Hybrid solar desalination system

Abstract

A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.

1 . A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification process, said HTEU including:
 feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively;   an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass,   said evaporator causing evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit;   a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass, said condenser having input and output ports for coupling said gas and fresh water conduit circuits;   said condenser extracting moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit, wherein the extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit; and   a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.   
     
     
         2 . The HTEU of  claim 1 , wherein the gas circuit is a closed loop circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The HTEU of  claim 1 , wherein the fresh water circuit is a partially closed looped circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The HTEU of  claim 1 , wherein the fresh water circuit further comprises a splitter unit for discharging excess fresh water. 
     
     
         5 . The HTEU of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating unit for heating feed water in the feed water conduit prior to entering the evaporator. 
     
     
         6 . The HTEU of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator, condenser and heat exchanger are configured in a closed star configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The HTEU of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator, condenser and heat exchanger are configured in an open star configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The HTEU of  claim 7 , wherein the HTEU further comprises a second heat exchanger for extracting residual heat from outgoing feed water and outgoing fresh water such that the residual heat heats incoming feed water. 
     
     
         9 . A hydro-thermal section (HTS), comprising:
 a HTEU for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification process, said HTEU including:   feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively;   an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass, said evaporator causing evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit;   a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass, said condenser extracting moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit, wherein the extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit; and   a thermal energy source which provides thermal energy that causes the feed water to be heated.   
     
     
         10 . The HTS of  claim 9 , wherein the HTEU further comprises a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water. 
     
     
         11 . The HTS of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal energy source is arranged to supply thermal energy to a portion of the fresh water conduit for heating the fresh water therein. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A solar-powered desalination system, comprising:
 a desalination module that includes:   an electro-mechanical section (EMS) that includes a photovoltaic module for converting solar energy to electrical energy and at least one pump powered by the electrical energy; and   a HTS for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification process, said HTS including a solar collector for capturing solar energy that at least in part causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water, wherein said at least one pump is configured to pump water through said HTS.   
     
     
         14 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 13 , wherein said HTS includes a HTEU comprising feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 14 , wherein the solar collector is arranged to supply solar energy to a portion of the feed water conduit for heating the feed water therein. 
     
     
         16 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 14 , wherein the solar collector is arranged to supply solar energy to a portion of the fresh water conduit for heating the fresh water therein. 
     
     
         17 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 14 , wherein the HTEU further comprises an evaporator through which a portion the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass and a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. 
     
     
         18 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 17 , wherein the EMS further comprises a feed water pump for pumping feed water in the feed water conduit into the evaporator and a gas pump for pumping gas in the gas conduit into the condenser, wherein the fresh water and gas pumps are electrically powered at least in part by the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         19 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 18 , wherein the HTEU further comprises a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water and the EMS further comprises a fresh water pump for pumping fresh water in the fresh water conduit from the condenser to the heat exchanger, wherein the fresh water is electrically powered at least in part by the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         20 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 17 , wherein the HTEU further comprises a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water and the EMS further comprises a fresh water pump for pumping fresh water in the fresh water conduit from the condenser to the heat exchanger, wherein the fresh water is electrically powered at least in part by the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         21 . The solar-powered desalination system of  claim 14 , wherein the gas circuit is a closed loop circuit. 
     
     
         22 - 38 . (canceled)