Efficiency water desalination/purification

A method of desalinating or otherwise purifying water to be treated in a hydrate-based, desalination or purification installation, said installation being located in a naturally occurring body of water, said method comprising:

• drawing water to be treated and degassing said water to be treated by conveying said water to be treated upward to a depth that is less than the depth from which said water to be treated was drawn such that gas dissolved in said water to be treated is exsolved from said water to be treated;
• conveying and delivering said water to be treated to a hydrate formation region of said installation and introducing a gas hydrate-forming substance into said water to be treated in said hydrate formation region under pressure and temperature conditions conducive to formation of hydrate of said gas hydrate-forming substance, said gas hydrate-forming substance being introduced in a manner such that said hydrate is, at least in toto, positively buoyant;
• allowing said hydrate to rise into an upper region of said installation and dissociate into said gas hydrate-forming substance and fresh or purified water;
• and
• collecting said fresh or purified water.

Apparatus for desalinating or otherwise purifying water to be treated using a gas hydrate-forming substance, said apparatus comprising:

• a fractionation column located within a naturally occurring body of water, said fractionation column having
• 1) a lower, hydrate formation region disposed at a hydrate formation region depth, where pressure is conducive to formation of hydrate of the gas hydrate-forming substance, and
• 2) an upper, hydrate dissociation region;
• a water intake system extending to and configured to draw water to be treated from a depth other than said hydrate formation region depth, the temperature of ambient water at the depth from which the water to be treated is drawn being lower than the temperature of ambient water at the hydrate formation region depth, said water intake system being configured to convey and introduce the water to be treated into the hydrate formation region of said fractionation column;
• and
• a gas hydrate-forming substance introduction system configured and disposed to introduce the gas hydrate-forming substance into the water to be treated in said hydrate formation region.

Apparatus for desalinating or otherwise purifying water to be treated using a gas hydrate-forming substance, said apparatus comprising:

• a fractionation column located within a naturally occurring body of water, said fractionation column having
• 1) a lower, hydrate formation region disposed at a hydrate formation region depth, where pressure is conducive to formation of hydrate of the gas hydrate-forming substance, and
• 2) an upper, hydrate dissociation region;
• a water intake system configured to draw in water to be treated, convey the water to be treated upward, and subsequently introduce the water to be treated into the hydrate formation region of said fractionation column, said water intake system having a gas release by means of which gas is exsolved from the water to be treated is released from said water intake system;
• and
• a gas hydrate-forming substance introduction system configured and disposed to introduce the gas hydrate-forming substance into the water to be treated in said hydrate formation region.

A method of desalinating or otherwise purifying water to be treated in a hydrate-based, desalination or purification installation using a gas hydrate-forming substance, said method comprising:

• introducing water to be treated into a hydrate formation region of said installation, water pressure and temperature in said hydrate formation region being conducive to formation of hydrate of said gas hydrate-forming substance;
• obtaining said gas hydrate-forming substance from a pre-pressurized source and introducing said gas hydrate-forming substance into said water to be treated in said hydrate formation region in a manner which causes hydrate of said gas hydrate-forming substance to form which is, at least in toto, positively buoyant;
• allowing said hydrate to rise into an upper region of the installation and dissociate into said gas hydrate-forming substance and fresh or purified water;
• collecting said fresh or purified water released upon dissociation of said hydrate;
• and
• passing said gas hydrate-forming substance to a downstream application without reusing said gas hydrate-forming substance in another cycle of desalination or purification.

A method of vaporizing natural gas originally in liquified form, said method comprising:

• injecting said liquified natural gas into a body of water under temperature and pressure conditions conducive to formation of natural gas hydrate;
• allowing said natural gas hydrate to rise and dissociate into water and gaseous natural gas;
• and
• passing said gaseous natural gas to a downstream application without reusing said natural gas in another cycle of hydrate formation and dissociation.

Apparatus for desalinating or otherwise purifying water to be treated using a gas hydrate-forming substance, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of fractionation columns each having
• 1) a lower, hydrate formation region disposed at a depth where pressure is conducive to formation of hydrate of the gas hydrate-forming substance, and
• 2) an upper, hydrate dissociation region;
• a gas hydrate-forming substance introduction system configured and disposed to introduce the gas hydrate-forming substance into water to be treated disposed within the hydrate formation regions of said fractionation columns;
• and
• a common water collection section from which each of said plurality of fractionation columns depends, said water collection section communicating with the upper, hydrate dissociation regions of said plurality of fractionation columns;
• whereby gas hydrate formed in the hydrate formation regions said fractionation columns rises into said upper, hydrate dissociation regions of said columns and releases fresh or purified water and the gas hydrate-forming substance, and whereby the released fresh or purified water from each of said plurality of fractionation columns is collected in said common water collection section.

A hybrid installation for desalinating or otherwise purifying water to be treated using a gas hydrate-forming substance, said apparatus comprising:

• a hydrate formation installation disposed within a naturally occurring body of water, generally near an above-water landmass, said hydrate formation installation having a hydrate formation region configured to receive water from said naturally occurring body of water and disposed at a depth where pressure and temperature conditions are conducive to formation of hydrate of the gas hydrate-forming substance;
• a hydrate dissociation and water collection installation disposed above water on said above-water landmass;
• and
• a connector assembly establishing communication between said hydrate formation installation and said hydrate dissociation and water collection installation;
• whereby gas hydrate is formed in said hydrate formation installation upon introducing the gas hydrate-forming substance into said hydrate formation region;
• said gas hydrate rises through said connector assembly into said hydrate dissociation and water collection installation;
• and said gas hydrate dissociates into fresh or purified water and the gas hydrate-forming substance in said hydrate dissociation and water collection installation.