Abstract: A combined evaporator and condenser for desalination of seawater which can be used on a ship for fresh water production, has plate type falling film heat exchange elements within a housing wherein a liquid heating medium such as hot engine jacket water circulates within lower internal spaces of the heat exchange elements for boiling seawater falling as a film down external surfaces of the elements and vapor boiled off from the seawater is conducted to upper internal spaces within the heat exchange elements for condensation therein to produce a stream of fresh water. The seawater film flows down the entire length of the external surfaces of the plate heat exchange elements, which have a transverse internal partition separating their lower and upper internal spaces and vertical partitions within the lower internal spaces for lengthening the flow path of the liquid heat exchange medium therethrough.

Abstract: Heating elements having internal spaces for a heating medium such as steam are successively submerged and withdrawn from a bath of liquid to be evaporated. Vapor boiling off the outer surfaces of the heating elements can be returned for use as heating medium. The heating elements can be a bundle of elongated tubes or a plurality of plate-type elements rotatable about a common horizontal axis.

Abstract: Liquid to be evaporated by the indirect transfer of heat from a heating medium within plate type heat exchange elements is distributed over outer surfaces of the plate type elements by means of one or more brushes mounted for movement over the heating surface. Horizontally and vertically moving brush assemblies are described and shown.

Abstract: A high capacity emergency bilge pump employs an inclined axial flow propeller in a tubular casing for discharging bilge water to a body of receiving water at a level submerged below the surface of the body of receiving water. The propeller of the bilge pump is driven by an outboard motor.

Abstract: An evaporative condenser of the plate type having spaced heat exchange elements incorporates a blow down concentrator. Vapor enters the elements and after condensation therein by heat exchange with liquid flowing as a film on the outer surfaces of the elements; condensate is discharged from the bottoms of the elements. The coolant liquid is itself evaporatively cooled by a flow of cooling air passing outside the heat exchange elements, within a casing that encloses the elements. The cooling air may even be warmer than the coolant liquid so long as the air is not saturated. The overflow of cooling water from the condenser elements goes to the concentrator section, thus eliminating a separate piece of equipment especially dedicated to the concentrating of used coolant.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator in which some plate elements have their upper portions surrounded by a hood to prevent feed liquor from contacting hot vapor generated in the evaporator and exchanging heat therewith by direct contact. Other elements are located outside the hood.

Abstract: Heating elements formed by joining a pair of plates around most of their peripheries are provided with an internal partition which separates upper and lower internal spaces within the element so that separate streams of condensate are discharged from the element. A plurality of such plate elements can be used in a falling film condenser.

Abstract: In a falling film exchanger, a screen arrangement for preventing solid particles in the liquid to be heated from plugging liquid distribution outlets of a perforated liquid distributing tray or reaching the heating surface of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to prevent water hammer and condensation shock in evaporators by closing a vent line when the condensate level rises in an evaporator, thus causing steam flow to the evaporator to stop. The apparatus prevents continuing entry of steam through a steam inlet and thus prevents damage to the evaporator equipment.

Abstract: Excess steam pressure is relieved by displacement of a column of water through a vertical conduit opening a path for escape of steam through a space normally occupied by the water which normally acts as a seal. Under reversed conditions, air enters when the water is moved out of its sealing location by vacuum. The pressure vacuum breaker disclosed replaces flapper valves commonly used for pressure relief in paper making applications and has no moving mechanical parts.

Abstract: Contaminant substances having high biochemical oxygen demand, foul odors, etc., are often carried by vapors to be condensed in industrial processes. Certain of these contaminants are more volatile than the primary constituent of the vapor to be condensed. The invention concerns a process and apparatus for separating most of the more volatile contaminants so that separate streams of condensate are produced, one of which is relatively clean while the other stream, though considerably smaller in volume, carries most of the contaminants. A plate type surface condenser having a barrier on the condensing side which prevents the passage of contaminants into a stream of relatively clean condensate is disclosed. In case several different streams of condensate are to be separated, the condenser apparatus has several sections arranged in series.