Seawater dewatering device

Abstract

We provide seawater dewatering devices that are applicable to all sizes, from small ones useful in disaster situations to large ones used in industry. They require no specialized knowledge for operation and maintenance, are easy to use, inexpensive, and widely available. They are based on a simple product design that requires virtually no maintenance or replacement. [Solution] This is a vacuum distillation apparatus capable of producing drinking water from seawater. This apparatus evaporates and separates the water from seawater, operating in a continuous distillation manner to reduce the residual salt content in the evaporated water. The apparatus also includes a manufacturing technology and the overall structure of the basic equipment. This apparatus can produce table salt and brine as by-products of seawater dehydration, and is also capable of producing medical-grade saline solution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seawater desalination device and to the structure of a device using a continuous vacuum distillation method.

Background Art

[0002] The supply of fresh water (drinking water) to coastal residences and facilities is difficult to install a water supply facility in small islands and remote areas. The equipment of desalination devices such as the resin micron pipe method requires a large amount of capital, and the maintenance cost is enormous. Since there are many lands with excellent scenery and environment, companies and social activity groups consider installing facilities. However, the water supply is the first problem, and the utilization of many coastal areas has been abandoned. Also, it is a technology related to a desalination device that can be used as an emergency water supply means during coastal disasters, is inexpensive, can be miniaturized, requires little maintenance, and enables various supply capacities.

[0003] In modern times, the resin micron pipe method, semi-permeable membrane, etc. are the mainstream as seawater desalination devices and are adopted worldwide. However, the present invention is a vacuum distillation method with a simple structure, and there is no need to change its basic structure from small-scale to large-scale production capacity, and it also has an inexpensive and durable structure.

[0004] Also, since it can produce salt rich in minerals and fresh water as by-products, it can be commercialized. Since it can operate with small power, in addition to general power sources, small solar power generation can be used, and it can operate even with natural light and heat without power sources and with outside air temperature, although in small amounts, so self-sufficiency is possible.

[0005] In the supply of seawater, the law may sometimes hinder the beach rights. However, if there are individual ownership and usage rights, a well (with water emerging in a shallow area) can be dug within the land near the sea, and seawater can be pumped up. There is no problem, and the mixing of marine organisms is also excluded by natural filtration, which is advantageous for the equipment. It is a technology that can solve the biggest cause enabling the use of unused land, is inexpensive and superior, and can contribute to society.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] Currently, seawater dewatering systems using resin micron pipes exist, but their adoption is mainly limited to war zones and special operations such as those of the military. These systems require significant capital investment, and the ongoing costs of maintenance and replacement are substantial. As a result, their use as a source of drinking water in coastal areas without public water networks is essentially abandoned, and consequently, valuable, underutilized land remains undeveloped. What are the means to address this problem?

[0007] The invention of claim 1, which solves this problem, relates to a device that enables the separation of salt regardless of the salinity, as saltwater is always found at a depth of 2-3 meters when digging wells in coastal areas, depending on the geology and strata of the seawater collection method. By improving upon the incomplete distillation of the basic reduced-pressure heating distillation method used to produce distilled water from fragrances and freshwater, this technology enables the complete removal, separation, and recovery of salt contained in the evaporated gas. This means that the overall structure of the device is streamlined and advantageous, simplifying the commercial production of separated salt, which uses the excluded salt as a by-product, for use in edible salt production, as a raw material for sweet water, and for medical saline.

[0008] The invention of claim 1 primarily separates salt from collected seawater (including water taken from beach wells) using a combination of multiple tank-type structures and a variable vacuum distillation method. Similar to the distillation characteristics of fragrances and alcoholic beverages, approximately 3% of the active components are contained in the distillate. Therefore, this technology removes minute salts remaining in the distilled water by running multiple identical devices in succession. In a small experiment, the salt concentration in the third continuous run of the same device was approximately 0.000081%.

[0009] The invention of claim 1 is a simple method in which the internal environment of the device is basically set to a variable pressure of 0.65 to 0.95 atmospheres, the heating temperature of the raw seawater is set to a variable temperature of 35 to 50 degrees Celsius, and evaporated water is collected by natural flow at an upper position.

[0010] The invention of claim 1 is a simple method for removing salt condensation and recovering evaporated water. It assumes that heating is done by a heater and that the power source is an environmentally friendly small wind power or solar power. However, even without heater heating, it will operate naturally when installed outdoors, although the efficiency will decrease.

[0011] The invention of claim 1 simplifies the production of salt and brine produced as by-products and eliminates equipment maintenance by transferring high-concentration brine in a liquid state of approximately 25% rather than solid salt outside the tank. This eliminates 95% of the heating and refining processes involved in general salt production, thus employing a recovery method that allows for simple production thereafter.

[0012] The adhesive blade installed at the air intake or inlet for depressurization according to claim 1 requires no maintenance because, although salt solids adhere to it, they naturally fall off due to their own weight and humidity.

[0013] The invention of claim 2 relates to the production of salt and sweet water raw materials, which are the invention of claim 1. It can be said to be an invention that is a reform of the heating method used by general salt manufacturers to remove water, and is a secondary application of a reduced-pressure method that enables boiling evaporation at low temperatures, not only as a by-product of fresh water production but also as a technical feature. It has the advantage of suppressing the oxidation of minerals by avoiding denaturation at low temperatures, and is a reduced-pressure salt production technology that can contribute to improving the umami of salt and sweet water.

[0014] The invention of claim 3, although in the realm of a by-product, not only satisfies the sterilization and purification requirements in the production of medical-grade physiological saline, but also contributes to cost savings by easily adapting to the saline percentage specified in medical and pharmaceutical regulations through a continuous process. Effects of the invention

[0015] This invention enables the desalination of seawater using inexpensive equipment that is easy to install, can be used with simple instructions for individuals, requires no maintenance, thus incurring no operating costs, can be used for general purposes, and can be scaled up using the same structure, thus improving living conditions on unused coastal land, remote islands, and isolated areas. It also enables the installation of facilities in many fields.

[0016] This invention allows for the use of commercially profitable by-products such as salt and brine for personal use and community benefit, the production of medical saline solution contributes to medical care, and the supply of saline solution for self-sufficient life-saving emergency treatment during large-scale disasters is also possible. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Figure 1 shows Claim 1, a vertical cross-sectional view of the invention. The dimensions are such that, at their smallest, it can be about the size of a small refrigerator (a vertically connected 3-unit type), making it possible to use it as a home appliance. It can operate indoors if household power is available. For production of 900 ml per hour, the electricity consumption of the vacuum pump and low-temperature heating element is about 12 Wh, but the use of a small solar power generation system is desirable.

[0018] Furthermore, for large-scale supply such as community installations or commercial use, it is possible to scale up the system without changing the basic structure and operating method. If there is sufficient floor space on the site, there are no limits to the size or scale of the system, as it can be implemented using a method that implements natural transport flow with a negative difference of about 10 cm between each piece of equipment.

[0019] To improve durability, all components of the device, including the tank body, structural parts, transfer pipes, and mounting parts, will be made of 18-10 stainless steel. In addition, commercially available silicone-type products will be used for rubber rings at mounting points.

[0020] Furthermore, while there are no issues whether the installation is indoors or outdoors, in outdoor installations, the cleanliness of the environment and the inclusion of naturally occurring debris can cause corrosion and deterioration even in stainless steel. Additionally, deterioration of gaskets at connection points requires maintenance, making indoor installation preferable.

[0021] Furthermore, in relation to the operation of this device, only the first-stage tank will be equipped with a salinity monitoring outlet and an internal viewing glass window, as well as an internal thermometer and a barometer. These are unnecessary for the other stages.

[0022] Figure 2 is a basic connection external view of Claim 1. However, it is also possible to combine by enlarging the first-stage device and making multiple other-stage devices small, which is useful for use according to the application (flush toilet, bath, others), dispersed acquisition, and distribution of drinking pure water. In particular, it is advantageous to arrange it for optimization such as the adjusted concentration for the purpose of manufacturing physiological saline.

Industrial Applicability

[0023] The use of the invented pure water conversion device for seawater enables the use of various domestic waters such as residences, various facilities, and factories in many unused areas on the seashore or remote islands without a water supply network. Therefore, the social contribution by the drinking water supply device, which is the biggest cause of unused land, is great.

[0024] The use of the pure water conversion device for seawater is currently mainly used only by countries such as the Self-Defense Forces and the military because the expensive pure water conversion devices used in times of disaster or in emergency countries, and the operation and maintenance costs such as repair and replacement are enormous. However, the invented pure water conversion device for seawater has characteristics such as being difficult to break by using a simple method, having a simple structure that does not require maintenance, being low in price, and having low maintenance and operation costs, so it can be expected to contribute to the entire industry.

[0025] Since the device is based on a simple structure and the simplicity of the connection parts, it is easy to manufacture and the manufacturing cost is low. Therefore, it is an excellent product that can be manufactured from small companies to large companies, and it is beneficial to both the manufacturing company and the user side as a household electrical appliance component product and as a customized equipment for facilities and factories that require a large capacity.

[0026] In addition, considering the loading and operation at the disaster site, etc., it is applicable only by installing a lifting hook that is easy to load on a 2-4 ton truck, so it is a device that is easy to hold as an administrative supply.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a longitudinal sectional view in the shape of a cylindrical tank of the overall basic structure of the device according to Claims 1 to 3. [Figure 2]This is a schematic diagram showing the device of claim 1 used in conjunction with four other devices. [Explanation of Symbols] 1. Tank tray section 2. Detachable tank lid (cooling and condensation section for evaporated gas = double-layered inner wall for dripping distillate and recovery plate) 3. Heating element (Nichrome oil heater for low current heating) 4. Distillate recovery and transfer pipe (with on / off valve) 5. Seawater concentrate inlet (both pump and gravity pressure = gravity pressure is the basic method for connecting the equipment) 6. Concentrated saline solution outlet (on / off valve type; used for both concentration testing) 7. Pipe for pressure reduction circuit (adjustable valve setting, vacuum pump type) 8. Temperature, Humidity, and Barometer 9. Inspection hatch (tempered glass, bolted and sealed) 10. Inner plate for condensation (temperature difference induction plate and drip prevention plate) of reference numeral 2. 11. Steam-infused salt crystal grid (wire mesh shape) 12. Steam-infused salt crystal protection blade

Claims

1. The production technology for desalination of seawater suitable for drinking, including water evaporation separation and continuous distillation methods using a vacuum distillation apparatus to reduce residual salt content, and the overall structure of the basic apparatus.

2. A technology for producing salt and brine as by-products of a dewatering apparatus, which is an application of claim 1.

3. A production technology for medical physiological saline, which is an application of claim 1.

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