Pressurized vapor cycle liquid distillation
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
1. A liquid vapor distillation apparatus comprising:
an evaporative condenser for transforming an intake liquid to a compressed vapor and for transforming the compressed vapor into a product liquid;
a first heat exchanger;
a second heat exchanger; and
a third heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger comprising:
a first heat source input connected to a first heat source fluid line, the first heat source input connecting the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger, wherein the first heat source input is fluidly connected to a blowdown fluid line in the liquid vapor distillation apparatus; and
a second heat source input connected to a second heat source fluid line, wherein the second heat source input is fluidly connected to a product liquid fluid line in the liquid vapor distillation apparatus, whereby multiple heat source inputs are exchanged with the intake liquid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a steam pump drive motor.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a Stirling engine generator powering the liquid vapor distillation apparatus.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a Stirling engine generator.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vapor distillation apparatus further comprising:
an input for receiving untreated input liquid; and
a sump in communication with the input wherein the sump comprises at least one heating element and wherein input liquid is preheated.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the liquid vapor distillation apparatus further comprising:
a head chamber for collecting vapor from the evaporative condenser; and
a regenerative blower for compressing the vapor, the regenerative blower in communication with the head chamber.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the liquid vapor distillation apparatus further comprising a switch selected from the group consisting of a thermostatic switch, a pressure-sensing switch, a thermal transducer and a pressure transducer, for signaling completion of the heating phase and turning off the heating element.
8. A water vapor distillation apparatus comprising:
an input for receiving an untreated input water;
a sump in communication with the input wherein the sump comprising at least one heating element and wherein the input water is preheated;
an evaporative condenser coupled to the sump for transforming the water to a compressed vapor and for transforming the compressed vapor into a product water;
a head chamber for collecting a vapor from the evaporative condenser;
a regenerative blower for compressing the vapor, the regenerative blower in communication with the head chamber;
a first two-channel heat exchanger;
a second two-channel heat exchanger; and
a third two-channel heat exchanger, the first two-channel heat exchanger comprising:
a first heat source input connected to a first heat source fluid line, the first heat source input connecting the first two-channel heat exchanger and the third two-channel heat exchanger, wherein the first heat source input is fluidly connected to a blowdown water fluid line in the water vapor distillation apparatus; and
a second heat source input connected to a second heat source fluid line, wherein the second heat source input is fluidly connected to a product water fluid line in the water vapor distillation apparatus, whereby multiple heat source inputs are exchanged with the untreated intake water.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the water vapor distillation apparatus further comprising a switch selected from the group consisting of a thermostatic switch, a pressure-sensing switch, a thermal transducer and a pressure transducer, for signaling completion of the heating phase and turning off the heating element.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a steam pump drive motor.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a Stirling engine generator powering the water vapor distillation apparatus.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchanger further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a Stirling engine generator.
13. A water vapor distillation apparatus comprising:
an input for receiving an untreated input water;
a sump in communication with the input;
an evaporative condenser coupled to the sump for transforming the water to a compressed vapor and for transforming the compressed vapor into a product water;
a regenerative blower for compressing the vapor, the regenerative blower in communication with the head chamber;
a first two-channel heat exchanger;
a second two-channel heat exchanger; and
a third two-channel heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger comprising:
a first heat source input connected to a first heat source fluid line, the first heat source input connecting the first two-channel heat exchanger and the third two-channel heat exchanger, wherein the first heat source input is fluidly connected to a blowdown water fluid line in the water vapor distillation apparatus; and
a second heat source input connected to a second heat source fluid line, wherein the second heat source input is fluidly connected to a product water fluid line in the water vapor distillation apparatus, whereby multiple heat source inputs are exchanged with the untreated input water.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second the heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a steam pump drive motor.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a Stirling engine generator powering the water vapor distillation apparatus.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers further comprises a third heat source input fluidly connected to a Stirling engine generator.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first heat exchanger is a multi-channel heat exchanger.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first heat exchanger is a two-channel heat exchanger.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a multi-channel heat exchanger.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a two-channel heat exchanger.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first heat source input is a first hot water input and the first heat source fluid line is a first hot water fluid line.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the second heat source input is a second hot water input and the second heat source fluid line is a second hot water fluid line.