Abstract: A distillation system for distilling influent liquid includes a counterflow heat exchanger for receiving and heating the influent liquid. A heater is coupled to the counterflow heat exchanger for receiving the influent liquid from the counterflow heat exchanger and heating the influent liquid. An evaporation unit is coupled to the heater and to a sump for receiving the influent liquid from the heater and for receiving liquid from the sump and forming a vapor from at least a portion of the influent liquid and the liquid received from the sump. The evaporation unit returns unevaporated liquid to the sump. A condensation unit is coupled to the evaporation unit for forming a condensate from vapor received from the evaporation unit. The condensation unit is coupled to the counterflow heat exchanger for transferring the condensate to the counterflow heat exchanger. The heater simultaneously heats the liquid in the sump and the influent liquid received from the counterflow heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchange system heats an influent liquid. The heat exchange system includes a plurality of heat exchanger modules arranged in a stacked configuration. Each of the heat exchanger modules includes a housing and three flow paths separated by heat transfer elements in the housing. Liquids flowing through two of the flow paths transfer heat through the heat transfer elements to influent liquid flowing through a flow path therebetween. The housing includes two opposed cover members on opposite sides of the heat transfer element and the flow paths. The heat exchange system also includes a support structure for supporting the plurality of heat exchanger modules. The support structure includes support elements engaging the cover members of the heat exchanger modules at opposite ends of the stacked configuration. Internal pressure on the cover members resulting from liquids in the flow paths is transferred to the support structure to inhibit outward deformation of the cover members.

Abstract: A distiller's counterflow-heat-exchanger module includes thermally conductive distillate and concentrate dividers across which heat flows to an influent liquid from distillate and concentrate liquids, respectively. The distillate divider's shape is convoluted in such a manner as to form alternating distillate and influent channels having end openings. A peripheral gasket is so over-molded onto the distillate divider that it forms plugs that seal the end openings from each other and further forms a ridge providing surfaces against which opposed generally planar parallel surfaces of cover members can be urged to form a peripheral seal.

Abstract: The heat transfer surfaces of a vapor-compression-type distiller's rotary heat exchanger are provided by a plurality of “blades” that extend radially outward from the rotary heat exchanger's axis of rotation and have interior surfaces that define respective narrow constituent condensation chambers. The blades' outer surfaces transfer heat of vaporization to a liquid to be purified, and the distiller's compressor draws the resultant vapor in, compresses it, and feeds the resultant pressurized vapor at one axial end into the blades' interior condensation chambers, where it surrenders the heat of vaporization to the interior blade surfaces and condenses. Passages formed in adjacent blades' elongated walls provide fluid communication between the constituent condensation chambers in such a manner that together they form a manifold from which condensate from all the blades can be withdrawn from any of them.