Abstract: A combined thermal power station and a desalination plant for seawater in which the power station includes a gas turbine set, a waste heat boiler connected to the exhaust gas outlet of the gas turbine and a steam turbine. The waste heat boiler includes first and second sections arranged in cascade on the water side in the flow path of the turbine exhaust gases, the first section in the exhaust gas flow path constituting a steam generator for the steam turbine and the second section constituting a source of heat utilized in the desalination plant. Seawater may be passed directly through the second section of the waste heat boiler or high-temperature hot water produced by the second section may be passed through a heat exchanger incorporated in the flow path of the seawater.

Abstract: A vapor compression distiller having a shell for enclosing a generally horizontal heat exchange tube bundle having one end connected to a steam chest and its other end connected to a condensate collecting chamber. A vapor compressor has its inlet connected to the shell and the outlet to the steam chest. The shell includes a pair of spaced apart wells at its lower end which are interconnected by a pipe connected below the expected level of liquid in each well. A half partition extends across the lower end of the vessel and between the wells to divide the lower portion of the vessel into two sections which are in communication across the upper end of the vessel. One well is connected to receive fresh feed liquid and the other includes a density sensor to discharge a portion of the concentrate to therein maintain a desired concentrate level and each well is connected to a spray nozzle manifold disposed in its respective shell section.

Abstract: A fluid medium is conveyed along a conduit. During its passage through the conduit, the fluid medium undergoes temperature change. The change in temperature of the fluid medium is performed in a step-wise manner by indirect heat-exchange with a fluid flowing countercurrent to the fluid medium, that is, by means of a plurality of heat-exchangers arranged along the conduit. The fluid medium forms incrustations and the rate at which incrustations form is different at different temperatures. This is taken into account by providing for the ratio between the lengths of any two heat-exchangers to approximate the ratio between the rates at which incrustations form at the temperatures of the respective heat-exchangers. Of particular interest is the extraction of bauxite with sodium aluminate lye.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for the thermal treatment of crude phthalic anhydride. The process is conducted in a system with an inner chamber and outer chamber positioned therearound and the chambers have a common wall. The outer chamber may be divided into a plurality of sub-chambers and the flow of the phthalic anhydride undergoing treatment may be substantially reversed in successive ones of the sub-chambers. The system provides for more efficient use of heat and equipment.

Abstract: Preheated saline water, typically sea or brackish water, is further heated by quanta of steam, passed to it at differential temperatures and pressures and condensed in the saline water. Scale compounds are precipitated and scale-forming bicarbonates decomposed, with the evolution of carbon dioxide, which is gathered and expelled by steam accessory to the quanta of steam. Post-thermal saline water, which is formed, is multistage flash vaporized while self-cooling. The flashed vapors are compressed to form said quanta of steam. After being further cooled while preheating saline water, post-thermal saline water is evaporated in a multistage vapor compression evaporator, producing brine at a high concentration factor. Relative to equilibrium in scale-compound precipitation between 302.degree. F and 347.degree. F, the recovery of fresh water is 70% to 80% for sea water, and 80% to 90% for brackish waters over a wide range of salinity.

Abstract: An improved technique employing first and second flash vaporization stages for purifying radioactive liquids is described. The liquid is first flash-evaporated in the first vaporization stage and the resulting vapor is conducted to a first direct condenser. Enriched liquid obtained from the second vaporization stage is applied via a circulating pump to the first direct condenser to condense by contact the vapor from the first vaporization stage and to form a mixture with this condensate. The resulting mixture is thus flash-evaporated in the second vaporization stage. A portion of the enriched liquid obtained from the second vaporization stage is withdrawn from the loop formed by said second vaporization stage, said circulating pump, said first direct condenser, and the connecting conduits therebetween for further processing, e.g., recycling to the first vaporization stage, or for discharging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high volume distillation of impure liquid comprises evaporating the impure liquid in an evaporator to form a vapor at a temperature above the freezing point and at or below the boiling point of said liquid at atmospheric pressure and at a pressure corresponding to the evaporation temperature under saturated conditions; compressing said vapor adiabatically; admixing in a mixing chamber the compressed vapor under substantially isobaric conditions directly with hot gases having a temperature sufficiently greater than the temperature of the compressed vapor that the resulting vapor-gas mixture temperature is greater than the temperature of the compressed vapor prior to the mixing; passing the vapor-gas mixture through an expansion engine to motivate the engine and to produce shaft energy, whereby the vapor-gas mixture adiabatically expands and cools; compressing the expanded vapor-gas mixture adiabatically in an independently powered compressor to a predetermined pressure corresponding

Abstract: A system for optimal pressure control in a multistage evaporation unit comprising two or more series connected evaporation stages with at least one of the stages preceded by a heat source, where the fresh or feed solution is passed through heat exchangers in which it is heated by means of the vapors from the subsequent evaporation stages, and where a heat exchanger adapted to permit free flow of the vapor condensate through the heat exchanger inner portion or tube portion is arranged in the line through which the vapor leaves the higher-pressure evaporation stage.

Abstract: A separation system is disclosed for obtaining pure components from a fluid mixture employing a minimum amount of energy. A rectification column is utilized in which the fluid mixture is separated into its components whereby the heat addition and cooling required is accomplished by means of a heat pump transfer system. The system transfers heat energy to a working fluid to power a compressor structure in a heat pump cycle by supplying heat to the liquid phase. Compressor structure is disclosed in the forms of an ejector and a turbine-powered compressor. As disclosed, the same working fluid is employed in the power cycle and the heat pump cycle. Specific structures are disclosed for obtaining greater efficiency including an arrangement for heat regeneration in the power loop of the heat pump cycle and also disclosed is an arrangement whereby individual systems are staged for the separation of multicomponent mixtures.

Abstract: A system for softening of water in a manner to minimize heat requirements in the water softener unit of the system. Flashed water vapor from a flash box coupled to the downstream end of the softener unit is used to preheat incoming hard feed water by directly contacting the feed water in respective preheating chambers upstream of the softener unit. The system is suitable for use in a distillation plant to produce potable water.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus for separating one component from a second component of a liquid solution and recovering the first component including at least one chamber for generating vapor from the liquid solution and recovering the vapor in a liquid form, the vapor generating portion of the chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering portion chamber being in heat absorbing relation with a heat absorbing means. A preferred system for providing heat to the vapor generating portion of the chamber and removing heat from the vapor recovering portion of the chamber is a refrigerating system which includes condensing coils and evaporating coils in heat transfer relation with the vapor generating and vapor recovery chamber.

Abstract: Oil or fat is deodorized by contacting with steam. The oil or fat is finely distributed in a vacuum contact zone by spray means whereupon it contacts a steam vapor. The contacted oil or fat is then recycled in the same contact zone, finely distributed, and once again contacted with the steam vapor. The steam efficiently removes flavoring and scenting components and free fatty acids normally present in natural fats and oils.

Abstract: There is provided a distillation plant of the multiple stage flash distillation type. The plant comprises a reinforced concrete shell which is divided into a large number of flash chambers and a heat supply chamber by means of separation walls. At least some of a bundle of continuous condensation tubes of plastic extend throughout all of the chambers. The tubes may be extruded in situ so that they directly move into position in the shell. The inlet and outlet manifolds for the tube bundle are defined by an end of the shell and an adjacent separation wall. The shell has preferably a plastic coating or consists of a polymer concrete. Preferably, the walls consist of or comprise plastic so that the bundle of plastic tubes may be sealed to apertures in the walls by gluing or welding.

Abstract: A float valve arrangement is disposed in a mixing condenser that is arranged intermediate the first and second stage of a two-stage evaporation installation suitable for purifying radio-active liquids. In normal operation, vapor evaporated in the first stage extends via a first conduit into the mixing condenser where such vapor is condensed by contact with a portion of the liquid in the second stage that is circulated back to the mixing condenser via a pump. The normal vapor pressure generated in the first stage keeps the float valve open and permits the steam to displace, into the second stage, liquid present in the mixing condenser. During start-up and shutdown of the installation wherein vapor from the first stage is no longer present, the resulting rise in liquid level in the mixing condenser causes the float valve to close and to prevent any backflow of liquid into the first stage via the first conduit.

Abstract: A low boiling, water immiscible medium is directly contacted in liquid state with relatively hot or warm water (e.g. with hot recycled fresh water in a desalination system or with warm surface sea water in an energy production system) and in vapor state with relatively cold or cool water (e.g. surface sea water in a desalination system or deep sea water in an energy production system) whereby thermal energy is efficiently transferred between the phases that are so contacted; the energy transfer is for the purpose of evaporating the immiscible liquid in an energy production system and is for the purpose of evaporating saline water in a desalination system; and the effluent from the process which is returned to its natural environment (e.g. to the sea) is treated to remove all significant amounts of entrained and dissolved immiscible medium.

Abstract: A scale removal method for use in saline water desalting apparatus characterized in that, during the time the desalting operation is being performed, an acid is added to the saline water for short periods at predetermined time intervals in the salt water passages for condensation, heating and heat recovery.

Abstract: A multi-stage distillation plant consisting essentially of a multi-flash evaporator provided with a multi-flash chamber which is divided into a heat recovery section and a heat rejection section. In this multi-stage flash distillation plant, the aforesaid flash evaporator is provided with a deaerator for deaerating cold sea water, a thickener for separating brine containing a relatively great amount of seeds, from concentrated brine which has been extracted from a front chamber of the final stage flash chamber, and a seed mixing tank for obtaining a seed-mixed brine, whereby part of the sea water which has passed through the deaerator is supplied as a feed sea water to the rear chamber of the final stage flash chamber, while the brine containing a relatively great amount of seed and extracted from the thickener is joined to the seed-mixed brine fed from the seed mixing tank.

Abstract: Saline water, typically sea water or brackish water, after deaeration and deoxygenation is preheated, then further heated by steam condensing with the preheated saline water. By the further heating, bicarbonates are thermally decomposed, forming carbon dioxide, while scale compounds, comprising magnesium hydroxide, anhydrite and minor compounds containing silica, iron, alumina, phosphate, etc., are thermally precipitated. Some of the steam is uncondensed and issues from the further heated saline water with included, evolved carbon dioxide. It is condensed in preheating saline water; evolved carbon dioxide is separated from the condensate and recycled to the saline water to prevent alkaline scale in preheating, while condensate is combined with the further heated saline water, forming post-thermal saline water. This is flash vaporized while cooling and the steam is regenerated by compressing the flashed vapors.

Abstract: A multi-stage flash, direct contact condensation method and apparatus for purifying brine is disclosed which eliminates costly apparatus previously required while maintaining adequate volume to efficiently produce potable water by use of gravity fed sprays of condensate upon which previously flashed steam is allowed to condense.

Abstract: A multistage flash-evaporator for producing soft water from a saline water, comprising a shell forming a pair of lobes enclosing therebetween a spinal portion in symmetrical arrangement with respect to a vertical longitudinal mid-plane. The top and bottom walls of the spinal portion are, in cross-sectional shape, circular arcs having their centres of curvature on the said mid-plane, while the lobes are polycentric curves each of which has its centres of curvature on a plane parallel to the mid-plane. A specifically shaped hood arrangement in the shell is provided to define in each stage a condensation chamber centrally located between a pair of evaporation chambers.

Abstract: Desalination apparatus with the double feature of condensation and evaporation, comprising plural dish-like condensing elements piled coaxially, wherein a sloped bottom diaphragm is provided in each element, at the lower part of each of which an upwardly diverging duct is provided. A cooling pipe is led through the ducts of the elements. A depending pipe is provided near the outer edge of each element, through which the supplied sea water flows from an upper element to a successive lower element. The lowest condensing element is heated or is filled up with water that is hotter than the supplied sea water. The distilled water obtained on each condensing element is withdrawn from the lower edges of the ducts as a result of evaporation from the elements and subsequent condensation on the undersides of the diaphragms.