The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 1979
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1977
John K Martin, Monterrey, MX;
Fabrication de Maquinas, S.A., Monterrey, MX;
Abstract
A salt water purification apparatus and process utilizes a vertically arranged elongated tank in which salt water is first frozen into a solid block and then melted to provide pure water. The freezing is accomplished by injecting into a column of salt water within the tank, a finely atomized spray of precooled mercury to absorb heat from the water and to initiate the formation of ice crystals in the ice column. The mercury is continuously recirculated through a cooling means and the ice crystals accumulate in the upper portion of the tank due to their inherent buoyancy when they form a solid block of ice. A heat exchanger positioned in the upper portion of the tank thaws the upper portion of the ice block by indirect heat exchange with the incoming salt water feed. The block is moved upwardly in the tank due to hydraulic pressure created below the block by the salt water feed. Fresh water can therefore, be continuously or intermittently withdrawn from the upper portion of the tank and concentrated brine and precipitated salts withdrawn from the lower portion of the tank.