Vacuum Distillation Apparatus with Nested Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum distillation methods for water purification and desalination face inefficiencies due to high energy requirements and complexity, particularly in reducing pressure below atmospheric pressure to lower the boiling point of water, while also needing to manage heat transfer and contaminant removal effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum distillation apparatus with a distillation tank and condensation tank arrangement that uses a vacuum evaporation chamber to evaporate seed water, transfers saturated vapour for superheating, and then condenses it back to form treated water, utilizing heat exchange webs and a compressor to optimize energy efficiency and contaminant removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If pressure is reduced below atmospheric pressure to lower the boiling point of water, then energy requirements are reduced, but system complexity and operating cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the evaporation chamber and condensation chamber into a single integrated distillation tank, where the condensation chamber is positioned inside the evaporation chamber. This merging eliminates the need for separate vacuum systems and heat exchangers, reducing system complexity while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of vacuum distillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The condensation chamber is nested within the evaporation chamber, creating a concentric arrangement where the condensation chamber is positioned inside the evaporation chamber. This nested configuration allows heat transfer from the evaporating water to the condensing vapor through the shared wall, simplifying the thermal management system while maintaining vacuum conditions.
2Loss of energy
If a compressor is introduced in the vapour line to increase pressure and temperature, then heat efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor and expander are integrated into a single device where the compressor compresses vapor from the evaporation chamber and the expander immediately expands it in the condensation chamber. This combined arrangement recovers work during expansion to offset compression energy requirements, improving heat efficiency while minimizing the addition of separate complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander recovers work during vapor expansion, and this recovered work is used to offset the energy required for compression. The system essentially serves itself by using the energy released during condensation and expansion to reduce the energy input needed for compression, improving overall heat efficiency without requiring external energy sources.
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 apparatus enhances energy efficiency by maximizing heat transfer and minimizing energy waste, effectively producing treated water while managing contaminant concentration and waste brine, suitable for various water sources including contaminated mine or industrial wastewater and seawater.
Implementation Method 1
The efficiency of such a process can be improved by reducing the pressure above the water to less than its vapour pressure (less than atmospheric pressure), in order to lower the boiling point of water
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum evaporation chamber arranged at least partially about a condensation tank... in use, superheated vapour condenses upon exit from the expander
Implementation Method 3
a vapour line for transferring saturated vapour from the saturated vapour outlet to a compressor for the superheating of the saturated vapour
Implementation Method 4
transferring saturated vapour from the saturated vapour outlet to a compressor for the superheating of the saturated vapour, the vapour line then transferring superheated vapour
Implementation Method 5
superheated vapour condenses upon exit from the expander such that condensed water flows down the condensation chamber to the treated water reservoir
Implementation Method 6
heat transfers from the condensing superheated vapour and condensed water through the condensation tank to the evaporation chamber to heat seed water in the evaporation chamber
Implementation Method 7
allowing the heat then stored in the vapour to be used as a heat source for the boiling of the water
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum distillation apparatus for producing treated water from a supply of seed water, the apparatus including: an evaporation chamber for receiving and evaporating the seed water; a heat source for supplying heat to the evaporation chamber; a condensation chamber in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber for receiving and condensing the evaporated seed water; a pressure reducer in communication with the evaporation chamber for promoting evaporation of the seed water; and at least one cooling member disposed within the condensation chamber on which the evaporated seed water can condense, the cooling member being arranged to transfer condensed vapour for collection at a treated water outlet.