Sustainable and circular water demineralization with zero waste discharge

Abstract

The present disclosure is concerned with sea water demineralization. More specifically, to systems, methods, and apparatus for water demineralization and purification, including the removal of dissolved solids and contaminants from sea water, industrial water with mineral content, and brackish water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A demineralization system, comprising
 a gas intake,   a gas cooler connected to said gas intake,   a compressor connected to said gas cooler,   a spray dryer connected to said compressor,   a primary heat exchanger, and   a brine intake.   
     
     
         2 . The demineralization system of  claim 1 , wherein said compressor is connected to said spray dryer. 
     
     
         3 . The demineralization system of  claim 1 , wherein said gas intake is connected to a source of gas. 
     
     
         4 . The demineralization system of  claim 3 , wherein said source of gas produces flue gas. 
     
     
         5 . The demineralization system of  claim 3 , wherein said source of gas is a power plant or a factory. 
     
     
         6 . The demineralization system of  claim 4 , wherein said flue gas coming from said source has a temperature in a range between about 300° C. to 1000° C. 
     
     
         7 . The demineralization system of  claim 4 , wherein said flue gas contains from about 67% to about 77% N 2 , from about 8% to about 14% CO 2 , and about 2% to about 5% O 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The demineralization system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray dryer comprises a nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The demineralization system of  claim 8 , wherein said nozzle is an atomizing nozzle, a spray nozzle, or a rotating disc nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The demineralization system of  claim 1 , wherein said flue gas source, gas cooler, and compressor are connected via conduits allowing the flue gas to flow from said gas source to said gas cooler to said compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The demineralization system of  claim 10 , wherein said flue gas is fed from said compressor to spray dryer and then fed through said spray dryer. 
     
     
         12 . The demineralization system of  claim 11 , wherein said spray dryer comprises a nozzle which is static or rotating. 
     
     
         13 . The demineralization system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray dryer is connected to said primary heat exchanger and said primary heat exchanger is further connected to said brine intake. 
     
     
         14 . The demineralization system of  claim 13 , wherein brine from said brine intake passes through said primary heat exchanger and then from said primary heat exchanger to said spray dryer. 
     
     
         15 . The demineralization system of  claim 14 , wherein water vapor from said spray dryer passes through said primary heat exchanger and preheats the brine in said primary heat exchanger at a temperature in the range from about 80° C. to about 130° C. 
     
     
         16 . The demineralization system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a secondary heat exchanger,   a drying chamber, and   a secondary dryer.   
     
     
         17 . The demineralization system of  claim 16 , wherein said secondary heat exchanger is connected to said primary heat exchanger and said spray nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The demineralization system of  claim 17 , wherein said drying chamber produces salt slush which comprises by weight, less than about 75% salt. 
     
     
         19 . A process for demineralization of brine, wherein said process comprises:
 obtaining flue gas from a flue gas source,   passing said flue gas through a flue gas cooler such that the temperature of said flue gas after exiting said flue gas cooler is lower than the temperature of said flue gas before entering said flue gas cooler,   passing the lower temperature flue gas to a spray dryer,   mixing the lower temperature flue gas with heated brine, and   spraying said mixture in a drying chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the process further comprises feeding said cooled flue gas to a compressor. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 20 , wherein the process does not generate sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of passing water vapor from said spray dryer through a primary and/or a secondary heat exchanger. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of obtaining brine through a brine intake. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein said water vapor from said spray dryer and brine from said brine intake passes through said primary heat exchanger and said water vapor heats said brine to a temperature in the range between about 80 to about 130° C. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24 , wherein said water vapor from said spray dryer also passes through a second heat exchanger.