Enclosed Evaporation-Condensation Water Purification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water purification methods are inadequate for effectively treating impure water with high concentrations of contaminants, such as salts, oils, and industrial waste, as they often require multiple cycles and may not meet stringent purity standards for drinking water.
Innovation Solution
A water purification system utilizing an enclosed chamber with an evaporation region and a condensation region, where impure water is evaporated and condensed back into purified water, capable of handling high contaminant concentrations up to 250,000 ppm in a single treatment cycle, and further purification can be achieved through additional cycles if needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional water purification methods are used, then treatment process is simple, but purification effectiveness is insufficient for high contaminant concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition (evaporation and condensation) to purify water from high contaminant concentration sources. Water is evaporated to separate it from non-volatile contaminants, then condensed to collect purified water. This phase transition mechanism enables effective purification of water with up to 250,000 ppm contaminants in a single cycle, resolving the contradiction between purification effectiveness and process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes temperature parameters to achieve purification. By heating water to evaporate it and then cooling the vapor to condense it, the system transforms water from liquid to vapor and back to liquid phase, effectively separating it from contaminants. This parameter-based approach (temperature control) provides reliable purification without requiring complex multi-step treatment processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple purification cycles are used to meet purity standards, then water purity increases, but treatment time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single-cycle evaporation-condensation process achieves high water purity (up to 100 ppm impurities) by completely separating water vapor from non-volatile contaminants. Since contaminants do not evaporate, they remain in the source water while purified water is collected through condensation. This eliminates the need for multiple sequential purification cycles, significantly reducing treatment time while maintaining high purity standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the purification process into distinct evaporation and condensation zones within the apparatus. The evaporation zone separates water vapor from contaminants, and the condensation zone collects purified water. This spatial segmentation enables complete purification in a single pass through the system, avoiding the need for repeated cycles and reducing overall treatment time.
3Reliability
If evaporation method is used to separate water from contaminants, then water purification is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses natural evaporation and condensation phase transitions to purify water. By controlling the environment to favor evaporation at the water surface and condensation in the surrounding air, the system achieves purification with minimal external energy input compared to forced evaporation methods. The phase transition itself provides the separation mechanism without requiring high-energy industrial evaporation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables self-service purification where the water body itself undergoes evaporation and the surrounding environment provides condensation. The system structure (enclosed or semi-enclosed space, positioning of water body) facilitates natural phase transitions without requiring continuous external energy input, pumps, or mechanical intervention, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective purification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently purifies water to achieve up to 100 ppm impurities in a single cycle, meeting or exceeding drinking water standards, with the option for additional cycles to reach even higher purity levels, making it suitable for various uses including potable water.
Implementation Method 1
impure water is evaporated and condensed back into purified water
Implementation Method 2
impure water is evaporated and condensed back into purified water
Data Source
AI summary
A water purification system can include an enclosed chamber having an evaporation region and a condensation region. The evaporation region can include an evaporation tower with a series of shelves to receive and increase a surface area of impure water while cascading downward from an upper shelf to lower shelves therebeneath as water evaporates therefrom to form water vapor within the enclosed chamber, and a fluid directing assembly to cyclically transport the impure water from a reservoir source to the upper shelf. The condensation region can include a purified water-receiving vessel and a plurality of water collectors. Individual water collectors of the plurality of water collectors can include an exterior surface coolable to a temperature below a dew point of air carrying the water vapor and shaped to channel water formed thereon by condensation to the purified water-receiving vessel.