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: Saline water is preheated by the hot discharges of a vapor compression evaporator, forming distillate and concentrated brine. Carbon dioxide that has been recycled to saline water prevents alkaline scale during the preheat. The saline water is thence further heated by steam which is condensed in it; scale compounds are precipitated and carbon dioxide formed and expelled for recycle. Mother liquor which is separated is flash vaporized, forming cooled mother liquor and vapor. The mother liquor is further cooled while preheating saline water, and is then evporated. The vapor is compressed to form steam for use in the further heating.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering residual oil from solids previously substantially dehydrated by a process wherein a slurry of water-wet solids in oil is subjected to a heat evaporation step to substantially remove the water. The oil is then largely expressed from the solids after which the solids still containing some oil as residual oil are extracted with a relatively low viscosity and relatively volatile water-immiscible light oil. The light oil-laden solids are then brought into direct contact with steam whereby the presence of the steam effectively reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Excess externally supplied steam and light oil vapor are used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water from aqueous wastes by evaporation while avoiding scaling and fouling as well as corrosion of the evaporator tubes. Addition of an oil, preferably a volatile oil, to the aqueous waste feed results in the formation of a coating of said oil on the surfaces of the tubes, thereby preventing corrosion and fouling and build-up of scale deposits. Volatile oil that distills over is separated from the aqueous distillate by conventional means and may be recirculated.

Abstract: Distillation apparatus having a plurality of substantially identical effects arranged in a side-by-side relation. Each effect includes means for distributing feed liquid as a thin film over the outer surfaces of tubes of a horizontally oriented heat exchange tube bundle for condensing a portion of vapor disposed therein. A portion of the feed liquid evaporates and is provided as the vapor to the heat exchange tubes of the next succeeding effect and the unevaporated feed liquid in each effect is passed to the next succeeding lower effect where a portion vaporizes by flash evaporation. An uncondensed portion of the vapor exits the heat exchange tubes for condensing on a feed liquid preheater associated with each effect. Each effect is disposed in substantially identical cylindrical sections for being joined in a unitary assembly. Suitably apertured transverse divider panels between each effect permit the passage of feed water and vapor between effects.

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.