| 摘要 |
A process for recovering potable water from a source of salinous water - e.g. sea and/or ocean water. Certain modifications afford the simultaneous generation of power. A portion of salinous water and an air stream are introduced into a solar radiation heat sink, with the air stream flowing over the salinous water. Heated, water-containing air is withdrawn from the heat sink and reduced in temperature to recover potable water. The heated salinous water, from the heat sink, may be recycled thereto, or at least in part introduced into a flash separation zone, maintained at a subatmospheric pressure to provide a non-salinous vaporous phase which is passed through a turbine, from the resulting motion of which power is generated. The exiting turbine vapors are cooled and/or condensed via indirect contact with a second portion of salinous water to recover additional potable water. Alternatively, the heated, water-containing air stream may be cooled by vaporizing a hydrocarbon which then passes through a turbine for the purpose of producing energy. Salinous water which is returned to the original source thereof is at a temperature not more than 15 DEG F. greater than the coldest salinous water obtained from the source.
|
