Water desalination and brine volume reduction process

摘要

The present invention is an improved thermal evaporation process capable of economically producing fresh water from a high saline water. The process employs the use of a multiphase pump with a compressor for injection of hot air into a brine stream. A series of mixers, separators and condensers separate the brine steam into a concentrated brine, a vapor brine and condensate. A portion of the concentrated brine is discharged and the remainder recycled to obtain conversion efficiencies approaching 80 percent.

主权项

1. A method of water desalination and brine volume reduction comprising:
establishing a flow of brine to a multiphase pump, said multiphase pump subjecting said flow of brine to progressively increasing pressures and increasing temperatures; initiate a compressor with partial venting and injecting hot air into said multiphase pump; directing a brine fluid and humid air flow from said multiphase pump to a first mixer; introducing hot air into said first mixer to form a fluid flow of brine air steam; separating said brine vapor into a thick brine and a vapor by a first separator, a portion of said thick brine is discharged and the remainder recycled to said first mixer; condensing said vapor from said first separator and drawing condensed fresh water therefrom, vapor that is not condensed is directed to a second separator and a second mixer; separating said vapor brine that is not condensed by said first condenser into a liquid brine for recycling to said multiphase pump and to a steam for introduction into a second condenser; condensing said steam from said second separator wherein condensed water is directed to a heat exchanger and non condensed water is transferred to said second mixer; inputting into said heat exchanger a raw water brine feed, said heat exchanger lowering the temperature of said second condenser and for produced water; combining steam and brine from said second condenser and directing to said second mixer for combining with humid air from said first condenser; separating steam and air received from said second mixer by use of a third separator, separated humid air recycled to said compressor, separated brine recycled to said first condenser; wherein said thick brine is expelled and brine recycled to said multiphase pump until predetermined design operating conditions are reached.