Patent ID: 7041260

Claim:
An integrated thermal treatment system for treating a fluid, comprising: (a) a plurality of untreated fluid channels that convey an untreated fluid into the thermal treatment system; (b) a plurality of treated fluid channels that convey a treated fluid out from the thermal treatment system and which are disposed in an alternating relationship with the plurality of untreated fluid channels, such that thermal energy is readily exchanged between the untreated fluid flowing within said plurality of untreated fluid channels and the treated fluid flowing within said plurality of treated fluid channels; (c) at least one fluid inlet in fluid communication with said plurality of untreated fluid channels; (d) at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with said plurality of treated fluid channels; and (e) a stacked plate heat exchanger portion comprising: (i) a plurality of sheets stacked together and separated so that a gap is defined between adjacent sheets, each gap comprising one of said plurality of untreated fluid channels and said plurality of treated fluid channels, such that successive gaps comprise alternating untreated fluid channels and treated fluid channels; and (ii) a thermal treatment zone disposed within the stacked plate heat exchanger, said thermal treatment zone comprising means for thermally treating a fluid, said thermal treatment zone being in fluid communication with each untreated fluid channel and with each treated fluid channel.