公开(公告)号：US20140262739A1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-18

申请号：US14162653

申请日：2014-01-23

Applicant: LIGHTSAIL ENERGY, INC.

Inventor： Danielle A. FONG ,  Edwin P. BERLIN, JR. ,  Stephen E. CRANE ,  Andrea C. ASHWOOD ,  Sebastian C. MANCHESTER

IPC: C02F1/14 ,  C02F1/04

CPC classification number: C02F1/14 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  F24S10/13 ,  Y02A20/128 ,  Y02A20/212 ,  Y02E10/44

Abstract: Embodiments relate to techniques for forming underground caverns, and also to desalinization processes that may be employed in conjunction therewith. Particular embodiments form a salt cavern by introducing heated water into a salt formation, followed by removal of the resulting brine to leave a salt cavern. The injected water is provided as a result of a desalinization process of the brine. Concentrated brine resulting from the desalinization process, is used to form a solar pond whose stored thermal energy provides the heat source for the injected water. The resulting underground cavern may be employed to house large volumes of materials such as pressurized natural gas, liquid hydrocarbons, or compressed gas for energy storage. Also disclosed is a particular desalinization process based upon a Regenerative Evaporative Distiller (RED) structure, which efficiently leverages low grade heat available from the solar pond by relying primarily upon a latent heat of evaporation and condensation.

Abstract translation: 实施例涉及用于形成地下洞穴的技术，以及可以结合使用的脱盐过程。 特定的实施方案通过将加热的水引入盐形式中形成盐穴，然后除去所得盐水以留下盐穴。 作为盐水的脱盐过程的结果，注入的水是提供的。 由脱盐过程产生的浓盐水用于形成储存热能为注入水提供热源的太阳能池。 所得到的地下洞穴可用于容纳大量的材料，例如加压天然气，液体烃或用于储能的压缩气体。 还公开了基于再生蒸发蒸馏器（RED）结构的特定的脱盐方法，其通过主要依赖于蒸发和冷凝的潜热而有效地利用来自太阳能池的低等级热量。