Method and System for Batch Multi-Effect Distillation

A system for conducting batch multi-effect distillation comprising:

• a multi-effect distillation system comprising a heat source, a plurality of heat exchangers in series, and a feed source;
• one or more isolation devices installed between the feed source and a brine side of the plurality of heat exchangers;
• the feed source configured to pass a feed stream, comprising water and a solute, to the brine side of the plurality of heat exchangers;
• the one or more isolation devices configured to isolate the feed source from the plurality of heat exchangers after the feed stream is passed;
• all but a last of the plurality of heat exchangers configured to produce a brine concentrate stream and a steam stream;
• all but a first of the plurality of heat exchangers configured to produce a condensate stream from the steam stream;
• the last of the plurality of heat exchangers configured to produce a warmed feed stream;
• and
• the heat source configured to heat the first of the plurality of heat exchangers;
• further comprising valves or pumps configured to remove a first portion of the condensate stream after the batch is over and leave a second portion of the condensate stream to prevent fluid communication between air in a condensate stream discharge location and the plurality of heat exchangers.

A method for conducting batch multi-effect distillation comprising:

• providing a heat source and n heat exchangers in series, a heat exchanger H1 being a first heat exchanger and a heat exchanger Hn being an nth heat exchanger, n representing the number of heat exchangers, wherein each heat exchanger H1 through Hn comprises a brine side and a steam side, and wherein the brine side of the heat exchanger Hm−1 is in fluid communication with the steam side of the heat exchanger Hm, m representing numbers between 2 and n−1;
• passing a solution, comprising water and a solute, from a source into the brine side of the heat exchangers H1 through Hn as feed streams F1 through Fn;
• isolating the brine side of the heat exchangers H1 through Hn from the source;
• heating the heat exchanger H1 by the heat source, producing a steam stream S1 and leaving behind a brine concentrate B1;
• producing steam streams S1 through Sn−1 in heat exchangers H1 through Hn−1;
• producing condensate streams C2 through Cn in heat exchangers H2 through Hn;
• passing the steam stream Sm−1 through the steam side of the heat exchanger Hm, condensing the steam stream Sm−1 to produce a condensate stream Cm, first heat transfer causing at least a portion of the feed stream Fm in the brine side of the heat exchanger Hm to boil and form a steam stream Sm, leaving behind a brine concentrate Bm;
• passing the steam stream Sn−1 through the steam side of the heat exchanger Hn, condensing the steam stream Sn−1 to produce a condensate stream Cn, second heat transfer warming the feed stream Fn to produce a warmed feed stream;
• and
• removing a first portion of the condensate stream after the batch is over and leaving a second portion of the condensate stream to prevent fluid communication between air in a condensate stream discharge location and the plurality of heat exchangers.