fresh water inlet port and a fresh water outlet port, said fresh water ports fluidly isolated from said saline ports by at least one tubular porous hydrophobic membrane;
- means for flowing heated seawater through said seawater ports so that said seawater passes the interior surface of said at least one tubular membrane with a flow rate exceeding laminar flow corresponding to a Reynolds number in excess of 1000;
- and,
- means for flowing fresh water through said fresh water ports so that said fresh water passes over the exterior of said tubular membrane, said fresh water collecting and condensing water vapor that passes through said permeable membranes;
- whereby the pressure difference between said fresh water and said seawater is maintained in the range of -2.5 psi to +2.5 psi.
A process for obtaining fresh water from seawater, comprising:
- passing fresh water along a first surface of a vapor permeable hydrophobic membrane;
- and
- passing heated seawater along a second surface of said membrane at a turbulent flow corresponding to a Reynolds number in excess of 1000.
An apparatus for obtaining fresh water from seawater, comprising:
- a membrane distillation module further comprising a shell having a saline inlet port, a saline outlet port, a fresh water inlet port and a fresh water outlet port, said fresh water ports fluidly isolated from said saline ports by at least one tubular porous hydrophobic membrane having a ratio of length to diameter of about 19;
- means for flowing heated seawater through said seawater ports so that said seawater passes the interior surface of said at least one tubular membrane with a flow rate exceeding laminar flow corresponding to a Reynolds number in excess of 1000;
- and
- means for flowing fresh water through said fresh water ports so that said fresh water passes over the exterior of said tubular membrane, said fresh water collecting and condensing water vapor that passes through said permeable membrane.
A process for obtaining fresh water from seawater, comprising:
- passing fresh water along a first surface of a vapor permeable, tubular hydrophobic membrane having a ratio of length to diameter of about 19;
- and
- passing heated seawater along a second surface of said membrane at a turbulent flow corresponding to a Reynolds number in excess of 1000.
A process for obtaining fresh water from seawater, comprising:
- passing fresh water along a first surface of a vapor permeable hydrophobic membrane;
- and
- passing heated seawater along a second surface of said membrane at a turbulent flow corresponding to a Reynolds number in excess of 1000;
- whereby the pressure difference between said fresh water and said seawater is maintained in the range of -1.0 psi to +1.0 psi.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.