Distiller

Abstract

A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A counterflow heat exchanger for a distiller, the distiller receiving incoming liquid and distilling the incoming liquid into distillate liquid and concentrate liquid for discharge, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a spiral distillate liquid flow channel for conveying the distillate liquid, formed of a first tubing that is configured in a spiral configuration:   a spiral concentrate liquid flow channel for conveying the concentrate liquid, formed of a second tubing that is configured in a spiral configuration; and   a housing for housing the spiral distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels, the spiral distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels being positioned in the housing relative to each other in a configuration to provide a spiral gap therebetween that forms a spiral incoming liquid flow channel for conveying the incoming liquid adjacent to the spiral distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels for heat exchange, the incoming liquid flow channel having a flow direction that is opposite to the distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  in which the distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels are formed of flat tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2  in which the edges of the flat tubing of the distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels are abutted together and sealed. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3  in which each of the spiral flow channels spiral around a vertical axis, the incoming liquid enters the incoming liquid flow channel at a radially outwardly located inlet, and exits the incoming liquid flow channel at a radially inwardly located outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4  in which the heat exchanger is a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger is connected to the first heat exchanger in a series. 
     
     
         6 . A distiller comprising:
 an evaporator for heating and evaporating incoming liquid;   a condenser for condensing the incoming liquid that has evaporated into distillate liquid;   a dewar having inner and outer walls containing the evaporator and the condenser, the dewar having an opening; and   a counterflow heat exchanger positioned within the dewar near and across the opening of the dewar, the counterflow heat exchanger having an incoming liquid inlet located near the inner wall of the dewar into which the incoming liquid enters via a conduit extending through the opening of the dewar, an incoming liquid flow channel being connected to the incoming liquid inlet and extending inwardly for heating the incoming liquid, a distillate flow channel being adjacent to the incoming liquid flow channel for flowing distillate liquid in the opposite direction to flow of the incoming liquid in the incoming liquid flow channel for heat exchange and forming an increasing temperature gradient relative to the incoming liquid flow channel extending away from the incoming liquid inlet.   
     
     
         7 . The distiller of  claim 6  in which the dewar is generally cylindrically shaped with an open end. 
     
     
         8 . The distiller of  claim 7  in which the counterflow heat exchanger is a spiral heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The distiller of  claim 6  in which the distiller is a vapor compression distiller. 
     
     
         10 . The distiller of  claim 6  in which components in the opening of the dewar have an increasing temperature gradient moving inwardly into the dewar. 
     
     
         11 . A method of exchanging heat between liquids entering and exiting a distiller with a counterflow heat exchanger in the distiller, the distiller receiving incoming liquid and distilling the incoming liquid into distillate liquid and concentrate liquid for discharge, the method comprising:
 conveying the distillate liquid through a spiral distillate liquid flow channel that is formed of a first tubing that is configured in a spiral configuration;   conveying the concentrate liquid through a spiral concentrate liquid flow channel that is formed of a second tubing that is configured in a spiral configuration; and   housing the spiral distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels within a housing, the spiral distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels being positioned in the housing relative to each other in a configuration to provide a spiral gap therebetween that forms a spiral incoming liquid flow channel for conveying the incoming liquid adjacent to the spiral distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels for heat exchange between the incoming liquid and the distillate and concentrate liquids, the incoming liquid within the incoming liquid flow channel having a flow direction that is opposite to the distillate liquid and the concentrate liquid flowing within the distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising forming the distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels from flat tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising abutting together and sealing the edges of the flat tubing of the distillate and concentrate liquid flow channels. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising spiraling each of the spiral flow channels around a vertical axis, the incoming liquid entering the incoming liquid flow channel at a radially outwardly located inlet, and exiting the incoming liquid flow channel at a radially inwardly located outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  in which the heat exchanger is a first heat exchanger, the method further comprising connecting a second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger in a series. 
     
     
         16 . A method of distilling with a distiller comprising:
 heating and evaporating incoming liquid with an evaporator;   condensing the incoming liquid that has evaporated into distillate liquid with a condenser;   containing the evaporator and the condenser within a dewar having inner and outer walls, the dewar having an opening; and   positioning a counterflow heat exchanger within the dewar near and across the opening of the dewar, the counterflow heat exchanger having an incoming liquid inlet located near the inner wall of the dewar into which the incoming liquid enters via a conduit extending through the opening of the dewar, an incoming liquid flow channel being connected to the incoming liquid inlet and extending inwardly for heating the incoming liquid, a distillate flow channel being adjacent to the incoming liquid flow channel for flowing distillate liquid in the opposite direction to flow of the incoming liquid in the incoming liquid flow channel for heat exchange and forming an increasing temperature gradient relative to the incoming liquid flow channel extending away from the incoming liquid inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising configuring the dewar to be generally cylindrically shaped with an open end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising configuring the counterflow heat exchanger to be a spiral heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising configuring the distiller to be a vapor compression distiller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising configuring components in the opening of the dewar to have an increasing temperature gradient moving inwardly into the dewar.