Power generation and potable water recovery from salinous water

Patent · Tue Sep 06 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6767068

Carson, D B

A process is disclosed for simultaneously generating power and recovering potable water from a source of salinous water--e.g., seawater. Salinous water, from a locus which is proximate to the surface of the source and at a relatively high temperature--e.g., about 85/sup 0/F--is exposed to radiant solar energy to increase significantly the temperature thereof--e.g., to a level of at least about 135/sup 0/F. The heated water is introduced into a plurality of flash separation zones, each succeeding one of which is maintained at a lower subatmospheric pressure than the preceding zone, to provide substantially non-salinous vapor phases. The salinous liquid phase is introduced in series through the plurality of flash zones. The vapor phases are utilized to vaporize hydrocarbons, in separate vaporizers, and the hydrocarbon vapors are passed through separate, individual turbines, or are introduced into different stages of a multistage turbine, from the resulting motion of which power is generated. Hydrocarbon vapors exiting from the turbines are condensed via indirect heat-exchange with a second salinous water portion, obtained from a second depth substantially below the surface, and at a comparatively lower temperature--e.g., about 70/sup 0/F--and re-vaporized. The salinous liquid phase emanating from the last power flash zone is introduced into a separate vacuum flash separation zone, maintained at an absolute pressure less than that of the last flash zone in said plurality.The resulting vaporous phase, and those power flash vapors which were utilized to vaporize the hydrocarbons, are condensed, via indirect contact with the second salinous water portion, to recover potable liquid water.

• Assignee: UOP Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4046640
• OSTI ID: 6767068
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
DEMINERALIZATION
DESALINATION
DESALINATION PLANTS
DESIGN
DRINKING WATER
DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS
FLASHED STEAM SYSTEMS
GAS TURBINES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
SEAWATER
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WATER