Patent ID: 6565715
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02A,Y02C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of desalinating or purifying saline or polluted input water, respectively, said method comprising:providing said input water to a hydrate formation region of a desalination fractionation installation that is located in land and causing said input water to be mixed with a hydrate-forming substance under temperature conditions and pressure conditions conducive to formation of hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance such that hydrate spontaneously forms, said desalination fractionation installation comprising a shaft extending downward into the ground to sufficient depth for the weight of water contained therein to naturally produce said pressure conditions conductive to formation of said hydrate at a lower region of said shaft, said hydrate formation of said hydrate at a lower region of said shaft, said hydrate formation region being located within said lower region of said shaft; extracting heat energy from said desalination fractionation installation by removing residual saline or polluted water that has been warmed by heat of exothermic formation of said hydrate; providing said hydrate to a hydrate dissociation region of said installation; and allowing said hydrate to dissociate into fresh water and the hydrate-forming substance in a dissociation region of said installation; said method further comprising at least partially cooling said input water toward said temperature conditions conducive to formation of said hydrate before said input water is mixed with said hydrate-forming substance.