Apparatus and method for purifying liquid-phase fluids

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for purifying a liquid-phase fluid, comprising: a nozzle for distributing the fluid into an atmosphere in the form of droplets; a condenser wall; and a membrane that is permeable to a fluid in the gas phase but impermeable to the fluid distributed in the form of droplets in the atmosphere, and is disposed between the nozzle and the condenser wall, wherein the condenser wall and the membrane partition a first space, the condenser comprises a refrigerant liquid flow circuit, the condenser wall separates the flow circuit from the first space, the condenser wall is impermeable to both liquid-phase and gas-phase fluids, and is configured to condense the gas-phase fluid that has passed through the membrane into a purified liquid-phase fluid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical field of the present invention is the technical field of purifying liquids.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to the production and collection of a purified fluid in a liquid state by thermal distillation from the same unpurified fluid (for example, one containing a solute). For example, the present invention relates to the production and collection of purified water from water containing a solute (for example, salt water or mineral-containing water or contaminated water).

Background Art

[0003] There is a so-called "semipermeable" membrane defined as a porous membrane that is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids. These membranes are used between two media having different temperatures. Conventionally, the medium having a higher temperature is called the "hot medium", and the medium having a lower temperature is called the "cold medium".

[0004] The temperature difference between the hot medium and the cold medium induces a vapor pressure difference between these two media. As a result, an exchange occurs between the two media, which occurs from the hot medium to the cold medium in the vapor phase through or perpendicular to the semipermeable membrane. After passing through the semipermeable membrane, this vapor condenses in the cold medium, and the condensate of this vapor that has become a liquid dilutes the cold liquid medium.

[0005] To use this property industrially, a cold fluid stream is added to the cold medium and a warm fluid stream is added to the warm medium in order to produce a cooled and concentrated warm liquid in the warm liquid pressure circuit after passing through the warm medium separated by the membrane from a warm liquid having an initial concentration of a first solute, and a heated and diluted cold liquid. This structure constitutes a heat and purified fluid exchanger between the hot medium and the cold medium, which is known from the prior art.

[0006] As is known, there are devices for dehumidifying or humidifying gases that have nozzles immersed in the gas and mechanically weak membranes, but these are not suitable for use in purified water generators.

[0007] To enable the use of any semipermeable membrane, especially low-thickness membranes, that are readily manufactured in industrial quantities by known methods but are fragile and can only support small pressure differences between the media they separate, it is also possible to operate both sides of the membrane at the same pressure, e.g., atmospheric pressure, by using, for example, a first depressurizer or hot-depressurizer as a first nozzle or hot nozzle in the hot-hydro-pressure circuit, and a second depressurizer or cold-depressurizer as a second nozzle or cold nozzle in the cold-hydro-pressure circuit.

[0008] However, in practice, in nozzle devices that operate by diluting the refrigerant by adding a liquid, particularly water, the production of purified liquid vapor condensate is only possible if the purified liquid is circulated within a cold hydraulic circuit and there must be an initial volume of purified liquid available. Therefore, these systems are not suited for the production of purified liquid, particularly purified water, but only for the addition of purified liquid, particularly purified water, to a hydraulic circuit that already contains it. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to produce and collect purified liquids, such as purified water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention provides a solution to the aforementioned problems by providing an apparatus for purifying fluids in a simple and effective manner with minimal energy consumption.

[0011] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for purifying a liquid-phase fluid. This apparatus is A nozzle for distributing the aforementioned fluid into the atmosphere in the form of droplets, The wall of the condenser, A membrane that is permeable to the fluid in the gas phase and impermeable to the fluid distributed in the form of droplets in an atmosphere, and the membrane is positioned between the nozzle and the wall of the condenser. It is equipped with, The condenser wall and membrane divide a first space, the membrane separates the first space from a second space containing a nozzle, the condenser includes a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, the condenser wall separates the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit from the first space, the condenser wall is impermeable to liquid and gaseous fluids, and is configured to condense the gaseous fluid that has passed through the membrane into the liquid phase of the purified fluid.

[0012] A "nozzle" is an element that can divide a liquid into droplets and release those droplets into an atmosphere (in other words, it distributes a liquid in droplet form into an atmosphere or medium). A condenser is a device that can condense (or liquefy) vapor. A "refrigerant fluid" is a fluid that can be cooled and typically has a temperature lower than the dew point of vapor circulating in the space between the membrane and the condenser.

[0013] Such apparatus allows for the execution of thermal distillation, i.e., an evaporation-condensation cycle of a fluid containing a solute or a component that is less volatile or less volatile than the fluid itself, where the concentration of the solute increases in the portion of the fluid that does not evaporate during the cycle and decreases (or is completely removed) in the portion of the fluid that evaporates and condenses. Thus, the terms “purified fluid” or “pure fluid” refer to the fluid obtained by evaporation-condensation during thermal distillation. The portion of the fluid that does not evaporate is the fluid with a higher solute concentration, in other words, the less purified fluid.

[0014] The fluid being purified is called an "unpurified fluid" or "non-pure fluid," and may be water containing minerals such as calcium, magnesium, or salt (hereinafter simply referred to as "salt"), for example, water from a water distribution system, seawater, or contaminated water.

[0015] A fluid is understood to be a fluid in either a liquid phase (also simply called "liquid") or a gaseous phase (also called "gas" or "vapor").

[0016] When unpurified fluids and refrigerant fluids are supplied, such equipment advantageously enables the purification of the unpurified fluids and the recovery of purified fluids from the unpurified fluids in a simple and effective manner.

[0017] In practice, droplets of unrefined liquid set to a first temperature ("warm" unrefined fluid, meaning "warmer than the condenser wall") are distributed through a nozzle into the atmosphere between the nozzle's pressurized inlet and atmospheric pressure outlet, thereby causing vapor to form in the atmosphere in addition to the droplets. The vapor corresponds to the gaseous phase of the refined fluid. Some of the vapor naturally moves to a condenser (or cold trap) set to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, where it condenses into refined droplets on the cold-impermeable wall of the condenser at atmospheric pressure.

[0018] In fact, when a temperature difference arises between a warm liquid (whether a mixture of components or not) and a colder liquid or surface—colder than the dew point of a colder surface or an atmosphere adjacent to the colder liquid—a difference in vapor partial pressure emerges, driving the processes of evaporation and condensation. Thus, vapors from the liquid formed on the surface of the warm liquid move to a liquid or surface colder than its condensation temperature and condense. This phenomenon cools the warm liquid so that the heat required for evaporation is removed from it, and provides heat to the colder liquid or cold wall so that the heat released by condensation is transferred to it.

[0019] The implementation of this physical principle faces several technical and functional challenges. The risk of hot liquid being sprayed onto a cold liquid or surface and mixing with condensates is a known risk of contamination or loss of condensate purity.

[0020] In the above apparatus, a semipermeable membrane placed between the nozzle and the condenser wall allows for the separation of purified fluid vapor from unpurified fluid droplets. As a result, only the purified portion of the fluid, distributed in droplet form, reaches the space separated between the condenser wall and the membrane, and thus the purified portion of the fluid is not "contaminated" by the unpurified fluid flowing on the other side of the membrane (the side with the nozzle). Because the membrane operates at equal pressure on both sides (e.g., atmospheric pressure), it experiences very little mechanical stress. Consequently, it does not require special mechanical properties, reducing its manufacturing cost.

[0021] Therefore, the phrase "impermeable to fluids distributed in droplet form" is understood, in relation to the present invention, to correspond to the property of a membrane that prevents droplets from passing through the membrane during the operation of the apparatus (especially when the fluid is distributed in droplet form by a nozzle). For example, membranes that do not absorb droplets, membranes made from water-repellent materials, or membranes coated with water-repellent materials that do not allow droplets to pass through are within the scope of the present invention. In particular, it should be noted that membranes are not necessarily impermeable to liquids. For example, when subjected to considerable liquid pressure (e.g., a jet of liquid directed at the membrane), the membrane can become permeable and allow the liquid to pass through. On the other hand, it is important that the membrane is impermeable to droplets, so that only pure liquid vapor enters the space between the condenser and the membrane, and unrefined liquid does not enter this space.

[0022] Naturally, the apparatus may comprise multiple of the above elements, as illustrated with reference to Figure 1. Therefore, it is possible to increase the exchange surface area in a modular manner by adding the number of channels and nozzles required for heat and mass exchange.

[0023] Hereinafter, the first space and the second space may be referred to as a "channel" or a "fluid channel". The term "channel" or "fluid channel" refers to an element or a combination of elements that can enable the circulation of a fluid in the gas phase or the flow or circulation of a fluid in the liquid phase. The fluid channel can transport vapor from the gas-phase fluid and / or collect liquid droplets by dripping along the channel. The fluid channel is particularly made like a honeycomb frame or shelf by attaching two membranes or two walls similar to a fabric attached to a frame parallel to each other and spaced apart by the thickness of the channel. It may have a thickness smaller than or even much smaller than its length and width. Depending on the thickness of the channel, a seal is further achieved between the frames by elements connecting the frames to each other.

[0024] For example, the nozzle may be a spray nozzle. In this embodiment, the fluid is ejected as fine droplets by the spray nozzle, particularly in a direction parallel to the membrane. The fine droplets promote the evaporation of the liquid while limiting the pressure on the membrane.

[0025] For example, the nozzle may be a jet nozzle. In this embodiment, the fluid is ejected in a jet form by the spray nozzle, particularly in a direction parallel to the membrane.

[0026] Other embodiments are also possible. For example, the nozzle may be a hollow rod (or shank) (or pipe) having small holes drilled along its length through which the liquid is distributed in the form of droplets.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the membrane comprises a first surface facing the first space and a second surface facing the second space, and the membrane is configured to operate at equal pressure on its first surface and its second surface.

[0028] For example, the pressure may be atmospheric pressure.

[0029] In one or more embodiments, the membrane and condenser wall extend in a substantially vertical plane.

[0030] According to these embodiments, the membrane and condenser wall are planar (note that the surface of the membrane may have undulations, as well as patterns on the condenser wall). By "substantially perpendicular," it is understood that the membrane and condenser wall may each form angles from 70° to 110° with respect to the ground.

[0031] Such a configuration minimizes stress on the film while favorably maximizing the heat exchange and condensation surface area.

[0032] In these embodiments, if the nozzle is a rod having a small perforated hole, the rod may extend substantially horizontally to distribute droplets of fluid into a second space.

[0033] In one or more embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a first fluid distributor for supplying the liquid-phase fluid to a nozzle and a second fluid distributor for supplying the refrigerant fluid to a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit.

[0034] A first distributor (hereinafter referred to as the "hot liquid distributor" or "hot water distributor") and a second distributor (hereinafter referred to as the "cold liquid / refrigerant distributor" or "cold water distributor") enable the supply of the fluid and refrigerant fluid distributed by the nozzles to the apparatus. As will be detailed later, these two distributors may be connected (possibly via other elements) such that the same fluid can be both the fluid and the refrigerant fluid distributed in droplet form.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the apparatus includes a collector configured to collect at least a portion of a fluid that is dispensed by a nozzle in the form of droplets and circulating within a second space.

[0036] This collector, also referred to below as a “warm liquid collector” or “hot water collector,” advantageously allows for the recovery of a portion of the fluid distributed by the nozzle in the form of droplets, which has not passed through the membrane in the form of vapor. This recovery has several applications. For example, the fluid thus collected can be discharged from the device when it becomes highly “impure” (e.g., if it contains too much salt). The collected fluid can also be reused as a cooled refrigerant, as detailed below. Note that the liquid collected by the warm liquid collector is not warmer than the liquid at the nozzle outlet, as this liquid is cooled by evaporation as it passes through the second space.

[0037] In one or more embodiments, the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, the nozzle, and the second space belong to the same fluid circuit.

[0038] A “fluid circuit” means a fluid circulation circuit, in other words, a circuit that enables fluid exchange between elements. Therefore, according to these embodiments, there may be a circulation of the same fluid in both the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit and the second space. In other words, the fluid circulating in the second space can then circulate in the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit (and possibly after passing through other elements of the device, such as a cooling system), and / or the fluid circulating in the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit can then be distributed into the second space through a nozzle.

[0039] In particular, the fluid circuit may be a “closed fluid circuit” (or “fluid loop circuit”), that is, a fluid circuit in which at least a portion of the fluid at the outlet of the circuit is reinjected into the inlet of the circuit. It should be noted that the term “closed circuit” does not preclude the possibility that the circuit may have means for delivering and / or withdrawing fluid. In other words, a portion of the fluid circulating within the closed circuit (e.g., a high-salt liquid) may be withdrawn, and / or fluid from outside the circuit (e.g., a low-salt liquid) may be added to the closed circuit.

[0040] Other embodiments are also possible. For example, the fluid circulating in the second space may be reinjected into the refrigerant circulation circuit and discharged at the outlet of the refrigerant circulation circuit. In another example, the fluid circulating in the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit may then be distributed to the second space through a nozzle and then the remaining liquid in the second space may be discharged. These examples do not correspond to a closed fluid circuit in that the circuit does not loop back to itself, but there is indeed fluid exchange between the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, the nozzle, and the second space, and therefore they belong to the same fluid circuit for the purposes of the present invention.

[0041] To implement such a fluid circuit, the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit may have an inlet and an outlet, and the device may further include a first connection circuit between the outlet of the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit and the first fluid distributor.

[0042] The term “connecting circuit” between two entities means an element or combination of elements that enables a fluid to circulate from one entity to another. The connecting circuit may comprise, for example, one or more ducts, and one or more intermediate systems, the intermediate systems comprising, for example, an inlet into which the fluid can enter the system, a circulation circuit through which the fluid circulates, an outlet from which the fluid exits the system, and an outlet into which the fluid can enter, and such a system may be, for example, a fluid heating or cooling system.

[0043] Therefore, according to one embodiment, the first connection circuit may include a heating system configured to heat a fluid circulating within the first connection circuit, a connecting pipe connecting the outlet of a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit to the heating system, and a connecting pipe connecting the heating system to a first fluid distributor.

[0044] Such a heating system advantageously allows the fluid exiting the condenser's circulation circuit to be heated to a first temperature, and the thus heated fluid can be supplied to a nozzle.

[0045] Furthermore, the collector may be connected to a second fluid distributor.

[0046] This allows the fluid collected in the collector to be reinjected into the second fluid distributor and used as the refrigerant in the condenser's circulation circuit.

[0047] In this embodiment, the collector may be connected to a second fluid distributor by a second connection circuit, the second connection circuit comprising a cooling system configured to cool a fluid circulating within the second connection circuit, a connecting pipe connecting the cooling system to the inlet of a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, and a connecting pipe connecting the cooling system to the collector.

[0048] Such a cooling system advantageously allows for the cooling of a portion of the unrefined fluid that was distributed by the nozzle in the form of droplets and did not pass through the membrane in the form of vapor, for use as a refrigerant liquid.

[0049] As described above, in some embodiments, the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit and the second space belong to the same closed fluid circuit.

[0050] In one or more other embodiments, the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit and the second space belong to two independent fluid circuits.

[0051] In other words, according to these embodiments, no fluid exchange takes place between the second space and the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit. Therefore, the fluid circulating within the condenser is not necessarily the same as the fluid distributed by the nozzle.

[0052] In one or more embodiments, the apparatus may further include grooves for collecting condensates formed in the walls of the condenser.

[0053] The term “groove” should be understood as any element for collecting condensate (in this case, the purified liquid) formed on the wall of the condenser. For example, a groove may be a trough adjacent to the wall of the condenser (as in the example shown in Figure 1) with some slope to transport the condensate to a purified liquid collector. A groove may also be one or more raised patterns on the wall of the condenser having the same function as in the example above.

[0054] On the one hand, the groove allows for the collection of condensate (purified liquid), while on the other hand, it avoids contact between the condensate and the collector, which contains a portion of the fluid that has not evaporated and has not passed through the membrane (and is therefore a fluid that is even less pure than the fluid distributed by the nozzle). Thus, the groove allows for the collection of condensate without contact with the unpurified fluid and its transport to a purified water circuit or tank.

[0055] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for purifying a liquid-phase fluid using the apparatus described above, Distributing a fluid at a first temperature in the form of droplets through a nozzle, The condenser's circulation circuit is supplied with a refrigerant fluid at a second temperature that is strictly lower than the first temperature, The process involves collecting a liquid-phase purified fluid derived from the condensation of a gas-phase purified fluid along the wall of a condenser, wherein the gas-phase purified fluid is derived from the gaseous portion of a fluid distributed in the form of droplets passing through a membrane. Regarding methods including

[0056] In one or more embodiments, the fluid distributed in droplet form is saline water, and the purified fluid in the liquid phase is pure water.

[0057] In one or more embodiments, the fluid is distributed in droplet form by a nozzle along a first direction, and the refrigerant fluid circulates within the condenser's circulation circuit along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0058] According to these embodiments, the refrigerant fluid and the fluid distributed in droplet form by the nozzle circulate in opposite directions, increasing the efficiency of heat exchange.

[0059] In one or more embodiments, this method is The process involves distributing a portion of the fluid in droplet form by a nozzle, separating it with a membrane, and collecting a portion of the fluid circulating within the zone containing the nozzle. To cool a portion of the collected fluid to a second temperature. Includes, A portion of the cooled fluid is used to supply, at least partially, the condenser's circulation circuit.

[0060] According to these embodiments, the remaining portion of the unrefined liquid that did not pass through the membrane in the form of vapor and was distributed in the form of droplets is recovered, cooled, and reinjected as a refrigerant.

[0061] Furthermore, this method, Heating the refrigerant fluid to a first temperature at the outlet of the condenser's circulation circuit. May include, The heated refrigerant fluid is used, at least partially, as a fluid that is distributed by a nozzle in the form of droplets.

[0062] In this case, the refrigerant liquid is heated after passing through the condenser and then supplied to the nozzle.

[0063] These additional steps advantageously enable the realization of a closed circuit in which the fluid is reused, in some cases, as a warm liquid supplied to the nozzles, and in some cases as a refrigerant liquid. As detailed below, the refrigerant liquid is heated as it passes through the condenser, but the non-evaporating portion of the fluid distributed by the nozzles in droplet form is cooled between the moment of distribution and the moment of collection. Thus, the fluid to be heated is already partially heated, which limits the energy consumption required to heat the fluid leaving the condenser to a first temperature. In other words, the heat of condensation is advantageously used to limit the energy requirements for operating the device.

[0064] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when reading the description in conjunction with the drawings. These drawings are provided to illustrate the objectives of the present invention and are not limiting in any way. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0065] [Figure 1]An example of an apparatus for purifying liquid-phase fluids according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0066] Although water will be used as an example of a fluid to explain the phenomenon below, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to any fluid.

[0067] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of an apparatus for purifying liquid-phase fluids according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] The apparatus in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of semipermeable membranes 5, that is, permeable to gaseous fluids but impermeable to liquid-phase fluids. More precisely, the membranes 5 are impermeable to liquid-phase fluids when sprayed onto the membranes 5, for example in the form of droplets, so that, in relation to the present invention, only liquid gas particles can pass through the membranes 5. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of condensers (or cold traps) 9. A “condenser” is understood to be an apparatus configured to condense (or liquefy) vapors. For example, each condenser may be a planar condenser comprising two walls 9a, 9b with a circuit for circulating a refrigerant fluid between them. The walls 9a, 9b of the condenser 9 are favorably impermeable to fluids (both liquid and gaseous phases).

[0069] The membrane 5 prevents the liquid dispensed by the nozzle 3 from passing through. For example, the membrane 5 may be impermeable to droplets. The membrane 5 may be one or more membranes of materials such as Teflon or PTFE, polyvinylidene fluoride or PVDF, polypropylene or PP, and polyethylene or PE. The pore thickness of the membrane 5 may be determined by routine testing by those skilled in the art, and pore sizes in the range of 60 micrometers to 60 nanometers may be used in particular. In some embodiments, the membrane 5 may consist of a fabric coated by a treatment to make it impermeable.

[0070] The materials used to construct the walls of the condenser or cold trap may be metal or thermally conductive materials. In particular, if the cold liquid circulating in the condenser is saltwater or corrosive water, stainless steel or plastic may be used, for example.

[0071] Referring again to Figure 1, pairs of membranes 5 and condensers 9 are arranged alternately, so that exactly two membranes 5 are positioned between two condensers 9.

[0072] Two membranes 5 positioned between two consecutive condensers 9 demarcate a space 4 having nozzles 3 vertically above, configured to distribute liquid-phase fluid in the form of droplets or droplets. This space constitutes a “first fluid channel” 4 through which the fluid distributed by the nozzles 3 circulates. A “fluid channel” means a space through which a fluid, in liquid or gas phase, can flow or circulate. The fluid channel can advantageously be demarcated by two separators (e.g., membranes 5 and / or walls of the condensers 9), which maximizes the surface area for heat exchange or material exchange, such as vapor, passing through.

[0073] The space 13 between the condenser 9 and the membrane 3 closest to the condenser 9 is called a “second fluid channel” 13. Each second fluid channel 13 may have a groove 11 or any other means for collecting the liquid formed by condensation on the condenser 9. The groove 11 may be connected to a purified water or pure water collector 12.

[0074] Therefore, in Figure 1, the channel 4 and the condenser 9 are separated by a small reservoir or groove 11 for collecting water droplets in liquid form from the surfaces of the walls 9a, 9b of the condenser 9. The first channel 4, nozzle 3, groove 11 and condenser 9 form a periodic pattern that repeats in Figure 1 between the hot water distributor 2 and the hot water collector 6 connected via the channel 4 including the nozzle 3, and between the chilled water distributor 8 and the chilled water collector 10 connected via the condenser 9.

[0075] From the following description, it will be clear that the present invention is implementable as long as the apparatus comprises a nozzle 3, a membrane 5, and a condenser 9, and the membrane 5 is positioned between the nozzle 3 and the condenser 9. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to multiple nozzles 3, condenser 9, and membrane 5. If the apparatus includes multiple of these elements, the volume of purified liquid collected will be larger. This is because the purified liquid can be collected in parallel through several channels, each of which is bounded by the membrane 5 and walls 9a, 9b of the condenser 9 through several grooves, such as groove 11.

[0076] Therefore, Figure 1 shows a hot water supply 1 that is fluidly connected via a hot water distributor 2 to a nozzle 3 located inside the membrane of channel 4 and a hot water collector 6 extending from channel 4.

[0077] Figure 1 also shows a chilled water supply 7 connected to the chilled water collector 10 via a chilled water distributor 8 which is fluidly connected to the chilled water collector 10 via the condenser 9.

[0078] In Figure 1, the membrane 5 and the walls 9a and 9b of the condenser 9 are perpendicular and parallel planes. It is understood that the parallelism of these elements may be imperfect without departing from the teachings of this application. In particular, it is especially important that the fluid of the vapor phase can reach the walls of the condenser 9 through the channel 4. Thus, the perpendicularity of the membrane 5 and the walls 9a and 9b of the condenser 9 should be understood in this application as a characteristic that maximizes the conversion of vapor to liquid between the interior of the membrane in the first channel 4 and the surfaces of the walls 9a and 9b of the condenser 9, while facilitating the collection of condensate by the groove and minimizing the overall size of the apparatus. From this viewpoint, the “perpendicular” characteristic in a geometric sense can be understood as forming an angle with respect to the ground, for example, between 70° and 110°, for the purposes of the present invention and in all embodiments thereof.

[0079] According to the present invention, an unrefined warm liquid (the liquid may be, for example, a mixture of water and minerals or water and salt or solute) is introduced through feed 1 and then distributed to nozzle 3 by warm liquid distributor 2, where nozzle 3 vertically disperses the liquid in the form of droplets within channel 4. For example, the unrefined warm liquid may optionally be a stock of water, such as water from the sea or a lake, or a stock of wastewater, heated to a first, so-called "warm" temperature.

[0080] A second liquid, called the refrigerant liquid, which is colder than the warm liquid, is introduced through the supply 7 and then distributed by the cold liquid distributor 8, which distributes it to the condensers 9 arranged in parallel in Figure 1.

[0081] "Warm liquid" means a liquid whose temperature is higher than the maximum temperature of the refrigerant liquid circulating within the condenser 9. For example, the difference between the temperature of the warm liquid (when distributed in droplet form by the nozzle 3) and the maximum temperature of the refrigerant liquid circulating within the condenser 9 may be greater than 30°C. For example, the warm liquid may be distributed in droplet form at a temperature of 60°C to 90°C, and the refrigerant liquid may have a temperature of 10°C to 30°C. Of course, the temperatures mentioned above are provided as examples, and other temperatures or temperature differences may be used.

[0082] After being dispensed in droplet form by nozzle 3, the unrefined warm liquid flows through channel 4 separated by two membranes 5, and a portion of this unrefined warm liquid passes through membrane 5 in the form of refined fluid vapor. For example, if the unrefined warm liquid is brine, a portion of this liquid passes through membrane 5 in the form of pure water vapor. The less refined liquid then remains in channel 4 separated by the two membranes 5 (i.e., water that is more concentrated for at least one of its components, such as water with a higher salt content, because some of the pure water has evaporated), and is cooler than the nozzle outlet. This liquid has more salt and is not as warm as the nozzle outlet, so it can be collected in collector 6.

[0083] In fact, the role of the multiple membranes 5 or membranes 5 is to prevent the liquid, distributed in the form of droplets within the channel 4, from passing partially or entirely into the zone 13 separated by the condenser 9 and the membranes 5. Only vapor from the liquid can pass through, thus avoiding any contact between the warm liquid in the channel 4 and the vapor condensate formed in the zone 13 of the wall of the condenser 9. When a temperature difference arises between the two sides of the membrane 5, a vapor partial pressure difference appears, driving the process. This causes the liquid to evaporate from the surface of the liquid on the warmer side, producing vapor, which passes through the membrane 5 and condenses on the colder side where the condenser 9 is located.

[0084] The space between the condenser 9 and the membrane 5 forms a channel 13 through which vapor from the warm liquid that has been released from the nozzle 3 and passed through the membrane 5 diffuses. The role of the condenser 9 is to condense this vapor on one side of its walls 9a and 9b to form a purified liquid. This purified liquid is colder than the vapor released from it, but conversely, the refrigerant liquid is heated by contact with the warmer vapor through the walls 9a and 9b of the condenser 9.

[0085] The refrigerant liquid can be collected at the outlet of the condenser 9 circulation circuit in the cold liquid collector 10 at a temperature higher than that of the inlet of the condenser 9 circulation circuit.

[0086] The condensate (e.g., purified water) slides along the wall of the condenser 9 and can be collected in grooves 11 provided in the wall, for example (several grooves may be provided in the height direction of the condenser 9). The condensate can then be transported laterally and collected in a pure water reservoir or collector 12.

[0087] In another embodiment, the groove or a plurality of grooves 11 may be assembled to the condenser by mechanically attaching the groove or the material constituting these grooves, or they may be separated by the external shape of the condenser or a plurality of condensers formed by molding, that is, separated by the walls of the condenser, that is, separated by the shape of the outer surface of the condenser on which condensation is achieved.

[0088] In the example shown in Figure 1, the elements of the apparatus are arranged in the following order parallel to the membrane 5, with the chilled water collector 10, hot water distributor 2, hot water collector 6, and refrigerant liquid distributor 8 oriented in that order. This arrangement allows the liquid to circulate in opposite or reverse directions within the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit in the channel 4 and condenser 9. Such reverse circulation is advantageous in that it allows for particularly efficient heat exchange between the hot liquid droplets generated by the nozzle 3 and the chilled liquid through the membrane 5 and the walls 9a, 9b of the condenser 9.

[0089] Other configurations are also possible, and according to another embodiment of the present invention, the elements of the apparatus are arranged in the following order in a direction parallel to the membrane 5, with the chilled water collector 10, hot water collector 6, hot water distributor 2, and refrigerant liquid distributor 8 oriented in that order. In this case, the circulation of the liquid in the channel 4 and the circulation of the refrigerant fluid in the condenser 9 are performed in the same direction, and the present invention is still operational even when the heat exchange efficiency is lower than in embodiments where the liquid circulation is in the opposite direction.

[0090] As described above, the present invention can be implemented by a supply 1 of hot water or hot fluid at a first temperature, which is distributed by a nozzle 3 in the form of droplets, generating (purified) fluid vapor and fluid droplets (even lower in purity than the hot fluid distributed by the nozzle 3), the fluid vapor passing through a membrane 5 to reach walls 9a, 9b which are permeable to vapor, impermeable to droplets, and impermeable to fluid, the walls 9a, 9b being supplied with a refrigerant fluid via a chilled water supply 7, the refrigerant fluid being injected between the walls of the condenser 9 at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, so that condensation of the fluid into purified droplets occurs on the surfaces of the walls 9a, 9b which are in contact with chilled water or purified chilled fluid at a temperature lower than the first temperature.

[0091] Several embodiments are possible for hot and cold supply.

[0092] In the first embodiment, neither the hot nor cold fluid is reused and is both lost, and open-circuit hot fluid supply and open-circuit cold fluid supply exist independently of the hot fluid supply. In other words, the refrigerant liquid is purged out of the device after passing through the condenser 9. Similarly, any unevaporated hot liquid (a portion of the liquid that reaches the bottom of channel 4 and is not hotter and saltier than the liquid distributed by nozzle 3 in droplet form) is purged from the device and discharged, for example, into a wastewater circuit. New refrigerant fluid is injected into the condenser 9 via the cold water supply 7, and new hot liquid is supplied to nozzle 3 via the hot liquid distributor 2.

[0093] In the second embodiment, the warm fluid is reused and purified again. In other words, a portion of the warm saline liquid that was distributed in droplet form by the nozzle 3 and did not pass through the membrane 5 in the form of vapor is collected at the bottom of the channel 4. Since this remaining liquid is cooled as it passes through the channel 4, it can be heated to a first temperature using a heating system and then reinjected into the warm liquid distributor 2 so that it is distributed in droplet form by the nozzle 3. For example, the liquid collector 6 can be connected to the inlet of the heating system, for example via a connecting pipe, and the heating system can be connected to the warm liquid distributor 2 at its outlet, for example via a connecting pipe. In this case, the warm fluid supply is said to be in a “closed circuit,” even though this term does not exclude the possibility that additional liquid may be injected into the circuit via the warm water supply unit 1. In this embodiment, after passing through the apparatus several times, the remaining liquid is very salty and needs to be discarded after a few cycles. Alternatively, after each pass or after a predetermined number of passes through the apparatus, it is possible to reinject a less saline liquid (e.g., seawater heated to a first temperature). Therefore, in this embodiment, the hot liquid distributor 2 is advantageously connected to a source of unpurified liquid via a heating system to periodically dilute the hot liquid distributed in droplet form by the nozzle 3. In this second embodiment, the refrigerant can be discarded as in the first embodiment or reused as in the third embodiment described later. However, in this embodiment, the supply of hot fluid and refrigerant fluid is independent.

[0094] In the third embodiment corresponding to the second embodiment, the refrigerant fluid at the outlet of the condenser 9 is reinjected into its inlet. In other words, the chilled liquid collector 10 is connected to the chilled liquid distributor 8 so that the refrigerant that has left the condenser 9 and reached the chilled liquid collector 10 is reinjected into the inlet of the condenser 9 via the chilled liquid distributor 8. As the refrigerant fluid circulates from the condenser inlet (connected to the chilled liquid distributor 8) to the outlet of the condenser 9 (to reach the chilled liquid collector 10), it is heated by contact between the warm liquid vapor and the condenser walls 9a, 9b. Thus, the refrigerant fluid at the outlet of the condenser 9 is favorably cooled in the cooling system before being reinjected into the condenser 9. For example, the chilled liquid collector 10 may be connected to the inlet of the cooling system via a connecting pipe, and the outlet of the cooling system may be connected to the chilled liquid distributor via another connecting pipe. According to this embodiment, the refrigerant fluid supply is in a "closed circuit" (no conversion or loss is involved, and therefore no additional refrigerant fluid delivery is required). In this third embodiment, the hot fluid can be discarded as in the first embodiment, or reused as in the second embodiment. However, in this third embodiment, the supply of the hot fluid and the refrigerant fluid remains independent.

[0095] In the fourth embodiment, the hot and refrigerant fluid supplies are not independent, and the remainder of the hot liquid is cooled to a second temperature and used as the refrigerant liquid, then heated to a first temperature at the outlet of the condenser 9 and distributed in droplet form by the nozzle 3, and so on. Note that at the outlet of the condenser 9, the coolant is heated, which reduces the amount of energy required to bring the coolant to the first temperature. Therefore, at the outlet of channel 4, the remainder of the hot fluid is cooled, which also reduces the amount of energy required to bring the hot fluid to the second temperature. To implement this fourth embodiment, for example, a hot liquid collector 6 can be connected to the inlet of the cooling system, and the outlet of the cooling system can be connected to a cold liquid distributor 8 to supply the condenser 9. A cold liquid collector 10 can be connected to the inlet of the heating system, and the outlet of the heating system can be connected to a hot liquid distributor 2 so that it is distributed in droplet form by the nozzle 3. In this fourth embodiment, there is a single closed-loop fluid supply through which the hot fluid and then the same (and possibly more saline) refrigerant fluid are transported. Here again, the term “closed loop” does not rule out the possibility of additional liquid being injected into the fluid circulation circuit. In fact, after passing through the apparatus several times, the remaining liquid may be very saline, and it is possible to periodically reinject a less saline liquid (e.g., seawater) into the fluid circulation circuit, or when it is detected that the salinity of the circulating liquid has exceeded a threshold. For example, the cooling system and / or heating system may have inlets for receiving the less saline liquid. Alternatively, the less saline liquid can be added upstream of the cooling or heating system. Thus, in this fourth embodiment, the liquid circulation circuit can be advantageously connected to a source of unpurified liquid in order to periodically dilute the circulating liquid supplied to both the condenser 9 and the nozzle 3.

[0096] This fourth embodiment allows for an improvement in the thermodynamic efficiency of the liquid purification method, in fact, latent heat exchange occurs between the vapor of the fluid being used and droplets of this fluid distributed in the form of recycled droplets of an undivided liquid phase in contact with the wall. This characteristic improves condensation and simultaneously heats the recycled liquid, reducing the force required to heat this liquid through nozzle 3 to the distribution temperature. Thus, a 50% saving in heating force can be observed compared to other embodiments, although this number may vary as a function of dimensions.

[0097] In this fourth embodiment, a single pump is used to draw liquid from distributed droplets in the form of heated droplets and from a hot water source to perform the initial hot water supply to the nozzle of the closed fluid circuit described above, thereby enabling the apparatus of the present invention to obtain purified water or a purified liquid fluid generator. In other words, in this embodiment, the apparatus comprises an initial hot water supply distributed by the nozzle in the form of droplets and separated by a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, impermeable to water droplets distributed in the form of droplets, and non-absorbent to water, and a condenser that is in contact with cold water on one side and impermeable to fluid that is in contact with water vapor collected after condensation on the other side, in purified water droplets resulting from the condensation of water vapor transported between the nozzle and the condenser via the membrane. The purified liquid can be collected by one or more grooves located on the surface of the condenser.

[0098] Referring to Figure 1, it is possible to establish a first fluid connection between the hot water collector 6 and the chilled water supply 7, and then a second fluid connection between the chilled water collector 10 and the hot water supply 1 of the nozzle 3 to form a closed fluid circuit of the fourth embodiment. Furthermore, a cooling means can be inserted into the first connection, particularly via a heat exchanger. Finally, a heating means, such as a heat exchanger with a heat source, can be inserted into the second connection, and a pump can be inserted in series with this second connection to achieve a complete apparatus for producing purified fluid, particularly purified water.

[0099] In all embodiments, the heating system may include, for example, an electrical resistor, or a system for bringing a fluid into thermal contact with a heat source, i.e., at a temperature higher than that of the fluid. Particularly advantageously, the heating system may use free heat from industrial methods.

[0100] The cooling system may also be a system for bringing a fluid into thermal contact with a cooling source, i.e., a temperature lower than that of the fluid.

[0101] In one or more embodiments, the liquid may be dispensed by a nozzle in the form of droplets, then collected or pooled in a “divided” form (i.e., in the form of droplets) present at the outlet of channel 4, restored in an “undivided” form (i.e., in the form of pooled liquid and not in the form of droplets), and then compressed by pumping up the liquid and compressing the liquid form by the pump.

[0102] The dimensions of a device according to one embodiment, designed to produce 30 tons of purified water condensate per day in a seawater-based facility, are described below as an example.

[0103] For example, a stock of saline, cold seawater drawn from the ocean can be used as a cooling source, a diluent, and a heat source obtained, for example, by solar heating or by recovering lost energy in an engine.

[0104] Salt-containing cold seawater can be introduced into a closed fluid circuit and circulated by a pump.

[0105] In this closed fluid circuit, seawater can be preheated by condensed water vapor in the opposite direction to the direction of warm droplets (countercurrent configuration) as the condensed water vapor passes through the condenser 9, and then heated by a heat source in the 1 separating fluid exchanger. It can then pass through a nozzle immersed in the atmosphere, and then be distributed into the atmosphere in the form of droplets (e.g., sprayed), losing water vapor, and collected in the form of concentrated salt in a reservoir. The concentrated salt water can be pumped from the reservoir, then cooled by a stock of cold seawater in the 2 separating fluid exchanger, and finally diluted with water from the stock of cold seawater in a mixer. In the atmosphere, a membrane 5 that is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water can separate the nozzle 3 and the condenser 9, allowing for separated fluid condensation between the liquid and condensate released by the nozzle 3. The condensate and liquid circulating within the condenser 9, which is made of a fluid-impermeable material, are separated by the material of the condenser 9.

[0106] In this way, a closed seawater circuit is obtained on the outer wall of the condenser that can produce condensate of water vapor drawn from droplets and moved across the membrane. Thus, purified water is obtained that does not come into contact with seawater, nor is it distributed by a nozzle, nor is it transported inside the condenser, nor is it contained in a stock of hot water.

[0107] Once the material is drawn out of the circuit in the form of water vapor, the mixer allows the concentrated seawater from evaporation to be diluted with seawater from a stock of cold water. The seawater in the stock plays the primary role, as herein, as the material tank, i.e., a tank of seawater with a constant salinity. The mixer can be connected to the circuit intermittently or continuously, depending on the desired salinity range of the seawater circulating in the closed circuit.

[0108] Furthermore, advantageously, the seawater stock can also help to further cool the water concentrated by evaporation as it leaves the hot water collector, bringing it to a temperature close to that of the saltwater stock, thus acting as a second heat tank.

[0109] The resulting apparatus is particularly advantageous for heat and condensation recovery. Tests were conducted with such an apparatus having two condensers and membranes of equal height (the condensers and membranes being of the same height). The first test used a height of 3m, and the second test used a height of 2m. These dimensions resulted in a recovery rate of 300 (for the first case) to 450 (for the second case) kWh / m². 3 This can achieve the following heat dissipation. These numbers are for condensate 1m 3 This can be compared to the heat consumption of this device without heat recovery, which is approximately 700 kWh per unit. This represents an energy gain of 57% in the first test and 35% in the second test.

[0110] Considering this energy performance, it is possible to obtain 30 tons of purified water per day at a flow rate of 6.55 kg / s within the nozzle, and the inlet flow rate of the mixer is divided into 5.51 kg / s for the water collected via droplets released by the nozzle and 1.04 kg / s for the water drawn from the cold seawater stock.

[0111] The flow rate of cold seawater for additional cooling due to sensible heat loss can be adjusted to achieve a temperature 3K higher than the cold stock temperature, in order to achieve a temperature 2.5K higher than the cold stock temperature at the mixer outlet and nozzle inlet. Similarly, the temperature of the heat supply source can be 58K higher than the cold stock temperature in steady-state purified water production.

[0112] At these performance levels, the temperature of the cold seawater stock can be as high as 305K, and the temperature of the warm seawater stock can be as high as 363K.

[0113] Those skilled in the art can, by simple routine testing, adapt the dimensions of the above embodiments to obtain different amounts of purified water produced or different energy yields as a function of available solar energy and heat recovered or derived from the climate, without departing from the teachings of this application.

[0114] This application extends the teaching to solvents containing solutes to obtain purified (or pure) or ultra-purified (or ultra-pure) solvents.

[0115] In all embodiments of this application, the membrane and the condenser wall must not be in mechanical contact, which ensures the optimal purity of the purified fluid. However, if a contact point exists between the membrane and the wall, the apparatus and method according to the present invention will operate in a degraded state. For example, the purification of water initially containing minerals with a conductivity of 500 microsiemens / cm yields purified water with a conductivity of less than 9 microsiemens / cm without mechanical contact, but the presence of a contact point yields purified water with a conductivity of about 50 microsiemens / cm.

Claims

1. An apparatus for purifying liquid-phase fluids, A nozzle (3) for distributing the fluid into the atmosphere in the form of droplets, The walls (9a, 9b) of the condenser (9) and A membrane (5) that is permeable to the fluid in the gas phase and impermeable to the fluid distributed in the form of droplets in the atmosphere, and the membrane (5) is positioned between the nozzle (3) and the wall of the condenser (9). It is equipped with, The apparatus comprises a condenser (9) whose walls and membrane (5) separate a first space (13), the membrane (5) separating the first space (13) from a second space (4) equipped with a nozzle (3), the condenser (9) being equipped with a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, the walls of the condenser (9) separating the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit from the first space (13), the walls of the condenser (9) being impermeable to liquid and gaseous fluids, and configured to condense the gaseous fluid that has passed through the membrane into the liquid phase of the purified fluid.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the membrane (5) comprises a first surface directed toward a first space (13) and a second surface directed toward a second space (4), and the membrane (5) is configured to operate at equal pressure on its first surface and its second surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pressure is atmospheric pressure.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the walls of the membrane (5) and the condenser (9) extend in a substantially vertical plane.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first fluid distributor (2) for supplying the liquid-phase fluid to a nozzle (3) and a second fluid distributor (8) for supplying refrigerant fluid to a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a collector (6) configured to collect at least a portion of a fluid that is distributed in droplet form by a nozzle (3) and circulating within a second space (4).

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, nozzle (3), and second space (4) belong to the same fluid circuit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, in combination with claim 5, wherein the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit has an inlet and an outlet, and the apparatus further comprises a first connection circuit between the outlet of the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit and the first fluid distributor (2).

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first connection circuit comprises a heating system configured to heat a fluid circulating within the first connection circuit, a connecting pipe connecting the outlet of a refrigerant fluid circulation circuit to the heating system, and a connecting pipe connecting the heating system to a first fluid distributor (2).

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, in combination with claim 6, wherein the collector (6) is connected to the second fluid distributor (8).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the collector is connected to a second fluid distributor (8) by a second connection circuit, the second connection circuit comprising a cooling system configured to cool a fluid circulating within the second connection circuit, a connecting pipe connecting the cooling system to the inlet of a refrigerant circulation circuit, and a connecting pipe connecting the cooling system to the collector (6).

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit, nozzle (3), and second space (4) belong to the same closed fluid circuit.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the refrigerant fluid circulation circuit and the second space (4) belong to two independent fluid circuits.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a groove (11) for collecting condensate formed on the wall of the condenser (9).

15. A method for purifying a liquid-phase fluid using the apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 14, Distributing a fluid at a first temperature in the form of droplets through a nozzle (3), The circulation circuit of the condenser (9) is supplied with a refrigerant fluid at a second temperature that is strictly lower than the first temperature, The process involves collecting a liquid-phase purified fluid obtained from the condensation of a gas-phase purified fluid along the wall of the condenser (9), wherein the gas-phase purified fluid is induced by the gaseous portion of the fluid, which is distributed in the form of droplets, passing through the membrane (5). A method that includes this.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the fluid distributed in the form of droplets is salt-containing water, and the purified fluid in the liquid phase is pure water.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the fluid is distributed in the form of droplets by a nozzle (3) along a first direction, and the refrigerant fluid circulates within the circulation circuit of a condenser (9) along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

18. The process involves collecting a portion of the fluid circulating within the zone containing the nozzle (3), which is distributed in the form of droplets by the nozzle (3) and separated by a membrane (5), The collected fluid is cooled to a second temperature, It further includes, The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein a portion of the cooled fluid is used to supply at least partially to the circulation circuit of the condenser (9).

19. Heating the refrigerant fluid to a first temperature at the outlet of the condenser (9) circulation circuit. It further includes, The method according to claim 18, wherein a heated refrigerant fluid is used at least partially as a fluid that is distributed in the form of droplets by a nozzle (3).

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