Vapor-compression distillation method and apparatus

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF DISTILLATION WHEREIN VAPOR IS EVOLVED FROM A SOLUTION IN A VAPORIZATION ZONE, THE EVOLVE VAPOR IS COMPRESSED TO A PRESSURE AT WHICH ITS CONDENSING TEMPERATURE IS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE BOILING POINT OF SAID SOLUTION, THE COMPRESSED VAPOR IS CONDENSED IN OUT-OF-CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH SOLUTION IN SAID VAPORIZATION ZONE, NON-CONDENSABLE GASES ARE SEPARATED FROM THE CONDENSATE RESULTING FROM CONDENSATION OF SAID VAPOR, SAID CONDENSATE IS DIRECTED OUT OF THE SAID SYSTEM, CONCENTRATED SOLUTION IS DIRECTED OUT OF THE SAID VAPORIZATION ZONE AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM, AND FRESH SOLUTION TO BE DISTILLED IS FED INTO SAID VAPORIZATION ZONE; THE VENTING OF SAID NON-CONDENSABLE GASES FROM THE SYSTEM DURING CONTINUANCE OF DISTILLATION BY STEPS COMPRISING CAUSING THE NON-CONDENSABLE GASES TO BECOME GRADUALLY ACCUMULATED IN THE SYSTEM DURING PERIODS OF PREDETERMINED SUBSTANTIAL DURATION AND ALTERNATING SAID PERIODS OF GAS ACCUMULATION WITH BRIEF PERIODS OF PREDETERMINED DURATION DURING WHICH NON -CONDENSABLE GASES ACCUMULATED DURING THE PRECEDING PERIOD OF GAS ACCUMULATION ARE VENTED AS A SUDDEN BURST.