Patent ID: 6551466
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of removing contaminants from a water feed stream containing contaminants, comprising the steps ofa) providing a source of waste energy for vaporizing said water feed stream; b) providing a fluid circulation circuit including a heated separator and a reboiler exchanger in fluid communication; c) passing said water feed stream into said heated separator fluid circuit; d) passing said waste energy into said reboiler exchanger for recovery of heat energy; e) vaporizing said water feed stream with said waste energy in said reboiler exchanger to generate a vapor fraction and a concentrate liquid contaminant fraction; f) circulating at least a portion of said concentrate liquid contaminant fraction through said reboiler exchanger and said heated separator; g) maintaining a ratio of circulating mass to vapor mass of said concentrate liquid contaminant fraction been 300 and 2 to maintain wetted surfaces on heated surfaces of said heated separator and said reboiler exchanger for reducing scale formation and fouling, said ratio resulting in a vapor fraction of between 1% and 50% by mass exiting said reboiler exchanger; h) condensing said vapor fraction; and i) collecting condensed vapor fraction substantially devoid of contaminants.