Heat pump driven distillation

A distillation system (10) having a process side (10a) and an energy recovery side (10b) wherein the process side (10a) receives a feed solution (12) including a solute to produce therefrom a residue (14) and a distillate (16), the distillation system consisting of:

• a heat pump (42) in the energy recovery side of the distillation system;
• a first heat exchanger (18) having a first exchanger process side (18a) in the process side, and a first exchanger recovery side (18b) in the energy recovery side and wherein the heat pump comprises the first exchanger recovery side;
• a second heat exchanger (22) having a second exchanger process side (22b) in the process side, and a second exchanger recovery side (22a) in the energy recovery side and wherein the heat pump comprises the second exchanger recovery side;
• said heat pump further including a working fluid (28), a working fluid compressor (30), and an expansion device (36);
• said heat pump to pass said working fluid through said second exchanger recovery side, through said working fluid compressor, through said first exchanger recovery side, through said expansion device, and back into said second exchanger recovery side such that said working fluid receives available heat energy from the distillate while in said second heat exchanger, receives at least some additional said heat energy while in said working fluid compressor, and releases at least some said heat energy into the feed solution in said first heat exchanger;
• said first exchanger process side to receive the feed solution, thereby permitting transfer of at least some said heat energy into the feed solution;
• a separator (20) to receive the feed solution from said first heat exchanger and separate the feed solution into the residue and the distillate;
• said second exchanger process side to receive the distillate, thereby permitting transfer of at least some said heat energy back into said working fluid;
• and
• a distillate extractor (24) to direct the distillate out of said second heat exchanger.