Vapor-compression evaporation system and method

1. A vapor-compression evaporation system, comprising:

a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component;

a mechanical compressor coupled to the last vessel in the series and operable to receive a vapor from the last vessel in the series;

a pump operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor;

a tank coupled to the mechanical compressor and operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor;

a plurality of heat exchangers coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the series operable to receive the vapor from the tank, at least some of the vapor condensing therein, whereby the heat of condensation provides the heat of evaporation to the first vessel in the series;

wherein at least some of the vapor inside the first vessel in the series is delivered to the heat exchanger in the next vessel in the series, whereby the condensing, evaporating, and delivering steps continue until the last vessel in the series is reached; and

a multi-effect or a multi-stage flash evaporator coupled to the last vessel in the series for additional evaporation of the feed.

2. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 1 , wherein the nonvolatile component is selected from the group consisting of salt and sugar.

3. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 1 , further comprising a condenser coupled to the last vessel in the series for removing energy from the last vessel in the series.

4. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of devices coupled to respective ones of the vessels for removing concentrated feed from respective ones of the vessels.

5. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling liquid comprises atomized liquid water.

6. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 5 , wherein the liquid water of the atomized liquid water comprises feed water.

7. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 5 , wherein the liquid water of the atomized liquid water comprises distilled water.

8. A vapor-compression evaporation system, comprising:

a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component;

a mechanical compressor coupled to the last vessel in the series and operable to receive a vapor from the last vessel in the series;

a pump operable to deliver atomized liquid water to the mechanical compressor;

a tank coupled to the mechanical compressor and operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor;

a plurality of heat exchangers coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the series operable to receive the vapor from the tank, at least some of the vapor condensing therein, whereby the heat of condensation provides the heat of evaporation to the first vessel in the series;

wherein at least some of the vapor inside the first vessel in the series is delivered to the heat exchanger in the next vessel in the series, whereby the condensing, evaporating, and delivering steps continue until the last vessel in the series is reached; and

a multi-effect evaporator coupled to the last vessel in the series for additional evaporation of the feed.

9. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 8 , wherein the nonvolatile component is selected from the group consisting of salt and sugar.

10. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 8 , further comprising a condenser coupled to the last vessel in the series for removing energy from the last vessel in the series.

11. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of devices coupled to respective ones of the vessels for removing concentrated feed from respective ones of the vessels.

12. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 8 , wherein the liquid water of the atomized liquid water comprises feed water.

13. The vapor-compression evaporation system of claim 8 , wherein the liquid water of the atomized liquid water comprises distilled water.

14. A vapor-compression evaporation method, comprising:

delivering a feed having a nonvolatile component to a plurality of vessels in series;

coupling a mechanical compressor to the last vessel in the series:

receiving, by the mechanical compressor a vapor from the last vessel in the series;

delivering a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor;

separating liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor;

receiving, by a heat exchanger coupled to the first vessel in the series, the separated vapor, at least some of the vapor condensing therein, whereby the heat of condensation provides the heat of evaporation to the first vessel in the series;

delivering at least some of the vapor inside the first vessel in the series to a heat exchanger coupled to the next vessel in the series, whereby the condensing, evaporating, and delivering continue until the last vessel in the series is reached; and

additionally evaporating the feed, by one of a multi-effect or a multi-stage flash evaporator coupled to the last vessel in series.

15. The vapor-compression evaporation method of claim 14 , wherein the nonvolatile component is selected from the group consisting of salt and sugar.

16. The vapor-compression evaporation method of claim 14 , further comprising removing energy from the last vessel in the series.

17. The vapor-compression evaporation method of claim 14 , further comprising removing concentrated feed from respective ones of the vessels.

18. The vapor-compression evaporation method of claim 14 , wherein the cooling liquid comprises atomized liquid water.