Method for desalinating water

Patent · Tue Aug 10 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6537636

Diggs, R E

An apparatus and method are disclosed for removing contaminants from water having solid contaminants dissolved therein. Contaminated water flows across a grid and into a storage tank. The grid utilizes solar energy to heat that water to a predetermined temperature. A heat transfer structure which is dome-shaped and receives water from the storage tank and a preheater means utilizing solar energy heats the water to a further predetermined temperature. An evaporator means receives the heated water and exposes it to a vacuum condition so that the temperature of the water is above the saturation temperature. The water is thus vaporized, and solid contaminants dissolved therein are separated therefrom. The solids are deposited on a plurality of moving belts and are then moved into a solids removal system. The solids removal system comprises a plurality of trap door pairs upon which the solids are deposited and which are sequentially opened so that the vacuum conditions existing in the evaporator are not disturbed. Vapor transferring means removes the water vapor from the evaporator and transfers it to the heat transfer structure wherein it is condensed to form distillate which is free of solid contaminants. Distillate removal means then removes the distillate from the heat transfer structure to collection or usage means.

• Assignee: EDB-83-057098
• Patent Number(s): US 4343683
• OSTI ID: 6537636
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 7 May 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-147367
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SEAWATER
DESALINATION
SOLAR DISTILLATION
SOLAR STILLS
DESIGN
DOMED STRUCTURES
EVAPORATION
FLUID FLOW
GRIDS
HEAT TRANSFER
PRESSURE CONTROL
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SPRAYS
VACUUM SYSTEMS
VAPOR CONDENSATION
APPLIANCES
CONTROL
DEMINERALIZATION
ELECTRODES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
EVAPORATORS
HEATERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
WATER
WATER HEATERS
140909* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Miscellaneous Solar Applications- (1980-)