CONTROLLED—GRADIENT, ACCELERATED-VAPOR-RECOMPRESSION APPARATUS AND METHOD.

摘要

An accelerated vapor recompression apparatus (10) converts incoming flow (35a) to a concentrate (35c) by developing a concentration profile (146) within a tank (30) holding a liquid (23) containing dissolved solids. The resulting curve (160) of saturation temperature of the stratified liquid (23), such as a brine (23) or other material (23), moves away from the curve (162) corresponding to fully mixed conditions. The shift (174, 180) in saturation temperature results in increased boiling without increased energy from a heater (70) or compressor (50). A method (90, 200) of control of the system provides interventions (203, 204, 205, 206) at different levels (92, 94, 96, 98) of control, ranging from mass flows (35) to work of a compressor (50), heat from a heater (70), and a predictive processing (215) of feedback (217) for controlling commands (216) algorithmically.