Patent ID: 6562234
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02A,Y02C,Y10S

Abstract:
An installation for desalinating or purifying saline or otherwise polluted input water, said installation comprising:a desalination fractionation installation having a lower, hydrate formation region; an input water conduit which is arranged to provide input water to said hydrate formation region; a supply conduit which is arranged to provide a hydrate-forming substance to said hydrate formation region; a hydrate dissociation region disposed at an upper portion of said installation; and a residual saline or polluted water removal portion that is configured and located so as to remove from said installation residual saline or polluted water that has been warmed by heat of exothermic formation of said hydrate; wherein said desalination fractionation installation is located in land and comprises a shaft extending downward into the ground to sufficient depth for the weight of water contained therein to naturally produce pressure conditions conducive to formation of hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance at a lower region of said shaft, said hydrate formation region being located within said lower region of said shaft, and wherein said desalination fractionation installation is configured such that said input water is at least partially cooled toward temperature conditions conducive to formation of hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance before said input water is mixed with said hydrate-forming substance.