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US 8,282,791 B2Granted
Desalination using low-grade thermal energy
AssigneeArrowhead Center, Inc.
InventorsNagamany Nirmalakhandan, Veera Gnaneswar Gude
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Abstract
This invention describes a low temperature, self-sustainable desalination process operated under natural vacuum conditions created and maintained by barometric pressure head.
Claims22
A desalination system comprising:
- a desalination unit, said desalination unit comprising:
- an evaporation chamber for evaporating saline water;
- at least three columns;
- said evaporation chamber disposed at a barometric height above said columns;
- a condenser attached to said evaporation chamber;
- said condenser connected to at least one of said columns;
- an absorption refrigeration system;
- a thermal energy storage system for storing heat rejected by said absorption refrigeration system;
- a low grade heat source for powering said desalination system;
- said low grade heat source comprising the heat rejected by said absorption refrigeration system;
- and
- heat input to said evaporation chamber provided by said thermal energy storage system.
9 more elements
A method of desalinating comprising the steps of:
- operating a desalination unit, the desalination unit comprising an evaporation chamber for evaporating saline water, at least three columns, the evaporation chamber disposed at a barometric height above the columns, a condenser attached to the evaporation chamber, and the condenser connected to at least one of the columns, an absorption refrigeration system, a thermal energy storage system for storing heat rejected by the absorption refrigeration system, and the low grade heat source comprising the heat rejected by the absorption refrigeration system;
- storing heat rejected by an absorption refrigeration system in a thermal energy storage system;
- powering the desalination unit using a low grade heat source utilizing the heat rejected from the absorption refrigeration system;
- and
- heating the evaporation chamber using heat from the thermal energy storage system.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.