Abstract: The present invention relates to a plate heat exchanger for treatment of a feed. The plate heat exchanger includes a plate package comprising a plurality of heat exchanging plates and defining a heating volume, a cooling volume and a plurality of process volumes. Each of the process volumes includes an evaporation section for evaporation of a part of the feed, a separation section for separating a non-evaporated part from an evaporated part of the feed, and a condensation section being arranged to condense the evaporated part of the feed. Each heat exchanging plate defines a first thermal interface between the heating volume and the evaporation section of a first process volume, a second thermal interface between the cooling volume and the condensation section of a second process volume, and at least one further thermal interface between an evaporation section and a condensation section of two adjacent process volumes.

Abstract: Certain embodiments may provide a method for controlling a desalination system. The method may include performing a desalination procedure with salt-water in a desalination compartment of the desalination system. The method may also include extracting brine and freshwater from the desalination procedure. The method may further include directing the brine to a brine treatment compartment of the desalination system, and the freshwater to a firewater container. In addition, the method may include performing a brine treatment procedure in the brine treatment compartment. Further, the method may include collecting concentrated brine from the brine treatment compartment.

Abstract: A fluid filter and method for filtering fluid feed using the fluid filter is described. The fluid filter comprises an upper disk plate having a first compartment spaced apart and placed parallel to a lower disk plate having a second compartment. The feed fluid enters the first compartment in a first vortex pattern in a first direction at a first temperature, and a permeate fluid enters the second compartment in a second vortex pattern in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. A hydrophobic, vapor permeable membrane positioned between the upper disk plate and the lower disk plate allows vapor to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment having the permeate fluid, thus filtering the feed fluid.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for generating electric power and desalinating seawater, combining concentrated solar energy with one-or-more cogeneration alternatives; utilizing seawater as a working fluid. An inclined Fresnel-mirror-system of east-west primary axis, and site-latitude justification, is utilized to reflect the sun's incidental irradiance to a central receiving tube, and raising temperature of working-fluid therein, producing dry saturated, or wet steam, whereby resultant energy turns a rotary-screw-expander engine, providing mechanical power, thence turning a generator; producing electric power. Heat recovered in the working-fluid is utilized in seawater desalination using a Multi-Effect-Distillation system, whereby, during non-solar-dependent productive hours, a molten-salts Single-Temperature-Thermal-Energy storage system is utilized as a battery.

Abstract: A multi-stage evaporation system enhanced by a gravity-reduced field consists of evaporation structures of multiple stages. There are three different operation modes, namely, a serial-connected air and parallel-connected solution mode, a serial-connected air and serial-connected solution mode, and a parallel-connected air and serial-connected solution mode. In the evaporation chambers, the solution directly contacts the air to transfer the heat and mass. The solution is sprayed on the rotating filling material, and is uniformly distributed under the action of the gravity-reduced field, which enhances the heat and mass transfer. The solution is gasified by absorbing the heat energy thereof. Meanwhile, the air can carry more water vapor after being heated by the solution and thus having an increased temperature, and take away the gasified solution, thereby achieving the purpose of evaporation.

Abstract: A hot water and distillation apparatus configured to simultaneously produce distilled water and hot water is disclosed. The hot water and distillation apparatus comprises a hot water tank, a condensation and evaporation chamber, an (feed water) evaporation tray provided in the condensation and evaporation chamber, a heat source thermally connected to the evaporation tray. The hot water and distillation apparatus is configured to condensate evaporated feed water from the evaporation tray by means of heat exchange between the hot water tank and a condensation surface. The condensation surface is provided at the outside surface of the hot water tank. The heat source is thermally connected to the evaporation tray. The hot water and distillation apparatus comprises a distillate collection member configured to collect distillate. The hot water tank, the evaporation tray and the distillate collection member are provided in the condensation and evaporation chamber.

Abstract: A desalination system that includes a plurality of evaporators that are fluidly connected in series, a primary compressor that is fluidly connected to the evaporators to provide a compressed vapor to the evaporators to run the desalination system, and a secondary compressor that is arranged in parallel relative to the primary compressor, wherein the secondary compressor extracts a portion of vapor from a first evaporator and/or one intermediate evaporator in the series and delivers the vapor to the first evaporator. Various combinations of embodiments of the desalination system are provided.

Abstract: A device for desalinating seawater comprises at least three plates (20, 21, 22), at least two evaporation chambers, each of them delimited by two consecutive plates, and entrance means (24) to feed the evaporation chambers with seawater to be desalinated, said entrance means being suitable to feed all the evaporation chambers with seawater from a common source, so that at least one plate is suitable to operate as a condensation surface in one chamber and as an evaporation surface in the next chamber. The device may be arranged in any coastal system that requires a heat flux of low thermal intensity between a hot source (60) and a cold sink (70). The device guarantees said heat flux by means of vapour generation, transportation and condensation, whereby condensed water is collected as a valuable by-product. A method of desalinating seawater comprises the steps of deaerating the seawater to be desalinated and feeding all the evaporation chambers with said deaerated seawater.

Abstract: Processes and systems suitable for purifying or otherwise treating liquids to remove contaminants therein, including but not limited to contaminated water, to permit reclaiming, recycling, and reuse of the liquids. Such a process and system entails the use of a cascading distillation system that evaporates a liquid from the feedstock and then condenses and collects a more purified form of the liquid. The cascading distillation system can be operated to selectively process the feedstock through any of a series of vessels at which different amounts and/or contaminants may be removed from the feedstock.

Abstract: A liquid desalination, distillation, disinfection, purification, or concentration system by repeatedly re-using thermal energy is provided. Thermal heat source can be solar, fossil fuel, or low grade heat discharged from industrial systems. Multiple thermally insulated and isolated stages of vaporization-condensation chambers can be connected to enhance production yield. Vapor is generated by direct heating of liquid and flash evaporation. Vapor generated is condensed in condenser cooled by intake liquid. Counter circulating intake liquid will be heated by released latent heat from vapor. Externally provided thermal energy will accumulate and be re-used in the system. Vaporization and condensation process will be continuously re-cycled to enhance production yield. The system can be configured to support flexible deployment in various configurations and in different locations, including direct floating installation on water surface.

Abstract: Multiple effects with vapor compression distillation apparatus includes a plurality of parallel cylinders or plates for recovery of heat having opposed evaporation and condensation faces for alternately evaporating and condensing. There are forward, backward and parallel feeding method to the upper end of the cylinders or plates for gravity flow along the evaporator face of the cylinders or plates with vapor condensing on the opposite condensation faces. Compressor is included as means for collecting and recovering the condensed product from the system. Alternate embodiments including a solar heat input system and other combined configurations.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of water purification and desalination. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods of removing essentially all of a broad spectrum of impurities from water in an automated industrial process that requires minimal cleaning or maintenance during the course of several months to several years, with relatively high yields of product water per unit of input water, flexibility with respect to energy sources, compact design with a low industrial foot-print, the ability to recover valuable by-products, and ultra-low energy requirements.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vaporizing system comprises first and second tanks that can accumulate liquid source and first, second, and third pipes. The first pipe allows first gas to be sent out of the first tank. The second pipe allows second gas to be sent out of the second tank. The third pipe is connected to the first and second pipes and allows the first and second gas to be sent out to an external apparatus. The first tank is placed on an upper side of the second tank in a stacked manner.

Abstract: An evaporative desalination device includes a multi stage vapor generator that generates vapor by passing a hot water supply pipe successively through a plurality of vapor generators to evaporate sea water inside thereof, a multi effect vapor generator that uses vapor in the respective vapor generators as heat source and forms a plurality of evaporator groups which can adjust a number of evaporators disposed inside the respective evaporator groups and produce fresh water according to amounts of supplied vapor to evaporate sea water in the evaporator groups on an outer circumference surface of an evaporation tube by heat of vapor flowing in the evaporation tube, and a discharge unit that condenses vapor in the multi effect generator by sea water to discharge fresh water in liquid state, and returns and supplies portions of discharged sea water to the multi stage vapor generator and the multi effect evaporator.

Abstract: A thermal desalination system adapted to produce distilled water from feed water which may be sea water, based on a forward feed evaporator made up of a main water feed line, a vapor feed line, a distilled water main line and any number of effect groups. The effect groups include any number of effects which in turn include vapor inlets, water inflow lines, concentrate outflow lines that drain into a common concentrate drainage line, a vapor and water outlet in fluid communication with the distilled water main line, and heat transfer means that condense part of an inlet vapor to produce the distilled water.

Abstract: A compound multi effect distillation (MED) system of integrated backward and forward fed MED systems. Heated concentrate from the hottest effect of the backward fed MED system is delivered as feed to the hottest effect in the forward fed MED system, to generate a more concentrated brine than possible using any of the systems alone. Furthermore, coupling the systems creates additional operational advantages and increases distillation efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an alcohol, and in particular butanol, from a fermented feed and concentrating thin stillage into syrup includes operation of one or more alcohol recovery distillation columns using the heat supplied by steam generated from concentration of the thin stillage in a multi-train, multi-effect evaporation system.

Abstract: The device and method are provided to increase anhydrosugars yield during pyrolysis of biomass. This increase is achieved by injection of a liquid or gas into the vapor stream of any pyrolysis reactor prior to the reactor condensers. A second feature of our technology is the utilization of sonication, microwave excitation, or shear mixing of the biomass to increase the acid catalyst rate for demineralization or removal of hemicellulose prior to pyrolysis. The increased reactivity of these treatments reduces reaction time as well as the required amount of catalyst to less than half of that otherwise required. A fractional condensation system employed by our pyrolysis reactor is another feature of our technology. This system condenses bio-oil pyrolysis vapors to various desired fractions by differential temperature manipulation of individual condensers comprising a condenser chain.

Abstract: A process and system for producing a H2-containing product gas and purified water from an integrated catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming and thermal water purification process. Raw water, such as salt water, is heated by indirect heat transfer with reformate from the catalytic steam reforming process for purifying raw water in one of a multiple effect distillation process and a multi-stage flash process.

Abstract: The solar-powered humidification-dehumidification desalination system includes a supply of saline/brackish water passing through a dehumidifier/condenser. The saline/brackish water is preheated in the dehumidifier/condenser due to the condensation process. A plurality of humidifying stages includes respective humidifiers and respective solar collectors. The solar collectors heat air, and the heated air passes through respective humidifiers to evaporate the preheated saline/brackish water, separating pure water from the brine. The humid air is reheated and recirculated through the humidifying stages and the dehumidifier, and the desalinated water from the dehumidifier via condensation is collected to and processed. The system recirculates the brine successively from each humidifier to the next for more efficient evaporation and less energy consumption.

Abstract: An integrated bioethanol production and evaporation process and system produce reduces high quality ethanol and concentrated stillage. The process and system provide a significant energy savings over conventional bioethanol production and evaporation systems by using the energy (“vapor”) that drives the distillation process to also drive a multiple effect evaporator, preferably a multiple effect TASTE™ evaporator to “flash” or vaporize alcohol from the distillate. Additional energy savings are provided by passing fermented material through one or more pre-heaters of the multiple effect evaporator to increase the temperature of the fermented material prior to its distillation. The system preferably includes a pre-flash evaporator upstream of an alcohol recovery assembly in the direction of vapor flow and a multi-effect post-flash evaporator downstream of the alcohol recovery assembly.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the separation of the components having different boiling points of a liquid mixture, characterized in that forming bubbles by a carrier gas in the liquid mixture where the one or more volatile component is getting enriched in the bubbles, then after said bubbles leave the liquid phase the released vapor content of them is collected and condensed and the obtained liquid being enriched in the more volatile component(s) is separated from the carrier gas.

Abstract: Method of concentrating aqueous alkali and apparatus suitable for this purpose. A very energy-saving method of concentrating aqueous alkali originating, for example, from a chloralkali electrolysis plant and an apparatus suitable for this purpose are described. The method/the apparatus utilizes heat of reaction from the formation of 1,2-dichloroethane and includes multistage concentration of the aqueous alkali, where at least part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from the plant for preparing 1,2-dichloroethane and at least a further part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from at least one of the higher stages of the plant for concentrating the aqueous alkali and is used for partial heating of the first stage. The apparatus can be used for retrofitting existing integrated plants made up of a DCE plant and chloralkali electrolysis or in the erection of new plants.

Abstract: A multi-effect evaporator, having an upstream and a downstream end, adapted for distillation of water. It includes a plurality of effects connected in a series manner and arranged into groups. Each group has a common parallel water feed inlet adapted to supply all effects in the group with feed water. The evaporator further includes a main feed water line in fluid communication with the most upstream group. An array of heaters is disposed along the line, adapted for heating the feed water before its entry into the effects of the latter group. Each effect includes means for forwarding the second outlet vapor into one of the heaters for heating the feed water. Each group includes a pump adapted to extract the concentrate from the effects of the group and pump it into the common parallel water feed of an adjacent downstream group.

Abstract: Present invention is a practical, highly efficient, structurally simple, low production cost, easy to manufacturing, and inexpensive multi-effect distillation device composed of thin-laminated distiller which is tangled into spiral and becomes layers of centric circle; one side of surface of said distiller is condensing surface which is for condensation of vapor of water, condensed distilled water is drained from underneath of said condensing surface, another side of said distiller is attached with a piece of wick which is made of capillary materials, undistilled water enters from above of the wick, than be absorbed and distributed by said wick. Some of the water absorbed on said wick is evaporated into the vapor of water. There is a gap between condensing surface and wick of each adjacent layers. The top and bottom of said gap is sealed to prevent leaking of the vapor of water.

Abstract: A process and system for producing a H2-containing product gas and purified water from an integrated catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming and thermal water purification process. Raw water, such as salt water, is heated by indirect heat transfer with reformate from the catalytic steam reforming process for purifying raw water in one of a multiple effect distillation process and a multi-stage flash process.

Abstract: There is provided a regenerative adsorption distillation system comprising a train of distillation effects in fluid communication with each other. The train of distillation effects comprises at least one intermediate effect between the first and last distillation effects of the train, each effect comprising a vessel and a condensing tube for flow of a fluid therein. The system further comprises a pair of adsorption-desorption beds in vapour communication with the last effect and at least one intermediate effect, wherein the beds contain an adsorbent that adsorbs vapour from the last effect and transmits desorbed vapour into at least one of the intermediate effect.

Abstract: A high-performance diffusion multiple-effect distillation system, which comprising: a few distillers, a heating device and a water make-up device; said distiller is composed of several laminar distillation sheets, with one surface taken as a condensing surface, and the other surface attached with an evaporating sheet; a collecting ditch is set below the condensing surface; and the periphery of the distillation sheets is provided with a supporting structure; the heating device is provided with several heating surfaces; the heating surface and the condensing surface of corresponding distillation sheet have a good thermal contact, the water make-up device is provided with at least a water tank filled with water to be distilled and at least a water make-up body.

Abstract: A fractionation process for producing at least two concentration fractions of a fluid including a solute, suspended or dissolved content using at least two fluidly connected evaporator units is provided. The process includes the steps of: feeding a feed fluid including a solute, suspended or dissolved content into at least a first evaporator unit; evaporating a first amount of fluid from the feed fluid in at least the first evaporator unit to produce a first concentrated fluid; feeding at least a portion of the first concentrated fluid into at least a second evaporator unit; and evaporating a second amount of fluid from the first concentrated fluid in at least the second evaporator unit to produce a second concentrated fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an evaporative desalination device of multi-stage and multi-effect using solar heat constructed in multi stage and multi effect as a desalination device that is capable of not only increasing fresh water output but also resolving a problem of conventional desalination device having series structure as well, through constructing: a multi stage vapor generator that generates vapor by passing a hot water supply pipe successively through a plurality of vapor generators to evaporate sea water inside thereof; a multi effect vapor generator that uses vapor in the respective vapor generators as heat source and forms a plurality of evaporator groups; and a discharge unit that condenses vapor in the multi effect generator by sea water to discharge fresh water in liquid state, and returns and supplies portions of discharged sea water to the multi stage vapor generator and the multi effect evaporator.

Abstract: The present invention comprises numerous methods and means for safe, effective and economical desalination of oily brine and brackish production water. Associated methods of operations and proposed systems and subsystems are also disclosed. The system also admits to waste heat recovery from internal combustion engine exhaust and jacket cooling water, utilizing the heat energy of a fuel feed to maximize system efficiency. The system and method are useful for desalinating not only oily brine water, but also brackish water, sea water, and waste treatment plant water, and could also be applied to other sources of waste heat and other low grade heats such as gas turbine exhaust systems, biomass, and energy from waste, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for treating waste water includes: receiving waste water at a first pressure and a first temperature, the waste water including dissolved solids and volatile organic compounds; pressurizing, by a pump, the received waste water to a second pressure greater than the first pressure; preheating, by a preheater, the pressurized waste water to produce distilled water and a pressurized/preheated waste water; heating, by a heater, the pressurized/preheated waste water to a second temperature greater than the first temperature to produce pressurized/heated waste water; removing, by a flash evaporator, dissolved solids from the pressurized/heated waste water by evaporation to produce steam and brine water, wherein the brine water has a total dissolved solids content greater than a total dissolved solids content of the received waste water; and crystallizing, by a plasma crystallizer, the brine water to produce a solid mass of waste product and steam.

Abstract: System and method of treating waste water includes: receiving waste water at a first pressure and temperature, the waste water comprising dissolved solids and VOCs; pressurizing, by a pump, the received waste water to a second pressure greater than the first pressure; preheating, by a preheater, the waste water to a second temperature greater than the first temperature producing distilled water; further heating, by a condenser, the pressurized/preheated waste water to a fourth temperature greater than the second temperature; still further heating, by a heater, the pressurized/further heated waste water to a third temperature greater than the fourth temperature; and removing, by a flash evaporator, dissolved solids from the pressurized/heated waste water by evaporation producing steam and brine water, the brine water having a TDS content greater than a TDS content of the received waste water. The brine water may be crystallized to a solid mass.

Abstract: System and method of treating waste water includes: receiving waste water at a first pressure and temperature, the waste water comprising dissolved solids and VOCs; pressurizing, by a pump, the received waste water to a second pressure greater than the first pressure; preheating, by a preheater, the waste water to a second temperature greater than the first temperature producing distilled water; heating, by a condenser, the waste water to a third temperature greater than the second temperature; heating the pressurized/heated water with a heater operated with a hot gas developed by a plasma torch to a fourth temperature greater than the third temperature; and removing dissolved solids from the waste water by evaporation to produce steam and brine water, wherein the brine water has a total dissolved solids content greater than a total dissolved solids content of the received waste water. The brine water is crystallized to a solid mass.

Abstract: System and method of treating waste water includes: receiving waste water at a first pressure and a first temperature, the waste water comprising dissolved solids and VOCs; pressurizing the waste water to a second pressure; preheating the pressurized waste water to a second temperature to produce distilled water and pressurized/preheated water; heating the pressurized/preheated to a third temperature to produce pressurized/heated water; removing dissolved solids from the pressurized/heated water, by an evaporator operated at a third pressure less than the second pressure, to produce steam and brine water; and crystallizing the brine water, by a crystallizer operated at a fourth pressure greater than the second pressure, to produce a solid mass waste product and steam. Steam produced by the crystallizer, at the fourth pressure and a fourth temperature, is a heat source for the preheater and/or heater, and steam produced by the evaporator is a heat source for the crystallizer.

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.

Abstract: A thermal distillation system comprises heating means and cooling means arranged to heat and cool, respectively, treatable liquid in a liquid circuit having a first section between a heating means output and cooling means input, and a second section between an a cooling means output and heating means input, and further comprises distillation stages, each including an evaporator on the first section and a condenser on the second section in heat exchange relationship with liquid in the second section, a carrier gas circuit, on which the evaporator and condenser are arranged, and an output for outputting liquid extracted, wherein the stages are arranged such that their evaporators are disposed along the first section in a direction from the heating means to the cooling means and their condensers are disposed in corresponding order along the second section in a direction from the heating means to the cooling means.

Abstract: An evaporator or distillation apparatus includes an inlet supply line for supplying an influent liquid, a heater configured to heat the influent liquid supplied by the inlet supply line, and a plurality of cells. Each cell includes an outer surface defining an interior chamber, an inlet, a vapor outlet, a concentrate outlet, and an inner conduit in fluid communication with the inlet. At least a portion of the inner conduit is positioned within the interior chamber. The vapor outlets of the plurality of cells are connected to each other in a parallel configuration and the inlet supply line is connected to the inlet of each cell.

Abstract: Multi Effect Distiller (MED) with vertical flat-plate, falling-film heat transfer mechanism. A multitude of alternatively arranged or “checkered”, rectangular shaped evaporator and condenser cells form one layer between two vertical flat plate walls. Multitude of layers—each comprised of alternating evaporator and condenser cells—form the block-shaped MED unit. The evaporator and condenser cells are against each other, sharing common vertical heat transfer walls. The simultaneous propagation of multi effect distillation occurs in two dimensions along the longitudinal vertical plane of the heat exchanger. One end of the distiller is heated, while the other end is cooled.

Abstract: A multi-effect evaporator, having an upstream and a downstream end, adapted for distillation of water. It comprises a plurality of effects serially connected and arranged into groups. Each group has a common parallel water feed inlet adapted to supply all effects in the group with feed water. The evaporator further includes a main feed water line in fluid communication with the most upstream group. An array of heaters is disposed along the line, adapted for heating the feed water before its entry into the effects of the latter group. Each effect comprises means for forwarding the second outlet vapor into one of the heaters for heating the feed water. Each group comprises a pump adapted to extract the concentrate from the effects of the group and pump it into the common parallel water feed of an adjacent downstream group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fractionation process for producing at least two concentration fractions of a fluid including a solute, suspended or dissolved content using at least two fluidly connected evaporator units. The process includes the steps of: feeding a feed fluid including a solute, suspended or dissolved content into at least a first evaporator unit; evaporating a first amount of fluid from the feed fluid in at least the first evaporator unit to produce a first concentrated fluid; feeding at least a portion of the first concentrated fluid into at least a second evaporator unit; and evaporating a second amount of fluid from the first concentrated fluid in at least the second evaporator unit to produce a second concentrated fluid.

Abstract: A method of evaporating liquid in a liquid evaporating system having heat exchangers, evaporators, and steam reheaters, includes: preheating condensed water in the heat exchangers; distilling in the evaporators the condensed water from the heat exchangers, wherein the evaporators each has a horizontal plane evaporating chamber at an upper side thereof and a horizontal plane steam heating chamber at a lower side thereof, wherein heating steam is provided from an external boiler to the heating chamber; exchanging heat between the evaporating chamber and the heating chamber using a heat exchange boundary face formed in a concavo-convex shape, wherein the heat exchange boundary face is formed of a metal plate; and reheating in the steam reheaters the steam from the respective evaporators, wherein the reheaters each are coupled to a subsequent one of the heating chambers to serve as a heating source of the subsequent heating chamber.

Abstract: A tilted multi effect distillation module comprising a plurality of distillation stages, each stage defined by a first and a second sheet member arranged in parallel to each other, the second sheet member above the first sheet member, and by one or more frame members (5) enclosing the space between the sheet members; each stage comprising an inlet (21), at least one first outlet (31) at the other end of the first sheet member, and at least one second outlet. The sheet members are plane, unin-terrupted plates of tempered glass. Separator members arranged between the sheet members may include inlets (21) and outlets (31) to/from the stages. The invention also relates to a system, where such a distillation module cooled by means of the feed liquid is combined with a solar collector of the thermo siphon type.

Abstract: A multistage evaporation system is proposed in which the first evaporator is heated via a jet wet washer with superheated, air-containing waste steam, for example of a drier. The product vapor of the first evaporator stage is fed via a mechanical compressor to a second evaporator stage for heating. The compressor ensures firstly a lowering of the dew point in the evaporator space of the first evaporator stage and secondly a temperature increase of the product vapor fed to the second evaporator stage for heating.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a vapor-compression evaporation system includes a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component, a mechanical compressor coupled to the last vessel in the series and operable to receive a vapor from the last vessel in the series, a pump operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor, a tank coupled to the mechanical compressor and operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor, a plurality of heat exchangers coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the series operable to receive the vapor from the tank, at least some of the vapor condensing therein, whereby the heat of condensation provides the heat of evaporation to the first vessel in the series, and wherein at least some of the vapor inside the first vessel in the series is delivered to the heat exchanger in the next vessel in the series, whereby the condensing, evaporating, a

Abstract: In a multi-effect falling-film evaporator, purified water for special purposes is produced. In each effect, a steam phase and a water phase is produced from the feed water. The steam phase is used for heating in the subsequent effect, whereby it condenses to product water, and the water phase becomes the feed stream for the subsequent effect. A reject stream is removed from the process to carry off impurities separated from the water. According to the invention, a reject stream is removed from each effect. Preferably, each reject stream is a condensed fraction of the steam generated in the respective effect.

Abstract: Purified water for special purposes is produced using a falling-film multieffect evaporator. From the feed water, each effect produces a steam phase and a water phase. The steam phase is used for heating in the subsequent evaporating step, whereby the steam phase condenses to product water, and the water phase becomes feed water for the subsequent evaporation step. According to the invention, the product water may be wholly or partly recycled to the initial feed water, allowing process startup and sterilisation of the plant without conducting hot product water to the drain.

Abstract: A distillation system and method includes open reservoirs and pluralities of hollow fiber membranes and hollow tubes extending through portions of separate open reservoirs. The hollow fiber membranes are configured to allow vapor transmission, and the hollow tubes are configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission but allow transmission of thermal energy. Feed solution is circulated through the open reservoirs. Distillate is separated from the feed solution by the hollow fiber membranes and thermal energy is recouped through the hollow tubes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating draw solution solutes and product solvent from a draw solution using a plurality of distillation columns. In one embodiment, the draw solution is used in a Forward Osmosis (FO) water desalination process. In this embodiment, the draw solution is directed to the plurality of distillation columns in parallel while the energy stream (heat) is directed to the plurality of distillation columns in series such that the efficiency of heat use is improved and in turn the cost of the heat is reduced.

Abstract: This invention improves efficiencies of existing distilling devices and provides the opportunity to utilize latent heat for heating or cooling purposes. Sufficient heat sources or cooling sinks can drive the invention for mechanical power production. The innovative use of an elongated chamber hydraulic column positive pressure at the bottom to drive condensation; and pertaining negative pressure in a sealed volume at the top to evince evaporation give a new capability. Repeated mechanical inversions of the chamber allows the evaporated vapor volumes to be compressed and driven to condense by the fluid hydraulic column as a piston, eliminating requirements for seals. This allows operation with many fluid separations and in many physical environmental regimes, both internal to the elongated chamber and externally.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of cerebrovascular contraction in mammals involving administration of a pharmaceutical composition containing as an effective ingredient a p-guanidinobenzoic acid derivative represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R denotes a group represented by the formula ##STR2## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.