How it Works
Thin Film Application
A very thin film (1/100th inch) of dirty water is mechanically applied to the surface of the evaporator.
Steam Generation
Within 1.5 seconds, the top half of the applied film transforms into steam.
Compression
The steam is compressed at a low pressure of 0.8 psi.
Condensation
The compressed steam is directed to the condenser, which is located on the backside of the evaporator and separated by a thin heat-conductive sheet metal (typically CuNi). The steam condenses at approximately 214.5 F, releasing heat.
Heat Transfer
The released heat travels through the sheet metal to drive evaporation.
Cleaning to Prevent Scaling:
Every 1.5 seconds, the evaporator surface is wiped almost clean, removing any residue from the previous cycle, and a new thin film of dirty water is applied. The regular cleaning and reapplication process prevents the formation of CaCO3 scaling on the evaporator.
Efficient Heat Management:
The system recycles approximately 99.3% of the heat of vaporization. During startup, latent heat is introduced as the distiller is heated to nearly 212F. About 5/6 of the heat circulates between the evaporator and condenser, remaining within the system. Around 1/6 of the heat attempts to leave the closed system. This occurs through the distillate and concentrate streams, venting gas, and imperfect insulation.
The majority of the heat loss is minimized through a proprietary counterflow heat exchanger, which operates with approximately 97% efficiency. This results in less than 1% loss of the heat of vaporization. The lost heat energy is replaced by new sensible energy provided by the compressor.
No additional energy is required for the process, as the heat energy is efficiently recycled within the system.
