Methods and apparatus for purifying liquid using regenerating heat exchange

Abstract

A method and apparatus for liquid purification using regenerating heat exchange are disclosed. An apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a liquid receptacle, a heat exchanger, a heating mechanism, a compressor, and a condenser. While the liquid receptacle is able to receive a stream of liquid such as water, a heat exchanger pushes the liquid through the heat exchanger to increase temperature of the liquid. The heating mechanism is capable of facilitating phase transition of the liquid from liquid to vapor. The compressor is operable to guide the vapor and the condenser is configured to condense the vapor into liquid or purified liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of water purification using regenerative heat exchange, comprising:
 receiving a stream of water from an external device;   forcing the stream of water into a heat exchanger to preheat the water as it passes through the heat exchanger;   heating the water to its boiling point and converting the water from its liquid phase to vapor phase;   generating a directional vapor whirlpool inside of a boiler to push the vapor into a plurality of flutes for condensation; and   condensing the vapor into purified water via the plurality of flutes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pumping the purified water into the heat exchanger for heat extracting when a plurality of hot pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the purified water pass adjacent to a plurality of cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the stream of water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing waste water to flow into the heat exchanger for heat extracting when a plurality of hot pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the waste water pass adjacent to a plurality of cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the stream of water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a stream of water includes activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps in response to water pressure provided by the stream of water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps includes pushing the purified water through the heat exchanger for transferring heat from the purified water to the stream of water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps includes pushing discarded liquid through the heat exchanger for preheating the stream of water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein condensing the vapor into purified water includes forcing the vapor through a plurality of angular shaped flutes capable of facilitating regenerating heat exchange between the plurality of angular shaped flutes. 
     
     
         8 . A method for purifying liquid using regenerative heat exchange, comprising:
 increasing temperature of a stream of liquid in a main boiler and converting at least a portion of the stream from liquid to a directional vapor whirlpool (“DVW”);   facilitating the DVW rising from lower portion of the main boiler to upper portion of the main boiler;   redirecting the DVW downward direction from the upper portion of the main boiler toward a plurality of angular shaped flutes;   pushing the DVW into the plurality of angular shaped flutes in response to an activation of a compressor; and   condensing at least a portion of the DVW into a stream of purified liquid at narrower sections of the plurality of the angular shaped flutes.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 allowing the stream of purified liquid to exit the plurality of the angular shaped flutes; and   guiding the stream of purified liquid to enter a heat exchanger for heat extracting.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising transferring heat from a plurality of hot pipes in the heat exchanger carrying the stream of purified liquid to a plurality of cold pipes in the heat exchanger carrying a stream of incoming liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a stream of water from an external supply; and   guiding the stream of water into the heat exchanger to preheat the water as it passes through the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving a stream of water includes activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps in response to water pressure provided by the stream of water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps includes pushing the purified water through the heat exchanger for transferring heat from the purified water to the stream of water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein activating a plurality of heat extracting pumps includes pushing discarded liquid through the heat exchanger for preheating the stream of water. 
     
     
         15 . A liquid purification apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of angular shaped flutes arranged in such a way that contains a top cavity and a bottom cavity, wherein each of the plurality of angular shaped flutes is configured to have larger openings at two ends of a flute with a relatively narrower body to facilitate vapor condensation;   a directional heater situated at the bottom cavity of the plurality of angular shaped flutes and configured to generate a directional vapor whirlpool in response to a stream of incoming liquid; and   a turbine   receiving a stream of water from an external device;   forcing the stream of water into a heat exchanger to preheat the water as it passes through the heat exchanger;   heating the water to its boiling point and converting the water from its liquid phase to vapor phase;   generating a directional vapor whirlpool inside of a boiler to push the vapor into a plurality of flutes for condensation; and   condensing the vapor into purified water via the plurality of flutes.