Desalination of seawater with generation of electricity - using pneumatic ram action to convert kinetic energy of vapour to pressure

摘要

In the parent patent hot seawater vaporises at sea level at the lower end of a long pipe which has its other end fastened to the top of a mountain. Vapour is drawn up the pipe by an initial vacuum at the upper end, is condensed by a high altitude condenser so that pressure is kept low at the upper end and vapour thus continues to rise, turning the rotor of a turbine to generate electricity, which in turn powers a refrigeration set to cool the condenser. The system is now improved by using a pneumatic ram to obtain condensn. at a lower altitude, i.e. without piping up to the top of a mountain. The pneumatic ram can be operated by circulation of vapour in the pipe leading to the condenser. It can also be operated by a refrigerating gas or by the wind to produce electricity. The ram pref. employs a valve formed by a flexible envelope inflated by a light gas.