BENEFITS

Aqua-Chem’s design offers reduced energy consumption and less stringent feedwater requirements as compared to other distillation processes like multiple-effect systems.
Aqua-Chem’s patented horizontal Spray Film® evaporator design provides improved wetting of the evaporator tubes and reduced scaling. This means less downtime for cleaning and higher operating efficiency.
All major components are accessible from floor-level, with the compressor and pumps located at the edge of the skid for easy serviceability.
Aqua-Chem’s proven technology ensures superior T.O.C (Total Organic Carbon) and THM (Trihalomethane) removal with minimal pretreatment.
Aqua-Chem utilizes low speed compressor technology, which results in cooler bearing temperatures.

DESIGN FEATURES

EVAPORATOR – The evaporator features a horizontal design using the Spray Film® process, which utilizes a straight tube configuration. The horizontal configuration eliminates the large shell gaskets in use on vertical distillers that are prone to leaks and require frequent replacement.
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION – Standard materials used are 316L stainless steel and product contact surfaces are 15-25 RA finish.
SANITARY COMPONENTS– Aqua-Chem’s Vapor Compression Distillers are manufactured using sanitary valves, instruments, pumps and piping.
AUTOMATION – Aqua-Chem’s Vapor Compression Distiller operation is fully automatic requiring minimal operator input. Addition of variable capacity control allows the unit to vary output flow rate based on demand, reducing the number of start/stops of the unit.
DEAERATOR – A 316L stainless steel deaerator removes carbon dioxide, oxygen and other noncondensable gases from the feedwater and distillate.
INSULATION – The evaporator and deaerator are insulated with low-chloride fiberglass and covered with polished stainless steel lagging.
COMPACT SIZE – Overall dimensions (226”x88.5”x99.75”/ 5740mm x 2250mm x 2530mm) allow unit to be shipped in standard shipping containers. In addition, the horizontal design allows the unit to fit through standard industrial building hallways and doorways.
ADVANTAGES OF AQUA-CHEM’S VAPOR COMPRESSION
VS. MULTIPLE EFFECT DISTILLATION (MED)

VC (Vapor Compression) requires only softened, dechlorinated feedwater versus very low conductivity feedwater (RO/DI) required for MED.
VC does not require supplemental cooling, unlike MED, which requires supplemental cooling in the form of cooling water or glycol to reduce WFI temperature for discharge into the storage system.
VC is inherently more efficient than MED due to significantly lower steam and cooling water requirements.
ADVANTAGES OF AQUA-CHEM’S HORIZONTAL SPRAY FILM®
VS. TYPICAL VERTICAL FILM

AQUA-CHEM VAPOR COMPRESSION MULTIPLE EFFECT DISTILLATION (MED)
Steam (lb/hr) 1139 3510
Steam (metric ton/hr) 0.52 1.60
Electrical Power (kw) 78.8 4
Most forgiving VC technology on the market today, able to handle widely varying feedwater conditions with minimal pretreatment.
High tube wetting rates result in more efficient evaporation, reducing feedwater consumption and plant steam consumption, thus increasing energy efficiency.
Evaporation on the outside of the tubes eliminates the possibility of contamination of distillate or scaling on ID of tubes.
Tubes and tube sheets do not remain in blowdown water, increasing evaporator efficiency and tube life.
All major components are accessible at floor level, reducing the need for elevated work surfaces, thus resulting in improved maintenance capabilities and safer access to major components.
No large gaskets to replace requiring major disassembly and heavy rigging.
Incoming feedwater is preheated by the outgoing blowdown and distillate. Feedwater is sprayed over the evaporator tube bundle. A portion of the spray is evaporated as steam, and the remainder is collected in the sump to be recirculated.

Steam generated inside the evaporator is drawn through demisters by the centrifugal compressor and
is superheated to 250° F/ 121° C in the compression process. The steam condenses inside the evaporator tube bundle and is collected as pure distillate. The distillate
is pumped through the heat exchanger and into storage.