Patent Description:
Fresh water makes up less than <NUM>% of the Earth's water supply, while salt water (saline) constitutes the other <NUM>%. Since it makes up most of the water on our planet, salt water represents a relatively untapped resource that may be used to increase food production (crops) and improve sanitary and other living conditions. Some solutions for desalinating water exist, but the solutions require large amounts of power, are relatively slow (e.g., pass water through multiple membranes), and are generally inaccessible to those with limited finances. A low power, low cost, and rapid desalination system could solve one of the world's major problems - limited useful water supplies. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose capacitive deionization systems. <CIT> discloses a liquid desalination system which uses electric and magnetic fields.

These and other features and advantages will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:.

Embodiments of the present invention include a liquid desalination system to generate desalinated water from saline water or other solvents/liquids using magnetic fields and electric fields, as defined in claim <NUM>, and a method of desalinating a liquid, as defined in claim <NUM>. The lack of fresh water in many areas of the world contributes to poor health, poor hygiene, poor nutrition, and is a barrier against improvements to standards of living. The liquid desalination system provides an economical, fast, and relatively low power technique for generating desalinated water from saline water or other solvents. The liquid desalination system receives saline water (or another solvent) in a feed line. The liquid desalination system applies a magnetic field, such as an oscillating magnetic field, to the saline water with a polarity that is opposite to the direction of flow of the saline water in the feed line. The oscillating magnetic field may weaken bonds between negatively charged ions (e.g., chloride) and water molecules and may weaken bonds between positively charged ions (e.g., sodium) and water molecules. The liquid desalination system applies an electric field to the saline water downstream of application of the magnetic field. The electric field is applied between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The electric field is applied perpendicular to the direction of flow of saline water or liquid. The positive electrode attracts and retains the negatively charged ions (e.g., chloride) from the saline water and the negative electrode attracts and retains the positively charged ions (e.g., sodium) from the saline water. After passing through the magnetic field and the electric field, the saline water (or other solvent) becomes desalinated. Advantageously, the liquid desalination system removes charged contaminates (e.g., sodium and chloride) without the passing saline water through a membrane and without use of chemical additives.

<FIG> illustrates an example diagram of a liquid desalination system <NUM>, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The liquid desalination system <NUM> receives saline water <NUM> and discharges desalinated water <NUM>, by applying an oscillating magnetic field <NUM> and an electric field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM>. As used herein, the term "saline water" is generally intended to include other solvent liquids in addition to saline water.

The liquid desalination system <NUM> includes a feed line <NUM> that receives the saline water <NUM> and that discharges the desalinated water <NUM>. The feed line <NUM> that receives the saline water <NUM> with a direction of flow <NUM>. The feed line <NUM> may be made of antiferromagnetic materials (e.g., hematite, metals such as chromium, alloys such as iron manganese (FeMn), and oxides such as nickel oxide (NiO)), according to an embodiment. The saline water <NUM> maintains the direction of flow <NUM> through the feed line <NUM>, as the saline water <NUM> is desalinated, according to an embodiment.

The liquid desalination system <NUM> applies the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> and the electric field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM>, as the saline water <NUM> passes from an inlet <NUM> to an outlet <NUM> of the feed line <NUM>. The liquid desalination system <NUM> generates and applies the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM> in a direction that is opposite with the direction of flow <NUM>. The polarity of the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> is positive to negative in a direction that is opposite to the direction of flow <NUM>. That is, the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> within the feed line <NUM> has a polarity that opposes the direction of flow <NUM>. The oscillating magnetic field <NUM> is opposite to the direction of flow <NUM> and is parallel to a body (e.g., inner walls and/or outer walls) of the feed line <NUM>. In one embodiment, the magnetic field <NUM> is static and not oscillating.

The liquid desalination system <NUM> generates and applies the electric field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM> in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of flow <NUM>. The polarity of the electric field <NUM> is positive to negative across the feed line <NUM>. The liquid desalination system <NUM> applies the electric field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM> downstream of where the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> is applied to the saline water <NUM>.

The liquid desalination system <NUM> performs a number of operations to generate the desalinated water <NUM> from the saline water <NUM>. In operation, the saline water <NUM> enters the feed line <NUM> at the inlet <NUM>. The liquid desalination system <NUM> applies the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM> to weaken bonds between sodium ions and water molecules and to weaken bonds between chloride ions and water molecules, according to an embodiment. After the applying the magnetic field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM>, the liquid desalination system <NUM> applies an electric field <NUM> to the saline water <NUM>, to attract the sodium ions and the chloride ions away from the water molecules, according to an embodiment. The negatively charged chloride ions are attracted to a positively charged electrode (an anode), and the positively charged sodium ions are attracted to a negatively charged electrode (a cathode), to displace the sodium ions and the chloride ions from the saline water <NUM>, according to an embodiment. By passing the saline water <NUM> through the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> and through the electric field <NUM>, the saline water <NUM> is converted into the desalinated water <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example diagram of a liquid desalination system <NUM>, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The liquid desalination system <NUM> is an example implementation of the liquid desalination system <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The liquid desalination system <NUM> includes an electromagnetic coil <NUM> to generate the oscillating magnetic field <NUM>, and includes an electric field generator <NUM> to generate the electric field <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

The electromagnetic coil <NUM> is configured to generate the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> within the feed line <NUM> and in a direction that is opposite the direction of flow <NUM>. The electromagnetic coil <NUM> includes a conductor <NUM> (e.g., metal wire) that is wrapped or looped around the feed line <NUM>. To function as the electromagnetic coil <NUM>, the conductor <NUM> is looped counterclockwise around the feed line <NUM> in a direction that is opposite to the direction of flow <NUM> towards the inlet <NUM>, according to an embodiment. To generate the oscillating magnetic field <NUM>, a power supply <NUM> may apply a positive voltage to a first end <NUM> of the conductor <NUM> and may apply a negative or a reference voltage to a second end <NUM> of the conductor <NUM>. In one embodiment, the oscillating magnetic field <NUM> is in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> milliTesla (mT), with electromagnetic waves that sweep all the frequency ranges from <NUM>,<NUM> - <NUM>,<NUM> at a rate of <NUM>-<NUM> times a second. The removal of a targeted ion can be achieved by contorting/manipulating the frequency and rate of the generated electromagnetic waves. The generated electromagnetic waves can be tuned to weaken the hydration bonds of a specific ion and facilitate its removal. In an embodiment, the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is a shell electromagnet (e.g., positioned around an exterior of the feedline <NUM>). In an embodiment, the electromagnetic coil <NUM> or another magnet (e.g., a permanent magnet) is installed within the walls of the feed line <NUM>.

The electric field generator <NUM> includes a positive electrode <NUM>, a negative electrode <NUM>, and a power supply <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> are positioned within the feed line <NUM> on opposing sides, to generate the electric field <NUM> across a channel encompassed by the feed line <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> may be positioned internal to the feed line <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> may be positioned external to the feed line <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> may be partially positioned internal to the feed line <NUM> and partially positioned external to the feed line <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> are porous and may be at least partially constructed of carbon, to facilitate ion adsorption from the saline water <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> may be aluminum or some other metal that is not ferromagnetic. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> may include channels that enable the negatively charged chloride ions and the positively charged sodium ions to be removed or discharge from the feed line <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> may be positioned within the feed line <NUM> to at least partially overlap with the electromagnetic coil <NUM>, such that the electric field <NUM> is at least partially generated within the magnetic field <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The power supply <NUM> may apply <NUM> volts across the positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM>, to generate the electric field <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The power supply <NUM> may apply higher or lower voltage levels across the positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM>, to generate electric field <NUM>, according to various embodiments.

The liquid desalination system <NUM> illustrates ion removal from the saline water <NUM>, to generate the desalinated water <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The saline water <NUM> includes water molecules <NUM>, chloride ions <NUM>, and chloride-water clusters <NUM> that comprise water molecules <NUM> bonded to chloride ions <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The saline water <NUM> includes sodium ions <NUM> and sodium-water clusters <NUM> that comprise water molecules <NUM> bonded to the sodium ions <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

The water molecules <NUM>, the chloride-water clusters <NUM>, and the sodium-water clusters <NUM> flow through the magnetic field <NUM> that is generated by the electromagnetic coil <NUM>, according to an embodiment. When passed through the magnetic field <NUM>, the bonds of the chloride-water clusters <NUM> and the bonds of the sodium-water clusters <NUM> are weakened, which facilitates removal of the chloride ions <NUM> from the chloride-water clusters <NUM> and facilitates removal of the sodium ions <NUM> from the sodium-water clusters <NUM>, according to an embodiment. In other words, the magnetic forces from the magnetic field <NUM> increase the mobility of ions and/or charged dissolved particles, which are subsequently removed with the electric potential of the electric field <NUM>. Electro-sorption or electrosorption of ions and/or charged dissolved particles may be achieved when exposed to magnetic and electrical forces.

The water molecules <NUM>, the chloride-water clusters <NUM>, and the sodium-water clusters <NUM> flow from the magnetic field <NUM> through the electric field <NUM>, where the chloride ions <NUM> and the sodium ions <NUM> are removed from the water molecules <NUM>, according to an embodiment. In the presence of the electric field <NUM>, the negatively charged chloride ions <NUM> are attracted to the positive electrode <NUM>, and the positively charged sodium ions <NUM> are attracted to the negative electrode <NUM>, resulting in desalination of the water molecules <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example diagram of a liquid desalination system <NUM>, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The liquid desalination system <NUM> is an implementation of the liquid desalination system <NUM> and/or the liquid desalination system <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The liquid desalination system <NUM> includes a configuration of a positive electrode <NUM> and a negative electrode <NUM> that may be used to generate desalinated water <NUM> from saline water <NUM>. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> are porous to effectively increase the surface area of the electrodes. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> are porous to facilitate removal of chloride ions and sodium ions from the saline water <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> are at least partially constructed from carbon, according to an embodiment. The positive electrode <NUM> and a negative electrode <NUM> may be fully positioned internal to the feed line <NUM>, or may be partially positioned internal to the feed line <NUM> and external to the feed line <NUM>, according to various implementations of the disclosed technologies.

<FIG> illustrates an example diagram of a liquid desalination system <NUM>, in which the negative electrode <NUM> (i.e., the cathode) is in middle or centered within the feed line <NUM>, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In an embodiment, the positive electrode <NUM> is internal to a perimeter of the shell or body of the feedline <NUM>, and the negative electrode is positioned proximate to the shell or body of the feedline <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example flow diagram of method <NUM> of desalinating a liquid, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

At operation <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes directing liquid through an inlet of a feed line to cause the liquid to pass through the feed line and to exit an outlet of the feed line, according to an embodiment.

At operation <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes generating a magnetic field within at least part of the feedline, wherein the magnetic field is parallel and opposite to a direction of flow of the liquid.

At operation <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes generating an electric field across the feedline, wherein the electric field is perpendicular to the direction of flow of the liquid.

<FIG> illustrates a diagram of a desalination plant <NUM> to provide continuous removal of ions and/or charged particles from saline water and other solvents, according to an embodiment. The desalination plant <NUM> includes a dissolved particles removal process <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

The continuous ions and/or charged dissolved particles removal process <NUM> has a main separation cell <NUM> that includes a positively charged electrode <NUM>, a negatively charged electrode <NUM>, and shell electromagnet <NUM> aligned along or in a part of the separation cell <NUM> or in a feed line immediately before or upstream of the separation cell, in such a way that the electric field is generated downstream of the magnetic field. The separation cell <NUM> is an implementation of one or more of the liquid desalination systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The generated electromagnetic waves are opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid (indicated with arrows) through the separation cell <NUM>.

The continuous ions and/or charged dissolved particles removal process <NUM> includes a solvent, i.e. saline water tank <NUM>, a clean solvent, i.e., water tank <NUM>, a feed pump <NUM>, a cleaning solution tank <NUM> for electrodes reactivation, waste tank <NUM>, a feed tank control valve <NUM>, a cleaning stream control valve <NUM>, a control valve <NUM> in the product stream and a waste stream control valve <NUM> on the waste stream and centralized control unit <NUM>.

The saline tank <NUM> has a feed inlet, e.g., a saline water stream in the desalination plant <NUM>. The saline water or solution is pumped by feed pump <NUM> to a separation cell <NUM> that includes a positively charged electrode <NUM>, a negatively charged electrode <NUM>, and shell-electromagnet <NUM> aligned along or in a part of the separation cell <NUM> or in the feed line immediately before (or upstream of) the separation cell. Ions and/or charged dissolved particles may be electrically adsorbed in the electrodes. Clean water may be collected in (product) water tank <NUM>.

The regeneration cycle includes closing the feed tank control valve <NUM> and control valve <NUM>, and opening the cleaning stream control valve <NUM> and waste stream control valve <NUM> with the centralized control unit <NUM>. The centralized control unit <NUM> may switch the polarity of the electrodes and pump cleaning solution through the feed pump <NUM>. The waste stream may be collected in tank <NUM>. Two or more units may be installed to facilitate continuous operation; while one is in operation the other may be under regeneration.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate charts of experimental data of electrosorption improvement by applying a magnetic field to saline water opposite the direction of flow of the saline water in a feedline. The experimental data is provided for illustration purpose of the potential benefits and results of providing a magnetic field to saline water to facilitate de-ionization of the saline water.

<FIG> illustrates a chart <NUM> that shows that the magnetic field of <NUM> mT (<NUM>-<NUM> Tesla) applied in the counter direction with respect to the feed flow enhanced the adsorption capacity of a typical capacitive deionization unit by <NUM>% compared with the same operating conditions without magnetic field. In the chart <NUM>, the data points for "V2 G1" represent no magnetic field applied. The data points for "V2 G1 Magnetic Field - Parallel" represent a magnetic field applied in the same direction as the flow of water. The data points for "V2 G1 Magnetic Field - Counter" represent a magnetic field applied in the opposite direction as the flow of water.

The electrical conductivity of the Y-axis correlates with particulate ion concentration in the water. The more ions that exist in the water, the higher the electrical conductivity is for the water. The initial electrical conductivity of the saline water for the three tests is approximately <NUM>/cm. The ending electrical conductivity of the saline water for V2 G2 (no magnetic field) is approximately <NUM>/cm, the ending electrical conductivity of the saline water for V2 G1 Magnetic Field - Parallel is approximately <NUM>/cm, and the ending electrical conductivity of the saline water for V2 G1 Magnetic Field - Counter is approximately <NUM>/cm. While the V2 G2 test reduced the electrical conductivity by approximately <NUM>/cm (<NUM>/cm / <NUM>/cm = <NUM>%), the V2 G1 Magnetic Field - Counter test reduced the electrical conductivity by approximately <NUM>/cm (<NUM>/cm / <NUM>/cm = <NUM>%), which is an improvement of approximately <NUM>%.

The experiments of chart <NUM> provide illustrative data for the potential effect of a magnetic field application to saline water or other solvents. The magnetic field affects the hydrogen bonding between the water molecules and dissolved ions and thus affect the mobility of the dissolved ions toward the electrodes. Moreover, hydrogen bonding breakage reduces the size of the ions and enhances the saturation capacity of the electrodes as free ions diffuse deeper inside electrodes pores. However, when the magnetic field is applied in the parallel direction to the water flow reduced the adsorption rate and the electro-sorption capacity.

<FIG> illustrates a chart <NUM> that illustrates that a magnetic field of <NUM> mT (<NUM>-<NUM> Tesla) applied in the counter direction with respect to the feed flow enhanced the adsorption capacity of a typical capacitive deionization unit by approximately <NUM>%. The data for the chart <NUM> utilizes a different electrode material than the electrode material used in the experiment represented by chart <NUM>. The data points for "V2 G2 TR1" represent a typical capacitive deionization unit with no magnetic field applied. The data points for "V2 G2 Magnetic Field - Counter" represent a magnetic field applied in the opposite direction of the flow of water. The initial electrical conductivity of the saline water for both tests is approximately <NUM>/cm. The ending electrical conductivity of the saline water for V2 G2 TR1 is approximately <NUM>/cm, and the ending electrical conductivity of the saline water for V2 G2 Magnetic Field - Counter is approximately <NUM>/cm.

The enhancement of the electrode capacity and overall salt removal due to applying a magnetic field is assured by repeating the experiments of <FIG> and <FIG>, however, this enhancement may be affected by the electrode material and pores structures, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A liquid desalination system (<NUM>), comprising:
a feed line (<NUM>) having an inlet (<NUM>) to receive saline liquid (<NUM>) and an outlet (<NUM>) to discharge a desalinated liquid (<NUM>);
a magnet (<NUM>) coupled to the feed line, the magnet configured to generate a magnetic field (<NUM>) within the feed line and parallel to the feed line (<NUM>) and to a direction of flow (<NUM>) of the saline liquid, wherein a polarity of the magnetic field is opposite to the direction of flow of the saline liquid; and
an electric field generator (<NUM>) coupled to the feed line to generate an electric field (<NUM>) across the feed line and downstream of the magnetic field and to enable liquid flow through the electric field, wherein the electric field is perpendicular to the direction of flow of the saline liquid,
wherein the electric field generator includes two electrodes for converting the saline liquid to the desalinated liquid, including a porous positive electrode (<NUM>) to attract negatively charged ions and a porous negative electrode (<NUM>) to attract positively charged ions.