Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water treatment and/or desalination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water treatment and/or desalination.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for an energy-efficient distillation system (42). An energy-efficient distillation system (42) can include a fluid inlet (24), one or more heat-yielding purification elements (7, 15, 44) downstream of the fluid inlet (24), one or more heat pipes (6), and a fluid outlet (23) downstream of the heat-yielding purification element (7, 15, 44). The heat-yielding purification element (7, 15, 44) can be, for example, a degasser (7), a demister (15), or an evaporation chamber (44). A heat pipe (6) has a first end operably connected to the heat-generating purification element(s) (7, 15, 44), a second end operably connected to the fluid inlet (24), and a body therebetween. The heat pipe (6) is configured to transfer latent heat energy from the first end to the second end, thereby heating a fluid (8) within the fluid inlet (24). The distillation system (42) can also include one or more descaling elements (21) for reducing scale formation of the fluid (8).