Abstract:
In a process for the purification of water by distillation, a current of air is heated while flowing through duct 2 by employing mirrors 12 and 3 to concentrate the sun's rays 16 upon the duct, the heated air is passed into heat-insulated chamber 56, the water to be purified is sprayed into the chamber, air saturated with water-vapour is withdrawn from the chamber and is introduced into cooler 63 where purified water condenses. The air is forced by fan 41, driven by windmill 1, through pipe 4 into duct 2 which extends along the focal axis of trough-like mirror 3 of parabolic section. The duct 2 comprises a black tube 18 (Fig. 2) and a transparent covering 19, the air circulating in the annular spaces 20. The assembly comprising mirror 3, duct 2 and pipe 4 can be rotated on horizontal shaft 6. One end of this shaft is mounted in bearing 7 which is supported on wheeled-carriage 9; and an articulated joint 8b permits rotation, in a horizontal plane, of the mirror-duct assembly relatively to the fixed bearing 8. Disposed above the parabolic mirror is a series of plane mirrors 12 parallel to one another and reflecting on both faces, these mirrors being secured to a beam extending from shaft 14, which rotates in bearings carried by pylons 15. Each mirror 12 may be rotated about an axis at right angles to shaft 14. As the sun travels across the sky the adjustment of the mirrors is effected manually or, alternatively, by photoelectric cells responsive to the action of the sun's rays. The heated air passing from duct 2 is delivered to nozzle 55 from which it is discharged into chamber 56. The water to be purified is finely atomized into the chamber by part of the hot air. Air saturated with water vapour leaves the chamber through conduit 61, and is introduced into cooler 63 which comprises a narrow labyrinth whose walls are cooled by feed-water passing upwardly through the cooler. The water condensed from the air-stream passes through a bed 67 of sand and stones for discharge through outlet 68. The air leaves the condenser through pipe 42, and returns to fan 41 for recirculation. The unevaporated water collects in the lower part of chamber 56, and is removed through channel 70. This water may be evaporated in a tank (not shown) by the heat of the sun in order to separate the mineral elements therefrom.