WO2023016618A1

WO2023016618A1 - Enhanced gravity based vacuum system (egv) for water desalination, air cooling, and liquids distillation processes

Info

Publication number: WO2023016618A1
Application number: PCT/EG2022/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ayman Amin Metwally HAMMAD
Original assignee: Hammad Ayman Amin Metwally
Priority date: 2021-08-11
Filing date: 2022-07-25
Publication date: 2023-02-16

Abstract

The present invention related to "Enhanced Gravity Based Vacuum System (EGV)" is providing a new low-cost, simple technology method, apparatus and work steps for water desalination, cooling, and liquids distillation processes., The present invention working principal is based on integrating of Trochili principal and fluids thermodynamic principals to create a very low-pressure vacuum environment within an isolated chamber (20) by a weight of liquid column equivalent to atmospheric pressure or by using liquid suction pump - without using any electrical air vacuum devices- in order to reduce the boiling point and the temperature of any trapped liquid inside the apparatus.

Description

Enhanced Gravity Based Vacuum System (Egv) For Water Desalination, Air Cooling, And Liquids Distillation Processes

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to water desalination, air cooling and liquids distillation applications under natural gravitational-based vacuum.

Background Art :

There are a few patents for natural gravity based vacuum desalination devices such as

Patent # CN201201907Y Natural Vacuum Low Temperature Distillation Sea Water Desalting Apparatus

Patent # US2009020406A1 Desalination Using Low-Grade Thermal Energy

Patent # CN111943299A Natural Vacuum Solar Seawater Desalination Device And Method Capable

Of Continuously Operating

Patent # WO2018041322 - Novel Method For Reducing Evaporation Pressure Using A Suitable Column Weight For A Suitable Liquid.

Problem and defect in the prior art

All of the prior technologies have low fresh water productivity rate due to

1- Relatively small surface areas for evaporization.

2- Not using any nucleators agents to increase evaporation rate and condensation rate.

3- Need more energy to discharge the accumulations of the associated dissolved gases within the systems to avoid building up pressure

Also, all existing desalination technologies are rejecting back desalination’s residual brines to sea which causes severe damages to eco-marine life.

Disclosure Of The Invention :

New in the invention

The present invention “Enhanced Gravity Based Vacuum System (EGV)” is providing a new low- cost and simple technology method, apparatus and work steps for water desalination, air cooling and liquids distillation processes

The present invention working principal is based on integrating of Trochili principal and fluids thermodynamic principals to create a very low-pressure environment (near vacuum) within an isolated chamber 20 by a weight of liquid column equivalent to atmospheric pressure or by using liquid suction pump - without using any electrical air vacuum devices- in order to reduce the boiling point and the temperature of any trapped liquid inside the apparatus. The present invention can be used for wide range of applications with much lower energy consumption as compared to all other existing technologies including: -

• Water desalination

• Air cooling applications

• Distillation applications o Crude oil distillation o Solution concentration

The present invention for desalination applications contains a dissolved gas extraction unit 1000 to extract dissolved gases from sea water externally in order to prevent accumulations of dissolved gases within the system to avoid losing the vacuum environment within the system.

The present invention for desalination applications is filled with metallic foam to work as nucleators in order to increase both of evaporation rate and condensation rate.

The present invention includes novel Eco-friendly brine management system called “Controlled Evaporation Ponds System (CEP system)” as shown at fig-5 and fig-6 to avoid rejecting back desalination residual brines into sea in order to save marine life and generate more financial revenue from separating different type of salts.

Full description

The present invention “Enhanced Gravity Based Vacuum System (EGV)” is providing a new low- cost and simple technology method, apparatus and work steps for water desalination, and liquids distillation processes

The present invention working principal is based on integrating of Trochili principal and fluids thermodynamic principals to create a very low-pressure environment (near vacuum) within an isolated chamber 20 by a weight of liquid column equivalent to atmospheric pressure or by using liquid suction pump - without using any electrical air vacuum devices- in order to reduce the boiling point and the temperature of any trapped liquid inside the apparatus.

The present invention can be used in different applications with the same working principle and the main components with minor differentiations including: -

• Water desalination

• Air Cooling applications

• Distillation applications o Crude oil distillation o Solution concentration

Invention components

The present invention has the same working principle and the same main components with minor differentiations according to the required applications types

1. For water desalination

In order to solve the problem of water scarcity around the world -economically and environmentally friendly way for all drinking, agriculture and industrial purposes The present invention is providing a low energy consumption and greener method for desalinating seawater and underground water at any cold or hot weather at seas and oceans coastlines or at for any remote area far from coastlines.

The system can use the widely available low grade geothermal energy resources through a closed loop geothermal well as shown in fig 4 for heating up seawater for 27/4 operations during the day instead of solar and other heating resources

The apparatus as shown in fig- 1,2, 3 & 4 The system is consisting of two main assembles i. Vacuum generation assembly 10 Consists of: -

1. Vacuum chambers 10 with pyramid/dome top part, filled with porous copper foam or aluminum foam to increase the condensation surface area and to work as a nucleator for condensation as well.

2. Inlet control valve 12 to fill the vacuum chamber with fresh water to create water column.

3. Air ventilation valve 34 to move out air from the vacuum chamber 10 while filling chamber with fresh water.

4. Outlet water column pipe with +10.3m length (water column height as shown in fig-1) ended by outlet control valve 14 to discharge the filled fresh water in collection tank 40 vacuum within the chamber 10. As shown in fig-1, Or shorter Outlet water pipe with one way valve connected to a controlled hydro-suction pump for ground level applications. ii. Evaporization Chamber 20 contains

1. Shallow-wide flat-thermally isolated basin 21 with very thin layer of porous metallic foam to work as a nucleator for evaporization process.

2. Porous copper or aluminum foam 23 sides as shown in fig 3 to increase the condensation surface area and to work as a nucleator for condensation as well.

3. Sea water inlet pipe 22.

4. Concentrated brine outlet pipe 26.

5. Condensated water pipe 34 connected with Evaporization Chamber 20.

6. Floating ball valve 27 to allow the condensated water within Evaporization Chamber 20 to pass through the condensated water pipe 34 towards vacuum chamber 10.

7. Vacuum valves 32. iii. Condenser chambers 30

Connecting between vacuum chamber 10 and Evaporization Chamber 20 and contains series of Tesla Valve, flow turbine or a set of coiled fine tubes to reduce the kinetic energy and temperature of the generated vapor to accelerate condensation process iv. Cooling basin 300 to cool down the system to enhance condensation, v. Dissolved gas extraction unit 1000 to extract dissolved gases from sea water externally in order to prevent accumulations of dissolved gases within the system to avoid losing the vacuum environment within the system, it consists of large shallow basin 1002 on top of large pipe 1004 to receive the heated seawater in order to release some of the dissolved gases and outlet pipe 1006 from the bottom of the large pipel004 to drain hot sea water without dissolved gases vi. Controlled Evaporation Pond System (CEP system)” as shown at fig-5 and fig-6 is consisting of series of successive ponds and pumps to transfer brine based on evaporization percentage according to on the differences in solubility between the dissolved salts

2. For Cooling Applications

Vacuum cooling system EGV-C

For air cooling applications, the EGV system as shown in fig-7, it is consisting of: - i. Vacuum generation assembly Consists of: -

1. Vacuum chambers 10 with pyramid/dome top part.

4. Outlet water column pipe with +10.3m length ended by outlet control valve 14 to discharge the filled fresh water in collection tank 40 vacuum within the chamber 10. As shown in fig-1, Or shorter Outlet water pipe connected to a controlled hydro-suction pump for ground level applications as shown in fig-2 ii. Active chamber 20 contains

3. Refrigerant inlet pipe 22

4. cooled refrigerant outlet pipe 26

5. Condensated refrigerant pipe 34 connected with active chamber 10

6. Floating ball valve 27 to allow the condensated refrigerant within active chamber 20 to pass through the condensated refrigerant pipe 34 towards vacuum chamber 10.

7. Condenser chamber 30 connecting between vacuum chamber 10 and active chamber 20 and contains Tesla Valve, flow turbine or a set of fine tubes to reduce the kinetic energy and temperature of the generated refrigerant vapor to accelerate condensation process

8. Vacuum valves 32 9. Heat exchanger 50 connected with active chamber 20 to exchange heat between refrigerant with other fluids or gases.

10. Circulation pump

11. Three-way valve 28

3. For Distillation Applications

Example crude oil refinery by using a liquid column of 16 meter height, the apparatus as shown in fig- 8 , It

Consists of: - i. Vacuum generation assembly

1. Vacuum chambers 10 with pyramid/dome top part.

4. Outlet water column pipe with +10.3m length (water column height as shown in fig-1) ended by outlet control valve 14 to discharge the filled fresh water in collection tank 40 vacuum within the chamber 10. As shown in fig-1, Or shorter Outlet water pipe connected to a controlled hydro-suction pump for ground level applications as shown in fig-2 ii. Evaporization Chamber 20 contains

1. Inlet control valve22,

2. Crude oil basin 37

3. Slitter 310 inserted in Evaporization Chamber 20

4. Condensation pipe 36 to conduct the condensated hydrocarbon to the vacuum chamber 10.

5. Floating ball valve 27 to allow the condensated hydrocarbon within Evaporization Chamber 20 to pass through the condensated hydrocarbon pipe 34 towards vacuum chamber 10.

6. Controlled heat source 500 to adjust the required heat quantity to separate hydrocarbon according to their boiling points in an ascending order

7. Cooling basin 300 to enhance condensation

8. Outlet refinery products control valve 320 with Products collection pipes

9. Refinery products collection tanks

10. Active tank 40 (supposed to atmospheric pressure.) Invention Work Theory

The work steps of the present invention according to every application are: -

1. For water desalination

As shown in fig-1,2,3 &4

Preparing Phase

• Fill the cooling tank 300 with cold saline water (with ambient temperature) for cooling the system

• Switch on Air ventilation valve 34 to move out air while filling vacuum chamber 10 before start operation.

• Switched off. outlet control valve 14, vacuum control valve 32 and the condensated water valve 36

• Switch on inlet control valve 12 to fill chamber 10 and water column pipe 16 to the top by fresh water

• Switch off the inlet control valve 12 after complete filling the vacuum chamber 10.

• Switch off Air ventilation valve 34 to prevent air to enter inside the vacuum chamber 10.

• Switch off sea water inlet control valve 22 and brine outlet control valve 26

• Switched on. the to fill the shallow Evaporization basins 21 within the Evaporization Chamber 20 with sea water (with any ambient temperature).

• Switch off the Air ventilation valve34

Operation Phase

• Switch on outlet control valve 14 to allow water to flow down from the vacuum chamber 10 to the active tank 40 in order to create a vacuum within the vacuum chamber 10

• The vacuum will start to be created gradually due to the flow of the fresh water at the vacuum chamber 10 till the water column weight becomes equivalent to the atmospheric pressure and the equilibrium will be established between them.

• Switch on vacuum control valve 32 to connect between the vacuum chamber 10 and the Evaporization Chamber 20

• The cold sea water will be heated after leaving the cooling tank by clean heat source such as low-grade geothermal heat, solar or waste heat resources can be used.

• Switch on sea water inlet valve 22 with controlled flow to fill the shallow evaporation basins 21

• Switch on brine outlet valve 26

• Simultaneously the upper layer of heated sea water at the shallow Evaporization basins 21 which exposed directly to the vacuum will start to boil, and extracts the necessary latent heat of Evaporization from the water layers below and causing a reduction in the temperature of the lower layers and reduction in the temperature of the inclined Evaporization surfaces 23

• Some of generated vapor will be condensed at the copper/aluminum foam23 and will be accumulated at the bottom of the E vaporization Chamber 20 to pass through the floating valve 27 and through the condensated outlet pipe 26 while the other vapor will be directed to the Condenser chamber 30 to reduce the kinetic energy and temperature of the vapor till condensates within the condenser 30 and move down to the vacuum chamber 10.

• All the condensated fresh water collected at the bottom of vacuum chamber 10 to pass down to the fresh water collection tank 40 to be collected. While the concentrated brine will leave the Evaporization Chamber 20 to the brine collection tank 42

• As Shown in Fig 5 & 6 on daily bases, the residual brine will be pumped to the first pond (Calcite Pond) till natural evaporation takes place to the limit of perception of the least solubility salt (Calcite) then the residual brine will be transferred by pump to the following ponds successively (Gypsum Pond, Halite Pond, Magnesium/Potassium Pond)

2. For air cooling application

As shown in fig-7

Preparing Phase

• Switch on Air ventilation valve34 to move out air from the vacuum 10 chamber before start operation

• Switched off. outlet control valvel4 and vacuum control valve 32

• Switch on inlet control valve 12 to fill vacuum chamber 10 and fluid column pipe 16 to the top by a suitable refrigerant

• Fill Active chamber 20 partially with the same refrigerant

• Switch off the Air ventilation valve34

Operation Phase

• Switched on Vacuum control valve 32

• The outlet control valve 14 will be switched on

• The vacuum will start to be created gradually, Simultaneously the refrigerant at the Active chamber 20 will be evaporated and cooled down gradually due to the pressure reduction till reach to the required temperature.

• The evaporated refrigerant vapor will be condensate and be collected at the bottom of the vacuum chamber 10 and will be pumped periodically to the heat exchanger system through the three-way valve 28

• The cooled refrigerant within Active chamber 20 will exchange its heat with the secondary fluid at the heat exchanger 50 to reduce its temperature.

3. For Distillation applications

Example crude oil refinery

As shown in fig-8 Preparing Phase

• Switch on Air ventilation valve 34 to allow air to move out from the vacuum chamber 10 before start operation

• Switched off. outlet control valve 14, and vacuum control valve 32 and the condensated hydrocarbon valve 36

• Switch on inlet control valve 12 to fill vacuum chamber 10 and water column pipe 16 to the top by water

• Fill Evaporization Chamber 20 partially with crude oil

• Switch off the inlet control valve 12

• Switch off the Air ventilation valve34

Operation Phase

• Switch on vacuum control valve 32

• Switch on outlet control valvel4

• The vacuum will start to be created gradually due to the flow of the fresh water at the vacuum chamber 10 till the water column weight becomes equivalent to atmospheric pressure and the equilibrium will be established between them,

• Switch off outlet valve 14

• Switch on the controlled heat source 500 and adjust the required heat quantity to separate hydrocarbon according to their boiling points in an ascending order

• Turn on the slitter 310 in Evaporization Chamber 20

• Simultaneously the lighter hydrocarbon and will be evaporate and will be condensed at the upper inclined surfaces of Evaporization Chamber 20 and at the top vacuum chamber 10 and will be collected at the bottom of vacuum chamber 10 to pass down to the hydrocarbon collection tank 330 through the hydrocarbon outlet valve 320

• After retrieving the condensated lighter hydrocarbon completely, switch off the hydrocarbon outlet valve 320

• Increase the heat to be suitable to evaporate the next hydrocarbon component one by one.

Brief description of the Drawing :

Figure -1

Showing the main components of the apparatus

Figure -2

Showing the main components of the water column based vacuum generation assembly while preparation and operation

Figure -3

Showing the main components of the Evaporization chamber20.

Figure -4 Showing the green heating sources for net zero carbon emissions desalination processes

Figure -5

Showing the work theory of the Controlled Evaporation Ponds System (CEP system) for Eco- friendly brine management

Figure -6

Showing the plan view of the Controlled Evaporation Ponds System (CEP system)

Figure -7

Showing the main components of Vacuum cooling apparatus

Figure -8

Showing the main components of the apparatus for crude oil distillation.

Claims

Claims of invention Claim 1: The present invention “Enhanced Gravity Based Vacuum System (EGV)” is providing a new low-cost and simple technology method, apparatus and work steps for water desalination, air cooling and liquids distillation processes. The present invention working principal is based on integrating of Trochili principal and fluids thermodynamic principals to create a very low-pressure vacuum environment within an isolated chamber 20 by a weight of liquid column equivalent to atmospheric pressure or by using liquid suction pump - without using any electrical air vacuum devices- in order to reduce the boiling point and the temperature of any trapped liquid inside the apparatus. The present invention can be used for wide range of applications with much lower energy consumption as compared to all other existing technologies including: -• Water desalination • Air Cooling • Liquids Distillation applications o Crude oil distillation o Solution concentration Claim 2: The method according to claim 1 wherein said means: generating low pressure vacuum environment naturally by the weight of liquid column within a sealed chamber contains Evaporization chamber 20 for the purpose of water distillation, cooling or mixed liquids distillation processes. Claim 3: The method according to claim 1&2 wherein said means: using any metallic foam or honeycomb structure within any natural vacuum device to increase the surface area for condensation and or to work as nucleators for evaporation and condensation process. Claim 4: The method according to claim 1 wherein said means: using geothermal well for heating up any saline water for natural vacuum desalination. Claim 5: The method according to claim 1 wherein said means: extracting different types of salts from any saline water within a series of isolated evaporization bonds by transferring brines to the next evaporization pond after precipitating the less soluble salt based on evaporization percentage and salts solubility sequence as shown in fig 5 &6. Claim 6: The method according to claim 1 wherein said means: using natural gravity-based vacuum or hydro suction pump-based vacuum system at any heat exchanging process between any refrigerant and any liquid/gas for any cooling purposes. Claim 7: The method according to claim 1 wherein said means: using natural gravity-based vacuum or hydro suction pump-based vacuum for any distillation of mixed liquids or solutions including crude oil refinery and solution concentrations processes. Claim 8: Desalination System according to claim 1 wherein said means: a system for desalination as shown in fig-1, 2, 3 &4 consists of: - i. Vacuum generation assembly Consists of: -

5. Shallow-wide flat-thermally isolated basin 21 with very thin layer of porous metallic foam to work as a nucleator for evaporization process.

6. Porous copper or aluminum foam 23 at sides as shown in fig 3 to increase the condensation surface area and to work as a nucleator for condensation as well.

7. Sea water inlet pipe 22.

8. Concentrated brine outlet pipe 26.

9. Condensated water pipe 34 connected with Evaporization Chamber 20.

10. Floating ball valve 27 to allow the condensated water within Evaporization Chamber 20 to pass through the condensated water pipe 34 towards vacuum chamber 10.

11. Vacuum valves 32. iii. Condenser chambers 30

Connecting between vacuum chamber 10 and Evaporization C ha mber 20 and contains series of Tesla Valve, flow turbine or a set of coiled fine tubes to reduce the kinetic energy and temperature of the generated vapor to accelerate condensation process iv. Cooling basin 300 to cool down the system to enhance condensation, v. Dissolved gas extraction unit 1000 to extract dissolved gases from sea water externally in order to prevent accumulations of dissolved gases within the system to avoid losing the vacuum environment within the system, it consists of large shallow basin 1002 on top of large pipe 1004 to receive the heated seawater in order to release some of the dissolved gases and outlet pipe 1006 from the bottom of the large pipel004 to drain hot sea water without dissolved gases vi. Controlled Evaporation Pond System (CEP system)” as shown at fig-5 and fig-6 is consisting of series of successive ponds and pumps to transfer brine based on evaporization percentage according to on the differences in solubility between the dissolved salts Claim 9: The Vacuum cooling system according to claim 1 and claim 8 wherein said means a system for heat exchanging process between any refrigerant and any liquid/gas for any cooling, processes as shown in fig- 7 is composed of: -

1 -Vacuum generation assembly Consists of: -

• Vacuum chambers 10 with pyramid/dome top part.

• Inlet control valve 12 to fill the vacuum chamber with fresh water to create water column.

• Air ventilation valve 34 to move out air from the vacuum chamber 10 while filling chamber with fresh water.

• Outlet water column pipe with +10.3m length ended by outlet control valve 14 to discharge the filled fresh water in collection tank 40 vacuum within the chamber 10. As shown in fig-1, Or shorter Outlet water pipe connected to a controlled hydro-suction pump for ground level applications as shown in fig-2

2-Evaporization Chamber 20 contains

• Shallow-wide flat-thermally isolated basin 21 with very thin layer of porous metallic foam to work as a nucleator for evaporization process. e Porous copper or aluminum foam 23 at sides as shown in fig 3 to increase the condensation surface area and to work as a nucleator for condensation as well.

• Refrigerant inlet pipe 22

• cooled refrigerant outlet pipe 26

• Condensated refrigerant pipe 34 connected with Evaporization Chamber 10

• Floating ball valve 27 to allow the condensated refrigerant within Evaporization Chamber 20 to pass through the condensated refrigerant pipe 34 towards vacuum chamber 10.

• Condenser chamber 30 connecting between vacuum chamber 10 and Evaporization Chamber 20 and contains flow turbine to reduce the kinetic energy and temperature of the generated refrigerant vapor to accelerate condensation process and to generate clean energy electricity in the same time

• Vacuum valves 32

• Heat exchanger 50 connected with Evaporization Chamber 20 to exchange heat between refrigerant with other fluids or gases.

• Circulation pump

• Three-way valve 28

Claim 10: the Vacuum Crude oil refinery system according to claim 1 wherein said means a system for crude oil refinery as shown in fig-8 consists of : - 1 -Vacuum generation assembly Consists of: -

• Vacuum chambers 10 with pyramid/dome top part.

• Outlet water column pipe with +10.3m length (water column height as shown in fig-1) ended by outlet control valve 14 to discharge the filled fresh water in collection tank 40 vacuum within the chamber 10. As shown in fig-1, Or shorter Outlet water pipe connected to a controlled hydro-suction pump for ground level applications as shown in fig-2 2-Evaporization Chamber 20 contains

• Inlet control valve22,

• Crude oil basin 37

• Slitter 310 inserted in Evaporization Chamber 20

• Condensation pipe 36 to conduct the condensated hydrocarbon to the vacuum chamber 10.

• Floating ball valve 27 to allow the condensated hydrocarbon within Evaporization Chamber 20 to pass through the condensated hydrocarbon pipe 34 towards vacuum chamber 10.

• Controlled heat source 500 to adjust the required heat quantity to separate hydrocarbon according to their boiling points in an ascending order

• Cooling basin 300 for condensation

• Outlet refinery products control valve 320 with Products collection pipes

• Refinery products collection tanks

• Active tank 40 (supposed to atmospheric pressure.)