Modular Water Purification With Steam Stripping And Desalination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing desalination systems are energy-intensive, environmentally unfriendly, and limited in their ability to remove multiple types of contaminants, particularly hazardous hydrocarbons and minerals, from water sources.

Innovation Solution

A water decontamination system utilizing a solar desalination module with an enhanced surface evaporator and solar still, enhanced by waste heat from external sources to preheat water, combined with a volatiles removal module using a steam stripper to remove volatile contaminants, and a desalination module to remove minerals, including the use of environmentally friendly materials like wood fiber for increased evaporation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If desalination systems are used to remove contaminants from water, then potable water can be produced, but significant amounts of energy are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepotable water productionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system preheats feed water using waste heat from the vapor condensation process and from external sources before it enters the evaporation chamber. This preliminary heating action reduces the additional energy required to evaporate the water and produces more purified water per unit of energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If desalination systems are used to remove contaminants, then purified water is produced, but the systems are environmentally unfriendly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurified water productionVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures waste heat from the condensation of vapor and from external sources that would otherwise be discarded, and converts it into useful preheating of feed water. This transforms a harmful waste product (heat) into a beneficial resource, reducing environmental impact while maintaining purified water production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If desalination systems are used to remove contaminants, then water purification is achieved, but the systems are limited in removing multiple types of contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater purificationVSAvoidcontaminant removal capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the water treatment process into distinct functional modules: a volatiles removal module that removes volatile contaminants through steam stripping, and a desalination module that removes minerals through evaporation and condensation. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in removing specific contaminant types, thereby increasing overall versatility while maintaining effective purification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If waste heat is used to preheat water, then purified water yield increases, but additional heating equipment is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurified water yieldVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the waste heat recovery function with the existing desalination process by integrating heat exchangers into the vapor condensation pathway and feed water heating pathway. This combining of functions increases purified water yield while minimizing additional equipment complexity through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 increases purified water yield by preheating water with waste heat, effectively removes a wide range of contaminants, including volatile organic compounds and minerals, while being energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Implementation Method 1

the desalination module includes an enhanced surface evaporator that produces purified water and brine... Evaporation or distillation via the enhanced surface evaporator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a solar still that is designed to separate or distill purified water from brackish saltwater and/or otherwise contaminated water using a solar energy distillation process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDistillation: Distillation

Implementation Method 3

waste heat or heat from other energy sources outside of the desalination module can be used to preheat the water supplied to the enhanced surface evaporator... raises the temperature of the contaminated water well above the ambient temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

the volatiles removal module includes a steam stripper that removes at least some of the contaminants that are volatile via a steam stripping process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam stripping:

Data Source

PatentUS20250332525A1Devices and systems for treating water and other fluids

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 UNDESERT CORP

AI summary

A system and devices for treating and purifying fluids such as water. The system includes multiple devices and moves water through the devices. The system may include a steam boiler. The steam boiler may be connected to a steam stripper. Fluids may flow through the steam boiler and fed into the bottom of the steam stripper. The system may have salt treatment modules and carbon compound modules. The system may include desalination modules. The system may provide outputs of purified water, salt, and/or concentrated salt brine.