US 11,939,237 B2
Water vapor distillation apparatus, method and systems
Dean Kamen, Bedford, NH (US); Ryan K. LaRocque, Manchester, NH (US); Christopher C. Langenfeld, Nashua, NH (US); Andrew A. Schnellinger, Merrimack, NH (US); Prashant Bhat, Bedford, NH (US); Otis L. Clapp, Epping, NH (US); Stanley B. Smith, III, Raymond, NH (US); and Stephen M. Ent, Derry, NH (US)
Assigned to DEKA Products Limited Partnership, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed by DEKA Products Limited Partnership, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/008,483.
Application 17/008,483 is a continuation of application No. 15/468,870, filed on Mar. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,759,676, issued on Sep. 1, 2020.
Application 15/468,870 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/982,022, filed on Jan. 9, 2014, granted, now 9,610,518, issued on Apr. 4, 2017.
Application 13/982,022 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/952,263, granted, now 9,604,858, issued on Mar. 28, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2012/046740, filed on Jul. 13, 2012.
Application 13/952,263 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/184,169, filed on Jul. 15, 2011, granted, now 8,505,323, issued on Aug. 13, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/819,919, filed on May 6, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/676,597, filed on Jul. 27, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0188662 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. C02F 1/04 (2023.01); B01D 1/00 (2006.01); B01D 1/28 (2006.01); B01D 3/00 (2006.01); B01D 3/42 (2006.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 1/16 (2023.01)
CPC C02F 1/041 (2013.01) [B01D 1/0058 (2013.01); B01D 1/2896 (2013.01); B01D 3/007 (2013.01); B01D 3/42 (2013.01); C02F 1/008 (2013.01); C02F 1/048 (2013.01); C02F 1/16 (2013.01); C02F 2209/05 (2013.01); Y02W 10/37 (2015.05)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid vapor distillation apparatus comprising:
a source water input;
a product water output;
a compressor receiving water vapor and producing compressed vapor;
an evaporator condenser apparatus comprising;
an evaporator that receives source water, the evaporator transforms source water to water vapor and concentrate liquid;
a steam chest that receives concentrate liquid and water vapor and provides water vapor to the compressor; and
a condenser that receives compressed vapor from the compressor, the condenser transforming the compressed vapor to product water;
a heat exchanger comprising:
an outer tube fluidly connected to the source water input and the evaporator;
at least one inner tube fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser apparatus; and
a first end and a second end; and
a termination is attached to each of the first end and the second end, each of the terminations comprising:
a source water termination physically connected to the outer tube, the source water termination having a first port fluidly connected to the inside of the outer tube and a source water seal to the outer surface of the at least one inner tube;
a tube termination having at least a second port fluidly connected to the inside of the at least one inner tube port and a tube seal to the outer surface of the at least one inner tube;
wherein the tube termination is mechanically coupled to the source water termination; and
a leak path between the source water termination and the tube termination to the outside of the heat exchanger whereby fluid leaking past the source water seal or the tube seal may exit the heat exchanger.