Flash Evaporators for the Distillation of Sea-Water

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Abstract
The thermodynamic principles on which the flash evaporator operates are described and some of the reasons for the recent emergence of this type of distillation plant are explained. It is shown that the performance of a flash evaporator is much less dependent on the number of stages used than is the case for a submerged coil unit. The thermodynamic losses involved in using a finite number of stages, and the effects of other losses which are unavoidable in practice, are described and assessed. The actual designs of evaporator vessels are described showing means of avoiding interstage piping or ducting despite the use of a large number of stages. Reference is made to two large-size test rigs built to confirm the basic ideas underlying the development. One was devoted to the exploration of deposition problems and the measurement of heat-transfer data, while the other test rig was used to develop various methods of separating moisture from the vapour produced in the evaporator, and to investigate the flashing-off process. Some of the test results achieved on the rigs are described.

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