Abstract: A water treatment system includes a primary evaporator and a secondary evaporator that is also a primary condenser. The primary evaporator relies on imparting rotational motion to the fluid to atomize it. The secondary evaporator may be a tube and shell heat exchanger. Embodiments include heat exchangers for using waste heat of various components. In an embodiment, concentrated effluent is recirculated and combined with influent to improve efficiency of the system to achieve zero liquid discharge and aid in continuous cleaning of the system.

Abstract: An atomizer for use in a water treatment system includes an influent inlet, to receive a flow of fluid containing contaminants a gas flow inlet, to receive a flow of gas to be mixed with the fluid in a mixing zone, an airflow controlling component, including an array of vanes disposed between the gas flow inlet and the mixing zone to impart a rotational component to a direction of flow of the gas. A channel receives the flow of fluid containing contaminants, and conducts the flow of fluid containing contaminants to the mixing zone, wherein radially outwardly flowing fluid containing contaminants is mixed with radially inwardly flowing gas to atomize the fluid containing contaminants, and an outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an atomizer with a first flow member defining a first flow path and a second flow member defining a second flow path such that a solution and an inlet gas can flow in the first and second flow path to a mixing volume defined by the first flow member. A vane of the second flow member redirects a portion of at least one of a tangential velocity component or a circumferential velocity component of the flow to produce a rotational velocity component therein. The solution and the inlet gas mix within the mixing volume to produce a mixture. A separator is fluidically coupled to the second flow member to receive the mixture. The separator produces a first flow including a vaporized portion of a solvent from the solution and a second flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute from the solution.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a set of atomizers, a housing and a separator. Each atomizer includes an inlet portion that receives an inlet flow of a solution and an outlet portion that produces an atomized flow of the solution. The housing defines a flow path. Each atomizer is disposed at least partially within the housing such that the outlet portion of each atomizer is in fluid communication with the flow path. The housing is configured such that a gas flowing within the flow path can be sequentially mixed with the atomized flow of the solution produced by the outlet portion of each atomizer to produce a mixture of the gas and the solution. The separator produces a first outlet flow including a portion of the gas and a vaporized portion of a solvent, and a second outlet flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly includes an inlet member and a diffuser, and receives a mixture of a gas and a solution to vaporize a portion of a solvent from the solution. First portions of the diffuser and of the inlet member collectively define a first flow path. A second portion of the diffuser defines a second flow path that diverges. A third portion of the diffuser and a second portion of the inlet member collectively define an evaporation volume between the first flow path and the second flow path. At least one of the diffuser or the inlet flow member includes multiple vanes that produce a rotation within a flow of the mixture when the flow exits the first flow path into the evaporation volume. A separator receives the mixture to produce a first flow of a portion of the solvent and a second flow of a portion of the solute.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a set of atomizers, a housing and a separator. Each atomizer includes an inlet portion that receives an inlet flow of a solution and an outlet portion that produces an atomized flow of the solution. The housing defines a flow path. Each atomizer is disposed at least partially within the housing such that the outlet portion of each atomizer is in fluid communication with the flow path. The housing is configured such that a gas flowing within the flow path can be sequentially mixed with the atomized flow of the solution produced by the outlet portion of each atomizer to produce a mixture of the gas and the solution. The separator produces a first outlet flow including a portion of the gas and a vaporized portion of a solvent, and a second outlet flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly includes an inlet member and a diffuser, and receives a mixture of a gas and a solution to vaporize a portion of a solvent from the solution. First portions of the diffuser and of the inlet member collectively define a first flow path. A second portion of the diffuser defines a second flow path that diverges. A third portion of the diffuser and a second portion of the inlet member collectively define an evaporation volume between the first flow path and the second flow path. At least one of the diffuser or the inlet flow member includes multiple vanes that produce a rotation within a flow of the mixture when the flow exits the first flow path into the evaporation volume. A separator receives the mixture to produce a first flow of a portion of the solvent and a second flow of a portion of the solute.