Patent attributes
A system and method for effectively desalinating a source of water is provided. The source of water is desalinated by a desalination train comprising at least a heat exchanger, a plurality of flashing stages comprising hydrophobic membranes under reduced pressure, and at least a compression device. The source of water is passed through the heat exchanger prior to passing through the flashing stages to bring it to a vaporizing temperature by maintaining the flashing stages at reduced pressure so that at least a portion of water flashes into vapor. The vapor from the flashing stages is withdrawn, and at least a portion of the withdrawn vapor is compressed by the compression device. The compressed vapor is then condensed in the heat exchanger to produce a distillate stream, and heat the source of water before it enters the flashing stages.
