Gary W Simpson

US Patent:

54055032, Apr 11, 1995

Filed:

Nov 5, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/147884

Inventors:

Gary D. Simpson - Houston TX
Karl Lin - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01D 334
C02F 104
C02F 142

US Classification:

203 10

Abstract:

A process and apparatus for desalinating seawater or brine and purifying water which contains minerals, salts, and other dissolved solids while simultaneously generating power. The salinous water is heated in a boiler to form steam and a concentrated brine. The concentrated brine is removed from the boiler, the steam produced in the boiler is washed with fresh water to remove trace salts and inorganic materials, and water bearing trace salts and inorganic materials are returned to the boiler. The washed steam is expanded across a turbine to generate electrical or mechanical power which is utilized as a product. The steam exhausted from the turbine is collected and condensed, and one portion of the condensed water is utilized as a fresh water product and another portion of the condensed water is used as the wash water to wash the steam produced in the boiler. Energy efficiency is improved by heat exchanging the hot concentrated brine against the salinous feed water or by flashing the brine to produce steam. Boiler scaling and corrosion may be controlled by feed water pretreatment.

US Patent:

59252235, Jul 20, 1999

Filed:

Apr 1, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/831315

Inventors:

Gary D. Simpson - Houston TX
Karl Lin - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01D 306
C02F 106
F01K 1700

US Classification:

203 11

Abstract:

A process and apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of a steam turbine power generating plant while simultaneously desalinating seawater or brine and purifying water which contains minerals, salts, and other dissolved solids. Exhaust gases from a power plant is heat exchanged against water in a secondary ecomomizer which circulates water at a temperature near, or slightly above the dewpoint of the combustion exhaust of the high-pressure boiler. The heated water is flashed to produce low-pressure steam. The low-pressure steam is condensed against the last effect of a multi-effect desalinization unit. Steam from the first effect of the desalination unit is condensed against steam condensate from the power plant turbine to preheat the condensate and thereby recover heat from the power plant's exhaust gas. Salinous water is fed to the multi-effect desalinization unit to produce fresh water and a concentrated brine. The low-pressure steam is used to replace high-pressure steam that is used for preheating and deareation of feedwater for the boiler.

US Patent:

56226055, Apr 22, 1997

Filed:

Apr 10, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/419023

Inventors:

Gary D. Simpson - Houston TX
Karl Lin - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01D 334
C02F 104
C02F 142

US Classification:

203 10

Abstract:

A process and apparatus for desalinating seawater or brine and purifying water which contains minerals, salts, and other dissolved solids while simultaneously generating power. The salinous water is heated in a boiler to form steam and a concentrated brine. The concentrated brine is removed from the boiler, the steam produced in the boiler is washed with fresh water to remove trace salts and inorganic materials, and water bearing trace salts and inorganic materials are returned to the boiler. The washed steam is expanded across a turbine to generate electrical or mechanical power which is utilized as a product. The steam exhausted from the turbine is collected and condensed, and one portion of the condensed water is utilized as a fresh water product and another portion of the condensed water is used as the wash water to wash the steam produced in the boiler. Energy efficiency is improved by heat exchanging the hot concentrated brine against the salinous feed water or by flashing the brine to produce steam. Boiler scaling and corrosion may be controlled by feed water pretreatment.