Device for producing desalinated water by evaporation of seawater using solar energy

Abstract

The application discloses a device for preparing desalination water by evaporating seawater by using solar energy and belongs to the technical field of seawater desalination, which comprises an evaporation chamber, a cooling mechanism arranged below the evaporation chamber and an air convection mechanism arranged on one side of the evaporation chamber, wherein the air convection mechanism comprises a convection chimney; the chimney structure is used to realize negative pressure suction, strengthen convection and prepare desalination water by cooling seawater; the device uses the temperature difference of natural seawater to reduce investment and save energy, and has a wide application range; the device significantly improves the heat efficiency and fresh water yield of the device, is a green and pollution-free seawater desalination technology, and can realize large-scale and stable production and supply of desalination water in island areas without additional energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of seawater desalination technology, and in particular relates to a device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy. Background Technology

[0002] Freshwater is one of the fundamental substances upon which human society depends for survival and development, and a key factor in the sustainable development of the national economy and society. Currently, water scarcity has attracted widespread attention worldwide. Seawater is currently the largest water resource, but it cannot be directly consumed or used. Current seawater desalination technologies mainly include low-temperature multi-effect distillation, multi-stage flash distillation, and reverse osmosis. These technologies have been industrialized in many regions, but they all heavily rely on and consume large amounts of fuel or electricity. It is estimated that producing 10,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day requires 1.3 million tons of crude oil annually, leading to environmental problems such as the greenhouse effect and air pollution, as well as the depletion of fossil fuels. Furthermore, freshwater supply is even more crucial for island regions without reliable energy supplies. Therefore, exploring the use of solar thermal energy for seawater desalination will undoubtedly gain popularity.

[0003] Currently, the existing solar-powered seawater desalination devices mainly include the following types:

[0004] Patent CN103553167B discloses a solar-powered evaporative seawater desalination device. This device includes an evaporation chamber, a water collection system, an exhaust pipe, and an aeration system. The evaporation chamber comprises a membrane frame, a hydrophobic membrane, a seawater storage tank, a seawater inlet pipe, and a concentrated seawater outlet pipe. The water collection system includes a water collection trough, a water collection tank, and a desalinated water outlet pipe. The aeration system includes an air inlet pipe and an aerator head. The air inlet pipe is installed inside the seawater storage tank and connected to the aerator head. Its working principle is that sunlight irradiates the evaporation chamber, heating the seawater in the storage tank. The seawater evaporates to form water vapor, which is then cooled by air outside the membrane to form desalinated water droplets. The exhaust pipe and aeration system promote convection and agitate the seawater in the storage tank, which is beneficial for water vapor formation. However, this device is air-cooled; when the air temperature is high, the water vapor is discharged through the chimney, affecting the water production efficiency. Therefore, it is only suitable for small-scale desalination production.

[0005] Patent CN106704106A discloses a device for solar power generation and seawater desalination using a combined wind-powered pressurized chimney. The device includes a seawater desalination unit, a solar collector, a chimney, a turbine, and a wind-powered pressurization unit. The working principle is as follows: the solar collector heats seawater to generate steam. A vertical axis wind turbine blade installed at the top of the chimney (a vertical hollow cylinder) directly drives the fan blades to rotate, creating negative pressure inside the chimney. The rising water vapor is cooled by the air and condenses into water droplets on the lower surface of a glass partition, producing desalinated water which is then collected. However, this device also relies on air cooling. When the air temperature is high, water vapor is discharged with the chimney, affecting water production efficiency. Furthermore, the generation of negative pressure is significantly affected by wind force. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this application is to provide a device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy, in order to solve the technical problems of existing seawater desalination technologies, such as high investment, high cost, high energy consumption, high requirements for seawater pretreatment, and heavy reliance on fossil fuels and electrical energy.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: to provide a device for preparing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy, including an evaporation chamber, a cooling mechanism below the evaporation chamber, and an air convection mechanism on one side of the evaporation chamber, the air convection mechanism including a convection chimney, the convection chimney being narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, and the exterior being dark-colored.

[0008] In one embodiment,

[0009] The evaporation chamber is surrounded by seven side walls, and a seawater storage tank is located at the bottom of the evaporation chamber. Inlet and outlet water pipes are located on one side of the seawater storage tank.

[0010] In one embodiment,

[0011] One of the side walls has an air intake hole, and the opposite side wall has an exhaust hole. The number of air intake holes and exhaust holes is at least one.

[0012] In one embodiment,

[0013] The cooling mechanism includes an air intake pipe, one end of which is connected to a series pipe, which is connected to a cooling pipe, and the number of cooling pipes is at least one.

[0014] In one embodiment,

[0015] Multiple cooling pipes are connected to freshwater storage tanks at their bottoms.

[0016] In one embodiment,

[0017] The freshwater storage tank has a freshwater outlet pipe on one side and a gas outlet pipe on the other side.

[0018] In one embodiment,

[0019] The internal inclination angle of the convection chimney is 60-75°, and the bottom of the convection chimney is equipped with a convection air inlet.

[0020] In one embodiment,

[0021] The material of the convection chimney is one of stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum alloy, or titanium alloy.

[0022] In one embodiment,

[0023] The evaporation chamber and air convection mechanism are located above sea level, while the cooling mechanism is located below sea level.

[0024] In one embodiment,

[0025] The intake pipe is connected to the exhaust port, and the convection intake port is connected to the exhaust pipe.

[0026] This application provides a device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy. The evaporation chamber is placed above sea level to fully absorb solar heat and utilize solar energy resources for seawater desalination. The convection chimney has a narrow top and wide bottom spatial structure with a black outer layer. It heats up quickly under sunlight, and the rising hot air facilitates forced convection and negative pressure. Thus, the chimney structure design can be used to achieve negative pressure suction to enhance convection and cool the seawater to produce desalinated water. This device utilizes the natural temperature difference of seawater for cooling, making it suitable for sea areas with little temperature variation. It overcomes the shortcomings of air cooling, has low requirements for seawater pretreatment, has a wide range of applications, reduces equipment investment, reduces equipment size, saves energy, and is more environmentally friendly. This device significantly improves the thermal efficiency and freshwater production of the device. It is a green and pollution-free seawater desalination technology that can achieve large-scale and stable production and supply of desalinated water in island areas without the need for external energy. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a desalination water device.

[0029] Explanation of symbols in the diagram:

[0030] 1. Evaporation chamber; 11. Seawater storage tank; 12. Air inlet; 13. Exhaust outlet; 14. Water inlet and outlet pipes; 2. Cooling mechanism; 21. Air inlet pipe; 22. Cooling pipe; 221. Series pipe; 23. Gas outlet pipe; 24. Freshwater storage tank; 25. Freshwater outlet pipe; 3. Air convection mechanism; 31. Convection air inlet; 32. Convection chimney. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, this application will be further described in detail. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] A device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes an evaporation chamber 1, a cooling mechanism 2 is provided below the evaporation chamber 1, and an air convection mechanism 3 is provided on one side of the evaporation chamber 1.

[0034] Specifically, the evaporation chamber 1 and the air convection mechanism 3 are located above the sea level, while the cooling mechanism 2 is located below the sea level. The evaporation chamber 1 is used to heat seawater, causing it to evaporate and form water vapor. The cooling mechanism 2 can cool the water vapor to form water droplets, and the air convection mechanism 3 can create negative pressure to provide power for the movement of water vapor.

[0035] The evaporation chamber 1 is surrounded by seven side walls. The bottom of the evaporation chamber 1 is provided with a seawater storage tank 11. The side wall B is provided with an air inlet 12 and the side wall D is provided with an exhaust 13. The number of air inlets 12 and exhaust 13 is at least one, and in this embodiment there are two.

[0036] Specifically, the side walls A, B, and D of the evaporation chamber 1 are made of glass and fixed by a metal support structure, while the side wall C is made of stainless steel with a black coating on the inner surface. The seawater storage tank 11 is made of stainless steel and has an inlet / outlet pipe 14 on one side to facilitate the entry and exit of seawater.

[0037] The cooling mechanism 2 includes an air inlet pipe 21, one end of which is connected to a series pipe 221, which is connected to a cooling pipe 22. The bottom of the multiple cooling pipes 22 is connected to a fresh water storage tank 24. A fresh water outlet pipe 25 is provided on one side of the fresh water storage tank 24, and an air outlet pipe 23 is provided on the other side.

[0038] Specifically, the number of cooling pipes 22 is at least one, and in this embodiment there are nine. The number of series openings of the series pipes 221 is consistent with the number of cooling pipes 22. The freshwater storage tank 24 is made of stainless steel. The cooling pipes 22 are made of polyethylene.

[0039] The air convection mechanism 3 includes a convection chimney 32, which is tapered at the top and thicker at the bottom. The exterior is dark-colored, preferably black, and the interior angle is 60-75°. The bottom of the convection chimney 32 is provided with a convection air inlet 31. The material of the convection chimney 32 is stainless steel.

[0040] In one embodiment, the side walls A, B, and D of the evaporation chamber 1 are made of plastic film and fixed by a plastic structure. The seawater storage tank 11 and the freshwater storage tank 24 can be made of plastic, titanium alloy, or steel-concrete structure. The material of the convection chimney 32 can be carbon steel, aluminum alloy, or titanium alloy. The material of the cooling pipe 22 can be polypropylene.

[0041] The specific structure of the present invention has been described in detail above. The following is a combination of... Figure 1 The working principle of the above-mentioned device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy is described as follows:

[0042] The air inlet pipe 21 is connected to the exhaust port 13, and the convection air inlet 31 is connected to the exhaust pipe 23, thus realizing the overall connection of the device. When the device is running, except for the air inlet pipe 21 and the convection chimney 32, the rest is a closed system. The evaporation chamber 1 is heated by sunlight, and the temperature inside the evaporation chamber 1 rises. The seawater in the seawater storage tank 11 evaporates to form water vapor, and the evaporation chamber 1 is filled with steam. After being irradiated by the sun, the internal air temperature of the convection chimney 32 rises and forms an upward airflow. A negative pressure is formed in the area at the bottom connected to the freshwater storage tank 24. In this way, the water vapor in the evaporation chamber 1 is drawn into the cooling pipe 22, and formed into water droplets under the cooling of the external seawater, which drip into the freshwater storage tank 24.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] Evaporation chamber 1 is made of glass, and seawater storage tank 11 has a volume of 20m³. 3 Effective surface area 40m² 2 The convection chimney 32 is made of stainless steel, with an internal inclination angle of 60°, a height of 20m, and a top taper diameter of 10cm; the cooling pipe 22 is made of polyethylene, and its effective area is 20m². 2 The water yield in winter and summer is 5-10 m³ at latitudes of 10-30°N. 3 / d and 10-50m 3 / d.

[0045] Example 3

[0046] Evaporation chamber 1 is made of glass, and seawater storage tank 11 has a volume of 20m³. 3 Effective surface area 40m² 2 The convection chimney 32 is made of stainless steel, with an internal inclination angle of 60°, a height of 10m, and a top taper diameter of 10cm; the cooling pipe 22 is made of polyethylene, and its effective area is 15m².2 The water yield in winter and summer is 2-8m at latitudes of 10-30°N. 3 / d and 8-30m 3 / d.

[0047] Example 4

[0048] Evaporation chamber 1 is made of glass, and seawater storage tank 11 has a volume of 20m³. 3 Effective surface area 40m² 2 The convection chimney 32 is made of stainless steel, with an internal inclination angle of 60°, a height of 20m, and a top taper diameter of 10cm; the cooling pipe 22 is made of polyethylene, and its effective area is 20m². 2 The water yield in winter and summer is 5-10 m³ at latitudes of 10-30°N. 3 / d and 10-50m 3 / d.

[0049] Example 5

[0050] Evaporation chamber 1 is made of glass, and seawater storage tank 11 has a volume of 20m³. 3 Effective surface area 40m² 2 The convection chimney 32 is made of stainless steel, with an internal inclination angle of 60°, a height of 5m, and a top taper diameter of 10cm; the cooling pipe 22 is made of polyethylene, and its effective area is 50m². 2 The water yield in winter and summer is 1-5m at latitudes of 10-30°N. 3 / d and 5-30m 3 / d.

[0051] Example 6

[0052] Evaporation chamber 1 is made of glass, and seawater storage tank 11 has a volume of 20m³. 3 Effective surface area 60m² 2 The convection chimney 32 is made of stainless steel, with an internal inclination angle of 75°, a height of 20m, and a top taper diameter of 10cm; the cooling pipe 22 is made of polypropylene, and its effective area is 20m². 2 The water yield in winter and summer is 8-16 m³ at latitudes of 10-30°N. 3 / d and 15-70m 3 / d.

[0053] Example 7

[0054] Evaporation chamber 1 is made of glass, and seawater storage tank 11 has a volume of 20m³. 3 Effective surface area 40m² 2The convection chimney 32 is made of stainless steel, with an internal inclination angle of 75°, a height of 20m, and a top taper diameter of 5cm; the cooling pipe 22 is made of polypropylene, and its effective area is 20m². 2 The water yield in winter and summer is 6-12m at latitudes of 10-30°N. 3 / d and 12-60m 3 / d.

[0055] This application provides a device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy. The device includes an evaporation chamber, a cooling mechanism below the chamber, and an air convection mechanism on one side of the chamber. The air convection mechanism includes a convection chimney, which is narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, with a dark exterior. This application places the evaporation chamber above sea level to fully absorb solar heat and utilize solar energy resources for seawater desalination. The convection chimney, with its narrow top and wide bottom structure and black exterior, heats up quickly under sunlight. The rising hot air facilitates forced convection and negative pressure, allowing for negative pressure suction to enhance convection and seawater cooling for desalination. This device utilizes the natural temperature difference of seawater for cooling, making it suitable for sea areas with minimal temperature variations. It overcomes the limitations of air cooling, has low requirements for seawater pretreatment, and has a wide range of applications. It reduces equipment investment, decreases equipment size, saves energy, and is more environmentally friendly. This device significantly improves thermal efficiency and freshwater production, representing a green and pollution-free seawater desalination technology that enables large-scale, stable production and supply of desalinated water in island regions without the need for external energy.

[0056] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0057] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A device for producing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy, comprising an evaporation chamber, a cooling mechanism located below the evaporation chamber, and an air convection mechanism located on one side of the evaporation chamber, characterized in that, The evaporation chamber is surrounded by seven side walls. A seawater storage tank is provided at the bottom of the evaporation chamber, and an inlet and outlet water pipe is provided on one side of the seawater storage tank. An air inlet is provided on one of the side walls, and an exhaust outlet is provided on the opposite side wall. The air convection mechanism includes a convection chimney, which is tapered at the top and thicker at the bottom, with a dark exterior and an interior inclination angle of 60-75º; a convection air inlet is provided at the bottom of the convection chimney; The evaporation chamber and air convection mechanism are located above sea level, and the cooling mechanism is located below sea level. The cooling mechanism includes an air inlet pipe, one end of which is connected to a series pipe, which is connected to multiple cooling pipes. The bottom of the multiple cooling pipes is connected to a freshwater storage tank, and a freshwater outlet pipe is provided on one side of the freshwater storage tank, while an air outlet pipe is provided on the other side. The air intake pipe is connected to the exhaust port, and the convection air intake is connected to the exhaust pipe.

2. The device for preparing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of air inlets and exhaust ports is at least one.

3. The device for preparing desalinated water by evaporating seawater using solar energy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the convection chimney is one of stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum alloy, and titanium alloy.

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