Water vapor distillation apparatus, method and system

A distillation device comprising:

• a source fluid input;
• a compressor receiving source vapor and delivering compressed vapor;
• a purifier comprising:
• an evaporator in fluid communication with the source fluid input, the evaporator transforming part of received source fluid from the source fluid input into vapor;
• a condenser receiving compressed vapor from the compressor and transforming the compressed vapor into product liquid;
• and
• a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the source fluid input, the heat exchanger comprising:
• an outer tube having an outer diameter;
• at least one inner tube located within the outer tube and approximately aligned with the outer tube;
• and
• a terminator at each end of the heat exchanger including a first terminator being in fluid contact with the source fluid inlet and a second terminator being in fluid contact with the purifier, each of the first and second terminators including:
• a first port having a first port structure and in fluid communication with the outer tube, the first port structure comprising:
• a housing;
• a thin toothed ring with inward facing protrusions, the inner diameter of the inward facing protrusions being larger than the outer diameter of the outer tube;
• a tapered ring with an inward tapered surface adjacent to the ring;
• a threaded element that engages the housing and contacts the thin toothed ring;
• and
• an o-ring located adjacent to the tapered ring and on the opposite side of the tapered ring from the thin ring, the o-ring forming a radial seal on the outer diameter of the outer tube;
• and
• a second port having a second port structure and in fluid communication with the at least one inner tube, the port structure comprising at least one opening to receive the at least one inner tube;
• and
• a housing connecting the first port structure and the second port structure, wherein turning the threaded element of the first port structure presses the thin toothed ring against the inward tapered surface that forces the inward facing protrusions to contact the outer diameter of the outer tube.

A terminator assembly for a heat exchanger having an outer tube and at least one inner tube, the assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a first port structure in fluid communication with the outer tube, the first port structure comprising:
• a thin ring with inward-facing protrusions, the protrusions having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the outer tube;
• a tapered ring with an inward-tapered surface positioned adjacent and coaxial to the thin ring;
• and
• a threaded element in threaded engagement with the housing and contacting the thin ring;
• a second port structure in fluid communication with the at least one inner tube;
• a first seal between the first port structure and the at least one inner tube;
• a second seal between the second port structure and the at least one inner tube;
• a chamber defined within the housing between the first seal and the second seal and in fluid communication with an exterior of the at least one inner tube;
• and
• a leak port in fluid communication with the chamber and ambient environment.

A distillation device comprising:

• a heat exchanger including an outer tube and at least one inner tube;
• a first terminator at a first end of the heat exchanger and a second terminator at a second end of the heat exchanger, each terminator comprising:
• a housing;
• a first port structure in fluid communication with the outer tube, the first port structure comprising:
• a thin toothed ring with inward-facing protrusions, the protrusions having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the outer tube;
• a tapered ring with an inward-tapered surface adjacent to the thin toothed ring;
• and
• a threaded element in threaded engagement with the housing and contacting the thin toothed ring;
• a second port structure in fluid communication with the at least one inner tube;
• a first seal in the first port structure between the first port structure and the at least one inner tube;
• a second seal in the second port structure between the second port structure and the at least one inner tube;
• and
• a chamber within the housing between the first seal and the second seal, the chamber in fluid communication with an exterior of the at least one inner tube;
• and
• a leak port in fluid communication with the chamber and ambient environment.

A heat exchanger system comprising:

• an outer tube;
• at least one inner tube positioned within and generally aligned with the outer tube;
• a first terminator and a second terminator attached respectively to opposite ends of the outer tube, each terminator comprising:
• a housing;
• a first port structure in fluid communication with the outer tube, the first port structure comprising:
• a thin ring with inward-facing protrusions, the protrusions having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the outer tube;
• a tapered ring with an inward-tapered surface positioned adjacent to the thin ring;
• and
• a threaded element in threaded engagement with the housing and contacting the thin ring;
• and
• a second port structure in fluid communication with the at least one inner tube, the second port structure being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the housing when unsecured.