Patent ID: 6908533

Claim:
An evaporator and condenser unit for use in distilling a liquid, the evaporator and condenser unit comprising: a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a lower portion defining a sump for containing the liquid to be distilled; a heat exchanger plate disposed within the housing and configured for rotation about an axis, the heat exchanger plate having a plurality of folds and two opposing edges that are joined together so as to give the folded plate a generally circular shape, the folds defining a plurality of spaced-apart panels having corresponding surfaces that define alternating evaporating and condensing chambers between opposing panel surfaces; an upper end plate and a lower end plate disposed within the housing substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a liquid-pick-up mechanism configured to draw liquid from the sump and deliver it to the inner edges of the evaporating chambers; a sleeve enclosing the folded heat exchanger plate at least at its outer edges, the sleeve defining a condensate collection space proximate to the folded heat exchanger plate opposite the sump, and at least one stationary scoop tube extending through the housing and into the condensate collection space, the at least one stationary scoop tube having an opening in the condensate collection space, wherein; the folded heat exchanger plate is mounted between the upper and lower end plates so as to seal the evaporating chambers from the condensing chambers, the evaporating and condensing chambers include inner and outer edges relative to the axis of rotation, the evaporating chambers are closed at their outer edges by corresponding folds in the heat exchanger plate, are open at their inner edges, and are in fluid communication with the outlet so as to provide vapor thereto, the condensing chambers are open at their outer edges, are closed at their inner edges by corresponding folds in the heat exchanger plate, and are in fluid communication with the inlet so as to receive vapor therefrom; the upper end plate has one or more ports disposed proximate to an outer diameter edge of the upper end plate, the one or more ports providing fluid communication between the condensing chambers and the condensate collection space, and the at least one stationary scoop tube is configured to remove condensate that collects in the condensate collection space.