US 5,940,578 A · Water evaporation apparatus

Abstract

A water evaporation apparatus 10 for evaporating water 12 contained in a drum 14 includes a thermally insulated float assembly 16 for floating in the water 12. The float assembly defines a space 18 which is in fluid communication with the water 12 via a hole 22 formed though a bottom wall 24 of the float assembly 16. The float assembly 16 also includes an exhaust stack 26 which extends from the space 18 and has a discharge end 28 located outside the drum 14. A volume of water 20 flows into space 18 through the hole 22. A heater 30 is located within the space 18 and below the level of the water 20 for causing evaporation thereof. This generates steam and other vapours which rise through the stack 26 and are vented through discharge end 28. As the water 20 is evaporated it is replenished by water 12 from the drum 14 flowing through the hole 22 into the space 18. In this way, the water 12 within the drum 14 is progressively evaporated. When the water level within the drum 14 drops to a lowest level L a switch 68 is operated by a stop 70 mounted on the stack 26 to cover power to the heater 30.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A water evaporation apparatus for evaporating water contained in a receptacle including:

a thermally insulated assembly for floating in water contained within the receptacle, the float assembly defining a space and having a hole extending from the space to a bottom wall of the float to provide fluid communication between the receptacle and the space so that, in use, a volume of the water flows into the space, the space being formed with a lower surface which slopes downwardly to the hole for directing sediment or precipitate that settles from the volume of water to flow down the lower surface and through the hole to sink to the bottom of the receptacle, the float assembly also having an exhaust stack which extends from the space to a location outside the receptacle;
and a heater supported by the float assembly for heating the volume of water held within the space to cause evaporation thereof so that as the volume of water in the space is evaporated, the evaporated water is vented through the exhaust stack to a location outside of the receptacle and replaced by water from the receptacle which flows into the space thereby progressively evaporating the water from the receptacle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water evaporation apparatus

Life of this patent

Water evaporation apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20