FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to methods, systems and apparatus for providing a low complexity, low capital and low operating cost means of purifying water and alternately or simultaneously generating electrical power from a variety of ubiquitously available prime energy sources. The water purification system includes a vapour compression distillation (VCD) module for connection to a power generation module for providing input energy to the VCD module. The power generation module is designed to be adaptable to a variety of power sources including low power energy sources such as human-powered sources as well as other generally low power, locally available sources. The system may include an energy storage system allowing operation of the system during times when an energy source may not be available. The system is preferably a portable system and may include modular components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is well known that access to clean drinking water is one of the most basic of human needs. Unfortunately, a reliable source of clean water is not available to large numbers of people all around the world. Various reports claim approximately 1.2 billion people, and generally the most economically disadvantaged people, lack access to safe drinking water. These people include significant numbers of the poorest rural and urban populations in developing nations.

[0003] Furthermore, there is also a significant population in developing countries that, because of power outages, poor municipal planning, and lack of adequate municipal infrastructure and infrastructure funding, have unreliable and inconsistent sources of clean water or locally accessible emergency electricity that does not require a consumable resource. For example, there are significant numbers of people in rural and urban India (both lower and middle class) that may be subject to poor quality water as a result of multi- day electrical blackouts and flooding periods during the annual monsoon season that may interrupt access to clean water that would otherwise be available. During these blackout and flooding periods when the electrical power grid is inaccessible businesses will typically have access to a generator for electrical generation, however the vast majority of individuals in these socio-economic classes or in emergency or crisis situations may not have an individual means of generating the electrical power needed to operate a water purification system or other electrical need such as a radio or lighting.

[0004] Further still, many people live in areas that can be affected by natural disasters. As is well known, such events can unexpectedly result in many people being without safe water and electricity regardless of their economic status. For example, the regular cycle of hurricanes in the southern United States will often result in significant water and electric supply problems to large numbers of people as was witnessed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and as can be expected as a result of seasonal hurricanes in Florida. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and 2011 tsunami in Japan are further examples of unexpected disasters that can have huge implications on the water and personal electrical supply for large numbers of people.

[0005] Thus, a chronic and/or acute lack of clean water can leave many millions of adults and children susceptible to disease and death as a direct result of contaminated water, regardless of geographic location or economic status.

[0006] As a result, there has been and continues to be a need for efficient and economic solutions to the chronic and acute lack of clean water around the world. In developing nations, many governments find it financially difficult to ensure a supply of clean water to their populations with limited tax revenue whereas in developed nations where natural disasters may have struck, there has been a need for solutions that allow for rapid deployment of clean water technologies to areas where clean water has usually been available.

[0007] While these problems can be addressed by a number of solutions as discussed briefly below, there has been a need for clean water systems that can be acquired at the individual level for minimal capital costs, minimal upkeep costs and low or no fuel cost in order for individuals to be able to produce their own clean water when needed. [0008] As noted, many water purification techniques are known, including carbon/ceramic filters, chlorination, pasteurization, deionization, distillation, and reverse osmosis. However, many of these techniques have significant drawbacks in one way or another and are all affected by variations in the feed water quality with the general exception of the distillation process. General and specific drawbacks of the various systems are discussed below.

[0009] In particular, contaminated water containing high levels of total dissolved solids, organics, heavy medals, and pesticides can become costly to purify using the above techniques where such water may have to be pre-treated to reduce particular contaminants before being subjected to a primary cleaning step. With various technologies, there may also be a need for consumables such as electricity, pumps, fuels, filters and/or chemicals which depending on circumstances and/or cost may be difficult to acquire.

[0010] Other systems, such as widely-used reverse osmosis (RO) system are generally very wasteful of water where over 50% of the intake stream may be discharged as waste water. Moreover, RO systems may require levels of pretreatment, may only be able to manage a low maximum of total dissolved solids in the intake stream, and have membranes that can tear and allow contaminates to pass into the "clean" water produced by the system.

[0011] Carbon filters are also popular, however the filters and carbon must be replaced often and primarily only target chlorine, making them non-effective in broad water contamination situations.

[0012] Other treatment techniques can be energy intensive and only well suited to centralized, large-scale water systems that require either or both of a significant infrastructure and/or skilled operators.

[0013] Thus, and in furtherance of the above needs, there is also the need to be able to reliably produce clean water without regard to the water source, on a smaller, decentralized scale, operable with reduced energy and/or consumables and powered by unconventional energy sources, with reduced or minimal maintenance and that can be deployed in a variety of areas such as the developing world as well as emergency situations in developing or developed nations.

[0014] A review of the prior art indicates that the use of Vapor Compression Distillation (VCD) systems to purify water is a well known large-scale process for purifying water. VCDs are an attractive way to purify water provided there is a reliable energy source, for a number of reasons, including:

a. low energy per volume water purified;

b. high tolerance for high total dissolved solids levels;

c. no filters or other replaceable consumables; and,

d. low discharge percentage.

[0015] However, as is also known, VCD systems are currently prohibitively expensive for many potential benefiters. That is, for many individuals, families and villages in developing countries, the capital and energy costs associated with these systems is prohibitive. Additionally, regardless of the capital or operating costs, the temporary or permanent access to the fuel or energy required to operate these systems can also be a prohibitive factor.

[0016] Currently, the smallest commercially available VCD machines produce in the range of 600 gallons of water per day, cost tens of thousands of dollars and consume an amount of energy prohibitive for residential type usage.

[0017] As such, VCDs have been used by large corporations to produce and sell distilled water or clean and recycle large scale volumes of industrially contaminated water in order to comply with various environmental regulations. As a result, there has been little motivation to apply the financial resources or time to develop lower-cost and mass- produced machines. This is partially because, in the past, water in developed nations has been abundant and inexpensive, and in developing nations there was no resource base in which to significantly impact a corporate bottom line. [0018] However at the present time and globally, clean water is becoming a scarcer commodity which coupled with a swift and significant rise in the middle class of many developing nations has created an environment in which a new look at mass production of individualized VCD units can be considered, provided that a reliable energy source to run such machines is available, affordable and abundant.

[0019] Hence, there is a need for a VCD type of water purification system to be scaled to a utility type operational level in order to provide the necessary sustainable economics to be able to operate on site-specific or local energy sources.

[0020] Various attempts to reduce the capital and operating cost through providing VCD systems that operate on various forms of consumable fuels is exemplified by the teachings of US Patent 7,340,879 titled "Locally Powered Water Distillation System" (Kamen). Kamen teaches the use of a thermal cycle engine, such as an external combustion sterling type engine, to power an electrical generator to be used within a distributed network of electrical generating utilities for producing electricity for power generation purposes and the electrical power to operate a VCD water generator coincidentally. Kamen provides a combined electrical power and water purification system that requires a combustible fuel source and a water source to produce purified water suitable for human consumption. The fuels sources for the Kamen system can be any combination of hydrocarbons, coal, wood, dried dung or any type of material or chemical reaction that would combust or react to generate a sufficiently high temperature heat necessary to power the thermal cycle engine of the system. More specifically, the Sterling engine converts heat energy from burning combustibles to electrical energy used directly to power the coupled VCD system.

[0021] While the Kamen system is a departure from traditional VCD systems, significant draw backs of the Kamen Sterling engine system are the high capital cost of the system, the ongoing cost of consumable fuel, the lack of ubiquitous availability of the consumable fuel, the geographic and seasonal nature of the available fuels, toxic emissions of the engine as a power source and the non-portability of the engine-coupled VCD.

[0022] Although Kamen has lowered the capital cost required for a VCD system compared to earlier systems by using a Sterling engine in conjunction with a VCD unit, the overall capital cost of the complete system remains high. As well, the Kamen system is limited by the requirement and cost for a specific fuel source that may not always be present, useable or affordable for a great number of people that could use such a device. Moreover, the combined VCD and combustion engine systems are heavier and less portable than is convenient and necessary for many end users.

[0023] Further still, Kamen's solution for the rural villages of developing nations does not address the need for such a system for the urban middle class of developing nations or the emergency need for individuals of developed nations. The Kamen system is generally limited in operation to a certain economic class and to individuals or families that have the availability of dry, abundant, usable wood, dung or fuel in places where it is appropriate or permitted to use fuel in a combustion engine. In an urban setting where, for example, many of the Indian or Brazilian poverty stricken, lower class or middle class live in high rise apartment style buildings or densely packed slums, there would be no access to such consumable fuel sources and for safety and fire code reasons would not be able to burn this type of fuel or run a combustion engine in the confined space of an apartment in a multi-family building. It is also impractical to expect homes in developed or developing nations to stockpile dry wood or dung, even if there was a safe way to run an engine indoors or in a multi-family building. Thus, the Kamen system remains impractical to many users of the developing world that cannot afford the system, stockpile consumable fuel, or safely operate an engine within a dwelling.

[0024] Further still, another drawback of the Kamen system is the use of a fully integrated thermal cycle external combustion engine power driven VCD system designed specifically for burning dry fuel sources such as wood or animal manure. That is, as is known in many regions, during the monsoon/rainy seasons there would be no dried animal manure or firewood thus rendering the system useless for periods of time when such conditions exist.

[0025] Another drawback is that the Sterling engine, as a byproduct of producing energy, releases C0 ₂ and other contaminates into the atmosphere. Additionally, for human health reasons, the toxic exhaust fumes from the Sterling engine would prohibit the use of such machine in densely packed slums or lower and middle class apartment style buildings. [0026] Finally, in many developing countries, limited individual financial resources, individual technical assets, and/or training infrastructure does not make it feasible to build centralized, large-scale water systems or networked distributed utilities.

[0027] There still exists a compelling human need in many parts of the world to provide a means by which even an individual can, without the need for sourced fuel, generate electricity and/or purify water at anytime, day or night or under any environmental or crisis condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The subject invention is a simple, inexpensive, electrical power generation and water purification system powered by, at its lowest power input level, the mechanical power generated by an individual person using his muscle power to generate both individually purified water and/or electricity on an as needed basis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year on an as needed basis.

[0029] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a power generation and water purification (PGWP) system including: an electrically operable water purification system for receiving an input water stream and distilling the input water stream to a clean output water stream; a power module (PM) for operative connection with the water purification system, the PM for supplying operative electrical power to the water purification system, the power module including: a power generation system adapted for generating electrical power for the water purification system within the PGWP system.

[0030] In one embodiment, the water purification system is a vapor compression distillation (VCD) system.

[0031] In other embodiments, the PM includes an alternator having a rotary input for driving the alternator, the alternator for generating electrical energy for operating the water purification system.

[0032] In another embodiment, the system also includes a power storage system operatively connected to the power generation system, the power storage system for receiving and storing electrical power from the power generation system and for providing electrical power to the water purification system.

[0033] In another embodiment, the system also includes at least one electrical connector in operative connection to the power module for providing electrical power to external devices.

[0034] In another embodiment, the system includes a charging system for charging the power storage system from an external electrical power source wherein the charging system includes at least one charging connector for electrical connection to an external charging source.

[0035] In another embodiment, the system includes a control system for managing electrical power within the PGWP system.

[0036] In various embodiments, the controller monitors energy requirements of the water purification system relative to the power available from the power generation system and the energy storage system and enables power delivery from any one of or a combination of the energy storage system and power generation system based on the available power and/or the controller prioritizes energy available from the power generation system for water purification system operation and/or the controller utilizes excess power available from the power generation system relative to the current power requirements of the water purification system for charging the energy storage system.

[0037] In other embodiments, the water purification system and power module and/or power module components are modular for connection/disconnection from/to each other.

[0038] In other embodiments, the alternator further includes a gearbox for operative connection to the alternator wherein the gearbox is adapted for optimal rotary energy transfer from a rotary power source to the alternator and/or the alternator is adapted for optimal rotary energy transfer from a generator to the alternator.

[0039] In another embodiment, the alternator is adapted for optimal rotary energy transfer from a bicycle to the alternator. [0040] In yet another embodiment, the VCD system is a small scale VCD system having a power rating of 100-1500 Watts wherein the VCD can produce up to 10 gallons of clean water output per hour.

[0041] In another embodiment, the VCD system and power module are vertically positioned with respect to one another with the power module beneath the VCD system and wherein the VCD system and power module are insulated to minimize heat loss from the PGWP system.

[0042] In another embodiment, the system includes any one of or a combination of a hand/peddle-crank generator, wind energy generator, internal combustion engine generator, external engine combustion generator, photo voltaic generator, fuel cell, geothermal energy generator, grid power source operatively connected to the power module.

[0043] In yet another embodiment, the alternator is a heat recovery alternator (HRA) and at least a fraction of the input water stream is directed through the HRA to effect preheating of the at least a fraction of the input water stream prior to flowing into the water purification system.

[0044] In another aspect, the invention provides a power module (PM) system including: a power connection system for connection to an electrical external power source including any one of or a combination of a hand-crank generator, peddle powered generator, wind energy generator, internal combustion generator, external combustion generator, photo voltaic generator, fuel cell, geothermal energy generator, or grid power source; a power storage system operatively connected to the power connection system; a water purification connection system operatively connected to the power connection system and the power storage system; a controller operatively connected to the power connection system, power storage system and water purification connection system for monitoring energy requirements of a water purification system connected to the water purification connection system relative to the available power from the power connection system and the energy storage system, and for controlling power delivery to a water purification system wherein the controller prioritizes energy available from an external power source for water purification system operation.

[0045] In various embodiments, the controller utilizes excess power available from an external power source for charging the energy storage system and/or enables power delivery from any one of or a combination of the energy storage system and power generation system to the water purification connection system and/or to an external auxiliary device.

[0046] In another embodiment, the power module system components are operatively positioned to provide optimal thermal and/or electrical energy required to operate a water purification system.

[0047] In another embodiment, the controller further includes a first manual control switch to override the control system and direct the flow of energy directly from an external energy source to the energy storage system.

[0048] In another embodiment, the controller further includes a second manual control switch to override the control system and direct the flow of energy directly from an external energy source to the water purification system.

[0049] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for purifying water including the step of operating a water purification system by a rotary torque generation system.

[0050] In another embodiment, the water purification system is a vapor compression distillation (VCD) system.

[0051] In another embodiment, the rotary torque generation system is any one of or a combination of bicycle power generation system or a hand-crank power generation system and/or the rotary torque generation system includes any one of or a combination of a wind energy generator, internal combustion generator, external combustion generator, photo voltaic generator, fuel cell, geothermal energy generator, or grid power source. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The invention is described with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a multi-use power generation and water purification system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a multi-use power generation and water purification system in accordance with a further and more specific embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 3 is a schematic view of multi-use power module of a power generation and water purification system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] With reference to the Figures, embodiments of a multi-use power generation and water purification system 10 are described. In the context of this description, it is understood that different vapor compression distillation (VCD) systems can be utilized within the context of this description and the invention and that the following description of the general principles of operation of a VCD is not meant to be limiting. Additionally, with reference to the Figures, embodiments of a Power Module system 4 are described.

[0054] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the VCD system generally includes a vapour compression distillation system (VCD) 12 and a power module for providing motive and/or stored power 14 to the VCD from a prime energy source.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1 , the system 10 includes a VCD system 12, a power module 14 in which input water 16 is heated and passed through a steam compressor 12d and heat exchanger 12f to create distilled, clean water 16a, and waste concentrate 18a.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, in a more specific embodiment, the VCD system includes a reservoir 12a, water make-up heating system 12b, steam compressor 12d, reservoir heat exchanger 12e and input water heat exchanger 12f. [0057] In operation, input water 16 is delivered to the input water heat exchanger 12f where it is warmed by clean water outflow 16a and waste water concentrate 18a. The input water 16 is delivered to reservoir 12a (needs to be labeled in fig 1 ) to be further heated within the reservoir 12a primarily by compressed steam via reservoir heat exchanger 12e and top off heat provided by water heating system 12b. The temperature within the reservoir is controlled so as to effect boiling and steam generation above fluid level 18. Generated steam 20 is collected by vapour compressor 12d and waste water concentrate 18a is discharged through intake exchanger 12f.

[0058] Compressor 12d is operated to compress steam 20. The compressed steam passes through reservoir heat exchanger 12e where the steam is condensed whilst providing input heat to the reservoir 12a and the reservoir water. Distilled and clean water 16a is collected from the system. The system is contained within an insulating jacket 22 to minimize heat loss from the system.

[0059] In accordance with the invention, power for the VCD 12 is provided by power module 14 operatively connected to the VCD. The power module 14 provides power to the compressor 12d and provides input power to the water make-up heating system 2b in the form of electrical power and various water pumps moving water though the system.

[0060] As such, it is preferred that the compressor 12d is an electric mechanical compression unit and the water make-up heating system is an immersion type heater.

[0061] In one embodiment, the power module 14 includes a power storage system such as a battery 14a. The power module 14 can receive power from a power generation system 14b such as rotary mechanical power A (eg. human, animal, wind, water wheel or engine). The power module can also receive power to the battery in the form of electrical power B (eg. grid, solar, generators etc.) through appropriate connectors 14c. A bus 14f and controller 30 is used to control the flow of power. The power module can also provide power 50, C for running auxiliary external devices such as charging cellular phones or small radios.

[0062] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, in one embodiment the power generation system 14b is an alternator 14d that receives rotary input power A from an external source through rotary torque transfer shaft 14e and/or 14g. The external source can provide various forms of rotary input energy such as bicycle input power, or hand-crank power as well as non- human inputs such as animal, wind-power or engine power and others.

[0063] The combination of a power generation system and energy storage system provides a number of advantages to the operation of the system. For example, for a system utilizing human power, the battery can store human input power such that the system can be run at a later time when the person may not be available or able to provide the necessary power. That is, a person may choose to provide the input power to the system when it is convenient for them to do so and then operate the system at a later time when the need for water purification or electric power exists.

[0064] Similarly, the battery can be removable and also can be charged by other energy sources either through an alternator-type charging system or by an electrical power supply such as a wind, solar, a generator or grid power supply. Again, in these cases, it may be that the alternate power supply is available at a specific time or in a specific location, but the need for purified water does not exist until a later time or in a different location.

[0065] In another embodiment, the alternator may also be provided with an appropriate transmission, gearing and/or flywheel system 14g depending on the specific rotary power source. Such a gearing/flywheel system as well as the alternator may be modular such that the system can be configured with different alternator and/or gearing systems depending on the specific power source. That is, if the primary source of input power is human power via a bicycle-type generator, the optimal gearing system for the typical power output of a human on a bicycle, or multiple humans on more than one bicycle, may be connected to the system. Alternatively, in the event that the power source is more likely to be a higher power non-human input (eg. a small generator or wind mill), then the system can be configured to be run based on that particular power input.

[0066] In the case of human-power, the use of a battery system and/or inline or attached controller system can also provide load leveling capabilities where the battery system can accommodate for fluctuations in the human power input. That is, the person may not be able or willing to provide an even power input to the system but the battery system can accommodate for fluctuations by using stored energy to provide the desired power input into the VCD. In this case, the human may simply be supplementing the power being delivered to the VCD from the battery.

[0067] In one embodiment, the system may be used without a battery where the alternator, or other power source, powers the VCD, or other auxiliary device such as a radio, directly through a controller where various other power sources, such as human peddle power, can bypass the battery. In this embodiment a manual switch or switches may be utilized to bypass the battery or allow, divert or otherwise control how energy is flowing in or out of the system.

[0068] Also as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, in one embodiment, an alternator may be a heat recovery alternator (HRA) as a means to further enhance the efficiency of the system. In this embodiment, input water 16' is routed through the HRA, typically through a surrounding jacket to provide additional preheating to the input water before delivery to the water purification system 12. For thermal optimization the input water 16' may also be split so that a portion of the input water 16' is routed through the HRA and the other portion flows into the water purification system 12 and where both input water streams feed into the evaporation reservoir 12a. As is generally known, of 100% power input to a typical alternator, 60% of the input energy is converted to electricity and the other 40% is dissipated to the atmosphere as waste heat energy. As such, by recovering this heat into the input water via an HRA, less make-up heat is required and therefore less electrical energy is needed to maintain the system operation.

[0069] In a further embodiment, the system may be deployed in which the power generation system is a fuel cell system or generator configured to the VCD that uses natural gas or other liquid fuel. The natural gas may be main line gas or portable, tank gas. In this case, the system can be used with or without an energy storage system

[0070] In further embodiments, the power generation system includes any one of or a combination of other input systems A, B as noted above. Vapour Compression Distillation System

[0071] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the VCD system is optimized to relatively low power inputs and/or battery storage in a portable and modular configuration. More specifically, the design of the VCD optimizes the management and utilization of heat generation through the design of heat exchangers consistent with input power and output capacity of the VCD. Generally, the present VCD is optimized for lower clean water output as compared to presently available commercial VCDs.

[0072] That is, the subject VCD is generally designed for a power input in the range of 100-500 Watts or more as a small scale device. With this power input range, the system would generally be capable of producing between 1-10 gallons of water per hour with a typical efficiency of 20-100 watts/gallon of water when in a steady state.

[0073] During start-up, while the water temperature in the reservoir is less than the boiling temperature, the stored battery power and/or the HRA may be utilized to assist in reaching a steady state operation more quickly whereas afterwards, the heating system may only require a small amount of supplemental heat (typically less than 5% of the heat required to process the designed volume of water).

System Control

[0074] In one embodiment, the system includes a control system having a controller 30 to effect efficient control of the system. The control system includes appropriate sensors in the system so as to efficiently control the utilization of available power for producing clean water and/or for auxiliary electrical uses.

[0075] For example, the system can include temperature and pressure sensor(s) operatively positioned within the system to determine temperature and pressure parameters that can be utilized to optimize system operation and efficiency. For example, temperature and pressure sensors may be utilized to control the heating system during start-up whilst managing operation of the compressor. As the system reaches temperature, the temperature and pressure sensors may be used to communicate with system control and initiate operation of the compressor whilst reducing energy flow to the heating element. Similarly, with regards to the power generation and power storage system, voltage and current sensors are utilized to monitor the amount of power available to the VCD and determine how power is to be obtained. That is, in the event that the power available from the power generation system alternator 14d is low, the controller may direct power from the battery to ensure that the VCD requirements are being met. Similarly, if power available from the power generation system is high, power may be directed to charge the battery and/or provide a feedback signal to the power generation system to reduce power in the event of no battery or a fully-charged battery. Similarly, the VCD can be switched off while the battery is being charged or used for other emergency electrical need such as power an emergency radio or cellular phone.

[0076] The system may also include appropriate control valves and/or pumps to maintain a desired flow of water into and waste water from the system. That is, and depending on the pressure of available source water, it may be necessary to boost pressure or reduce pressure. Flow sensors can be incorporated into the system as feedback control to the controller. Positive displacement pumps may also be used to meter flow through the system.

[0077] In another embodiment, particularly where the power module is a separate and modular system with respect to the VCD, the power module may include an appropriate power controller for connection to the power connection system, power storage system and VCD connection system for monitoring energy requirements of a VCD connected to the VCD connection system relative to the available power from the power connection system and the energy storage system.

[0078] As above, the power module may be used for controlling power delivery to a VCD wherein the power controller prioritizes energy available from an external power source for VCD system operation.

[0079] Similarly, the power module and controller may utilize excess power available from an external power source for charging the energy storage system. [0080] The power module may enable power delivery from any one of or a combination of the energy storage system and power generation system to the VCD connection system and/or other auxiliary device.

Other Design Considerations

[0081] Other design considerations may be incorporated depending on the intended deployment scenario ranging from portable systems for use in third world countries as a daily and practical means of water purification through to disaster relief, camping, remote fire-fighting in first world nations.

[0082] For example, the system may utilize a tower design to more effectively manage and capture waste heat within the system. A tower design with the power module located at the lower regions of the system will promote the heat transfer of waste heat to the VCD. Insulation of all components is also important.

[0083] The system may also be designed in a modular format so to allow the end-user to select and/or change the components of the system depending on the available power. By providing modular components, an end-user may select components most suited to the type of power they may have available. For example, bicycle power components may be selected for a user when the system may be used as the primary source of clean water. Hand-crank power components may be selected for disaster-relief and/or camping/fire- fighting systems.

[0084] The system may also include an inverter such that both AC and DC power sources may be used as input power.

[0085] The system can also be used as a basic power generation system for other uses such as running computers, basic lights, cellular phone charging, emergency medical devices and/or radios.

Benefits

[0086] As described system, the system has numerous life sustaining and emergency situation benefits to many different types of users depending on their immediate need, geographic location, socio-economic status and/or available resources. When deployed as a human powered water purification system, the system has a favorable carbon footprint when compared to other VCD systems. The system is a simple, inexpensive, electrical power generation and water purification system that has a significant range of potential input power ratings ranging from, at its lowest power input level, the mechanical power generated by an individual person using his muscle power to generate both purified water and small scale electrical generation. Importantly, the system can be used on an as needed basis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Power Source

[0087] As discussed above, the power source can be a variety of input sources including a) biological energy (human and animal power); b) environmental energy (wind, water, sun, geothermal) and c) chemical energy (dried animal dung, grasses, wood, coal, oil, natural gas). Each of these energy sources can be used directly or indirectly to generate rotary torque power or direct electrical energy as in the case of photovoltaic cells.

[0088] It is understood that mechanical vapor compression (MVC) systems or multi-effect vapor compression systems, or other such vapor compressing systems known to those skilled in the art, are interchangeable with the vapor compression distillation (VCD) system described herein without departing from the scope of the claims. It is also understood that other variations may be incorporated in the system without departing from the scope of the claims.