Apparatus for producing fresh water from contaminated water and simultaneously generating electricity

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing fresh water from contaminated water and simultaneously generating electricity, the apparatus comprising: a high-temperature and high-pressure steam generator installed such that combustion heat of a combustor passes through the inside thereof; a multi-stage heat exchange unit through which the combustion heat having passed through the high-temperature and high-pressure steam generator passes, and in which heat exchange portions are connected in multiple stages to heat contaminated water introduced therein; and a discharge unit which is provided at the discharge side of the multi-stage heat exchange unit, and in which a distilled water collection unit that collects moisture liquefied while passing through the high-temperature and high-pressure steam generator and the multi-stage heat exchange unit and a fine dust collection unit are installed in parallel.

Description

A device that produces clean water from contaminated water while simultaneously generating electricity.

[0001] The present invention is a device for producing fresh water from various types of wastewater. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device capable of producing electricity along with the production of fresh water.

[0002] Various types of industrial, agricultural, and domestic water are not discharged directly into rivers and the sea, but are purified and treated according to established standards before being discharged.

[0003] In these purification treatments, industrial water contaminated with heavy metals is primarily treated chemically, while agricultural water or domestic wastewater containing large amounts of organic matter is treated using biodegradation systems.

[0004] Unlike these chemical and biological treatments, a thermal treatment method is also used to treat wastewater by heating it to recover only the water as steam. However, because this method consumes a large amount of energy and is economically inefficient, it is rarely adopted except for the desalination of brine or extremely dangerous wastewater.

[0005] In addition, in seawater desalination, fresh water is produced by heating seawater to evaporate the moisture and then cooling and condensing it; however, there is a problem of high production costs because the amount of fresh water obtained is low compared to the energy consumed.

[0006] In Patent Application No. 32325 of 2022, the inventor [described] "an eco-friendly wastewater or waste oil treatment system, wherein impurities contained in steam are [removed] using high-temperature heat."

[0007] An incinerator that removes by burning; and a gas burner that generates high-temperature heat using gas and air and supplies it to the incinerator;

[0008] A wastewater treatment system was developed comprising: a first heat exchanger that separates water and oil from wastewater using heat generated from steam and exhaust gas supplied from the incinerator and supplies steam generated from water to the incinerator; a chimney that receives steam and exhaust gas from which impurities have been combusted from the incinerator and discharges purified water and air; and a second heat exchanger that raises the temperature of the air supplied from the chimney and supplies it to the gas burner.

[0009] The aforementioned prior application of the present inventor is characterized by maximizing efficiency by recycling steam generated during the heat treatment of wastewater, etc. However, there are limitations to the recycling of waste heat, and there are also limitations to the production of renewable energy using waste heat that is more efficient and saves energy. In particular, when applying seawater desalination systems, there is a need for a means to dramatically reduce the production cost of fresh water relative to the fuel used, thereby escaping harsh environmental conditions and environmental regulations such as energy conservation.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a clean water production device that purifies wastewater using a heat treatment method, which is recognized as inefficient due to high energy consumption in wastewater treatment, while maximizing treatment efficiency by recovering the consumed energy source as electricity.

[0011] The present invention aims to dramatically lower the production cost of fresh water by maximizing fuel efficiency, particularly when applied to seawater desalination systems.

[0012] The present invention relates to a high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator installed to allow combustion heat to penetrate the interior by being directly connected to a combustor.

[0013] A multi-stage heat exchanger through which combustion heat passing through the above-mentioned high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator passes, wherein heat exchange sections are connected in multiple stages to heat-treat the introduced contaminated water.

[0014] The present invention provides a device for producing clean water from contaminated water, wherein a collection conduit for distilled water liquefied while passing through the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator and the multi-stage heat exchanger is installed on the discharge side of the multi-stage heat exchanger.

[0015] The present invention utilizes a heat exchanger to absorb waste heat generated through overlapping processes to produce high-temperature, high-pressure steam, thereby inducing efficient power generation.

[0016]

[0017] In addition, the present invention utilizes a heat exchanger during thermal power generation to superimpose and absorb waste heat that would otherwise be wasted as cooling water or exhaust gas, thereby generating high-temperature, high-pressure steam and inducing efficient power generation.

[0018] The present invention utilizes a multi-stage heat exchanger during wastewater treatment to produce high-temperature, high-pressure steam by superimposing and absorbing heat that would otherwise be wasted as cooling water and exhaust gas; by using this high-temperature, high-pressure steam, it enables not only efficient power generation but also the production of clean water from wastewater or seawater at the lowest possible cost.

[0019] Unlike conventional wastewater treatment methods that treat wastewater chemically or biologically, this invention enables the immediate reuse of clean water for domestic use by producing clean water that is cooled and condensed after high-temperature sterilization treatment with steam at over 800 degrees.

[0020] Unlike conventional depressurization methods or filter systems, this invention has the advantage of low equipment costs and eliminates the need for expensive filter replacement, thereby enabling the most efficient and stable operation during seawater desalination.

[0021] Unlike conventional filter systems, this invention eliminates the need for filter replacement during installation and maintenance, thereby enabling the most efficient and stable operation during seawater desalination.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a representative embodiment of the present invention,

[0023] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator of a representative embodiment of the present invention,

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a multi-stage heat exchanger of a representative embodiment of the present invention,

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a distilled water collection unit of a representative embodiment of the present invention,

[0026] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a multi-stage heat exchanger of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Representative embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0028] The overall configuration of a representative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0029] The present invention relates to a high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator (10) installed so that the combustion heat of the combustion device penetrates the interior,

[0030] A multi-stage heat exchanger (30) through which combustion heat passing through the above high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator passes, and heat exchangers are connected in multiple stages to heat-treat the contaminated water introduced therein.

[0031] The present invention relates to a device for producing clean water from contaminated water, wherein a discharge section (40) for collecting distilled water liquefied while passing through the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator and the multi-stage heat exchanger and a fine dust collection section (50) are installed in parallel on the discharge side of the multi-stage heat exchanger.

[0032]

[0033] In the present invention, contaminated water includes various industrial wastewater from agriculture, fisheries, food, chemicals, machinery, etc., as well as domestic wastewater. In addition to such wastewater, the present invention also includes seawater when seawater is used for desalination. The present invention is applicable to all wastewater containing such various pollutants, provided that heating does not cause risks due to unexpected reactions.

[0034]

[0035] In the present invention, the combustion device includes all combustion devices that generate heat by oxidizing fossil fuels such as petroleum and gas, as well as heating devices using electric heaters; any device that generates the desired heat may be employed. In particular, since the present invention combines the function of removing carbon dioxide and fine dust generated during the combustion of fossil fuels, a combustion device utilizing fossil fuels is most suitable. However, even if the type or form of such a combustion device is specified, such description does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0036]

[0037] A representative embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the attached side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. The side cross-sectional view exemplified in the present invention is intended to explain the overall process and structure of the present invention, and such an example does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings are enlarged drawings intended to explain the side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 of the present invention in more detail.

[0038]

[0039] The high temperature and high pressure steam generating unit (10) of the present invention is,

[0040] The structure is configured such that vertically installed heat exchange pipes (12) are connected to the upper reservoir (13) to allow for upward transfer from the lower reservoir (11), and the upper reservoir and the lower reservoir are connected to each other by a connecting pipe (15) so that the liquids are connected to one another. The structure is configured such that heat exchange sections (17) are arranged with an insulating layer (12) and an open surface (19) through which high-temperature combustion gas from the combustion device can pass. These structures are arranged in a continuous parallel configuration to absorb high heat generated from the combustion device and induce the water in the contaminated water containing moisture stored in the lower reservoir to undergo a phase change into high-temperature, high-pressure steam.

[0041]

[0042] The above heat exchanger (17) is installed horizontally to the ground and guides the combustion heat generated from the combustor and all exhaust gases to be transferred through it to the adjacent multi-stage heat exchanger (30) as indicated by symbol A. In addition, at the stage closest to the combustor, wastewater that has passed through the multi-stage heat exchanger is vaporized and supplied at a temperature and pressure that maximizes the power generation efficiency of the power generation device. Typically, at least three stages are installed continuously to meet the optimal temperature and pressure for efficient power generation. The number of installed stages and the number of heat exchangers in the heat exchanger are installed according to the site conditions, matching the wastewater treatment capacity, pollution level, power generation capacity, etc. The three-stage structure illustrated in the present invention is an example for explaining such operation and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention by illustrating such a number of stages.

[0043]

[0044] A heat exchanger in direct contact with the combustor (C) is installed with a supply path (16) so that high-temperature, high-pressure steam generated in the upper reservoir is supplied to a separate steam turbine power generation device (T). Accordingly, the generated high-temperature, high-pressure steam allows the power generation device (T) to produce electricity, transmit it externally for use, or use it as the operating power source for the system.

[0045]

[0046] Another feature of the present invention is that the steam supplied to the power generation device (T) described above to rotate the turbine of the power generation device and discharged is not discharged to the outside, but is supplied to the combustor (C) through the combustion supply path (18). The supply is distributed to the front of the flame section (F), so that various pollutants still remaining in the steam, namely hydrocarbon components, are re-combusted here, thereby fundamentally blocking the emission of further pollutants and playing an environmentally friendly role.

[0047]

[0048] Due to the above-described features, the steam supplied to the power generation device in this invention has a temperature of at least 220°C and a pressure of at least 18 kg / cm². It has been experimentally confirmed that, due to these structural features of this invention, a thermal efficiency of at least 80% is secured compared to conventional generators based on simple combustion. These examples of temperature and pressure are provided as suitable examples and do not limit the technical scope of this invention.

[0049]

[0050] The multi-stage heat exchanger (30) of the present invention is,

[0051] The contaminated water supplied to the aforementioned high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator (10) is passed through a multi-stage heat exchanger to perform superimposed absorption heat exchange, thereby increasing power generation efficiency, and at the same time, the exhaust gas temperature is lowered to remove fine dust remaining inside the gas by spraying water.

[0052] More specifically, a guide pipe (31) is arranged horizontally and continuously from the first stage (32_1) to the end (32_n) to allow the combustion heat passing through the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator to pass through, and a partition wall (33) is installed between each stage from the first stage to the end. Overflow pipes (34) are installed on the upper side of each partition wall so that the contaminated water supplied to the end (32_n) passes to the next stage by means of the supplied heat and pumping operation. With this multi-stage structure, the contaminated water absorbs heat from the combustion heat as it passes from the end to the first stage, thereby minimizing wasted heat. The number of stages installed can be increased or decreased according to the site environment, such as the discharged contaminated water and the combustion heat of the burner, and is not specifically limited.

[0053] An unillustrated pump device is installed in the above-mentioned multi-stage heat exchanger to provide sufficient pressure for the steam generated in the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generation unit to operate the turbine. Since the pump device can be adopted by anyone with ordinary knowledge in the art, a detailed description and illustration are omitted.

[0054] In FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 of the present invention, the number of stages of the multi-stage heat exchanger is exemplified as 6 stages for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and the number of stages can be increased or decreased according to on-site conditions such as the volume and pollution level of the wastewater to be treated, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the examples in the drawings.

[0055]

[0056] The distilled water collection unit (40) and the fine dust collection unit (50) of the present invention are,

[0057] A water storage tank (41) that collects the vaporized water that has been liquefied while passing through the guide pipe (31) at the end (32_n) of the aforementioned multi-stage heat exchanger and induces external discharge,

[0058] A storage tank (42) for storing water in the above water storage tank,

[0059] A separation part (51) installed on the upper side of the above water storage tank,

[0060] A moisture dispersion tank (52) that disperses and supplies moisture from the upper side of the above separation section to induce moisture aggregation of fine dust in combustion effluent,

[0061] A dispersion nozzle (53) that supplies fine moisture to the above moisture dispersion tank,

[0062] It consists of a fine adsorbent storage tank (54) that stores the fine dust adsorbent water accumulated in the above separation section.

[0063]

[0064] Another feature of the present invention is that a separate carbon dioxide collection unit (55) is installed at the top.

[0065] The carbon dioxide collection unit collects the exhaust gas that is finally discharged to the outside into a separate collection pipe (56), where it reacts the carbon dioxide with water and stores it. Due to the structural characteristics of the present invention, it filters not only various fine dust particles discharged to the outside but also carbon dioxide, thereby absorbing and recycling most of the heat used in producing clean water from contaminated water, and in particular, it has the characteristic of ensuring that there are almost no various fine dust particles and carbon dioxide that may be discharged.

[0066]

[0067] In another embodiment of the present invention,

[0068] A high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator (10) installed so that the combustion heat of the combustion device penetrates the interior,

[0069] A multi-stage heat exchanger (30) through which combustion heat passing through the above high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator passes, and heat exchangers are connected in multiple stages to heat-treat the contaminated water introduced therein.

[0070] On the discharge side of the above multi-stage heat exchanger, a discharge section is installed in parallel with a distilled water collection section (40) and a fine dust collection section (50) that are liquefied as they pass through the high-temperature high-pressure steam generator and the multi-stage heat exchanger, as a device for producing clean water from contaminated water.

[0071] An aeration tank (37) is installed below the above-mentioned multi-stage heat exchanger to supply oxygen to the contaminated water supplied inside.

[0072] Since contaminated water mostly contains large amounts of organic matter or a mixture of various chemical components, supplying fine air bubbles allows these components to undergo chemical reactions such as oxidation within the water, separating them from the water and making the filtering of the contaminated water easier.

[0073] An aeration tank is intended to supply high-pressure air through air supply devices not shown, such as pumps, to disperse it into the contaminated water in the form of fine bubbles, thereby inducing more effective removal of contaminants by supplying sufficient oxygen and inducing circulation of the contaminated water. The shape, size, and number of aeration tanks can be increased or decreased by a person with ordinary knowledge in the art according to the site conditions. The example of installing one tank per section at the bottom in this invention is for illustrative purposes only, and various variations in the number or size are possible, and such variations do not deviate from the technical scope of this invention.

[0074]

[0075] A process for treating wastewater is described according to the representative embodiment of the present invention above.

[0076] The heat generated in the combustion unit reaches the end (32_n) of the multi-stage heat exchanger (30) of the present invention by means of pumping mechanisms not shown. As illustrated in the drawing, the combustion heat generated in the combustion unit reaches the end (32_n) at the lowest temperature, and the wastewater supplied there is heated, but it is still insufficient for operation such as power generation. As this wastewater passes through the connected multi-stage heat exchanger, its temperature gradually rises, and when it reaches the first stage (32_1), it rises to a temperature close to the boiling point.

[0077] Next, it enters the adjacent high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator (10). This is where the heat generated in the combustion chamber comes into almost direct contact, and combustion heat having a temperature of at least 100 degrees Celsius is supplied. In the present invention, three separate heat exchange sections are installed, and the adjacent section that comes into contact with the final combustion chamber after passing through these three sections is designed to have a temperature of at least 220°C and a pressure of at least 18 kg / cm² so that electricity can be generated by the steam. That is, the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator also designs the desired number of stages and heat exchange system by means of variables such as the temperature and pressure of the target steam pressure and the temperature of the generated combustion heat.

[0078] The high-temperature, high-pressure steam heated in this way is supplied to a generator to produce the desired amount of electricity, and the discharged steam is then injected into the front part of the nozzle of the combustion chamber to induce secondary combustion. Through secondary combustion, any remaining volatile substances or fine dust are burned again.

[0079] And the combustion heat that exits the multi-stage heat exchanger lowers the moisture condensation temperature to 100 degrees or less, so that the distilled water is collected separately in the distilled water collection unit (40) and the fine dust collection unit (50) for use for the intended purpose, and the fine dust is collected and treated again.

[0080]

[0081] As explained above, the present invention dramatically increases efficiency by utilizing the combustion heat generated in the combustion device to generate electricity and simultaneously produce clean water. Furthermore, since the generated electricity is used as the operating power for the device of the present invention or for other purposes, most of the consumed fuel is recovered, thereby significantly enhancing economic efficiency.

[0082] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0083] 10: High-temperature, high-pressure steam generator

[0084] 20: Multistage heat exchanger

[0085] 40: Distilled water collection unit

[0086] 50: Fine dust collection unit

Claims

1. A high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator installed so that the combustion heat of the combustor penetrates the interior, A multi-stage heat exchanger in which combustion heat passing through the above high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator passes, and heat exchangers are connected in multiple stages to heat-treat the introduced contaminated water. A device for producing clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generating electricity, wherein a discharge section is installed on the discharge side of the above-mentioned multi-stage heat exchanger, the discharge section having a distilled water collection section and a fine dust collection section installed in parallel as the water passes through the above-mentioned high-temperature high-pressure steam generator and the multi-stage heat exchanger.

2. In Paragraph 1, The high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator is, Vertically installed heat exchange pipes that guide the lower reservoir to be transferred upward are installed to communicate with the upper reservoir, and A device that produces clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generates electricity, wherein the upper reservoir and the lower reservoir are installed so that the liquids communicate with each other through a connecting pipe.

3. In Paragraph 2, High-temperature, high-pressure steam is supplied to the power generation device (T) of the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generation unit through the supply path (16). A device that produces clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generates electricity by resupplying steam discharged to the outside after the turbine rotation operation of the power generation device to the front of the flame section (F) of the combustor through the combustion supply path.

4. In Paragraph 1, The multi-stage heat exchanger is, Combustion heat passing through the high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator is channeled through induction tubes arranged horizontally in a continuous sequence from the first stage to the end, Each stage from the first to the last is separated by a partition wall, A device that produces clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generates electricity, such that contaminated water supplied to the end via overflow pipes on the upper side passes to the next stage through supplied heat and pumping operation.

5. In Paragraph 1, The distilled water collection unit and the fine dust collection unit are, A water storage tank that collects liquefied water vaporized while passing through the guide tube at the end of the multi-stage heat exchanger and induces external discharge, A storage tank for storing moisture in the above moisture storage tank, A separator installed on the upper side of the above water storage tank, A moisture dispersion tank that disperses and supplies moisture from the upper side of the above separation unit to induce moisture aggregation of fine dust in combustion emissions, A dispersion nozzle that supplies fine moisture to the above moisture dispersion tank, A device that produces clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generates electricity, comprising a fine adsorbent storage tank that stores fine dust adsorbed water accumulated in the separation section.

6. High-temperature, high-pressure steam generator installed so that the combustion heat of the combustor penetrates the interior, A multi-stage heat exchanger through which combustion heat passing through the above-mentioned high-temperature, high-pressure steam generator passes, wherein heat exchangers are connected in multiple stages to heat-treat the introduced contaminated water. A device that produces clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generates electricity, wherein a discharge section is installed on the discharge side of the above-mentioned multi-stage heat exchanger, the discharge section having a distilled water collection section and a fine dust collection section installed in parallel as the water passes through the above-mentioned high-temperature high-pressure steam generator and the multi-stage heat exchanger. A device that produces clean water from contaminated water and simultaneously generates electricity by installing an aeration tank below the above-mentioned multi-stage heat exchanger to supply oxygen to the contaminated water supplied inside.

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