METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH VOLUME DISTILLATION OF LIQUIDS

摘要

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 below the critical point, preferably the boiling point, of said liquid at atmospheric pressure and at a pressure not exceeding a pressure corresponding to the evaporation temperature under saturated conditions; compressing the vapor; passing at least a portion of the compressed vapor through an expansion engine to do work upon and motivate the engine and to produce shaft energy, whereby the vapor expands and cools; adding work to the expansion engine to make up the difference between the work done in compressing the vapor and the work done on the engine by the vapor expanding therethrough; compressing the expanded vapor to form a second vapor; cooling the second vapor in heat transfer relation with the impure liquid whereby the vapor at least partially condenses, transferring sufficient heat to the impure liquid for evaporating the liquid and to form the aforementioned vapor; and collecting the condensed vapor.