Multi-effect flash evaporator

Claim 1

In a multi-effect flash evaporator system wherein means are provided for preheating water and then flashing same into a vessel to provide steam and unflashed water and wherein a mist eliminator is provided through which the flashed steam passes to thereafter be condensed as distilled water, the improvement in combination therewith of a preheated water inlet header extending horizontally and at least partially across said vessel and including a plurality of upwardly directed restricted discharge means spaced along the header for discharging upwardly from the header the preheated feedwater which is to be flashed, and means forming a flash chamber comprising a roof for receiving the upwardly discharged water from said discharge means, said flash chamber extending along and generally above said discharge means and having substantially imperforate side walls which extend downwardly on both sides of the header and forming flow passages therewith so that flashed steam as well as unflashed water is directed to flow downwardly through said flow passages, said means forming a flash chamber being disposed at a level below that of the mist eliminator so that steam flowing down through said passages must substantially change its flow direction in order to pass upwardly to said mist eliminator.