Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a contaminant from a fluid feed stream containing the contaminant. The method includes the steps of providing a feed stream (10) and heating it in a first step (18) to at least partially remove some of the contaminants and recover energy from a concentrate and distillate generated. Further heating the feed stream in a second heating step (20) in a heated separator generates a saturated vapor fraction (30) and a concentrated liquid contaminant fraction. The vapor fraction (30) may be compressed (32) to generate a temperature differential in the reboiler exchanger (34) with the vapor fraction being passed into contact with a reboiler exchanger (34) to provide a stream of condensed vapor from the reboiler. The stream may be circulated through the reboiler exchanger (34) and the heated separator to maintain from about 1% to about 50% by mass vapor in the stream.

Abstract: A method for removing a contaminant from a fluid feed stream containing the contaminant. The method includes the steps of providing a feed stream and heating it in a first step to at least partially remove some of the contaminants and recover energy from a concentrate and distillate generated. Further heating the feed stream in a second heating step in a heated separator generates a saturated vapor fraction and a concentrated liquid contaminant fraction. The vapor fraction may be compressed to generate a temperature differential in the reboiler exchanger with the vapor fraction being passed into contact with a reboiler exchanger to provide a stream of condensed vapor from the reboiler. The stream may be circulated through the reboiler exchanger and the heated separator to maintain from about 1% to about 50% by mass vapor in the stream. The apparatus includes a unique configuration of a vapor compressor, heated separator in combination with a forced circulation circuit to generate the decontamination result.