Multi-Stage Bubble-Column Vapor Mixture Condenser and HDH System

Abstract

A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprises at least a first stage and a second stage. Each stage includes a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet, as well as a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet. The carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath. The carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, comprising:
 at least a first stage and a second stage, wherein each stage includes:
 a carrier-gas inlet; 
 a carrier-gas outlet; and 
 a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet, wherein the carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a third stage that also includes a carrier-gas inlet, a carrier-gas outlet and a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas inlet of the third stage is positioned to bubble carrier gas up through the condensing bath of the third stage, wherein the carrier-gas outlet of the third stage is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath of the third stage, and wherein the carrier-gas outlet of the second stage is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the third stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the chamber of the second stage and then through the chamber of the third stage. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser of  claim 1 , wherein each stage further comprises a bubble generator coupled with the inlet to generate bubbles of the carrier gas in each of the condensing baths. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser chamber has a height-to-diameter aspect ratio less than 0.5. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser chamber includes walls oriented along a non-vertical and non-horizontal angle. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser of  claim 1 , wherein each of the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet of each stage is an upstream or downstream side of a sieve plate or a sparger. 
     
     
         7 . A humidification-dehumidification system, comprising:
 A) a multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, comprising at least a first stage and a second stage, wherein each stage includes:
 i) a carrier-gas inlet; 
 ii) a carrier-gas outlet; and 
 iii) a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet, wherein the carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage; 
   B) a humidifier, comprising:
 i) a feed liquid source containing a feed liquid that includes a vaporizable component; 
 ii) a humidifier chamber including:
 (a) a feed-liquid inlet in fluid communication with the feed liquid source; 
 (b) a carrier-gas inlet configured to inject a gas into the humidifier chamber into contact with feed liquid in the humidifier chamber; and 
 (c) a carrier-gas outlet configured to remove carrier gas from the humidifier chamber, wherein the carrier-gas outlet of the humidifier is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the condenser. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The humidification-dehumidification system of  claim 7 , wherein the condenser further comprises a third stage that also includes a carrier-gas inlet, a carrier-gas outlet and a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas inlet of the third stage is positioned to bubble carrier gas up through the condensing bath of the third stage, wherein the carrier-gas outlet of the third stage is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath of the third stage, and wherein the carrier-gas outlet of the second stage is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the third stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the chamber of the second stage and then through the chamber of the third stage. 
     
     
         9 . The humidification-dehumidification system of  claim 7 , wherein the condensing baths include the vaporizable component in liquid phase in the condenser chambers of the first and second stages. 
     
     
         10 . The humidification-dehumidification system of  claim 7 , wherein each stage of the condenser further comprises a bubble generator coupled with the carrier gas inlet to generate bubbles of the carrier gas in each of the condensing baths. 
     
     
         11 . The humidification-dehumidification system of  claim 7 , wherein the condenser chamber has a height-to-diameter aspect ratio less than 0.5. 
     
     
         12 . The humidification-dehumidification system of  claim 7 , wherein the condenser chamber includes walls oriented along a non-vertical and non-horizontal angle. 
     
     
         13 . The humidification-dehumidification system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet of each stage is an upstream or downstream side of a sieve plate or a sparger. 
     
     
         14 . A method for multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condensation using a multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, comprising: at least a first stage and a second stage, wherein each stage includes:
 a carrier-gas inlet;   a carrier-gas outlet; and   a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet, wherein the carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage,   
       the method comprising:
 introducing a carrier gas including a vaporized component through the carrier-gas inlet of the first stage; 
 bubbling the carrier gas up through the first-stage condensing bath while condensing a portion of the vaporized component of the carrier gas into the first-stage condensing bath; 
 extracting the carrier gas from the carrier-gas outlet of the first stage; 
 passing the carrier gas from the carrier-gas outlet of the first stage through the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage; 
 bubbling the carrier gas up through the condensing bath of the second stage while condensing an additional portion of the vaporized component of carrier gas into the second-stage condensing bath; and 
 extracting the carrier gas from the carrier-gas outlet of the second stage. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising maintaining each of the first-stage condensing bath and the second-stage condensing bath with a substantially uniform temperature from top-to-bottom of the bath during operation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the condensing bath in the first stage is at least 5° C. warmer than the condensing bath in the second stage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adding the vaporized component to the carrier gas by vaporizing the vaporized component from a feed liquid into the carrier gas in a humidifier. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vaporized component is water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the condensing bath in each stage consists essentially of water, and the method further comprising extracting the water from the condensing baths. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier gas is extracted from the carrier-gas outlet of each stage with a concentration of vaporized component that is lower than that of the carrier gas as it entered the stage.