Multi-stage convective distillation system

Claim 1

A LIQUID CONVERSION METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SUBSTANTIALLY PURIFIED CONDENSATE LIQUID FROM A BASE LIQUID CONTAINING IMPURITIES REMOVABLE BY VAPORIZATION, IN THE PRESENCE OF A CARRIER GAS AND AT A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE COMPRISING: HEATING THE BASE LIQUID TO A TEMPERATURE JUST BELOW THE BOILING TEMPERATURE THEREOF; TRANSFERRING THE HEATED BASE LIQUID IN A GIVEN DIRECTION THROUGH A SERIES OF CONVERSION CHAMBERS IN A MANNER PERMITTING APPRECIABLE EVAPORATION AND COOLING OF THE BASE LIQUID IN EACH SUCH CHAMBER, TRANSFERRING PREVIOUSLY PURIFIED LIQUID CONDENSATE FROM A RELATIVELY LOW-TEMPERATURE SOURCE THROUGH SAID SERIES OF CHAMBERS IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION IN A MANNER TO EFFECT APPRECIABLE CONDENSATION OF VAPOR FROM SAID BASE LIQUID IN SAID CONDENSATE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT AND TEMPERATURE OF THE CONDENSATE; AND PROGRESSIVELY VARYING THE AMOUNT OF CARRIER GAS PRESENT IN SAID CHAMBERS, RELATIVE TO LIQUID PRESENT AS THE BASE LIQUID IS TRANSFERRED FROM CHAMBER TO CHAMBER TO MAINTAIN THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF CONDENSATE AND BASE LIQUID CLOSE TO BUT ABOVE AND BELOW, RESPECTIVELY, THE ENTHALPY-TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTIC OF A SATURATED MIXTURE OF VAPORIZED CONDEN SATE AND THE CARRIER GAS AND THEREBY MINIMIZE HEAT LOSSES IN THE CONVERSION PROCESS.