摘要 |
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.
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