Distillation apparatus

Claim 2

AN EVAPORATOR INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE AFFECTS, EACH EFFECT OPERATING AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN PRECEDING EFFECTS. EACH EFFECT INCLUDING HEAT EXCHANGE TUBE MEANS FOR PLACING A FEED LIQUID AND VAPOR IN A HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION SO THAT AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID FEED LIQUID IS VAPORIZED AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID VAPOR IS CONDENSED. VAPOR DISTRIBUTION MEANS FOR FEEDING AT LEAST A PART OF THE VAPORIZED PORTION OF THE FEED LIQUID GENERATED IN EACH EFFECT EXCEPT THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE EFFECTS, THE VAPOR TO THE HEAT EXCHANGE TUBE MEANS OF THE NEXT LOWER TEMPERATURE EFFECT. THE HEATING EXCHANGE TUBE MEANS OF THE INITIAL ONE OF SAID SUCCESSIVE EFFECTS BEING ORIENTED WITH ITS INDIVIDUAL HEAT EXCHANGE TUBES DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY AND THE HEAT EXCHANGE TUBE MEANS OF THE REMAINING EFFECTS BEING ORIENTED WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL HEAT EXCHANGE TUBE MEANS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY, FEED LIQUID DISTRIBUTION MEANS FOR FEEDING AN INITIAL QUANTITY OF FEED LIQUID TO THE INTERIORS OF THE HEAT EXCHANGE TUBES OF THE INITIAL EFFECT AND FOR FEEDING THE UNEVAPORATED PORTION OF SAID FEED LIQUID FROM EACH EFFECT AS A FILM OVER THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED HEAT EXCHANGE TUBES OF THE NEXT SUCCEEDING EFFECT, SAID VAPOR DISTRIBUTION MEANS CONDUCTING SAID VAPOR TO THE INTERIORS OF SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TUBES OF THE NEXT LOWER TEMPERATURE EFFECT, SAID FEED LIQUID MEANS ALSO INCLUDING MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL QUANTITY OF FEED LIQUID TO EACH OF SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED HEAT EXCHNGE TUBES IN AN AMOUNT SUBSTANTIALLY SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN A THIN FILM ON THE OUTER SURFACES THEREOF.

Claim 3

The evaporator set forth in claim 1 wherein, the heat exchange tube means of each of said remaining effects comprises a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means, and each of said heat exchange tube bundle means has a vapor entrance end and a vapor exit end and is disposed in a generally radial direction relative to the vertical axis of said evaporator, each of said exit ends facing said axis.

Claim 4

The evaporator set forth in claim 2, wherein the heat exchange tubes of said initial one of said effects form a bundle and are arranged vertically with respect to said axis and feed liquid preheater means extending vertically through said initial bundle in parallelism with said heat exchange tubes for conducting feed liquid to the upper ends of said heat exchange tubes for passage downwardly along the surfaces thereof and means for conducting vapor against the other surfaces thereof.

Claim 5

The evaporator of claim 3, wherein said successive effects are arranged one below the other and said preheater means is disposed vertically and passes uninterruptedly through at least a pair of adjacent effects.

Claim 6

The evaporator set forth in claim 4, wherein said feed liquid preheater means is disposed generally vertically and passes uninterruptedly through at least a plurality of said remaining effects and is disposed adjacent the exit ends of the heat exchange tube means of said remaining effects for condensing the unevaporated portion of said vapor.

Claim 7

The evaporator set forth in claim 5, wherein the size of said feed water preheater means in horizontal cross section is successively smaller in each higher temperature effect in relation to said additional quantity of feed liquid.

Claim 8

The evaporator set forth in claim 6 and including housing means surrounding said effects, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween.

Claim 9

The evaporator set forth in claim 7, wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diagonally across said housing, a first group of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said wall and a second group of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, the effects of each group being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom.

Claim 10

An evaporator including a substantially cylindrical housing for enclosing an initial effect and a plurality of successive effects operating at successively lower temperatures, each effect including heat exchange tube means for placing a feed liquid and vapor in a heat exchange relation so that at least a portion of said feed liquid is vaporized and at least a portion of said vapor is condensed, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect to the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect as film over the exterior surface of said tube means, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the interior of the heat exchange tube means of the next lower temperature effect, the heat exchange tube means of the initial one of said successive effects being oriented with its individual heat exchange tubes disposed substantially vertically and the heat exchange tube means of the remaining effects being oriented with their individual heat exchange tube means disposed substantially horizontally, the heat exchange tube means of each of said remaining effects comprises a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means, each of said heat exchange tube bundLe means having a vapor entrance end and a vapor exit end and each being disposed generally horizontally and extend in a generally radial direction relative to the vertical axis of the evaporator with its exit end facing said axis, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing uninterruptedly through at least a plurality of said remaining effects and being disposed adjacent the exit ends of the heat exchange tube means of said remaining effects for condensing the unevaporated portion of said vapor, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between the effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diagonally across said housing, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom, and third portions of said plurality of effects being disposed below said first and second portions of said plurality of effects and each of said third portions of said plurality of effects occupying the entire level of said housing, each of said third portion of said plurality of effects being at a successively lower boiling pressure from top to bottom than the lowermost of said second portion of said plurality of effects, said initial effect being disposed vertically above said first and second portions of said plurality of effects.

Claim 11

An evaporator including a substantially cylindrical housing for enclosing an initial effect and a plurality of successive effects operating at successively lower temperatures, each effect including heat exchange tube means for placing a feed liquid and vapor in a heat exchange relation so that at least a portion of said feed liquid is vaporized and at least a portion of said vapor is condensed, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect to the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect as film over the exterior surface of said tube means, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the interior of the heat exchange tube means of the next lower temperature effect, the heat exchange tube means of the initial one of said successive effects being oriented with its individual heat exchange tubes disposed substantially vertically and the heat exchange tube means of the remaining effects being oriented with their individual heat exchange tube means disposed substantially horizontally, the heat exchange tube means of each of said remaining effects comprises a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means, each of said heat exchange tube bundLe means having a vapor entrance end and a vapor exit end and each being disposed generally horizontally and extend in a generally radial direction relative to the vertical axis of the evaporator with its exit end facing said axis, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing uninterruptedly through at least a plurality of said remaining effects and being disposed adjacent the exit ends of the heat exchange tube means of said remaining effects for condensing the unevaporated portion of said vapor, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between the effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diagonally across said housing, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom, and third portions of said plurality of effects being disposed below said first and second portions of said plurality of effects and each of said third portions of said plurality of effects occupying the entire level of said housing, each of said third portion of said plurality of effects being at a successively lower boiling pressure from top to bottom than the lowermost of said second portion of said plurality of effects, said initial effect being disposed vertically above said first and second portions of said plurality of effects.

Claim 12

The evaporator set forth in claim 9, including collecting means for collecting the unevaporated feed liquid in each effect, said feed liquid distribution means including tray means disposed above each of the heat exchange tube means of each effect and below the collecting means of the preceding effect and pipe means extending through said horizontal diaphragm means for conducting the unevaporated feed liquid from one effect to the distribution tray means of the next succeeding effect.

Claim 13

An evaporator including an initial and a plurality of effects, each effect operating at a lower temperature than preceding effects and including heat exchange tube means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of the feed liquid from each effect as a film over the interior surface of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the interior of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding lower temperature effect, said plurality of successive effects being arranged one below the other, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing uninterruptedly through said plurality of vertically arranged effects and being disposed for condensing that portion of said vapor not condensed in said heat exchange tube means, means for distributing an additional quantity of the liquid from said feed liquor preheater means to each of said effects in an amount substantially equal to that necessary to maintain a thin film of feed liquid on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube means of each effect, the size of said feed liquid preheater means in horizontal cross section is reduced at each succeeding higher temperature effect in relation to additional quantity of feed liquid distributed in the preceding effect.

Claim 14

An evaporator including an initial and a plurality of effects, each effect operating at a lower temperature than preceding effects and including heat exchange tube means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of the feed liquid from each effect as a film over the interior surface of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the interior of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding lower temperature effect, said plurality of successive effects being arranged one below the other, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing uninterruptedly through said plurality of vertically arranged effects and being disposed for condensing that portion of said vapor not condensed in said heat exchange tube means, means for distributing an additional quantity of the liquid from said feed liquor preheater means to each of said effects in an amount substantially equal to that necessary to maintain a thin film of feed liquid on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube means of each effect, the size of said feed liquid preheater means in horizontal cross section is reduced at each succeeding higher temperature effect in relation to additional quantity of feed liquid distributed in the preceding effect.

Claim 15

The evaporator set forth in claim 11 wherein each heat exchange tube means comprises a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor exit end, said heat exchange tube bundle means being dispOsed generally horizontally and extending in a general radial direction relative to and with their exit ends adjacent said feed liquid preheater means.

Claim 16

The evaporator set forth in claim 12, wherein said plurality of successive effects are arranged one below the other in a vertical array, housing means surrounding said effects, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween.

Claim 17

The evaporator set forth in claim 13, wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diametrically across said housing, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said vertical diaphragm wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom.

Claim 18

An evaporator including a plurality of successive effects, each effect including heat exchange tube means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of the feed liquid from each effect as a film over the outer surface of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding lower temperature effect, said effects being arranged one below the other, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing uninterruptedly through said plurality of vertically arranged effects and being disposed for condensing the evaporated portion of said vapor not condensed in said heat exchange tube means, said heat exchange tube means each including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means having a vapor entrance end and a vapor exit end, said heat exchange tube bundle means being disposed generally horizontally and extending in a generally radial direction relative to and with their exit ends adjacent said feed liquid preheater means, means for distributing an additional quantity of the liquid from said feed liquid preheater means to each of said effects in an amount substantially equal to that necessary to maintain a thin film of feed liquid on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube means of each effect, the size of said feed liquid preheater means in horizontal cross section being diminished in each effect in relation to said additional quantity of feed liquid distributed in the preceding lower temperature effect, the heat exchange tube means of the initial one of said successive effects being oriented with its individual heat exchange tubes disposed substantially vertically and the heat exchange tube means of the remaining effects being oriented with their individual heat exchange tube means disposed substantially horizontally, substantially cylindrical housing means surrounding said effects, diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diametrically across said housing, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said vertical diaphragm wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom, and a third portion of said plurality of effects being disposed below said first and second portions of said plurality of effects and eaCh of said third portion of said plurality occupying the entire level of said housing, each being at a successively lower boiling pressure from top to bottom than the lowermost of said second portion of said plurality of effects.

Claim 19

An evaporator including a plurality of successive effects, each effect including heat exchange tube means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of the feed liquid from each effect as a film over the outer surface of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding lower temperature effect, said effects being arranged one below the other, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing uninterruptedly through said plurality of vertically arranged effects and being disposed for condensing the evaporated portion of said vapor not condensed in said heat exchange tube means, said heat exchange tube means each including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means having a vapor entrance end and a vapor exit end, said heat exchange tube bundle means being disposed generally horizontally and extending in a generally radial direction relative to and with their exit ends adjacent said feed liquid preheater means, means for distributing an additional quantity of the liquid from said feed liquid preheater means to each of said effects in an amount substantially equal to that necessary to maintain a thin film of feed liquid on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube means of each effect, the size of said feed liquid preheater means in horizontal cross section being diminished in each effect in relation to said additional quantity of feed liquid distributed in the preceding lower temperature effect, the heat exchange tube means of the initial one of said successive effects being oriented with its individual heat exchange tubes disposed substantially vertically and the heat exchange tube means of the remaining effects being oriented with their individual heat exchange tube means disposed substantially horizontally, substantially cylindrical housing means surrounding said effects, diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diametrically across said housing, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said vertical diaphragm wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom, and a third portion of said plurality of effects being disposed below said first and second portions of said plurality of effects and eaCh of said third portion of said plurality occupying the entire level of said housing, each being at a successively lower boiling pressure from top to bottom than the lowermost of said second portion of said plurality of effects.

Claim 20

The evaporator set forth in claim 15, including means for collecting the unevaporated feed liquid in each effect, said feed liquid distribution means including tray means disposed above each of the heat exchange tube means of each effect and below the collecting means of the preceding effect and pipe means extending through said horizontal diaphragm means for conducting the unevaporated feed liquid from one effect to the distribution tray means of the next succeeding effect.

Claim 21

The evaporator set forth in claim 16, wherein the heat exchange tube means of said initial one of said effects is disposed vertically above said remaining effects, feed liquid preheater means extending vertically through each of said remaining effects and for conducting feed liquid to the upper end of said heat exchange tube means of said initial effect for passage downwardly along one surface thereof and means for conducting steam against the other surface thereof.

Claim 22

The evaporator of claim 17, wherein said feed liquid distribution means provides feed liquid in a relatively thin film to the outer surfaces of said horizontally disposed heat tube means and said vapor distribution means conducts said vapor to the interior thereof.

Claim 23

An evaporator including an initial and a plurality of successive effects, each effect operating at a lower temperature than preceding effects, each of said effects including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect as a film over the exterior surfaces of the tubes of the bundle means to the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, said heat exchange tube bundle means being disposed generally horizontally and extending in a generally radial direction relative to a vertical axis with their exit ends facing said axis, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of feed liquid in each of said plurality of successive effects except the last of said effects to the vapor entrance end of the next succeeding lower temperature effect whereby at least a portion of said vapor condenses, and condensate collecting means communicating with the exit ends of said heat exchange tube bundle means, said plurality of successive effects being arranged in a generally vertical array.

Claim 24

An evaporator including an initial and a plurality of successive effects, each effect operating at a lower temperature than preceding effects, each of said effects including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect as a film over the exterior surfaces of the tubes of the bundle means to the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, said heat exchange tube bundle means being disposed generally horizontally and extending in a generally radial direction relative to a vertical axis with their exit ends facing said axis, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of feed liquid in each of said plurality of successive effects except the last of said effects to the vapor entrance end of the next succeeding lower temperature effect whereby at least a portion of said vapor condenses, and condensate collecting means communicating with the exit ends of said heat exchange tube bundle means, said plurality of successive effects being arranged in a generally vertical array.

Claim 25

The evaporator of claim 19, wherein said feed liquid distribution means provides feed liquid in a relatively thin film to the outer surfaces of said horizontally disposed heat exchange tube bundle means and said vapor distribution means conducts said vapor to the interior thereof.

Claim 26

The evaporator set forth in claim 19 and including feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing through at least one of said plurality of successive effects and being disposed adjacent the exit ends of the heat exchange tube bundle means of said effects for condensing the unevaporated portion of said vapor, the heat exchange bundle means in each effect being arranged at substantially the same elevation.

Claim 27

The evaporator set forth in claim 19 and including means for distributing an additional quantity of the liquid from said feed liquid preheater means to each of said effects in an amount substantially sufficient to maintain a thin film of liquid on the heat exchange tube means of said additional effects, and the size of said feed water preheater means in horizontal cross section being successiVely smaller in each effect in relation to said additional quantity of feed liquid.

Claim 28

The evaporator set forth in claim 19, wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diagonally across said vessel, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects disposed in vertical array on one side of said wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom.

Claim 29

The evaporator set forth in claim 19 including collecting means for collecting the unevaporated feed liquid in each stage, said feed liquid distribution means including tray means disposed above each of the heat exchange tube means of each effect and below the collecting means of the preceding effect and pipe means extending through said horizontal diaphragm means for conducting the unevaporated feed liquid from one stage to the distribution tray means of the next succeeding stage.

Claim 30

The evaporator set forth in claim 19, wherein housing means surrounds said effects, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween.

Claim 31

The evaporator set forth in claim 25, wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diametrically across said vessel, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom.

Claim 32

The evaporator of claim 19, wherein feed liquid preheater means passes successively through said effects and is disposed adjacent the exit ends of said heat exchange tube bundle means for condensing that portion of the vapor exiting from said heat exchange tube bundle means.

Claim 33

The evaporator set forth in claim 27, wherein said plurality of successive effects are arranged one below the other, feed liquid preheater means disposed generally vertically and passing through at least a plurality of said effects and being disposed adjacent the exit ends of the heat exchange tube bundle means of said effects for condensing said vapor exiting said portion of heat exchange tube bundle means.

Claim 34

The evaporator of claim 28 wherein said feed liquid distribution means provides feed liquid in a relatively thin film to the outer surfaces of said horizontally disposed tubes of said heat exchange tube bundle means and said vapor distribution means conducts said vapor to the interior thereof.

Claim 35

The evaporator set forth in claim 29, and including a substantially cylindrical, a vertical diaphragm wall extending diagonally across said housing, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on one side of said wall and a second portion of said plurality of successive effects being disposed in vertical array on the other side thereof, said effects being arranged one below the other in order of decreasing boiling pressure from top to bottom.

Claim 36

The evaporator set forth in claim 30, including collecting means for collecting the unevaporated feed liquid in each effect, said feed liquid distribution means including tray means disposed above each of the heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect and below the collecting means of the preceding effect and pipe means extending between effects for conducting the unevaporated feed liquid from one effect to the distribution tray means of the next succeeding effect.

Claim 37

The evaporator set forth in claim 31 wherein, the heat exchange tube bundle means of the initial one of said successive effects is oriented with its individual heat exchange tubes disposed substantIally vertically and the heat exchange tube bundle means of the remaining effects being oriented with their individual heat exchange tube means disposed substantially horizontally.

Claim 38

The evaporator set forth in claim 32 and including means for distributing an additional quantity of the liquid from said feed liquid preheater means to each of said effects in an amount substantially sufficient to maintain a thin film of liquid on the heat exchange tube means of said remaining effects, and the size of said feed liquid preheater means in horizontal cross section being successively smaller in each effect in relation to said quantity of feed liquid.

Claim 39

An evaporator including an initial and a plurality of successive effects, each effect operating at successively lower temperatures and including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect as a film to the exterior surfaces of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the interior surface of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding lower temperature effect, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, said heat tube bundle means being disposed generally horizontally and extending in a generally radial direction relative to a vertical axis with their exit ends facing said axis, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being arranged one below the other in vertical array, housing means surrounding said effects, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween, and a second portion of said plurality of effects being disposed below said first portion of said plurality of effects and each of said second portion occupying the entire level of said housing, each of said second portion of effects being at a successively lower boiling pressure from top to bottom than the lowermost of said first portion of said plurality of effects.

Claim 40

An evaporator including an initial and a plurality of successive effects, each effect operating at successively lower temperatures and including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid and a vapor in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect as a film to the exterior surfaces of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding effect, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of the feed liquid generated in each effect as the vapor to the interior surface of the heat exchange tube means of the next succeeding lower temperature effect, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, said heat tube bundle means being disposed generally horizontally and extending in a generally radial direction relative to a vertical axis with their exit ends facing said axis, a first portion of said plurality of successive effects being arranged one below the other in vertical array, housing means surrounding said effects, and diaphragm wall means extending substantially horizontally between said effects to provide a liquid and vapor barrier therebetween, and a second portion of said plurality of effects being disposed below said first portion of said plurality of effects and each of said second portion occupying the entire level of said housing, each of said second portion of effects being at a successively lower boiling pressure from top to bottom than the lowermost of said first portion of said plurality of effects.

Claim 41

The evaporator set forth in claim 34, including means for collecting the unevaporated feed liquid in each effect, said feed liquid distribution means including tray means disposed above each of the heat exchange tubes means of each effect and below the collecting means of the preceding effect and pipe means extending through said horizontal diaphragm means for conducting the unevaporated feed liquid from one effect to the distribution tray means of the next succeeding effect.

Claim 42

An evaporator including a series of effects, each effect operating at a lower temperature than preceding effects, said effects being arranged in at least one vertical column with each effect in said column having a higher temperature than the effects disposed therebelow, each of said effects including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid as a film over the exterior surfaces of the tubes of the bundle means and a vapor as a heating medium within the tubes of the bundle means in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for successively feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect to the heat exchange tube bundle means of succeeding lower elevation effects whereby said feed liquid flows generally downwardly through said evaporator, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, said heat tube bundle means being disposed generaLly horizontally and extending in different, generally radial directions relative to a vertical axis with their exit ends disposed adjacent and facing said axis, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of feed liquid in each of said plurality of successive effects except the last of said effects to the vapor entrance end of the next lower temperature effect whereby at least a portion of said vapor condenses, and condensate collecting means communicating with the exit ends of said tube bundle means.

Claim 43

An evaporator including a series of effects, each effect operating at a lower temperature than preceding effects, said effects being arranged in at least one vertical column with each effect in said column having a higher temperature than the effects disposed therebelow, each of said effects including a plurality of heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid as a film over the exterior surfaces of the tubes of the bundle means and a vapor as a heating medium within the tubes of the bundle means in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for successively feeding the unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect to the heat exchange tube bundle means of succeeding lower elevation effects whereby said feed liquid flows generally downwardly through said evaporator, each of said heat exchange tube bundle means of each effect having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, said heat tube bundle means being disposed generaLly horizontally and extending in different, generally radial directions relative to a vertical axis with their exit ends disposed adjacent and facing said axis, vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of feed liquid in each of said plurality of successive effects except the last of said effects to the vapor entrance end of the next lower temperature effect whereby at least a portion of said vapor condenses, and condensate collecting means communicating with the exit ends of said tube bundle means.

Claim 44

In an evaporator of the type having a plurality of effects disposed in at least one vertical column with each effect operating at a higher temperature than the effects disposed below it in said column, each of said effects including a heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid as a film over the exterior surfaces of the tubes of the bundle means and a vapor as a heating medium within the tubes of the bundle means in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding by gravity and unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect to the heat exchange tube bundle means of succeeding lower elevation effects, and vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of feed liquid in each of said plurality of effects except the last of said effects to the vapor entrance end of the next lower temperature effect whereby at least a portion of said vapor condenses, wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of generally horizontally arranged heat exchange tube bundles forming each heat exchange tube bundle means, each of the heat exchange tube bundles having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, each of the heat exchange tube bundles of each effect being arranged at substantially the same elevation with their exit ends disposed adjacent and facing a vertical axis and each bundle extending in a generally radial direction relative to said axis whereby the heat exchange tube bundles of each effect radiate outwardly in different directions from said axis.

Claim 45

In an evaporator of the type having a plurality of effects disposed in at least one vertical column with each effect operating at a higher temperature than the effects disposed below it in said column, each of said effects including a heat exchange tube bundle means for placing a feed liquid as a film over the exterior surfaces of the tubes of the bundle means and a vapor as a heating medium within the tubes of the bundle means in a heat exchange relation so that a portion of said feed liquid vaporizes and at least a portion of said vapor condenses, feed liquid distribution means for feeding by gravity and unevaporated portion of said feed liquid from each effect to the heat exchange tube bundle means of succeeding lower elevation effects, and vapor distribution means for feeding the vaporized portion of feed liquid in each of said plurality of effects except the last of said effects to the vapor entrance end of the next lower temperature effect whereby at least a portion of said vapor condenses, wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of generally horizontally arranged heat exchange tube bundles forming each heat exchange tube bundle means, each of the heat exchange tube bundles having a vapor entrance end and a vapor and condensate exit end, each of the heat exchange tube bundles of each effect being arranged at substantially the same elevation with their exit ends disposed adjacent and facing a vertical axis and each bundle extending in a generally radial direction relative to said axis whereby the heat exchange tube bundles of each effect radiate outwardly in different directions from said axis.