Liquid ring pumps with hermetically sealed motor rotors

• US 7,465,375 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Demers, Jason A., Owens, Kingston, Leonard, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manoharan; Virginia
• Application Number:
  US10/713,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 202/182, 202/176, 202/269, 202/238, 202/160, 159/44, 159/901, 159/26.1, 159/27.1, 415/148, 415/169.3, 415/175, 732/90.R, 73/498
• US Class Current: 202/160
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/0035 Solar energy for treatment of water C02F1/14
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/0058 Use of waste energy from other processes or sources, e.g. combustion gas for water treatment C02F1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/06 Evaporators with vertical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/065 by film evaporating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/221 Composite plate evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/28 with vapour compression
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/2887 The compressor is integrated in the evaporation apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/289 Compressor features (e.g. constructions, details, cooling, lubrication, driving systems)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/2893 Driving systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/2896 Control, regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/01 with flat filtering elements B01D29/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/52 in parallel connection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/66 by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/96 in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters B01D29/09, B01D29/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/00 Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping evaporation in general, e.g. of liquids for gas phase reactions B01B1/005; gas chromatography B01D15/08; destructive distillation C10B; preparation of alcoholic beverages by distillation C12H6/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/007 Energy recuperation; Heat pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/10 Vacuum distillation B01D3/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/42 Regulation; Control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/12 Devices for taking out of action one or more units of multi- unit filters, e.g. for regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0015 Plates
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 : Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/041 : by means of vapour compression
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/048 : Purification of waste water by evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/16 : using waste heat from other processes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 : Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 : comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 : Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/10 : Energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/043 : the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/06 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2243/00 : Stirling type engines having closed regenerative thermodynamic cycles with flow controlled by volume changes
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/002 : with rotating outer members
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/004 : Details concerning the operating liquid, e.g. nature, separation, cooling, cleaning, control of the supply
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/005 : Details concerning the admission or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/008 : Port members in the form of conical or cylindrical pieces situated in the centre of the impeller
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/86 : Detection
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 : Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0066 : Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids F28D7/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/005 : the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0093 : Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/00 : Measuring volume flow relative to another variable, e.g. of liquid fuel for an engine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 : Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 : Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In an embodiment of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product, and an electric motor with motor rotor and magnets hermetically sealed within the fluid pressure boundary of the distillation system.

Claims

1. A liquid distillation system comprising:

a) an input for receiving untreated liquid;

b) an evaporator coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

c) a head chamber for collecting vapor from the evaporator;

d) a liquid ring pump comprising;

i. an internal drive shaft; and

ii. an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing;

e) an electric motor having a motor rotor and motor magnets to power the drive shaft wherein the motor rotor and magnets are hermetically sealed within a liquid fluid pressure boundary of the liquid ring pump;

f) a condenser in communication with the liquid ring pump for transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product;

g) an output for discharging of distilled liquid product;

h) a liquid waste output; and

i) a sump wherein liquid from the evaporator may be preheated at start-up, wherein the evaporator has a plurality of parallel evaporator tubes, each tube having a first open end in communication with the sump and a second open end in communication with the head chamber and wherein each of the plurality of parallel tubes is sealed at the first end and second end by an elastomer tube seal.

2. The liquid distillation system as in claim 1 wherein the rotor further comprises a multiplicity of vanes separated by chambers, each chamber having an intake and an exit.

3. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 wherein the input is coupled to at least one heat source.

4. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 further comprising a regulator for maintaining a liquid level sufficient to permit purification of liquid from the evaporator tubes and damping of local turbulence.

5. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a regulator for maintaining and controlling pressure in the condenser.

6. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 wherein the output for collection of distilled liquid product is further in connection with the input for recycling a blowdown stream.

7. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 further comprising a pre-treatment assembly coupled to the input.

8. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a heating unit for heating input liquid upon startup.

9. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger for receiving liquid from the input such that heat from at least one source is exchanged with the input liquid.

10. A liquid distillation system according to claim 9 wherein the at least one heat source is selected from the group consisting of a product stream, a blowdown stream, system waste heat, liquid ring pump waste heat, motor waste heat, exhaust heat from a power source, and an external heat source.

11. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 wherein the electric motor is a permanent magnet brushless motor.

12. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1 further comprising a power source coupled to the system wherein the power source is a clean-burning generator.

13. A liquid distillation according to claim 1, further comprising a siphon pump to pump liquid into the vapor pump from a reservoir.

14. A liquid distillation system according to claim 1, wherein the condenser and the evaporator are in thermal contact.

15. A liquid distillation system according to claim 14, wherein the condenser has a surface with a hydrophobic coating, the surface in contact with compressed vapor and liquid.

16. A liquid distillation system comprising:

a) an input for receiving untreated liquid;

b) an evaporator coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

c) a head chamber for collecting vapor from the evaporator;

d) a liquid ring pump comprising;

i. an internal drive shaft; and

ii. an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing;

e) an electric motor having a motor rotor and motor magnets to power the drive shaft wherein the motor rotor and magnets are hermetically sealed within a liquid fluid pressure boundary of the liquid ring pump;

f) a condenser in communication with the liquid ring pump for transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product;

g) an output for discharging of distilled liquid product;

h) a liquid waste output; and

i) a fluid distribution manifold having flow regulation, mist removal, and pressure regulation in a single unit,

wherein the evaporator has a plurality of parallel core layers with rib sections that create channels for directing steam and condensed liquid flow, and wherein alternating parallel core layers comprise an evaporator channel and a condenser channel such that evaporation and condensation are separated.

17. A liquid distillation system according to claim 16, wherein core plates and manifolding are made of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, ceramic, and non-corrosive material capable of withstanding high temperature and pressure.