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.

An energy-saving method and system for distilling, desalinating or purifying water relating to a method of increasing the amount of heat recycled back into the system. The system involves powering a compressor using a series of expanders and the energy derived from each expander cumulatively powers the compressor. The compressor draws vapor from seawater contained in an evaporator and compresses it into a condenser. The heat given off by the condenser is absorbed by the evaporator and recycled back into the system.

A mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) liquid purification system, in particular an MVR water desalination system, comprising a pressure-tight enclosure (2) provided with a first end (4) and a second end (6), having an essentially circular cylindrical elongated shape along a longitudinal axis A, and numerous evaporation compartments E1-E3, arranged within said enclosure (2) along the longitudinal axis A. Each evaporation compartment is provided with a plurality of longitudinal pipes (10) running from one sidewall (8) to the other sidewall (8), and that the circular sidewalls are provided with openings for said plurality of pipes. The system further comprises a central tube (12) running along the longitudinal axis A of the enclosure (2) through the centers of said evaporation compartments E1-E3, and configured to allow steam to flow from the second end to the first end of the enclosure. The number of pipes (10) is preferably highest in the first evaporation compartment E1, then gradually fewer in the second E2 and third E3. The pipes are configured to allow steam to flow from the first end (4) to the second end (6) of the enclosure (2).

A turbine assembly (14) is arranged in relation to said first end (4) of the enclosure (2) and at least partly within said central tube (12), comprising a turbine provided with turbine vane members (16) structured to provide steam flow in an axial direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis, within said central tube (12) from said second end (6) to said first end (4) of the enclosure (2). The turbine assembly (14) comprises a motor (20) for rotating said turbine at a variable rotational speed.

A vapor compression distillation assembly for distilling influent liquid, the vapor compression distillation assembly comprising a housing defining an interior and having an inlet for influent liquid, an evaporator and a condenser provided within the housing interior, an outlet for distillate, and at least one compressor fluidly coupled with the housing interior.

A gas capture system includes a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between cold heat of a fuel that is vaporizing and a first gas mixture to cool the first gas mixture, a first dehumidifier that dehumidifies the first gas mixture cooled through the first heat exchanger, a first compressor that presses the first gas mixture passing through the first dehumidifier, a first separation device that separates a second gas mixture including a reference gas from the pressed first gas mixture, and a liquefier that liquefies the reference gas to generate a reference liquid.

A water treatment system comprising a mechanical vapour compression apparatus (11), the mechanical vapour apparatus having a evaporation/condensation vessel (11a) and a recirculation circuit (20) whereby recirculated water is pumped from an outlet (18a) of the evaporation/condensation vessel (11A) to an inlet (18B) of the evaporation/condensation vessel (11A), wherein the recirculation circuit (20) comprises a fluidized bed crystallizer (22), and at least part of the recirculated brine is passed through the fluidized bed crystallizer (22) to remove dissolved minerals therefrom.

A fluid vapor distillation apparatus. The apparatus includes a source fluid input, and an evaporator condenser apparatus. The evaporator condenser apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical housing and a plurality of tubes in the housing. The source fluid input is fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser and the evaporator condenser transforms source fluid into steam and transforms compressed steam into product fluid. Also included in the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the source fluid input and a product fluid output. The heat exchanger includes an outer tube and at least one inner tube. Also included in the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is a regenerative blower fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser. The regenerative blower compresses steam, and the compressed steam flows to the evaporative condenser where compressed steam is transformed into product fluid. The fluid vapor distillation apparatus also includes a control system.

Embodiments of the invention provide a seawater desalination device, including a steam re-compressor configured to pressurize steam by pressurizing a steam; a first heat exchanger configured to exchange an amount of sensible heat of seawater to be desalinated with an amount of liquid sensible heat after pressurized steam is condensed, and an amount of sensible heat of a concentrated liquid after seawater is concentrated; a second heat exchanger configured to exchange an amount of heat of pressurized steam, an amount of latent heat of vaporization of seawater, and an amount of sensible heat when seawater is evaporated, and configured to concentrate seawater; a seawater supply means; a steam supply means; a first discharge means; a second discharge means; and a water-droplet separation means.

A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.

A mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) arrangement includes a compound turbine system, a pressure-tight enclosure provided with a first end and a second end, having an essentially circular cylindrical elongated shape along a longitudinal axis A, and a central tube with an essentially circular cross-section and running within the enclosure to allow steam to flow from the second end to the first end. The MVR arrangement includes an inner central tube arranged concentrically within the central tube and running from the second end to, or towards, the first end, where the inner central tube has an outer diameter related to the inner diameter of the central tube such that a steam flow conducting space is provided between an outer surface of the inner central tube and an inner surface of the central tube. The compound turbine system includes a turbine assembly with a turbine having axial turbine vane members.