I am interested in building a humidification still of my own. I have a few special requirement for this still so it can be used in conjunction with my heliostat array solar collectors:
| 1. | Must be simple to build. Preferably using the materials easily obtained at the building center. |
| 2. | Must have a heat exchanger built into the water heater assembly. |
| 3. | If possible, the air should move through the system by gravity convection. |
| 4. | Must have a high temperature de-gasification section to remove dissolved VOCs, Volatile Organic hydroCarbons. |
| 5. | Any controls should be simple and fail-safe. |
| 6. | Everything should be able to be made using conventional hand tools. |
My first try at building the humidification still is based on 4" PVC plastic sewer pipe that I obtained from my building center. This pile and the associated connector pieces are plastic solvent-welded together. Some of the pieces were modified by turning them in my lathe. These pieces could have been modified using a hand file.
Humidification Still.ASCII schematic of Humidification Still.
___ ___
/ _ \ / _ \
|| || || ||
|| || || ||
|||| ||
|||| ||
/ \ ||||
/ \ ||||
/ 4" \ / \
/to 1/2" \ / \ 3" to 1/2" Reducer
/ Reducer \ / \
/ \ / Gas \
|| || || Vent ||
|| Float || || ||
| Valve | | |
| _ || _ | | | |
| | |||| | | | | V
|^v^v^v^v^v| |Water | ----------------------------------
| |_||||_| | |Level \ Inlet Differential Water Pressure
| || | |^v^v^v|\\ --------------------------------
| || | | | \\ ^
|| || || |Thermo| \\ |
|| || || |Stat | \\Over
\_____||_||__/ | | \\Flow
|| || |Water | \\Pipe
Water || || |Heater| \\
From || || | | \\
Main || || | | \\
_______// || | |4"x3" \\
_______/ || | | Reducer \\
|| ||| |||Spacer \\
------ || |||| |||| \\
||||||-|\/| |||| |||| \\
||||||-|/\| | | | \ \\
------ || | | | \4"x4"x4" Y \\
Solenoid || | | | \ \\
Operated || | | | \ \\
Valve || | | | \ \\
|| | | | \ \\
|| | | | \ \\
|| | | | \ \\
|| | | | \\ \\
|| | | | \ Heated\\
|| | | | \ Water \\
|| | | | \ In ____||______
|| | | | \\ \ / || \
|| || | | ||\\ \ 4" || |^||V| ||
|| || | | || \ \ Cap|| | || | ||
|| | | | | \ \ | | || | |
|| | | | | \ \ || | || | ||
|| | | | | \ \\|| \____/ ||
|| | | | | \ \\ P Trap |
|| | | | | \ Porous //\\\|
|| | |3" | |4" \ //\\\ \\///|
|| | |Pipe | |Pipe \ \\/// //\\\ |
|| | | | | \\ \\/// |
|| | | C | | \ //\\\Lava //\\\ |
|| | | o | | \ \\/// \\/// |
|| | | n | | \ |
|| | | d | | \ Rocks//\\\ |
|| | | e | | \ \\/// |
|| | | n | | \ //\\\ |
|| | | c | | 4"x4"x4" Y\\\/// |
|| | | e | | \ //\\\ |
|| | | r | | || \\///||
|| | | | | ||//\\\ ||
|| | | | | |\\/// |
\ /\ /\ |/\ /\| /\ /\ |/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ |/\ /\ /\| /
\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//
\/ \/ \/| \/| \/ \/ |\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
|| | | | | |//\\\ |
|| || | | || 4" |\\/////\\\|
|| || | | || Pipe| \\///|
|| | | | \ | E //\\\ |
|| | | | \4"x4"x4" Y | v \\/// |
|| | | | \ | a |
|| | | | \ | p //\\\ |
|| | | | \ | o \\/// |
|| | | | \ | r |
|| | | | \ | a //\\\ |
|| | | |S \\ | t \\/// |
|| | | |p \\ | o |
|| | | |a \\4"x4"x3" | r //\\\|
|| | | |c \ Y |//\\\\\///|
|| | | |e \ \ |\\/// |
|| | | |r \\ \ | |
|| |||| ||||\\ \ | //\\\ |
|| |||| |||| \ \ | \\/// |
|| ||| ||| | \ |//\\\ |
|| | | | \\ ||\\/////\\\||
|| || || | \\|| \\///||
|| || || | \\ |
|| \___||___/ | Porous//\\\ |
|| ||3" Cap | \\ //\\\ \\/// |
|| Cold || | |\\ \\/////\\\Lava |
|| Water || | | \\ \\/// //\\\|
|| In || | __ | \ //\\\ //\\\\\///|
\\________// P | / \| \\\////\\\\///Rocks|
\________/ Trap|v||||| \ //\\\ |
|| |||||| \ \\/// //\\\ |
|| |||||| \ \\/// |
Distillate \___||__/ \ //\\\ //\\\|
Out || \ \\/// \\///|
|| 4"X4"X4" Y\ //\\\ |
|| \\/// ||
|| ____ ||
|/ \P |
4" |||^||v|Trap||
Cap||| || |^v^v||
\___||_______/
Waste Water Out||
||
The distillation through humidification process operates by a combination of air humidification and condensation. Here is the sequence by which this happens:
| 1. | Cold contaminated water is introduced to the bottom of the condenser column. |
| 2. | The water vapor in the hot humid air from the evaporator condenses on the cold condenser element. This delivers latent heat to the water and heats it up. |
| 3. | The pre-heated water rises to the heater section. Extra heat is added to the water to compensate for the inevitable heat losses and temperature drops in the system. |
| 4. | Heated water flows through the overflow pipe and into the evaporator. The water flows down and wets the surface of the porous lava rock. |
| 5. | Cool air moves upward through the lava rock. As the hot water evaporates into the air the excess water is cooled by the air and the air is heated and humidified. |
| 6. | The excess water flows down and out the waste pipe. |
| 7. | Hot humid air is less dense than cold dry air. This causes the air to rise and flow over to the condenser unit. The hot humid air is light for 2 reasons. Hot air is less dense through thermal expansion. Humid air is lighter than dry air because the water molecule has a lower molecular weight than either nitrogen or oxygen. The combination is even lighter. |
| 8. | The cold water is admitted using the solenoid operated valve. This valve is activated when the water above the heater is lower than the set point. |
| 9. | The cold water reservoir filled to a level just above the water level in the heater overflow pipe. The level is maintained using a float valve similar to that used in a bathroom toilet. |
| 10. | The cold water flow is regulated by the height difference between the water levels in the two reservoir. |
saltwaterdistillation
Seawater to Garden, a Designers Manual
Greg Lesher has come up with a nice method to distil salt water for gardening. He is selling a digital "how to" book on how to make the simple still and many variations. $15us
http://www.seawatertogarden.com/
pumps
Water Pumps.
A friend of mine has a hand dug, ER pounded, water well. Here are the particulars:
| 1. | The well is about 80 feet in depth. |
| 2. | It uses a 2.5" well casing. |
| 3. | The well pump is a deep well jet pump. |
We have been looking for a submersible pump that would fit into the 2.5" casing to no avail.
airlift Another company is "Airlift":
Air Lift Technologies.
http://www.airliftech.com/This is a description of a pneumatic air lift water pump.
______
/waaawa\ <---------------------
|a|---\a\ a ^
__________ |a| \a\ a a |
/ \ |a| | w | |
| Air a |______ |w| |^v^v^v^v^v^v| |
| Pump. a aaa aa\ |a| | Water Tank.| |
| a |-----\a\ |a| | w w | |
\__________/ | | |a| \___w____w_/ |
|a| |w| |
a=air. |a| |a| |
w=water. |a| |a| "H" Height to lift water |
| | |a| above water table. |
|a| |w| |
3/8" |a| |a| 1/2" |
Down Air line. |a| |a| Up Water line. |
| | |a| |
|a| |w| |
|a| |a| |
|a| |a| |
| | |a| |
|a| |w| |
|a| |a| |
water Table. |a| |a| v
v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v| |^|a|v^v^v^v^v^v^v <-------------
|a| |w| ^
|a| |a| |
|a| |a| |
| | |a| "P" Pressure depth |
|a| |w| below water table. |
|a| |a| |
|a| |a| v
\ \_|a| <--------------------------
"T" Fitting. --> \aaaw| ^
--| | |
| | |
| | "S" Screen pressure. |
|w| (About 20') |
| | |
| | |
| | v
Sand Screen. -----> =w= <--------------------------
===
This pump uses some very simple construction techniques. The operation is a bit more complicated.
When installing this pump in a well several dimensions must be determined in order for proper operation.
Before air pressure is applied to the system the water in the Up water line is even with the water table. The T will be at a depth P feet below the water table. Water exerts about .42 psi for each foot of depth. If P*.42 psi of air pressure is applied to the down air line air will bubble out of the T and try to rise up the water line. When the air rises it will push an equal volume of water up the water line. P*.42 psi of pressure can support P feet of water in the up water line.
With further additions of air the water will continue to rise in the up line. Eventually some water will leave the up line and fill the tank. When this water leaves more water will come up from the screen. The percentage if water in the up line is approximately:
Water % = P/(P+H) * 100
There is always a balance between the volume of air and the volume of water in the line.
There is always an oscillation in the movement of the water in the up line. In the event there is to much water in the up line air may displace water in the screen line. If this happens some air may be lost. If the screen length is to short there will be an excessive amount of air loss.
As the air needed to do the lifting is compressed more SCFM air is needed than would be indicated. The before compression air volume to water volume ratio is:
SCFM = (H*.42)/14.7 This is in standard cubic feet per minute.
This pump is not suitable for low flow applications because it requires that the foot of the well be at least 20 feet lower than the height if the water level in the well. Also it is still not a positive displacement pump and doesn't work where the flow is limited.
gaiatech And Another Bubble Pump or Tromp. This pump is useful with low heads and high volumes. Check it out.
GAIATECH, working with nature PULSER pump. Dig the POWER!pendulum Pendulum Pump.
Veljko Milkovic' has a patent for this interesting hand operated water pump.hydraulic
Hydraulic Type Water Pumps.
I have been thinking about a different type of pump. The pump I have in mind has constant displacement capabilities and works with wells that have limited flow.
The prototype pump consists of two parts:
| 1. | The out of the well equipment. |
| 2. | The down the well pump parts. |
Sequence of operation:
| 1. | Start the power piston downward past the Small Holes. |
| 2. | Continue downward forcing the water to push the slave piston downward. |
| 3. | The slave piston pulls the pump piston downward. |
| 4. | When the power piston moves downward some of the water moves past. This is caused by the total volume under the pump decreasing. |
| 5. | The power piston moves up to the top and uncovers the small holes. |
| 6. | The spring pushes the pump piston upward bringing water to the top. |
| 7. | Water exits the small holes. |
| 8. | Since the volume under the power piston increases water is drawn past the slave piston. |
| 9. | Repeat the cycle. |
____
--- ---
/ \
/ \ Motor Driven Flywheel
| | With a Crankshaft
| () ()| and Rod Journal.
| rr|
\ rr/
\ rr
---____-rr
rr
rr rr = Connecting Rod.
| rr|
| rr | p = Cup Shaped Power Piston.
|| rr || _________
|| rr || --- ---
/| rr |\ / \
/ | rr | \ / \
|| | () | || / Water Level. \
|| | pppp | || |v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v|
| | p p | |--------------- |
| Op pO |
| | | |--------------- Pressure Tank. |
|| | | || | |
|| | | || \ /
\ | | / \ /
\| |/ \ /
|| || O = Small Holes. ---_________---
|| ||
| | <---- Power Cylinder.
|| ||
|| ||
\ /
\ /
|| ||
|| ||
| |
\ /\| /\ |/\ /
\\//\\//\\//\\//
\/ \/ \/ \/
| | Water Table.
v^v^|| ||v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
|| ||
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
|| ||
|| ||
| | <-- Pump Cylinder.
|p p|
| p rr p | p = Cup Shaped Pump Piston.
| pppppppp |
| s rr s |
| s rr |
|s rr | r = Rod to Connect the
| s rr | Cupped Pistons Together.
| s rr s |
| rr s |
| rr s| s = Stainless Steel Spring.
| rr s |
| s rr s |
|| s rr ||
||s rr ||
\ s rr /
\ s rr s /
|| rr ||
|| rr ||
| rr | <---- Slave Cylinder.
|p rr p|
| p rr p | p = Cup Shaped Slave Piston.
| pppp |
| rr |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
= = = = = <---- Sand Screen.
= = = = =
hydro Hydro Systems. A hydro system usually consist of a dam and water wheel or turbine. Here are some examples.
Waterwheel-powered house. by Mick Harris
Amazon Aquacharger Marlec has teamed up their engineering, renewable energy and manufacturing expertise with Thropton Energy Services a water turbine specialist company to develop a revolutionary new battery charging water current turbine.
Thropton Energy Services
20 years experience with water current turbines.ram Micro hydropower links by Klunne.
Shawater, harnessing a renewable energy resource.
Micro-Hydro Documents Banki Crossflow Turbine Engineering Bulletin Number 25
Tree Finder
An interesting wave powered pneumatic water pump.dam Dam construction.
army Army Core of Engineers. Engineer Manuals
pipeflow Flow Calculations.
rocchetti The Fluid Flow Calculator The Free Engineering Software Website CGI PERL Scripts by Michael J Rocchetti PE
<redrok@redrok.com>