Heat recovery process

Claim 1

A process for transferring thermal energy comprising contacting steam and a water absorbent solution in a first contact zone under conditions to absorb water and dilute the solution, and raise the temperature of the solution, the solution being in indirect heat exchange with an aqueous stream and raising the temperature of the aqueous stream and converting the aqueous stream to steam and water, passing diluted solution from the first contact zone to a second contact zone; passing said aqueous stream to a condensation and separation zone wherein the aqueous stream is separated into steam and liquid water, passing steam from the condensation and separation zone to a second contact zone wherein the steam is contacted with diluted solution from the first contact zone, under conditions to absorb water and dilute further the solution, and raise further the temperature of the solution, passing liquid water from the condensation and separation zone in indirect heat exchange with the further-diluted solution in said second contact zone, and converting the bulk of the liquid water into high temperature steam, passing further-diluted solution from the second contact zone to a third contact zone, and contacting further-diluted solution in the third contact zone with said high temperature steam under conditions to absorb water, and dilute the further-diluted solution, and form a high temperature, heavily diluted solution, and transferring heat from the high temperature, heavily-diluted solution to a medium to be heated.