Back to results
US 6,804,962 B1Granted
Solar energy desalination system
OwnerMelvin L. Prueittinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A desalination system is driven by a solar powered boiler that outputs a pressurized vapor to drive an expander that generates output motive force. A pump is responsive to the motive force to output pressurized saline water. A reverse osmosis unit receives the pressurized saline water to output fresh water and pressurized brine. A recuperator that transfers heat from the expander exhaust to the boiler feed liquid is incorporated to improve the efficiency of the system. In a particular embodiment, a hydraulic motor receives the pressurized brine and outputs an augmenting motive force to the pump. In another embodiment, a novel motorless boiler feed pump is defined.
Claims25
A system for desalinating salty water comprising:
- a solar panel for collecting solar thermal energy in a liquid;
- a boiler in communication with said panel, wherein thermal energy is transferred in said boiler from said liquid to vaporize a low-boiling-point working fluid, whereby said boiler outputs a pressurized working fluid vapor;
- an expander responsive to the pressurized working fluid vapor to generate an output motive force;
- a pump, responsive to the motive force of said expander, to pressurize and move the salty water to a reverse osmosis unit;
- a reverse osmosis unit for receiving salty water and outputting fresh water and pressurized brine;
- and
- an hydraulic motor in operable connection with said pump and responsive to the pressure of said pressurized brine, wherein said hydraulic motor imparts an augmenting motive force to said pump.
4 more elements
A system for desalinating salty water comprising:
- a solar collector for collecting solar thermal energy in a liquid;
- a boiler in communication with said collector, wherein thermal energy is transferred in said boiler from said liquid to vaporize a low-boiling-point working fluid, whereby said boiler outputs a pressurized working fluid vapor;
- an expander responsive to the pressurized working fluid vapor to generate an output motive force;
- a reverse osmosis unit for receiving salty water and outputting fresh water and pressurized brine;
- a pump to pressurize and move the salty water to said reverse osmosis unit;
- and
- an hydraulic motor in operable connection with said pump and responsive to the pressure of the pressurized brine, wherein said hydraulic motor imparts an augmenting motive force to said pump, and wherein said hydraulic motor comprises at least one pair of rotating pistons in rolling contact to form a seal to prevent fluids from flowing from a region of high pressure to a low pressure region, said regions defined within said hydraulic motor.
4 more elements
A system for desalinating salty water comprising:
- a boiler that outputs a pressurized vapor;
- a solar collector for heating a fluid for conveyance to said boiler;
- an expander responsive to the pressurized working fluid vapor to generate an output motive force;
- a reverse osmosis unit for receiving salty water and outputting fresh water and pressurized brine;
- a pump to pressurize and move the salty water to said reverse osmosis unit;
- a condenser in which a working fluid condenses;
- a recuperator in fluid communication with said condenser and with an exhaust outlet of said expander wherein a working fluid liquid is preheated in said recuperator before flowing to said boiler;
- and
- means for pumping the working fluid liquid from said condenser to said boiler, said means for pumping comprising:
- an insulative first tank in fluid communication with said boiler;
- an insulative second tank in fluid communication with said condenser;
- a check valve for preventing flow of working fluid vapor from said second tank to said condenser;
- a pump valve for regulating the flow of working fluid vapor from said boiler to said second tank;
- a condenser valve for regulating the flow of working fluid vapor from said first tank to said condenser;
- a release valve for regulating the flow of working fluid vapor from said second tank to said condenser;
- a boiler valve for regulating the flow of working fluid vapor from said boiler to said first tank;
- and
- a first switch in said second tank for signaling said pump valve, condenser valve, release valve and boiler valve when said second tank is full of working fluid liquid;
- and
- a second switch in said second tank for signaling said pump valve, condenser valve, release valve and boiler valve when said second tank is empty of working fluid liquid;
- wherein when working fluid vapor condenses in said condenser, the condensate drains through said check valve into said second tank;
- and wherein further when said second tank becomes full, said first switch closes to signal the opening of said pump and condenser valves and the closing of said release and boiler valves;
- and further wherein high pressure working fluid vapor from said boiler then flows to said second tank to pressurize the volume above the working fluid liquid in said second tank to force working fluid liquid from said second tank.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.