GB2529216A

GB2529216A - Water purification by enhanced distillation using solar energy

Info

Publication number: GB2529216A
Application number: GB1414413.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Baback Asady
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-14
Filing date: 2014-08-14
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-14
Also published as: GB201414413D0; GB2529216B

Abstract

A method for water purification by distillation using solar energy, where the water to be purified is distributed along a number of transparent tubes, in order to increase its surface area and hence the water evaporation rate. The tube 1 consists of two, upper 3 and lower 2, compartments. The water, to be purified, is contained within the lower part 2, where it is exposed to solar energy through the upper part 3, which also contains optical lenses 7, which concentrate the solar energy onto the water to enhance the rate of evaporation. The water vapour condenses on the inside of the upper part 3 of tube 1 and gathers as distilled water in the channels 4 within the upper part 3 of the tube 1. The distilled water is then either collected in a container or let out at various points along the length of the channels.

Description

Water Purification by Enhanced Distillation Using Solar Energy This invention relates to a technique of water desalination and purification.

Water is one of the most important natural resources, essential to life on Earth. However water is a finite resource and the majority of Earth's water is salty and unsuitable for thinking or agriculture. Rain is the natural way of producing fresh water. The increasing demand*on fresh water supplies has resulted in need for desalination and recycling of water. This process requires a lot of energy and can be very costly. However the existing recycling techniques do not completely eliminate all the impurities and it may be necessary to treat the water treated chemically to make it safe for consumption.

The natural cycle of fresh water production is by evaporation of water from seas and oceans through exposure to solar energy. The water vapours form clouds, which would come down as rain. However, water has a relatively large heat capacity, which for a given mass of water, a considerable amount energy to raise its temperature.

The proposed invention uses the same natural principle with a number of techniques to enhance the evaporation of water by solar energy. The water, to be purified, is distributed along a network of transparent, connecting tubes, consisting of lower and upper parts.

The lower part contains the salt or impure water, while the upper part exposes the water to solar energy and provides the surface, for the condensation of the water vapour and channels for collection of the distilled water.

According to the present invention, there is an apparatus for water purification comprising reservoirs for containing water before and afier purification, a network of transparent connecting tubes between the reservoirs, having separate compartments for intake of impure water and collection of purified water, means for fastening and supporting the tubes, means for concentrating solar energy onto the water to be purified, means for measuring and controlling the flow of water in and out of the system.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by the way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the overall system Figure 2 shows an arrangement for the water carrying tube, where its upper and lower parts are detachable. It also shows an alternative design for the purified water to flow out at various points along the tube, rather than be collected.

Referring to figure 1, the water to be purified is contained in the reservoir 9 and is allowed to flow, through the connecting tube 10 and the controlling valve 6, to the lower part 2 of the main water tube 1. (In Figure 1, the main water carrying tube is labelled as 1 and the lower and upper parts are labelled 2 and 3 respectively). The end 12 of lower part 2 of the tube 1 is closed to contain the water within the lower part of the main tube. By distributing the water along the tube, the ratio of the surface area to mass of water is substantially increased and this enhances the rate of evaporation of the water. For clarity of description and depiction, the amount of water, in the lower part 3 of the tube, is shown to be controlled by means of the valve 6 but this can also be made automatic by mechanical or electronic mechanisms for measurement of the water level and controlling the flow of water.

The water collected, in the lower part 2 of the tube, is exposed to the solar energy through the transparent upper part of the tube 3, which also contains optical lenses, 7, which focus the energy on the water and hence increases the evaporation rate of the water. The rising water vapour would consequently gather on the ceiling of the upper part 3 of the tube 1 and would drip along the surface to the enclosed channels 4 within the upper part 3. The curved walls of the channels 4 prevent the distilled water from mixing with the water to be purified. The accumulated distilled water then flows through the tubes 5 to be collected in the reservoir 8. The adjustable length stand 11 can be used to support the watcr tube, particularly over a rough terrain. It can also help the tube to be inclined at an angle to assist the flow of the water.

Figure 2 shows a design for a water carrying tube, where the upper part is detachable and is locked into place using the pegs 1 and the holes 2. In case of water desalination, the salt from water would be collected on the lower part of the tube and by removing the upper part and the salt can be collected. Figure 2 also shows a possible design for the use of the proposed system to use salt water directly for irrigation. The network of tubes are laid along the irrigation canals and the salt water is run in the lower part of the tube and the distilled water gathers in the channels in the upper part of the tube, as already explained above. But instead of accumulating the water in a container, there are sprouts along the channels to allow the distilled water to trickle out to water the plants.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for water purification comprising reservoirs for containing water before and after purification, a network of transparent connecting tubes between the reservoirs, having separate compartments for intake of impure water and collection of purified water, means for fastening and supporting the tubes, means for concentrating solar energy onto the water to be purified, means for measuring and controlling the flow of water in and out of the system.
2. An apparatus for water purification as claimed in Claim I wherein the water-carrying tube is detachable, in order to give access for the purpose of collection of residue in the tube.
3. An apparatus for water purification substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-2 of the accompanying drawings.