| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a method of water desalination comprising the steps of: supplying thermal energy to salt water (4) in a vaporisation zone (3), removing (6) water vapour from said vaporisation zone (3) to a condensation zone (8), and at least partly condensing said water vapour into fresh-water (11) in said condensation zone (8). A heat pump (12) is used to transfer at least some of the heat extracted from said water vapour in said condensation zone (8) to the salt-water (4) in the vaporisation zone (3). The present invention also provides an apparatus for use in water desalination comprising: a vapourization chamber (3) for holding seawater (4), and having a water vapour outlet connected via a water vapour transfer conduit (6) to a condensation chamber (8) for condensation of water vapour into freshwater (11). The vapourization chamber (3) has at least one heater (13) formed and arranged for supplying thermal energy to salt-water (4) in said vaporisation chamber (3). A heat pump (12) is used to transfer at least some of the heat from the water vapour in said condensation chamber (8) to said heater (13). |
