Desalination of ocean water

• US 20040084156A1
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomass Conversions LLC
• Original Assignee: Biomass Conversions LLC
• Inventors: Hata, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,435,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 159/47.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/10 Vacuum distillation B01D3/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/34 with one or more auxiliary substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/42 Regulation; Control
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/04 by distillation or evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/124 Water desalination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 159/16 Vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 159/20 Additive

Abstract

The present invention is an improved type of distillation of water. Usual distillation is related to a liquid'"'"'s boiling point. However, it is possible to distill significant quantities of water at temperatures well below the boiling point. During distillation a compound is taken from a liquid-phase to the gas phase and then condensed to the liquid again to get a pure liquid. The present invention uses water sprayed (105) and adsorbed onto a solid surface such as micro-powder (104) made from wood as a starting material. Absorbing water onto such a surface results in rapid evaporation with a relatively low temperature gradient when the water and particles are agitated. The present invention could be characterized as solid-phase distillation.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the evaporation of water comprising the steps of making a mixture of water and a quantity of fine particles, the particles having an average diameter of 100 μ

m or less, and agitating the mixture within a container whereby water vapor is released from the mixture.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adding energy during the step of agitating the mixture to maintain a temperature of the mixture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the average diameter of the particles is 10 μ

m or less.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the average diameter of the particles is 1 μ

m or less.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polysaccharide macromolecules of plant origin, cellulosic macromolecules, proteins, clays, metals, silica and metal oxides.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, magnesia and iron oxide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles are hydrophilic.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of spraying additional water into the mixture to replenish evaporated water.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a temperature of the additional water is adjusted to prevent lowering a temperature of the mixture.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a system to reduce a pressure in the container.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the system of reducing a pressure condenses water vapor.

12. An apparatus for enhancing evaporation of water comprising a container holding a mixture of water and fine particles, wherein the particles have an average diameter of 100 μ

m or less, and means for agitating the mixture whereby water vapor is released from the mixture.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for adding energy to the mixture to maintain a temperature of the mixture while the mixture is being agitated.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the average diameter of the particles is 10 μ

m or less.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the average diameter of the particles is 1 μ

m or less.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the particles are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polysaccharide macromolecules of plant origin, cellulosic macromolecules, proteins, clays, metals, silica and metal oxides.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, magnesia and iron oxide.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the particles are hydrophilic.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for spraying additional water into the mixture to replenish evaporated water.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a temperature of the additional water is adjusted to prevent lowering a temperature of the mixture.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for reducing a pressure in the container.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for reducing a pressure condense water vapor