Patent ID: 9579590
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: B01D,B01F,C02F,F28B,F28C,F28D,F28F,Y02B

Claim:
1. A method of operating a network of at least two counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange devices fluidically coupled with each other, the method comprising: flowing at least two fluid streams, comprising a feed liquid and a carrier gas, in counter-flow through the heat and mass exchange devices at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal, wherein the heat and mass exchange devices comprise a humidifier and a condenser, wherein at least one of the humidifier and the condenser comprises a plurality of humidification or condensing stages through which the fluids pass, and wherein the humidification or condensing stages comprise bubble columns through which at least one of the fluids is bubbled; measuring at least one of the following state variables in the fluid streams: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic states of all of the fluid streams at at least one of the following: (a) the points of entry to the heat and mass exchange devices and (b) the points of exit from the heat and mass exchange devices; measuring the flow rates of the fluids at at least one of the following: (a) the points of entry to the heat and mass exchange devices and (b) the points of exit from the heat and mass exchange devices; changing the mass flow rate of at least one of the fluids such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through at least one of the at least two heat and mass exchange devices are brought closer to being equal; vaporizing water from the feed liquid in the humidifier; transporting the vaporized water with the carrier gas to the condenser; condensing the vaporized water from the carrier gas in the condenser; extracting at least one of the fluids (a) at an intermediate stage of the humidifier and injecting the extracted fluid into an intermediate stage of the condenser or (b) at an intermediate stage of the condenser and injecting the extracted fluid into an intermediate stage of the humidifier, wherein the intermediate stage in at least one of the humidifier and condenser is positioned between humidification or condensing stages; measuring at least one property selected from temperature, pressure and concentration of the extracted fluid as the extracted fluid is passed between the humidifier and condenser; and measuring the flow rate of the extracted fluid as the extracted fluid is passed between the humidifier and condenser.