Abstract: To provide a fresh water-generating apparatus that does not require large amounts of heating energy as in the past, also does not require maintenance such as replacement of reverse osmosis membranes, and is simpler and inexpensive.

Abstract: Techniques for solar thermal water purification by recycling photovoltaic reflection losses are provided. In one aspect, a solar thermal water purification system includes: a water purification component for desalinating salt water, the water purification component having multiple stages through which the salt water passes, and condensers in each of the stages; and a photovoltaic component configured to heat the salt water prior to the salt water entering a first stage of the water purification component, wherein desalinated water evaporates and condenses in each of the stages to be collected as pure water. A system using reverse osmosis and a heat-driven water pump is also provided. Methods for water purification are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for separation of a target product from a liquid phase P comprising the target product, comprising at least one primary space (3) for a heat transfer medium W, at least one first feed unit (5a) and one first removal unit (5b) for the heat transfer medium W, at least one secondary space (7) for the liquid phase P, at least one second feed unit (9) for the liquid phase P, at least one crystallization surface (13) which divides the primary space (3) and the secondary space (7), at least one second removal unit (15) for the target product and at least one application unit (11) for a liquid phase P0 essentially directly to the crystallization surface (13) or the surfaces of lines that conduct the heat transfer medium W. The present invention further relates to a process for removing a target product from a liquid phase P comprising the target product.

Abstract: A heat and mass transfer system configured to be a passive system using gravitational force to form a thin liquid film flow on an outer surface of a flow distribution head and downstream conduit member to subject the thin liquid film to heat transfer mediums. The at least partially spherical flow distribution head creates a uniform thin flow of liquid on the outer surface increasing the efficiency of the heat and mass transfer system. The heat and mass transfer system may include a heat transfer medium supply system in fluid communication with internal aspects of the downstream conduit such that a heat transfer medium flows within the downstream conduit while the liquid film flows on the outer surface of the downstream conduit. Rather than conventional sheet flow on inner surfaces of a conduit, the flow distribution head enables sheet flow to be formed on an outside surface of a component.

Abstract: A modular distillation apparatus including at least one heat exchanger that preheats contaminated liquids; a heater that heats the contaminated liquid from the heat exchanger; an evaporator condenser adapted o boil the contaminated liquid coming out of the heater to produce water vapor and contaminant concentrate, and condenser the water vapor into distilled water; a vacuum chamber capable of operating at below atmospheric pressure, the vacuum chamber housing the evaporator condenser and including at least one partition to separate the distilled water from the contaminate concentrate; a vapor compressor operably associated with the vacuum chamber to receive water vapor from the evaporator condenser in the vacuum chamber and pump the water vapor at pressure back through the evaporator condenser, wherein the heat exchanger recovers sensible heat from outgoing condensed distilled water and contaminant concentrate recycled from the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator includes a heat transfer tube bundle with a heat medium channeled to an interior, a tank with a refrigerant inflow port having the heat transfer tube bundle disposed in the tank, a liquid refrigerant sprinkling part arranged to drop liquid refrigerant onto the heat transfer tube bundle, a vapor outlet tube extending from an upper part of the tank, a cover having a portion positioned in a location inside the tank and higher than the liquid refrigerant sprinkling part, and an impeding member provided between the liquid refrigerant sprinkling part and the cover at a different position than the vapor outlet tube along the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer tubes. The impeding part impedes the flow of refrigerant that flows between the liquid refrigerant sprinkling part and the cover and flows in the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer tubes.

Abstract: An energy efficient electrically operated steam generator is capable of producing pressure less high temperature as well as superheated steam. It comprise of main body (14) defined by side wall, roof (2) and open bottom, securely fixed to the rim of water holding tray (7). Said roof is provided with steam outlet nozzles (16) to allow the steam to emerge out of the steam generator. A porous ceramic honeycomb (3) with plurality of parallel channels (4), and grooves (5) or holes (23) are created therein for inserting heating element (6). One end of all the channels (4) is always submerged in water (11) in tray (7), and the other end of most of the channels is open to the roof and both ends of the heating element are connected to the power source for heating the water to generate steam.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a hot process stream fluidly connected to an industrial process, a cold process stream fluidly connected to an industrial process, and a membrane distillation system. The membrane distillation system includes a vaporizing stream comprising a mixture of components, a condensing stream, and a membrane located between the vaporizing stream and the condensing stream. The vaporizing stream and condensing stream are in fluid communication through the membrane. The membrane distillation system also includes a first heat transfer area between the hot process stream and the vaporizing stream. Additionally, the membrane distillation system includes a second heat transfer area between the condensing stream and the cold process stream.

Abstract: A multi-effects desalination system includes a housing having a heating box, a plurality of vessels, a plurality of heat rods within each of the vessels, and a condenser unit. Each vessel is separated by a separator wall. Each heat rod extends through one of the separator walls, such that each heat rod has a first end extending into one vessel and a second end extending into an adjacent vessel. The desalination system also includes a plurality of sprayers, a plurality of demisters, and a plurality of trays. Each sprayer is configured to discharge feed water FW onto the second end of each heat rod in a respective vessel and each tray being configured to collect condensate or fresh water. The condensate collected in one to tray can be transferred to the condensate collection tray in an adjacent vessel. Further, the desalination system can also include a thermocompressor unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high purity distillate in evaporators is useful for evaporation of waters where volatile silica or organic compounds are encountered such as in production of hydrocarbons from geological formations. An evaporator having a contaminant reduction system is provided. The contaminant reduction system includes an upflow first mist eliminator portion to remove entrained liquid droplets and produce an intermediate purity water vapor stream. A continuous spray system provides a spray of dilute caustic solution in a selected spray configuration for mass transfer contact with the passing intermediate purity water vapor stream, to remove volatile silica compounds therefrom, and produce a partially decontaminated steam stream having mist particles therein. An upflow second mist eliminator portion is provided to remove the residual mist particles, and produce a high purity water vapor stream. The high purity water vapor stream is condensed to provide a high purity distillate stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the thickness of a flowing, laminar fluid film. The film flow may be gravity-induced or the result of an alternative force. The fluid is deposited on an upper end of a flow surface where a relatively thick layer of the film forms. The film flows over a fluid dispersal region where the surface area is rapidly expanding, which results in rapid thinning of the film thickness. The fluid then flows over an active region where the surface area is designed to control the fluid film thickness. For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to maintain an approximately constant film thickness as the fluid flows over the active region of the surface. The geometry of the flow surface is used to obtain the desired control over the fluid film thickness. The flow surface is the outer surface of a solid with a closed upper end and a lower end that may be open or closed.

Abstract: A thin-film evaporation system and method for processing a wet froth material. The system includes a horizontally positioned evaporation unit having an internal conveyor screw for systematically controlling the flow of a wet froth material through the evaporator. The system further includes a separation tank configured to remove unwanted waste materials from the final, dry froth product.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention, in the case of an apparatus in which a liquid containing matter having a lower boiling point than the liquid is made to flow down along external surfaces of guides, during which time the low boiling point matter is evaporated, to provide a specific apparatus that can be operated stably for a prolonged period of time on an industrial scale such that not less than 1 ton/hr of the liquid is produced through the evaporation, and furthermore to provide a specific industrial evaporation apparatus according to which there are no problems due to degeneration caused by some of the liquid residing in the apparatus for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention, in the case of an apparatus in which a liquid containing material having a lower boiling point than that of the liquid is made to flow down along an external surface of a guide, during which time the lower boiling point material is evaporated, to provide a specific apparatus that can be operated stably for a prolonged period of time on an industrial scale such that not less than 1 ton/hr of the liquid is subjected to the evaporation, and furthermore to provide a specific industrial evaporation apparatus in which there are no problems due to degeneration caused by some of the liquid residing in the apparatus for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaporating a solution and an evaporator applied to it. The evaporator (1) has parallel plate heat exchanger elements (3) fitted inside a jacket (2), consisting of a flexible plastic film, for example, and a liquid distribution space (4) common to the elements, from where the solution to be evaporated can be spread, through supply channels (6), on the heat transmission surfaces (4) of the elements to run from the top downwards. The solution (10) that has not evaporated on the surfaces is recycled from the bottom of the evaporator back to the liquid distribution space, and from there to the heat transmission surfaces (4) of the elements for re-evaporation. In connection with evaporation, precipitate is separated from the solution as a result of over-saturation, ending up in the recirculation flow with the solution and being separated from the solution in the liquid distribution space (14) that works as a separator for the precipitate.

Abstract: A heater exchanger used to condense a refrigerant in a refrigeration system. The heat exchanger is designed to perform a heat exchanging operation by the use of latent heat of water vaporization, thus having improved heat exchanging efficiency as well as a reduced size. The heat exchanger includes an upper header having a refrigerant inlet port and distributing a refrigerant introduced into the upper header through the refrigerant inlet port, a plurality of heat exchanging tubes connected at upper ends thereof to the upper header and extending in a vertical direction, a lower header connected to lower ends of the heat exchanging tubes and gathering the refrigerant flowing from the heat exchanging tubes, with a refrigerant outlet port formed in the lower header, and a water supply unit assembled with upper portions of external surfaces of the heat exchanging tubes, and feeding water to the tubes to cause water to flow along the external surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: An improved two-phase refrigerant distributor for use in a falling film evaporator in a refrigeration chiller system defines apertures in its undersurface from which serrated collars depend. The serrations cooperate to define locations below the undersurface of the distributor to which liquid refrigerant is drawn prior to exiting the distributor. As a result, the hang-up and/or travel of liquid refrigerant on the distributor undersurface is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Thin film thermal oxidative engine oil or other oleaginous liquid deposit device has an oleaginous test liquid placement volume; a heatable depositor surface in liquid communication with the volume; a supply for at least one of an oxidant and another substance which can adversely affect the test liquid; and a relatively thin film forming unit which delivers the test liquid to the depositor surface in a relatively thin film. Thin film thermal oxidative engine oil or other oleaginous fluid deposit method is also provided, which includes providing an oleaginous test liquid in an oleaginous test liquid placement volume; providing a depositor surface and heating said surface; delivering the test liquid as a relatively thin film to the heated depositor surface; providing to the test liquid an oxidizing and/or other substance which can adversely affect the test liquid; and observing any deposits or other activity thereabout. The invention is useful in oil testing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchange element (1) which is made up of a bag of a film material, such as plastic film, and to a heat exchanger made up of such heat exchange elements, the heat exchanger being suitable, for example, for the evaporation of effluents which contain solid matter, such as effluents from bleaching. The transfer of heat takes place in the bags (1) from a vapor condensing in the interior (3) of the bags to a liquid evaporating on their exterior surfaces (2). The forming evaporated vapor may be recycled via a compressor to the interior of the bags as heating vapor so that the heat exchanger will function as a distillation apparatus.