Desalination system

Abstract

A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid, which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation. Additionally, vapor exiting the submerged gas evaporator is condensed in a condensing unit thus precipitating vapor into a liquid for removal.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of desalinating saltwater, the method comprising:
 (a) supplying saltwater to a submerged gas evaporator vessel;   (b) supplying gas to the submerged gas evaporator vessel;   (c) dispersing the gas into the saltwater below a surface of the saltwater;   (d) agitating the saltwater with the dispersed gas to create bubbles of dispersed gas within the saltwater;   (e) transferring heat and mass from the saltwater to the dispersed gas;   (f) separating the dispersed gas from the saltwater;   (g) supplying the separated dispersed gas to a condenser;   (h) cooling the separated dispersed gas within the condenser, thereby causing desalinated water to condense; and   (i) collecting the condensed desalinated water.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising creating a continuous flow pattern around a weir disposed within the submerged gas evaporator vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the weir creates a confined volume between the weir and a gas inlet tube, the continuous flow pattern flowing upward within the confined volume, laterally outward over a first end of the weir, downward outside of the weir and laterally inward under a second end of the weir. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the weir is perforated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising reducing crystal formation within the submerged gas evaporator vessel by creating the continuous flow pattern. 
     
     
         16 . the method of  claim 13 , wherein the laterally outward flow is enhanced by a baffle disposed within the submerged gas evaporator vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  1 , wherein steps (a)-(i) are repeated. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein steps (a)-(i) are repeated in series. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein steps (a)-(i) are repeated in parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising heating the gas before supplying the gas to the submerged gas evaporator vessel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the gas is heated with solar energy. 
     
     
         22 . The method of claim  1 , wherein gas is supplied to the submerged gas evaporation vessel at a rate of between 1,000 acfm per ft 2  and 18,000 acfm per ft 2 , relative to a gas exit area of a gas tube within the submerged gas evaporation vessel.