Abstract: A method and system for distilling alcohol in an alcohol production process is disclosed. The method can include fermenting a mixture of water and milled grain to produce alcohol-laden beer, which can be distilled in a beer column maintained at a subatmospheric pressure to produce a vapor, primarily including alcohol, and whole stillage. Thin stillage is separated from the whole stillage. Water is evaporated from the separated thin stillage to produce first-concentrated thin stillage and at least a portion of first effect steam. Water from the first-concentrated thin stillage is evaporated with heat from the first effect steam to produce second-concentrated thin stillage and second effect steam. Water is evaporated from the second-concentrated thin stillage with heat from the second effect steam to third effect steam. At least a portion of the third effect steam is used to supply sufficient heat to the beer column for distilling the alcohol-laden beer.

Abstract: A method and a system to produce a distillate stream from an aqueous stream containing at least one dissolved solid by a thermal distillation process using at least one of a heated aqueous stream from a turbine system intercooler and a stack heater as a heat source.