Undulating membrane surface for evaporative processes

Abstract

An evaporative process employing an undulating flexible membrane ( ) as an evaporative surface onto which a vaporizing gas ( ) such as, but not limited to, air, contacts a liquid solution ( ) such as, but not limited to, water, and evaporation occurs. The membrane ( ) is supported ( ) with sufficient laxity to permit wavelike undulating motion of the membrane brought about primarily by the evaporative airflow ( ) itself. The differential flexing and motion of the undulating membrane ( ) results in a breaking and peeling away of any normally fouling scaling or plugging solids which have precipitated or accumulated on the membrane surface ( ). The undulation of the flexible membrane ( ) thereby providing a self cleaning action. The self cleaning action of the membrane ( ) assures successful application to evaporative processes with solutions ( ) which are prone to scaling, fouling, plugging or solutes buildup. The undulating membrane surfaces ( ) can be employed for harvesting of solutes or concentration of solutions ( ) in low temperature air ( ) induced evaporative processes. Also, the undulating membrane ( ) evaporative surface provides exemplary service for evaporative cooling processes by enabling the employment of low quality water ( ) as a coolant as well as by reducing or eliminating blow down discharge of concentrated liquid coolant.