Method for distilling a fluid with horizontal vapor transfer into a condensation zone and modular device for implementing said method

An elementary cell for distilling a fluid, comprising:

• two metal plates forming walls of the cell, a spacer frame separating the metal plates and holding the metal plates vertically, and a longitudinal central member dividing the spacer frame into two distinct zones including an evaporation zone and a condensation zone, wherein the evaporation zone and the condensation zone are substantially identical, and wherein the evaporation zone includes an upper part for receiving the fluid to be distilled;
• a feed circuit communicating with the upper part of the evaporation zone, wherein the feed circuit enters the upper part of the evaporation zone so that the fluid to be distilled runs as a thin film down the walls of the cell, thereby condensing the fluid and producing vapors in the evaporation zone;
• a plurality of calibrated holes provided in the central member, wherein the evaporation zone and the condensation zone communicate with each other through the plurality of calibrated holes provided in the central member so that the vapors produced in the evaporation zone are horizontally transferred into the condensation zone through the plurality of calibrated holes;
• a concentrate circuit provided in a lower part of the evaporation zone, for recovering excess unevaporated fluid concentrated in the lower part of the evaporation zone;
• and
• a distillate circuit provided in a lower part of the condensation zone, for evacuating the condensed fluid running vertically down the walls of the condensation zone and recovering the distilled fluid from the lower part of the condensation zone.

A distillation unit comprising:

• an elementary cell for distilling a fluid and including two metal plates forming walls of the cell, a spacer frame separating the metal plates and holding the metal plates vertically, and a longitudinal central member dividing the spacer frame into two distinct zones including an evaporation zone and a condensation zone, wherein the evaporation zone and the condensation zone are substantially identical, and wherein the evaporation zone includes an upper part for receiving the fluid to be distilled in the distillation unit;
• a feed circuit communicating with the upper part of the evaporation zone, wherein the feed circuit enters the upper part of the evaporation zone so that the fluid to be distilled runs as a thin film down the walls of the cell, thereby condensing the fluid and producing vapors in the evaporation zone;
• a plurality of calibrated holes provided in the central member, wherein the evaporation zone and the condensation zone communicate with each other through the plurality of calibrated holes provided in the central member so that the vapors produced in the evaporation zone are horizontally transferred into the condensation zone through the plurality of calibrated holes;
• a concentrate circuit provided in a lower part of the evaporation zone, for recovering excess unevaporated fluid concentrated in the lower part of the evaporation zone;
• and
• a distillate circuit provided in a lower part of the condensation zone, for evacuating the condensed fluid running vertically down the walls of the condensation zone and recovering the distilled fluid from the lower part of the condensation zone.