Wave powered desalination apparatus with turbine-driven pressurization

• US 5,186,822 A
• Filed: 02/25/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ocean Resources Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ocean Resources Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Tsai, Chan-Feng, Wu, Frank H. Y., Tzong, Tsair-Jyh
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US07/659,699
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 210/121, 210/122, 210/170, 210/258, 210/257.2, 210/321.6, 210/416.1, 210/416.3, 210/747, 210/97, 210/134, 405/76, 417/330, 417/331, 417/405, 203/10, 203/11, 203/DIG. 17, 203/DIG. 20, 60/398, 60/497, 60/499-501, 290/42, 290/53, 415/7
• US Class Current: 210/122
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/10 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/18 where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/131 Reverse-osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/144 Wave energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A desalination apparatus including pressure responsive desalination means, a storage tank and conduit means connecting such storage tank to a pump mounted in a caisson defining a resonant chamber having an opening in one side thereof for receiving the incoming ocean waves. The caisson is configured in accordance with the natural frequency of the incoming waves and amplify such waves to drive a float coupled with the pump. Actuation of such pump pressurizes the storage tank to drive brine through the desalination means for separating therefrom potable water. The apparatus includes a turbine generator arranged to facilitate the pressurizing of the brine.

Claims

1. A wave powered desalination apparatus for disposition in a body of undulating ocean water and comprising:

a caisson formed by vertical wall means for disposition in the ocean, defining a chamber formed with an opening arranged to face in a direction of wave propagation for flow therethrough of such ocean waves;

a float in said chamber;

a water pressure pump coupled with an driven by said float and having an inlet and outlet;

a feed conduit leading from said chamber to said inlet for feeding ocean water thereto;

a water accumulator tank means for storage of water to build water pressure up to a selected pressure and having a tank inlet and first and second tank outlets;

water desalination means operative in response to a predetermined water pressure higher than said selected pressure to separate potable water from ocean water;

a turbine generator connected with said first outlet from said tank and operative in response to said selected pressure to generate electricity;

a pressure accumulator operative to raise water pressure of water flowing therethrough from said selected pressure to said predetermined pressure;

an electric drive motor drivingly coupled with said pressure accumulator and connected with said turbine generator for driving said generator; and

conduit means connecting said outlet of said pump with said tank inlet to said tank and said second outlet of said tank with said turbine generator, said pressure accumulator and said desalinating means to cause said pump to pump water into said water tank to raise the pressure thereof to said selected pressure and to cause water at said selected pressure to drive said turbine generator to drive said pressure accumulator to raise the pressure of ocean water flowing therethrough from said selected to said predetermined pressure to render said desalination means operative to produce potable water.

2. A wave powered desalination apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said conduit means and storage tank are configured to maintain pressure such that actuation of said pump pressurizes water in said tank.