Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for producing power using concentrated brine

US4617800A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
0References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 4, 1985
Grant dateOct 21, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 4, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF22B1/00
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A power plant includes a source of water, a heat exchanger having an evaporator side maintained below atmospheric pressure for converting the water to steam, and a turbine responsive to said steam for producing work and heat depleted steam. The heat exchanger also has a condenser side for receiving and condensing the heat depleted steam. The evaporator side of the heat exchanger is separated by a barrier from the condenser side. Concentrated brine from a source thereof is caused to fall in a film on the condenser side of the barrier, and water from the water source is caused to fall in a film on the evaporator side of the barrier. The heat of dilution of the film of concentrated brine, as it is directly contacted by the heat depleted steam in the condenser side of the heat exchanger, is transferred through the barrier from the condenser side to the evaporator side raising the temperature of the film of water on the evaporator side which evaporates in the reduced pressure in the evaporator. The cooled and diluted brine withdrawn from the condenser is reconcentrated in a constant enthalpy brine evaporator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.