Process and apparatus for vapor compression distillation

A process of producing a concentrate and a distillate from a feed material comprising the steps of:

• providing a vapor compression distillation apparatus comprising;
• a container having a substantially horizontal longitudinal center axis,
• two opposing end plates closing each end of the container,
• a first and second passage area defined within and on opposing ends of said container, each adjacent one of said end plates,
• a collecting chamber defined within said container between said first and second passage areas,
• a plurality of generally horizontal tubes spacedly disposed within said collecting chamber generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container, each of said tubes having opposing ends which open into said first and second passage areas,
• a vapor compressor attached to said container such that said vapor compressor communicates with an upper area of said collecting chamber and communicates with said second passage area,
• a passage for the passing of feed material into said collecting chamber, said passage defined at a bottom area of said collecting chamber,
• an exit for the passing of a concentrate out of said collecting chamber,
• a first and second conduit for passing a liquid into or out of said first passage area and said second passage area defined at bottom areas thereof, and
• a plurality of spaced heating tubes extending through said collecting chamber;
• passing a continuous supply of a feed material through said passage into said collecting chamber to a predetermined level such that the feed material surrounds the horizontal tubes;
• boiling the feed material in said collecting chamber, thereby producing a vapor from some of the feed material and a concentrate from a remainder of the feed material;
• passing the vapor to said vapor compressor;
• simultaneously passing the concentrate out of said collecting chamber through said exit;
• compressing and elevating the pressure of the vapor;
• passing the compressed vapor through said second passage area and then through said horizontal tubes;
• condensing the vapor in said horizontal tubes as distillate thereby giving up heat to the feed material within said collecting chamber;
• directing the distillate into said first passage area or said second passage area and out of said first or second conduit.

A process of producing a concentrate and a distillate from a feed material comprising the steps of:

• providing a vapor compression distillation apparatus comprising;
• a container having a substantially horizontal longitudinal center axis,
• two opposing end plates closing each end of the container,
• a first and second passage area defined within and on opposing ends of said container, each adjacent one of said end plates,
• a collecting chamber defined within said container between said first and second passage areas,
• a plurality of generally horizontal tubes spacedly disposed within said collecting chamber generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container, each of said tubes having opposing ends which open into said first and second passage areas and adapted to hold feed material at a predetermined level therein,
• a vapor compressor attached to said container such that said vapor compressor communicates with an upper area of said collecting chamber and communicates with said second passage area,
• a passage for passing distillate out of said collecting chamber defined at a bottom area of said collecting chamber,
• a first and second conduit for passing a liquid into or out of said first and second passage areas defined at bottom areas thereof, and
• passing a continuous supply of feed material through said first conduit into said first passage area;
• directing the feed material into said horizontal tubes a predetermined level;
• boiling the feed material within said horizontal tubes, thereby producing a vapor from some of the feed material and concentrate from a remainder of the feed material;
• directing the vapor through said second passage area into said vapor compressor and the concentrate through said second passage area and out said second conduit;
• compressing and elevating the pressure of the vapor;
• passing the compressed vapor into said collecting chamber;
• condensing the vapor as distillate in said collecting chamber surrounding said horizontal tubes thereby giving up heat to the feed material within said horizontal tubes;
• directing the distillate out of said collecting chamber through said passage.

A vapor compression distillation apparatus comprising:

• a container having a substantially horizontal longitudinal center axis;
• two removable opposing end plates closing each end of the container;
• a first and second passage area defined within and on opposing ends of the container, each adjacent one of said end plates;
• a collecting chamber defined within the container between said first and second passage areas;
• a plurality of generally horizontal tubes spacedly disposed within said collecting chamber generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, each of said tubes having two opposing ends which open into said first and second passage areas respectively;
• two opposing plates positioned on opposite ends of said horizontal tubes, each plate engaging similar ends of said horizontal tubes;
• a vapor compressor attached to the container such that said vapor compressor communicates with an upper area of said collecting chamber and with said second passage area;
• at least one passage for passing a liquid into or out of said collecting chamber at a bottom area of said collecting chamber;
• and
• a first conduit for passing a liquid into or out of said first passage area at a bottom area thereof.

A process for producing a concentrate and a distillate from a feed material comprising the steps of:

• passing a feed material into horizontal tubes which pass through a collecting chamber to a predetermined level wherein an upper longitudinal area within each of the horizontal tubes remains unoccupied by the feed material;
• boiling the feed material within the horizontal tubes producing a vapor from some of the feed material and concentrate from a remainder of the feed material;
• compressing and elevating the vapor and passing the compressed vapor to the collecting chamber;
• condensing the vapor as distillate in the collecting chamber giving up heat to feed material in the horizontal tubes.