A falling film evaporator comprising: a plurality of evaporator tubes through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed; a separator to separate a flow of liquid refrigerant from a vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture; a distributor operably connected to the separator to distribute a flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes, the distributor including: a distributor inlet; a sparge channel connected to the distributor inlet to flow the liquid refrigerant therethrough and exiting the sparge channel via a plurality of sparge openings in an upper surface of the sparge channel; and a distribution sheet disposed below the sparge channel through which the liquid refrigerant flows onto the plurality of evaporator tubes; wherein a flow rate of liquid refrigerant through each sparge opening of the plurality of sparge openings is substantially equal, characterized in that the distributor inlet is configured to receive the flow of liquid refrigerant from the separator; the distribution sheet is formed from a C-channel shaped piece of sheet metal material; a plurality of support rods extend across the distributor between opposing walls of the distribution sheet, the rods supporting the sparge channel; a distributor box cover is placed over the distribution sheet and the sparge channel to close the distributor; and the distributor box cover is formed from a complementary piece of C-channel sheet metal. a plurality of evaporator tubes through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed; a separator to separate a flow of liquid refrigerant from a vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture; a distributor operably connected to the separator to distribute a flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes, the distributor including: a distributor inlet; a sparge channel connected to the distributor inlet to flow the liquid refrigerant therethrough and exiting the sparge channel via a plurality of sparge openings in an upper surface of the sparge channel; and a distribution sheet disposed below the sparge channel through which the liquid refrigerant flows onto the plurality of evaporator tubes; wherein a flow rate of liquid refrigerant through each sparge opening of the plurality of sparge openings is substantially equal, a distributor inlet; a sparge channel connected to the distributor inlet to flow the liquid refrigerant therethrough and exiting the sparge channel via a plurality of sparge openings in an upper surface of the sparge channel; and a distribution sheet disposed below the sparge channel through which the liquid refrigerant flows onto the plurality of evaporator tubes; wherein a flow rate of liquid refrigerant through each sparge opening of the plurality of sparge openings is substantially equal, characterized in that the distributor inlet is configured to receive the flow of liquid refrigerant from the separator; the distribution sheet is formed from a C-channel shaped piece of sheet metal material; a plurality of support rods extend across the distributor between opposing walls of the distribution sheet, the rods supporting the sparge channel; a distributor box cover is placed over the distribution sheet and the sparge channel to close the distributor; and the distributor box cover is formed from a complementary piece of C-channel sheet metal.