Method and apparatus for high volume distillation of liquids

Abstract

A method and closed system for high volume distillation of impure liquids 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 the liquid at ambient pressure and at a pressure not exceeding a pressure corresponding to the evaporation temperature under saturated conditions; compressing the vapor in compression means which preferably has a compression ratio variable in the range 1.2:1 to 250:1; operating the compression means by direct drive from a mechanical energy source or, preferably, by drivingly linking the compresion means to an auxiliary turbine and causing a gas flow, for example by combusting fuel, through the auxiliary turbine to motivate the auxiliary turbine and, through the drive link, to drive the compression means; cooling the vapor in a condenser means disposed in heat transfer relation with the impure liquid whereby the vapor at least partially condenses, transferring heat to the impure liquid for evaporating at least a portion thereof; and collecting the condensed vapor. The system may also include a coaxial expansion engine means shaft linked to the compression means to receive compressed vapor from the compression means and to produce shaft energy for driving the compression means as the vapor expands therethrough.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.