Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a vapor-compression evaporation system includes a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component. A first set of the plurality of vessels includes vapor-compression evaporators and a second set of the plurality of vessels includes multi-effect evaporators. A mechanical compressor is coupled to the last vessel in the series of vapor-compression evaporators and is operable to receive a vapor therefrom. A turbine is coupled to, and operable to drive, the mechanical compressor. A pump is operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor, and a tank is coupled to the mechanical compressor and is operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor. A plurality of heat exchangers is coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, wherein the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the first set is operable to receive the vapor from the tank, and at least some of the vapor condenses therein.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a vapor-compression evaporation system includes a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component. A first set of the plurality of vessels includes vapor-compression evaporators and a second set of the plurality of vessels includes multi-effect evaporators. A mechanical compressor is coupled to the last vessel in the series of vapor-compression evaporators and is operable to receive a vapor therefrom. A turbine is coupled to, and operable to drive, the mechanical compressor. A pump is operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor, and a tank is coupled to the mechanical compressor and is operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor. A plurality of heat exchangers is coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, wherein the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the first set is operable to receive the vapor from the tank, and at least some of the vapor condenses therein.