Abstract: A distilling device having a vapor compression distiller. The vapor compression distiller can include a reservoir for receiving liquid for distillation. Evaporation surfaces can receive the liquid and evaporate the liquid into evaporated vapor for subsequent condensing. Condensing surfaces can receive the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A compressor can deliver the vapor to the condensing surfaces. The distilling device can also include an engine that produces heat. A boiler can be heated by the heat from the engine for producing a working vapor. A vapor turbine can be driven by the working vapor. The vapor turbine can be mechanically coupled to the compressor for mechanically driving the compressor, thereby reducing electrical power needs of the vapor compression distiller.

Abstract: A distilling device having a vapor compression distiller. The vapor compression distiller can include a reservoir for receiving liquid for distillation. Evaporation surfaces can receive the liquid and evaporate the liquid into evaporated vapor for subsequent condensing. Condensing surfaces can receive the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A compressor can deliver the vapor to the condensing surfaces. The distilling device can also include an engine that produces heat. A boiler can be heated by the heat from the engine for producing a working vapor. A vapor turbine can be driven by the working vapor. The vapor turbine can be mechanically coupled to the compressor for mechanically driving the compressor, thereby reducing electrical power needs of the vapor compression distiller.

Abstract: An ammonia removal system can remove ammonia from liquid, and can include an ammonia removal portion having liquid flow surfaces for flowing the liquid downward with gravity, and for receiving vapor moving upwardly past and over the downward flowing liquid for absorbing and removing ammonia from the liquid. An evaporator can be positioned below the ammonia removal portion for receiving the downward flowing liquid now with reduced ammonia from the ammonia removal portion. One portion of the liquid with reduced ammonia can evaporate and produce the vapor for moving upwardly into the ammonia removal portion for removing the ammonia. Another portion of the liquid with reduced ammonia can be drained for removal or use. A compressor can be in communication with the ammonia removal portion for compressing the vapor after exiting the ammonia removal portion. A condenser can be in communication with the compressor for receiving compressed vapor from the compressor for condensing into liquid condensate.

Abstract: A distiller for processing liquid influent, including a heating chamber. An evaporation arrangement can be positioned above the heating chamber and can include spaced apart evaporation surfaces forming a bottom evaporation stage, multiple intermediate evaporation stages, and an upper evaporation stage. The bottom evaporation stage can be in thermal contact with the heating chamber, and the multiple intermediate and upper evaporation stages can be sequentially positioned above the bottom evaporation stage one above another. The bottom and intermediate evaporation stages can evaporate at least a portion of the liquid influent applied thereon forming vapor and heating the stage positioned above with the vapor.

Abstract: A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

Abstract: A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

Abstract: An ammonia removal system can remove ammonia from liquid, and can include an ammonia removal portion having liquid flow surfaces for flowing the liquid downward with gravity, and for receiving vapor moving upwardly past and over the downward flowing liquid for absorbing and removing ammonia from the liquid. An evaporator can be positioned below the ammonia removal portion for receiving the downward flowing liquid now with reduced ammonia from the ammonia removal portion. One portion of the liquid with reduced ammonia can evaporate and produce the vapor for moving upwardly into the ammonia removal portion for removing the ammonia. Another portion of the liquid with reduced ammonia can be drained for removal or use. A compressor can be in communication with the ammonia removal portion for compressing the vapor after exiting the ammonia removal portion. A condenser can be in communication with the compressor for receiving compressed vapor from the compressor for condensing into liquid condensate.

Abstract: A fluid cooling apparatus includes a first cooling portion have a first series of cooling elements with first cooling surfaces. A second cooling portion can have a second series of cooling elements with second cooling surfaces. The second cooling portion can be removably nested together with the first cooling portion such that the first and second cooling surfaces of respective first and second series of cooling elements can be positioned adjacent to each other with gaps therebetween to form cooling cavities for cooling fluid introduced into the cooling cavities.

Abstract: A distiller for processing liquid influent, including a heating chamber. An evaporation arrangement can be positioned above the heating chamber and can include spaced apart evaporation surfaces forming a bottom evaporation stage, multiple intermediate evaporation stages, and an upper evaporation stage. The bottom evaporation stage can be in thermal contact with the heating chamber, and the multiple intermediate and upper evaporation stages can be sequentially positioned above the bottom evaporation stage one above another. The bottom and intermediate evaporation stages can evaporate at least a portion of the liquid influent applied thereon forming vapor and heating the stage positioned above with the vapor.

Abstract: A distilling device having a vapor compression distiller. The vapor compression distiller can include a reservoir for receiving liquid for distillation. Evaporation surfaces can receive the liquid and evaporate the liquid into evaporated vapor for subsequent condensing. Condensing surfaces can receive the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A compressor can deliver the vapor to the condensing surfaces. The distilling device can also include an engine that produces heat. A boiler can be heated by the heat from the engine for producing a working vapor. A vapor turbine can be driven by the working vapor. The vapor turbine can be mechanically coupled to the compressor for mechanically driving the compressor, thereby reducing electrical power needs of the vapor compression distiller.

Abstract: A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

Abstract: A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

Abstract: A fluid cooling apparatus includes a first cooling portion have a first series of cooling elements with first cooling surfaces. A second cooling portion can have a second series of cooling elements with second cooling surfaces. The second cooling portion can be removably nested together with the first cooling portion such that the first and second cooling surfaces of respective first and second series of cooling elements can be positioned adjacent to each other with gaps therebetween to form cooling cavities for cooling fluid introduced into the cooling cavities.

Abstract: A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

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: 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 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 distillation unit (10) employs a fluid circuit (FIG. 8) in which a counterflow heat exchanger (102, 104, 106, 108, 110) transfers heat from condensate and concentrate to feed liquid to be distilled. The pumping system (100, 238) that drives fluid through the circuit is arranged to keep the pressure in the counterflow heat exchanger's condensate higher than that in its feed-liquid passage. This tends to discourage the contamination that could otherwise occur in the concentrate if the fluid isolation ordinarily maintained between those passages is compromised.

Abstract: A rotary heat exchanger includes an evaporation chamber in which sprayers spray a feed liquid to be purified onto the surfaces of heat-exchange members, which heat it and cause some of it to evaporate. The remaining, un-evaporated feed liquid is collected by a rapidly spinning sump, from which scoops skim the spinning sump liquid and direct it back to the sprayers. To make the rate at which feed liquid is supplied to the heat exchanger match that at which the sprayed liquid evaporates, a regulator bases its control of a flow-controlling valve's flow resistance on the internal pressure that prevails in one of the scoops.

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.