PROJECT | GreenWorksCompany SA

λev = 2230 J/g (latent heat of water evaporation) Cv = 4.186 J/gK (specific heat of water) E (per 1g of H2O) = (4.186 J/K × 80 K) + 2230 J = 2.57 kJ E ( for 1 m3 of H2O) = 2.57 × 106 kJ = 2.57 GJ

As a result of the aforementioned solar oven, the energy consumption just described decreased by about 20%. If we want to further reduce the energy consumption of said aforementioned calculation, the resistances y10, placed on the surface of the water (immediately under the surface of the liquid), are joined together, both to the north and to the south, by a profile – fig . 2, y9 – same color and material constructed in the approximate shape of a very open V with an angle within it between 90 and 120 degrees.

Said profile has a small leg positioned so as to join the resistances y10 to each other by crossing the structure transversally and remaining at the same height as the liquid, but a couple of centimeters higher. The other leg rests on the black panel that closes the solar oven. This profile can be heated to high temperatures, 2000 degrees c., by means of small but very powerful lenses – fig. 2, y7 – which with their focal length concentrate the sun's rays on the mentioned V profile. Said procedure allows to drastically reduce the supply of energy due to the need for the electric resistances to maintain a temperature useful for the purpose.

These y10 resistors keep the water of the first centimeter of depth at a temperature between 90 degrees and 100 degrees centigrade. The task of the y10 resistors is to bring the sea water temperature from about 20 degrees centigrade to the aforementioned temperature. At this point it is easy for the solar oven at a temperature of only about 150 degrees centigrade to allow the vaporization process in a very short time, thanks above all to the system of lenses which help to consistently increase the working temperature of the y10 resistors, limiting the demand of electricity. The water vapor produced in this way in a short time will look for an escape route towards the cold air and will then be channeled into the x4 pipes which, from a tank placed well below sea level, arrive right inside the solar oven prism to collect the water at the gaseous state from the intake vents. The tank in turn has another tube x2 which rises from the top out of the sea in an orthogonal direction to this up to a hundred meters in height to look for cooler air which contributes to creating suction currents for the gaseous water coming from the vents mentioned placed in the solar oven. Once the water vapor or gaseous water reaches the inside of the tank, it suddenly passes from a temperature of about 100 degrees to one of about 25 degrees centigrade. This sudden transition between these two temperatures transforms the water in the vapor state inside the aforementioned tank back into purified liquid water.

With reference to the present patent, a quantitative evaluation was carried out in order to verify the quantity of distilled water produced in a period of time equal to one day (24 hours). This evaluation calculates the energy required to bring one m3 of water at a temperature of 20°C to a state of water vapor at a temperature of 100°C. As can be seen from the calculation below, the value is equal to 2.57 GJ. This value refers to an isolated system which therefore does not exchange energy and matter with the outside. As far as energy is concerned, this situation can be considered substantially verified.

In fact, the greenhouse effect produced by the structure that builds the solar oven makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the water vapor at at least 100 °C. The estimate in the patent provides for a much higher temperature (about 150-200 °C) thus making the calculation performed conservative. As regards the exchange of matter, the structure can be considered almost closed and allows a limited entry of water at room temperature through the lower part of the structure itself. Being colder, this water will tend to remain on the bottom of the structure, thus not activating convective motions. The water heated to 100 °C on the surface is therefore affected in a very limited way by this exchange and as a first approximation it is legitimate to assume, for the exclusive purpose of the calculations, the system as almost closed. In conclusion, the assumption of considering the system as almost isolated is therefore reasonable. As regards the necessary power, this clearly depends on the number of hours per day during which the greenhouse effect can be exploited. Taking as reference a duration of 6 hours of average sunshine on the southern coast of Sardinia, the power required is 120 kW. Therefore using a wind turbine with a power of 8 MW would produce over 100 m3 of distilled water per day. The wind system can then supply the energy produced for other processes for the remaining 18 hours. The energy evaluation on the water evaporation is reported here.

Indeed this rises from the tank, immersed in the sea, up to the end of the x8 support pole for the wind system. The second tube – fig. 2, x4 – always starts from the top of the tank and reaches inside the volume of the right triangular prism which acts as an oven for the evaporation of the water. This tube has the task of bringing the steam into the tank to transform it back into distilled water. The third pipe – fig.2, x5 – is positioned at the beginning and at the end of the tank, ie at the two ends, and draws the water produced from the lowest part of the tank to transfer it. On the plane of the prism in contact with the sea, seen in section as the longest cathetus - fig.2, y1 -, approximately 5 meters above the surface of the water in the project, there is a grid made up of heating elements y10 such as a bathroom water heater positioned transversally parallel to each other and joined at the two ends by two longitudinal rods which join the rigid support structure x6 so as to keep the resistances y10 on the surface of the water, and are suitable for being heated to high temperatures with a lens system. These y10 resistors heat up to exceed 1000 degrees Celsius and are spaced 0.20/0.30 meters apart and are colored black. Obviously the two ends of the building are closed by transparent trapezoidal panels – fig.2, y6 – from the mentioned hypotenuse they descend orthogonally into the water surface with an immersion of about 2 meters in order to contain the air pressure inside the prism. The panels just mentioned – fig.2, y6 – are trapezoidal in shape as the natural triangular shape to close the prism has been lengthened in order to immerse a further part in the water. Said volume between the hypotenuse and the surface of the water – prism –, functioning as an assisted solar oven, must be isolated and sealed to have the characteristics of a large pressure cooker having the pipes as the only way out – fig.2 , x4 – which from below the water level connect the cylindrical tank for the collection of water vapor – which turns into pure water inside – and the aforementioned prism formed on the surface of the water with the hypotenuse in question – plan inclined - and the catheti - plane of the water and plane orthogonal to the water, the orthogonal and oblique planes immersed in the water.

The connection pipes mentioned can be equipped with valves. As we have already said, this three-dimensional structure, which works as a pressure cooker, does not have a bottom as said bottom is the surface of the mentioned body of water. Said surface of the body of water can also be lowered from its natural level due to the principle of the overturned glass and immersed in the liquid which does not allow the water to enter inside due to the presence of a volume of air and the level of said water/air is regulated by the allowed pressure. This three-dimensional structure has no pumping system to bring the water to be treated as the liquid enters autonomously from the open space in its lower portion.

The project in question is based on the principles of solar ovens which have always been used for the production of thermal energy mainly for food purposes. With the present invention it was thought to cumulate wind energy, or other energy source, with the heat produced by solar ovens, so as to obtain the heat necessary to produce purified water. In the present project this phenomenon is exploited by integrating the aforementioned energies directly into the sea. However, the needs of the project dictate short times for the production of pure water in large quantities. For this reason it is necessary to raise the temperature of the water of the first layer in the oven - we speak of minimum depths from the volume of air inside the prism (about 3 centimeters) - to around 100 degrees centigrade by means of electric resistances y10 type those placed inside domestic water heaters. These resistances y10 are placed on the surface of the water along the plane of the prism which is precisely the surface of the sea/water and follow the direction of the inclination of the 25% inclined plane which closes the prism oven from above. The resistances y10 are placed parallel to each other at a distance of about 0.20/0.30 meters and joined at the ends with an orthogonal rod emerging from the water suitable for being heated to high temperatures by means of lenses - fig. 2, y7. For the y10 resistors, an iron float is provided in the center of each one which keeps them on the surface immersed in the water for a couple of centimeters.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, given in a non-limiting example and illustrated in the attached figures in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a 1:40 scale perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a first side sectional view on a 1:50 scale of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In una realizzazione preferita, il manufatto secondo la presente invenzione è costruito su un ingombro in pianta di una striscia d’acqua avente una larghezza di 5 metri ed una lunghezza di circa 5 metri. A puro titolo esemplificativo e non limitativo, che lo specchio d’acqua sia dato da una porzione di superficie del mare. La struttura portante x6 nella figura 2 risulta in acciaio, ed è costituita da putrelle e pilastri. Completano la sua realizzazione materiali in vetroresina; vetro/materiale plastico trasparente; pannelli fotovoltaici trasparenti; componenti elettrici, elettronici e idraulici. Il manufatto in esempio consiste in un prisma assemblato a filo d'acqua, in cui un piano rettangolare – fig.1, y1 – è il piano dell'acqua del mare; un secondo piano – fig.1, y2 –, sempre rettangolare, ortogonale al primo e un terzo piano – fig.1, y3 – anch'esso rettangolare unisce le estremità dei piani anzidetti per formare un prisma; i due piani laterali sono anch'essi chiusi a forma trapezoidale. Dei piani obliqui, rispetto alla superficie del liquido, che continuano dentro detto liquido – fig. 1 e 2 – tali da restringere l’ingresso dell’acqua formando un piano rettangolare – fig. 1 e 2, y8 –, più piccolo, sotto la superficie del liquido da dove l’acqua (ad esempio di mare) entra nel volume del prisma, in maniera autonoma non necessitando di nessun sistema di pompaggio, per essere trattata. Analizzando la figura 2 rileveremo che in sezione detta struttura tridimensionale assume la forma composta da un trapezio (nella parte quasi totalmente immersa nell’acqua) e da un triangolo rettangolo, nella sua parte superiore, dove i cateti misurano 5 metri di lunghezza per un’altezza di 1.65 metri circa. Il cateto più lungo – fig.2, y1 – è quasi coincidente con il piano dell'acqua mentre quello più corto – fig.2, y2 – è ortogonale al piano del mare e si alza verso il cielo a nord.

L'ipotenusa – fig.2, y3 – è rivolta verso il sole unendo con una pendenza del 20 % circa i due cateti. Questa ipotenusa poggia ad una struttura x6 rigida formata da pilastri e travi x7 in acciaio ancorata al fondo marino. L'ipotenusa è rigorosamente in materiale trasparente, vetro/materiale plastico trasparente ovvero pannelli fotovoltaici di ultima generazione trasparenti. L'irraggiamento del sole sulla superficie trasparente appena citata crea un effetto serra tra la lastra in questione e la superficie del mare.

The shorter cathetus - rectangular plane -, the one that going upwards creates a side of 1.65 meters - figs. 1 and 2, y2 – continues for approximately double its length also into the water forming an angle of 30 degrees with it – it could also be reduced to 20 degrees – to go under the longer cathetus and is made of the same material – black colored fiberglass thus forming a rectangular plane immersed in the sea – fig.1 and 2, y4. The same panel - rectangular top - also continues upwards surpassing the cathetus - fig.2, y2 - by 1.65 meters out of the sea for the same size but with a different material and orientation, thus reaching a total of 3.30 meters out of the water. This last part – figs.1 and 2, y5 – of a further 1.65 meters is made of refractive mirror and is adjustable with a small rotation of the base. This refractive mirror extends across the entire width of the prism. The opposite end of the hypotenuse, the one that touches the water to the south, also rests on a rigid x6 steel structure – beams – but closes the surface of the sea with a panel – figs.1, 2, y4 – in black fiberglass immersed in the water for about 3 meters, and rotated in its position orthogonal to the water by 60/80 degrees towards the inside of the hypotenuse, thus giving rise to another rectangular plane – fig.1, y4.

With the artefact in question we want to build, with the aid of electric resistances y10 fig. 2 – such as those of domestic water heaters – placed flush with the water, an oven that reaches internal temperatures above 100 degrees centigrade. In the upper part of the hypotenuse in question, facing north, the support structure x6 of the building is made up of pillars x7 - in figure 2 - firmly anchored to the seabed. One of these steel poles rises towards the sky to allow the installation of a wind turbine to produce energy for water needs. At the base of this pole x8 a tank is fixed – fig2, x3 – for collecting water. The latter has a tubular shape. It is connected by three pipes: the first is a pipe which carries air from the top of the tank to the outside – fig. 2, x2.

Detailed description of the patent

In fact, the present invention derives from the general consideration according to which the technical problem of water purification can be solved effectively and reliably by means of a water purification system comprising a three-dimensional structure (prism) made up of a plurality of plates (transparent plastic material, glass, photovoltaic panels, or other material capable of promoting the increase in temperature inside the structure) hermetically connected to each other so as to leave an open space in correspondence with its lower portion, in which said structure is suitable to be positioned on the surface of the water of the sea, a lake or an artificial reservoir, so that the surface of the water on which said structure is positioned contributes to making the structure hermetically closed. The present invention utilizes the integrated boiling and steaming principles for the intended purpose. Furthermore, the invention makes use of both the energy collected from the amplified irradiation of the sun and of energy collected from another external source.

The water purification system of the present invention is characterized in that it also comprises:

- at least one heat source, associated with said three-dimensional structure (prism), located on the surface and under the water surface of said water basin (where by water basin we mean both an artificial water basin that a body of water belonging to the surface of a lake or the sea), said heat source being able to heat the portion of water surrounding it, generates a corresponding quantity of water vapor bringing the water to the boil;

- at least one duct - for example a pipe - preferably equipped with at least one valve (not shown in the figures), said duct being able to put said water vapor into communication with a source of cold air so as to transform said water vapor into purified water ;

- at least one tank for the accumulation of the purified water produced;

- at least one system of lenses placed on the part exposed to the sun;

- no pumping system to bring the water to be treated;

- the possibility of lowering the level of the liquid inside the prism with respect to the external level of the same liquid by increasing the pressure of the air volume in said prism.

This is obtained by joining various plates - of glass, transparent plastic elements, photovoltaic panels or other material - as in the following exemplary description, and placing the aforementioned article on the liquid surface in such a way as to hermetically close the whole article, so as to substantially constitute an oven solar.

According to a preferred embodiment, said three-dimensional structure also comprises further plates placed below the surface of the water which represent a sort of continuation of the three-dimensional structure itself under water.

In this embodiment, immediately below the surface of the water, electrical resistances are placed such as to bring the water to a rapid boil, the vapor of which is conveyed through a pipe towards a source of cold air so as to be retransformed in distilled water, which in turn is then stored in a special tank for use and distribution.

The present invention relates to a method for purifying water comprising the steps of:

- providing a three-dimensional structure consisting of a plurality of plates hermetically connected to each other to form walls so that said structure is provided with at least one open space at its lower portion;

- position the three-dimensional structure on the surface of the water to be purified contained in a body of sea water or a basin of water, so that the surface of the water on which said structure is positioned contributes to making the structure hermetically closed ;

- bringing the water to be purified into the three-dimensional structure by means of said step of positioning said structure on the surface of the water to be purified, only by means of said open space of said structure;

- provide at least one heat source positioned under the surface of the water to be purified;

- heating the surrounding portion of water at least with said heat source and generating a corresponding quantity of water vapour;

- putting said water vapor into communication with a source of cold air in so as to transform said water vapor into purified water;

- accumulating said purified water.

REPORT ON A PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY AND PURE WATER.

Said site also lends itself to the construction of an industrial aquaculture/fish farming plant on land and in the sea or to the construction of a university or research center relevant to the state of the places.

SITE OF INTEREST: ISLAND OF SAN PIETRO, SARDINIA ITALY

The activity in question is spread over an area of about 500,000 square meters directly overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Adjacent to the provincial road that leads to the Capo Sandalo lighthouse, only technical rooms are being built for the moment.

The water and energy needed to achieve the company goals are self-produced for sale to third parties.

At a distance greater than a kilometer from the coast, about sixty wind turbines are positioned, without rotating blades, of 1 megawatt of power each. Said wind system is necessary for the production of distilled and pure water useful for feeding a large plant for the supply of drinking water as well. This water is produced with the help of wind systems by means of the Italian Patent No. 102016000034183.

The patent is suitable for the production of pure water directly from the sea by means of a transparent prism assisted by solar energy and industrial electricity.

The turbines and the water production plant work in the sea, one kilometer from the coast, forming an integrated process in a single industrial product.

The energy and water produced are transferred to the building on the ground by means of a horizontal technical shaft about two kilometers long placed underground or overhead.

The wind turbines can also be mounted on a mobile structure by means of the Italian patent n° 102018000020224 submarine with wind propulsion. The plant works 24 hours a day dividing the work into two distinct productions. In the hottest hours of the day it is concentrated in the production of pure water from the sea, while in the rest and most of the day it produces electricity.

Brief description of the patent

The artefact is a prism where a plane is made up of the surface layer of water - usually sea water - and therefore the plane of said prism is a portion of sea/water. A second floor, smaller than the one just mentioned, is orthogonal to the water level, and is, for example, of material such as black colored fiberglass. A third floor joins the two floors mentioned above, preferably with a slope of around 25%, starting from the free edges, rigorously made of transparent material, for example glass. The two triangular planes of the sides are also hermetically sealed by trapezoidal panels, as they penetrate the water, and are also made of transparent material. The plane of the water has at its two free ends a plane on each side which, preferably at an angle of about 30 degrees, goes into the water towards the center of the prism. All as better presented in the description and in the attached drawings. The upper plane of the prism is oriented towards the south so as to form a solar oven inside. The surface on the water is equipped with a grid of electrical resistances - such as those for domestic water heaters - for its entire surface. The electricity needed can be produced by wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, fossil fuel, hydrogen or other types of energy production systems. The purpose of the plant is to produce pure and drinkable water from the water vapor that forms in the solar oven of the prism.

LEGEND:

Y1 = rectangular plane of the water, in section of the long cathetus;

Y2 = rectangular plane orthogonal to the water and hermetically joined to y1, in short cathetus section;

Y3 = rectangular plane of closure from above of the prism, in hypotenuse section;

Y4 = oblique plane immersed in the water at the beginning and at the end of the prism;

Y5 = mirror;

Y6 = closing plane of the prism on the right and on the left with a trapezoidal shape almost completely immersed in the water;

Y7 = lenses;

Y8 = rectangular plane open in the water;

Y9 = V-shaped profile placed at the beginning and end of the electrical resistances radiated by the focal length of the lens;

Y10 = resistance grid placed on the surface of the water;

X2 = air tube that rises together with the support pole of the wind turbine X8;

X3 = collection tank for purified water awaiting transfer;

X4 = vent pipe with valve inside the solar oven;

X5 = outlet pipe from the purified water collection tank X3;

X6 = supporting structure in steel beams and pillars;

X7 = supporting structure beams and pillars;

X8 = support pole structure for the wind turbine;

Green energy innovation

Sun Water Wind solutions for tomorrow