Abstract: A device for processing water having high concentrations of scale forming compounds and high solids content in a high efficiency vapor compression distillation system wherein a plate-in-frame heat exchanger is submerged in a boiling solution contained in a boiler drum. An impeller in the drum continuously circulates the boiling solution through the heat exchanger at a velocity to prevent suspended solids from accumulating and to inhibit scale formation on the boiling surfaces of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A vapor compression distillation system including a boiler/condenser assembly wherein a portion of the condensate is redirected back to the condenser inlet to extract superheat from the compressed vapor and transfer it to the liquid in the boiler. The vapor entering the condenser is reduced to a saturation condition to prevent heat build up in the condenser to improve heat transfer efficiency. When the temperature of the incoming feed water is within the operating range of the boiler/condenser assembly, the system is operated under vacuum sufficient to match the boiler temperature with the temperature of the incoming feed water so that no preheater or waste heat recovery exchanges are required.

Abstract: A boiler/condenser assembly for a high efficiency purification system including a plate-in-frame type heat exchanger wherein vertically extending common plate members are provided with corrugated faces having herringbone configurations constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of contact points where the condensing surfaces of adjacent common plate members defining a condensing chamber come into near or direct contact which serve as accumulation points for the liquid forming on the condensing surfaces of both common plate members. The accumulated liquid is caused to flow off the condensing surfaces in a plurality of diagonal liquid flow paths.

Abstract: A cylindrical insert for a pre-existing pressure vessel has an integral accumulator chamber defining a head for the vessel. Inner end surfaces of the accumulator chamber, along with the walls of the pressure vessel, define a filter element chamber, the inner end of the accumulator chamber also supporting an array of permanent filter elements. The accumulator chamber is of annular form, around a central pipe which serves, alternately, as the outlet for filtered fluid passing from the filter chamber or as the inlet for filtered clean fluid to be forcefully pulsed back through the filter elements by the release of compressed air from the accumulator to flush them of an accumulation of filtered waste material. The insert system includes piping associated with the accumulator chamber for charging the chamber with highly compressed air and for selectively releasing the charge for backflushing, and control valves for placing the insert system in filtering and backflushing modes.