System and method for desalination of water using a graphite foam material

Abstract

A condenser or heat exchanger includes a circulation system for moving a cooling fluid, and a graphite foam in thermal communication with the circulation system. The condenser or heat exchanger can be used to remove water, or more particularly freshwater from water vapor or steam produced from seawater.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vapor-fin heat exchanger comprising:
 aluminum multi-hollow extruded (MHE) tubes; and   graphite foam thermally coupled to an exterior surface of the tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein a cooling fluid is moved through the tubes and water vapor condenses on the graphite foam. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 2  in use of thermal and non-thermal condensation of water for irrigation or drinking. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  used for flash evaporation in a multi-stage flash evaporation system. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 4  used to enhance distallation in a multi-effect distillation evaporation system. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  housed within a fiberglass shell. 
     
     
         7 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the graphite foam has machined channels therein for increasing the surface area of the graphite foam. 
     
     
         8 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the graphite foam has machined channels therein for fluid management. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the graphite foam is bonded to substantially round condenser tubes with thermally conductive adhesive, soldering, or brazing. 
     
     
         10 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the graphite foam is bonded to substantially flat condenser tubes with thermally conductive adhesive, soldering, or brazing. 
     
     
         11 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the graphite foam is used with a metallic foams to enhance heat transfer. 
     
     
         12 . A vapor-fin heat exchanger comprising:
 an aluminum multi-hollow extruded (MHE) set of tubes; and   graphite foam bonded on an exterior surface of the set of tubes; and   a cooling fluid from a refrigeration cycle being moved through the set of tubes so that water condenses on the graphite foam and exterior surface to produce water for irrigation or drinking.   
     
     
         13 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  within a flash evaporation system. 
     
     
         14 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  within a distillation evaporation system. 
     
     
         15 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein, the vapor-fin heat exchanger is substantially horizontally in operation. 
     
     
         16 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the vapor-fin heat exchanger is substantially vertically in operation. 
     
     
         17 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  further comprising a polymer, the graphite foam including a polymer coating on the heat transfer surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  further comprising a polymer, the graphite foam can be bonded to heat transfer surfaces using the polymers and non-polymeric coatings. 
     
     
         19 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  further comprising a plastic tube for carrying a cooling fluid, the graphite foam can be bonded to plastic tube using using polymeric, non-polymeric, or thermally conductive epoxy. 
     
     
         20 . The vapor-fin heat exchanger of  claim 12  further comprising a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating on the graphite foam.
 A Closed Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion system which expends cold sea water, the system further comprising a flash evaporization system to produce low pressure steam, the system further comprising a heat exchanger that uses a portion of the system's expended deep sea cold water to produce fresh water for irrigation or drinking.