US 8,951,391 B2Granted

Solar distillation device

OwnerMiles McClureinventor

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Abstract

A solar distillation apparatus utilizing a substantially vertical reactor assembly is disclosed. The reactor includes a tubular outer shell, a base, a cap, and a central tension member. The annular space between the outer tube and the central tension member forms the reactor chamber. Seawater or other feed liquid enters the reactor chamber through the base plate. Reflected or direct solar energy heats the feed liquid, generating low pressure vapor. The vapor exits the reactor through the cap structure or the base. The concentrate left behind settles by gravity to the bottom region of the reactor's liquid column. Extension tubes on the feed openings allow feed liquid to enter the liquid column above the concentrate layer and avoid excessive mixing of the feed liquid and the concentrate. The concentrate exits the reactor through one or more openings in the base.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A machine for use with a feed liquid and solar radiation, the machine comprising:

(a) an outer housing defining an at least partially hollow interior comprising a liquid concentrate region positioned below a feed liquid region, the outer housing being configured to receive the solar radiation;
(b) a base located at a lower end of the outer housing, the base comprising a first opening having internal threads;
(c) a cap located at an upper end of the outer housing, the cap comprising a second opening having internal threads;
(d) means for the feed liquid to enter the feed liquid region, at least a portion of the feed liquid entering the feed liquid region being heated by the solar radiation to form vapor and liquid concentrate, the liquid concentrate collecting in the liquid concentrate region;
(e) means for the liquid concentrate to exit from the liquid concentrate region;
(f) means for the vapor to exit from the outer housing;
and
(g) at least one tension member positioned inside the at least partially hollow interior of the outer housing, the at least one tension member comprising a rod having external threads, a first portion of the external threads of the rod being threaded into the internal threads of the first opening, a second portion of the external threads of the rod being threaded into the internal threads of the second opening the at least one tension member connecting the base to the cap, the rod pressing the base against the lower end of the outer housing to thereby create a substantially watertight seal between the base and the lower end of the outer housing, and the rod pressing the cap against the upper end of the outer housing to thereby create a substantially watertight seal between the cap and the upper end of the outer housing.

5 more elements

A machine for use with a feed liquid and solar radiation, the machine comprising:

(a) an evaporation assembly comprising an inner tube positioned concentrically within an outer tube to define a longitudinal annulus therebetween, the outer tube being constructed from stainless steel and painted powder coat black, the longitudinal annulus comprising a liquid concentrate region below a feed liquid region, the feed liquid region being configured to receive the feed liquid, the outer tube being positionable to receive the solar radiation to heat the feed liquid received by the feed liquid region to form vapor and liquid concentrate, the liquid concentrate region being configured to store at least temporarily the liquid concentrate, the feed liquid having a liquid surface when inside the longitudinal annulus;
(b) a base sealing a lower end portion of the longitudinal annulus, the base comprising a feed liquid opening, and a concentrate opening, the concentrate opening providing a passageway through which the liquid concentrate exits from the liquid concentrate region;
(c) a cap structure sealing an upper end portion of the longitudinal annulus, at least one of the base and the cap structure comprising a vapor opening through which the vapor exits the longitudinal annulus;
(d) a tubular extension extending through the feed liquid opening into the longitudinal annulus, and terminating in the feed liquid region, the tubular extension being configured to supply the feed liquid to the feed liquid region;
(e) a vapor conduit hydraulically connected to the vapor opening;
(f) at least one rod positioned inside the inner tube, the at least one rod extending from the base to the cap structure, when in tension, the at least one rod pressing the base against the evaporation assembly to seal the lower end portion of the longitudinal annulus, and pressing the cap structure against the evaporation assembly to seal the upper end portion of the longitudinal annulus;
(g) a feed liquid tank hydraulically connected to the feed liquid opening of the base, the feed liquid tank being positioned such that the liquid surface is maintained by gravity flow at a predetermined liquid surface operating level;
and
(h) a liquid concentrate metering device hydraulically connected to the liquid concentrate opening to regulate a rate at which the liquid concentrate exits from the liquid concentrate region.

6 more elements

A method of distilling a first liquid from a contaminated second liquid using solar radiation, the method comprising:

(a) providing a machine configured to receive the second liquid, the machine comprising:
(i) a tube having a first open end opposite a second open end,
(ii) a cap structure,
(iii) a base,
(iv) a tension member extending between the cap structure and the base inside the tube, tension in the tension member pressing the cap structure against the first open end, and pressing the base against the second open end such that the cap structure seals the first open end, and the base seals the second open end,
(v) a liquid concentrate region,
(vi) a feed liquid region, both the liquid concentrate region and the feed liquid region being inside an enclosure defined by the tube, the cap structure, and the base,
(vii) a first opening into the feed liquid region,
(viii) a second opening into the liquid concentrate region, and
(ix) a third opening;
(b) positioning at least one solar reflector device to direct reflected solar radiation to a point or line coincident with the machine;
(c) providing the second liquid to the feed liquid region via the first opening of the machine, a portion of the second liquid received by the machine evaporating into vapor, and leaving behind a concentrate when heated by the solar radiation, at least a portion of the concentrate being in the liquid concentrate region of the machine, the vapor exiting the machine through the third opening of the machine;
(d) removing the portion of the concentrate from the liquid concentrate region via the second opening of the machine;
(e) condensing the vapor to form the first liquid;
(f) drawing off the first liquid as a distillate;
(g) recovering, with a heat exchanger, at least one of (i) heat lost through condensation of the vapor and (ii) heat transported with the concentrate;
and
(h) preheating the second liquid with the recovered heat.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/099,246Filed 2 May 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: 14 Feb 2007
Published: US 2011/0203915 A125 Aug 2011
Granted: 10 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

B01D 1/0082
Evaporating: regulation; Control
B01D 1/0035
Use of radiation: solar energy
B01D 1/06
Evaporating: evaporators with vertical tubes
B01D 3/4283
Of columns: bottom stream

Family

Application11/674,963Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Feb 2007
US 2011/0203915 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Aug 2011
US 7,955,478 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2008/0190755 A1Published application
US 8,951,391 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.