WO2026018180A1 - Water treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

Water treatment device (1), in particular for desalinizing and/or distilling and/or purifying water, through solar energy, wherein the device (1) comprises a support structure (2) having at least a first surface (5) and a second surface (6) extending between an upper part (3) and a base (4) of the support structure (2), at least one photovoltaic element (7) transparent to infrared radiation which is connected to the support structure (2) at the first surface (5), wherein the photovoltaic element (7) is part of a photovoltaic circuit (22) for the generation and storage of electrical energy, at least one condensation plane (8) connected to the support structure (2) at the second surface (6), wherein the condensation plane (8) comprises a duct (9) for receiving water to be treated and for leading a residue of treated water to the base (4) of the support structure (2), a collection tank (17) for collecting the condensed water on the condensation plane (8), at least one hydraulic apparatus (14) connected to and powered by the photovoltaic circuit (22) to regulate the flow of the water to be treated, and a control unit (18) connected to at least the photovoltaic circuit (22) and the hydraulic apparatus (14).

Description

Water treatment device

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a water treatment device . In particular , the present invention refers to a device for desalinating water and/or for distilling water and/or for making drinking water . Furthermore , the present invention relates to a modular system comprising a plurality of said devices .

STATE OF THE ART

The importance of a water purifier ( e . g . a desalinator or a distiller ) is very significant , especially in geographical areas where drinking water is scarce or polluted . A water purifier is a device that removes , for example , salt or other impurities from water , making it safe and suitable for human consumption or irrigation of fields .

There are several reasons why a water purifier is important . First of all , in many areas of the world, fresh water is limited and valuable . A purifier, such as a desalinator , allows salt water to be converted into fresh water , providing a safe source of drinking water for the local population . In addition, fresh water is essential for agriculture . A device capable of purifying water can be used to irrigate fields and ensure crop growth, thus contributing to the food security of communities . In the case of portable devices , these allow, anywhere , to convert water from unsafe sources , such as rivers or wells , into safe drinking water to drink . This is particularly useful in emergency situations or during trips to places where drinking water is limited or polluted . A portable water purifier is also a valuable tool to have in case of emergencies , such as natural disasters or water supply disruptions .

The current devices for treating water , such as desalinators or distillers , are mainly of the reverse osmosis type and require a powerful motor that brings the liquid to be desalinated/distilled to a high pressure . The electrical consumption of said motor is high and necessarily requires a power supply from the mains . For areas where electricity is unavailable , devices employing solar systems may be used . However, these are small and do not guarantee a good supply of purified water .

Some purifiers are made cone-shaped and of transparent plastic . The water to be purified enters from the top and then, with solar heat , condenses in the upper area of the cone from which it is then collected . Said system is very rudimentary and suitable for obtaining little water . There are also desalination systems based on water electrolysis . These work by passing water between two electrodes with opposite charge . Since the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions , the electrodes extract the ions from the water, leaving fresh water at the centre of the flow . A series of membranes is then used to separate fresh water from salt water . Fresh water can also be purified through an ultraviolet ray system.

Although there are currently proj ects to study solar desalination systems in some water-poor areas , such as Chile and California , their technology has so far proven expensive . Electrodialysis and reverse osmosis systems (which transforms 40/ 60% into drinking water ) using membranes (which in electrodialysis are exposed to low pressure so that the accumulation of salt can be eliminated by reversing the electrical polarity) are still under study .

It is noted that the desalination/distillation systems currently in use are very small and therefore of poor efficiency or are large and very complex and expensive and in any case intended for stationary uses and with connection to the mains .

Therefore , it is an obj ect of the present invention to provide an effective and easy-to-apply solution to the problems mentioned above relating to the water purification using solar energy . In particular , it is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a water treatment device that is transportable and that allows the purification of the water ( in terms of desalination, distillation, and/or purification) in a simple and effective manner . In addition, it is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a corresponding system capable of purifying considerable amounts of water and at the same time residual electrical energy with respect to that necessary for the operation of the desalination device .

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These obj ects are achieved by a water treatment device and a modular system according to the claims at the end of this description . In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a water treatment device , in particular for desalinizing and/or distilling and/or purifying water , through solar energy, wherein the device comprises : a support structure having an upper part and a base and comprising at least a first surface and a second surface extending between the upper part and the base of the support structure , wherein the first surface is opposite the second surface , at least one photovoltaic element transparent to infrared radiation which is connected to the support structure at the first surface , wherein the photovoltaic element is part of a photovoltaic circuit for the generation and storage of electrical energy, at least one condensation plane connected to the support structure at the second surface , wherein the condensation plane comprises a duct for receiving water to be treated at a duct inlet at the upper part of the support structure and for leading a residue of treated water at a duct outlet at the base of the support structure , a collection tank at the base of the support structure for collecting the condensed water on the condensing surface , at least one manually or electronically controlled hydraulic apparatus connected to and powered by the photovoltaic circuit to regulate the flow of water to be treated, and a control unit connected at least to the photovoltaic circuit and to the manually or electronically controlled hydraulic apparatus .

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a modular system for the treatment of water, in particular for desalinizing and/or distilling and/or purifying water, through solar energy comprising a plurality of devices according to the first aspect , wherein said devices are connected to each other in parallel .

Thanks to this device and this system, it is possible to treat the water by purifying it in a simple and self-sustaining way . In particular, the device is compact , energy independent , low power consumption, easily transportable and ready for immediate use . It should be noted that , thanks to the presence of a photovoltaic element , this , in addition to providing power to the electromechanical elements of the device , also allows the excess electrical energy to be supplied to the outside .

Moreover, two or more devices may be connected to each other in such a way as to form a modular system for increasing the production of purified water and electrical energy .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following description of certain preferred embodiments described below .

Fig . 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for the treatment of cancer cells according to an example .

Fig . 2 shows a block diagram of the device according to one example .

Fig . 3 shows a schematic representation of a system according to an example . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the device (water purifier ) 1 used to treat water . The device 1 can for example be a desalinator used to treat brackish water . Alternatively or additionally, the device 1 may be a distiller used to eliminate various substances from the water such as impurities , including bacteria, viruses , mineral salts , heavy metals and other contaminants , to obtain distilled water . Additionally or alternatively, the device 1 may be a purifier used to make the water to be treated drinking water . In general , the device 1 is a water purifier capable of eliminating or filtering one or more substances present ( e . g . dissolved) in the water .

The device 1 comprises a support structure 2 that defines a kind of frame on which, or in which, the various components of the device 1 are positioned . The support structure 2 can be made entirely or partially of metal representing a supporting structure . In particular, the metal part may be made of aluminium or preferably made of stainless steel . Of course , materials other than aluminium or stainless steel may also be considered, whether or not including a protective surface treatment .

Figure 1 shows a support structure 2 of pyramidal shape or in any case with a triangular section . The section can be that of an isosceles or equilateral triangle of about 2 metres in height and about 1 metre in width . Alternatively, the support structure 2 may have a quadrangular or polygonal section, with linear or curved walls . It is noted that the support structure 2 defines a single hollow chamber , possibly closed, having at least one wall that is crossed directly by solar rays and an opposite wall that receives a component of said solar rays . Furthermore , the support structure 2 is a compact structure , wherein the dimensions along the transverse and/or longitudinal axes are comparable to each other . In other words , the support structure 2 is without an elongated shape or without a length or width dimension that is much greater than the other dimensions , such as for example in the case of a tubular structure .

The support structure 2 comprises a base 4 on which the device 1 rests and an upper part ( top ) 3 opposite the base 4 . Two opposed surfaces extend between the upper part 3 and the base

4 , a first surface 5 and a second surface 6 . The two surfaces

5 , 6 may for example be rectangular and be in contact with each other at the upper part 3 of the support structure 2 . Since they are opposite to each other , the first surface 5 may have two sides extending parallel to two sides of the second surface 6 , wherein the upper side of the first surface 5 may coincide with the upper side of the second surface 6 and the lower side of the first surface 5 is parallel to and distant from the lower side of the second surface 6 . Both the lower side of the first surface 5 and that of the second surface 6 extend along the perimeter of the base 4 .

At least one photovoltaic element 7 is connected at the first surface 5 . This is transparent to at least infrared radiation . Furthermore , this element 7 may have the dimension of a rectangle whose width is about 1 metre and whose length is about 2 metres . In particular , the photovoltaic element 7 extends along all or almost all of the first surface 5 . In order to prevent the condensation vapour from escaping, the support structure 2 in the region of contact with the photovoltaic element 7 may be provided with a sealing gas ket . Alternatively, the photovoltaic element 7 can be suitably glued to the support structure 2 . The support structure 2 may for example have the shape of a frame at the first surface 5 such that the photovoltaic element 7 is inserted and wedged within the frame itself . Alternatively, the support structure 2 can have the shape of a plane on which the photovoltaic element 7 is supported and fixed . In this case , however, for the correct operation of the device 1 , the plane must be made of a material that does not absorb infrared radiation and that is instead transparent to this radiation . It is noted that the photovoltaic element 7 is removably fixable to the support structure 2 to ensure easy removal thereof for periodic cleaning . This is to prevent the photovoltaic element 7 from losing its transparency .

The photovoltaic element 7 is part of a photovoltaic circuit 22 that serves for the generation and storage of electrical energy . The photovoltaic circuit 22 is schematically represented in figure 2 . The photovoltaic element 7 is advantageously a transparent or semi-transparent infrared photovoltaic panel . Preferably, the photovoltaic element 7 is activated with graphene . The use of graphene in the photovoltaic element 7 improves the efficiency in the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy . Moreover , thanks to the properties of this material , it is possible to obtain a thinner and lighter, and therefore more versatile , photovoltaic element 7 , compared to a silicon photovoltaic element , for example . In addition, a photovoltaic element made of graphene tends to have greater transparency to infrared radiation than, for example , traditional silicon-based photovoltaic panels . It is noted that part of the solar radiation is absorbed by the photovoltaic element 7 and serves to generate electrical energy through the photovoltaic element 7 and therefore to activate the device 1 and power electric pumps , sensors , solenoid valves , etc . Another part of the solar radiation, e . g . infrared radiation, instead passes through the photovoltaic element 7 and serves to increase the evaporation of the water to be treated, as clarified below .

In addition, the photovoltaic element 7 may be a photovoltaic panel that is semi-transparent ( or partially transparent ) to the visible . Specifically, the visible wavelengths can be used partially, for example for 25-30% , to produce electrical energy being absorbed by the photovoltaic cells and can be partially transferred ( for example for the remaining about 70-75% ) reaching the liquid to be desalted/purif ied . In one example , the substrate of these photovoltaic elements 7 may be glass so that visible light passes between cells . Alternatively, the photovoltaic cells themselves may be transparent to the visible . The advantage of a semi-transparency in the visible lies in the ability to illuminate the interior of the structure with natural light .

As previously mentioned, the first surface 5 of the support structure 2 , which comprises the photovoltaic element 7 , is directly hit by the sun ' s rays . The component of solar rays that crosses said first surface 5 heats the environment inside the support structure 2 and reaches the second surface 6 that is opposite the first surface 5 .

A condensation plane 8 is connected at the second surface 6 . In particular, the condensation plane 8 extends along all or almost all of the second surface 6 . According to one example , the condensation plane 8 is made of metal material such as , for example , aluminium or stainless steel . Of course , materials other than aluminium or stainless steel may also be considered, whether or not including a protective surface treatment .

This condensation plane 8 comprises a duct 9 within which a fluid can flow . In particular, the duct 9 is configured to receive water to be treated at a duct inlet 10 on the upper part of the support structure 2 , to make the water flow along the duct 9 , and to conduct a residue of treated water at a duct outlet 11 to the base 4 of the support structure 2 . The condensation plane 8 comprises two parallel panels 12 and the duct 9 is formed by the space 13 between said parallel panels 12 . For example , the condensation plane 8 may be made of a double metal foil which allows the water intended for desalination/distillation to cool the inner part of the lamina so as to facilitate condensation .

Since the first surface 5 is opposite the second surface 6 , as defined above , the photovoltaic element 7 extending along the first surface 5 will also be opposite the condensation plane 8 extending along the second surface 6 . This means that the infrared radiation can pass through the photovoltaic element 7 , for which it is transparent , and enter inside the support structure 2 , as schematically shown in figure 1 .

The absorption of infrared radiation results in the formation of hot air inside the support structure 2 and at the condensation plane 8 , in particular at one of the two parallel panels 12 that make up the duct 9 , for example the inner plane 12 . This in turn results in the formation of a condensation of water on the condensation plane 8 ( in the inner region) as a result of the flow of water in the duct 9 which is at a lower

( colder ) temperature .

To collect the condensed water on the condensation plane 8 , the device 1 further comprises a collection tank 17 at the base 4 . The water may be led to the collection tank 17 via one or more channels . An electric pump can be used to bring the condensed water to the collection tank 17 . On the other hand, the brine that forms on the bottom of the device 1 is conveyed, for example periodically, via a drain duct 24 and sent to the external drain circuit .

Unlike systems known in the literature in which solar radiation is directed onto solar panels via concentrator mirrors and then used indirectly, in the present device 1 solar radiation is received directly at the front part of the device 1 , i . e . without the use of mirrors or other types of reflective optical elements . In fact , the light component impacts directly on the semi-transparent photovoltaic element 7 , generating electric current that is used both to manage the operation of the system and to provide the energy surplus as an output . The luminous ( infrared) component that instead crosses the front photovoltaic element 7 reaches the liquid to be desalinated by heating it and increasing its evaporation . Condensation occurs predominantly in the rear part which is cooled .

It is noted that the semi-transparency of the photovoltaic element 7 allows said photovoltaic element 7 to be positioned on a surface of the support structure 2 that has a direct exposure to light radiation, thus guaranteeing a structural compactness and greater efficiency of the device 1 . In addition, this avoids the use of optical elements to redirect light , such as mirrors , making the device easier to make , cheaper and easier to maintain .

In addition, it is noted that the possibility of positioning the photovoltaic element 7 frontally, at the first surface 5 ( since transparent or semi-transparent to infrared ) , allows said photovoltaic element 7 to be used to generate electric current and power one or more electrical components of the device 1 without having to position the photovoltaic element 7 near a cooling surface such as the duct 9 at the second surface 6 . In this case , there would in fact be a reduction in condensation efficiency due to a local transfer of the heat used to cool the photovoltaic element 7 .

The flow of the water to be treated into and out of the duct 9 is regulated by a hydraulic apparatus 14 which is connected to , and thus powered by, the photovoltaic circuit 22 . The hydraulic apparatus 14 can be manually controlled or electronically controlled . In other words , the hydraulic apparatus 14 can be automated through a management carried out with the use of a dedicated software or it can be managed manually by an operator who controls the entry of the water to be treated as well as the withdrawal of the desalinated/purif ied water and the elimination of the residue (brine ) . This is illustrated in figure 2 which shows in particular a functional block system of the device 1 .

To control and manage the various elements of the device 1 , there is also provided a control unit 18 connected at least to the photovoltaic circuit 22 and to the manually or electronically controlled hydraulic apparatus 14 . The control unit is advantageously provided with a processor for executing the instructions of a dedicated software and controlling operations of a computer system .

To further lower the temperature of the water flowing inside the duct 9 , and thus to increase the condensation effect on the condensation plane 8 , the device 1 may comprise a cooling system 15 coupled to the condensation plane 8 . The activity of the cooling system 15 is regulated by the control unit 18 to which said system 15 is coupled . The cooling system 15 may comprise a heat pump or Peltier effect system. Advantageously, the device 1 may further comprise a heating system coupled to the bottom plane of the device 1 . For example , using a Peltier effect system, it is possible to create a temperature gradient between an inner surface of the device 1 ( e . g . cooler ) and an outer surface of the device 1 ( e . g . warmer ) . In this way, the device 1 can be used to heat neighbouring areas without the need for an external supply of electric current .

Figure 1 shows a collection tank 17 internal to the support structure 2 . However, as shown schematically in figure 2 , the tank 17 may alternatively be located externally to the support structure 2 and the device 1 may further comprise a channel 16 for transferring the condensed water on the condensation plane 8 towards said collection tank 17 .

According to an example , the device 1 further comprises a purification element 23 positioned downstream of the duct 9 at the collection tank 17 . This purification element 23 can be extremely useful in case of water being collected in polluted areas or in any case in areas where the water possibly contains impurities toxic to humans . For example , the purification element 23 can operate by dispensing a saline purification solution, coming from a special tank that reaches the treated water through a solenoid valve controlled by a software of the control unit 18 . The dose of the purifying saline may be determined based on the amount of water to be purified .

The device 1 , both as regards the hydraulic and the electronic part , can advantageously be controlled and monitored remotely . For this purpose , the control unit 18 may comprise , or be connected to , a Wi-Fi and GSM element 19 .

In one example , the device 1 comprises a first sensor 20 for detecting the minimum water level and a second sensor 21 for detecting the maximum water level in the device 1 , wherein the first sensor 20 and the second sensor 21 are positioned at the base 4 of the support structure 2 . The two sensors 20 , 21 are connected to the control unit 18 which receives and analyses the data detected by both sensors 20 , 21 . It is noted that the presence of the two sensors 20 , 21 is not essential for the correct operation of the device 1 . In fact , in the case of manual controls , the sensors 20 , 21 can be replaced by an operator who determines the amount of water to be sent to desalination/purif ication and the amount of water derived from condensation .

The device 1 may further comprise a hydraulic solenoid valve 30 connected to the photovoltaic circuit 22 and to the control unit 18 for managing the entry of water into , and/or the exit of water from, the device 1 . The solenoid valve 30 is part of the manually or electronically controlled hydraulic apparatus 14 and serves primarily to control the inflow of water to be treated . The solenoid valve 30 can be connected to the control unit 18 which regulates its operation according to the signals received for example from the minimum and maximum level sensors 20 , 21 . In addition to the solenoid valve 30 , the manually or electronically controlled hydraulic apparatus 14 may comprise a progressive mechanical filter 28 for the water to be treated and a hydraulic pump 29 for withdrawing the water to be treated . The hydraulic pump 29 can be positioned downstream of the progressive mechanical filter 28 and upstream of the solenoid valve 30 . The pump 29 can be used both to regulate the inlet flow of the water to be treated to the duct inlet 10 and to bring the condensed water to the collection tank 17 . As in the case of the two sensors 20 , 21 , the presence of the solenoid valve 30 is not essential for the correct operation of the device 1 . In fact , in the case of manual controls , the solenoid valve 30 can be replaced by one or more taps operated by hand by an operator .

The device further comprises a drain element 24 for leading the residual brine from the water to be treated into a suitable tank for the brine 25 . According to an example , said drain element 24 is positioned at the base 4 of the support structure 2 . Since the brine can comprise , in addition to the residue of water to be treated, which for example has not entered the duct inlet 10 , also the residue of treated water that exits the duct outlet 11 and flows into the water not yet treated, the drain duct 24 can lead, in a suitable tank for the brine 25 , the residual brine formed both by the water to be treated and by the residue of treated water . The brine collected in the brine tank 25 is destined for subsequent disposal .

The drain duct 24 is advantageously controlled by a brine solenoid valve 31 and possibly by an electric pump located between the drain duct 24 and the brine tank 25 . Generally, the drain element 24 may also simply be a drain pipe activated by hand by an operator who opens a tap after withdrawing the desired amount of desalinated/purif ied water derived from condensation .

As shown in figure 2 , the photovoltaic circuit 22 comprises the photovoltaic element 7 and an accumulator 27 for storing the energy produced by the photovoltaic element 7 . Advantageously, the energy produced can be used to power the various electronic components of the device 1 . For example , each element such as the hydraulic apparatus 14 (which includes the pump 29 , the filter 28 and the solenoid valve 30 ) , the cooling system 15 , the purification element 23 , the sensors 20 , 21 , the solenoid valve for the brine 31 , the Wi-Fi and GSM element 19 and the control unit 18 itself can be directly powered by the photovoltaic circuit 22 . In this way, the device 1 is energetically completely autonomous . The electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic element 7 and exceeding the use for the management of the device 1 can advantageously be directly used in the form of electrical energy . In other words , the device 1 can be used for the production of treated water ( desalinated, distilled or purified) and at the same time can be used as a generator of electricity . This is particularly useful in remote areas without a proper water and electricity supply .

Figure 3 shows a modular system 26 for the treatment of water . As schematically shown in the figure , the devices 1 are connected to each other in parallel so that the treated water ( i . e . desalinated, and/or distilled and/or purified) collected in the corresponding collection tank 17 can be led from each individual collection tank 17 towards a common collection tank 32 . Figure 3 shows a system 26 comprising the combination of three separate devices 1 . However, the system 26 may comprise any number of devices 1 depending on the need and availability . The various devices 1 therefore represent modules that can be coupled together in order to increase the overall amount of treated water . These modules can work both positioned on the ground but also positioned on a mobile vehicle that transports them to the place of use . The only condition to be respected is that the various devices 1 are positioned so that the first surface 5 , on which the photovoltaic element 7 is coupled, is exposed to solar radiation .

A person skilled in the art may make a number of further modifications and variations to the device 1 and to the system 26 described above in order to meet additional and contingent requirements , all of which are included within the scope of protection of this invention as defined by the attached claims .

Claims

1. Water treatment device (1) , in particular for desalinizing and/or distilling and/or purifying water, through solar energy, wherein the device (1) comprises: a support structure (2) having an upper part (3) and a base (4) and comprising at least a first surface (5) and a second surface (6) extending between the upper part (3) and the base

(4) of the support structure (2) , wherein the first surface

(5) is opposite the second surface (6) , at least one photovoltaic element (7) transparent to infrared radiation and semi-transparent to visible radiation, which is connected to the support structure (2) at the first surface (5) , wherein the photovoltaic element (7) is part of a photovoltaic circuit (22) for the generation and storage of electrical energy, at least one condensation plane (8) connected to the support structure (2) at the second surface (6) , wherein the condensation plane (8) comprises two parallel panels (12) and a duct (9) formed by a space (13) comprised between said parallel panels (12) for receiving water to be treated at a duct inlet (10) in the upper part (3) of the support structure (2) and for leading a residue of treated water at a duct outlet (11) at the base (4) of the support structure (2) , a collection tank (17) at the base (4) of the support structure (2) for collecting the condensed water on the condensation plane (8) , a drain element (24) for leading a residual brine from the water to be treated into a special tank for the brine (25) , at least one hydraulic apparatus (14) connected to and powered by the photovoltaic circuit (22) to regulate the flow of the water to be treated, and a control unit (18) connected at least to the photovoltaic circuit (22) and to the hydraulic apparatus (14) .

2. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the condensation plane (8) is made of metallic material .

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic element (7) is activated with graphene .

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cooling system (15) coupled to the condensation plane (8) .

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection tank (17) is external to the support structure (2) and the device (1) further comprises a channel (16) for transferring the condensed water on the condensation plane (8) towards said collection tank (17) .

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (18) comprises a Wi-Fi and GSM element (19) for remotely controlling and monitoring the device ( 1 ) .

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first sensor (20) for detecting the minimum water level and a second sensor (21) for detecting the maximum water level in the device (1) , wherein the first sensor (20) and the second sensor (21) are positioned at the base (4) of the support structure (2) .

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one hydraulic solenoid valve (30) connected to the photovoltaic circuit (22) and to the control unit (18) for managing the entry of water into, and/or the exit of water from, the device (1) .

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a purification element (23) positioned downstream of the duct (9) at the collection tank (17) .

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said drain element (24) is positioned at the base (4) of the support structure (2) .

11. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a heating system coupled to the bottom plane of the device.

12. Modular system (26) for the treatment of water, in particular for desalinizing and/or distilling and/or purifying water, through solar energy comprising a plurality of devices (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said devices (1) are connected to each other in parallel .