Patent US 4,865,723

Air holding spaces are incorporated into a ring attached by arms to a driveshaft supported on sealed bearings in a vessel containing saline water. Air compressed by a blower or air compressor, powered by external power (i.e. prime mover), is injected into the air holding spaces by injectors. The spaces ascend due to their buoyancy, imparting a rotary motion to the driveshaft. Energy developed is transmitted through the driveshaft to an electric generator powering the system control computer, sensors and valves. Energy is also used to rotate a water pump which draws in saline water and pumps it to a saline water tank at the top of the vessel, where it circulates through an array of water holding tubes of thermally conductive material. Heat generated by the compression of the injected air is conducted to the saline water. This heat and the molecular agitation of the water by the ascending air causes the water molecules at the surface to evaporate into the vapor state. Heat is conducted from the vapor, through the conductive tubes, into the saline water. The air, having lost this heat, gives up liquid water, which condenses on the tube surfaces, and falls into a fresh water holding tank. Saline water is delivered to the vessel to maintain water level. Salts are removed by periodic partial draining. All input and output is controlled by a system control computer programmed with the operating parameters, and which receives real-time input from a series of sensors within the system.