Patent ID: 8277614

Claim:
A once-through multi-stage flash desalination plant with feed cooler, comprising: a plurality of flash distillation stages, each of the flash distillation stages including a flash chamber; a condenser comprising at least one conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the at least one conduit passing through the plurality of flash chambers; means for extracting a volume of brine from an external source and feeding the volume of brine under pressure directly to and through the at least one conduit, the means being in fluid communication with the inlet of the at least one conduit; means for cooling the volume of brine prior to direct delivery thereof through the at least one conduit, wherein the cooling means includes a refrigeration system in direct fluid communication with the inlet of the at least one conduit; means for heating the volume of brine after the volume of brine has been delivered through the at least one conduit and prior to injection thereof into the flashing stage, wherein the heating means includes a heater in fluid communication with the outlet of the at least one conduit and a steam generator for infusing heated steam into the volume of brine after the volume of brine has been heated by the heater; and means for extracting condensed water; wherein the heated volume of brine injected into the plurality of flash chambers is flashed into steam within the plurality of flash chambers, and the steam condenses on an external surface of the at least one conduit to form the condensed water.