US Patent 9546099 Systems and methods for water purification

An evaporator assembly includes an inlet member and a diffuser, and receives a mixture of a gas and a solution to vaporize a portion of a solvent from the solution. First portions of the diffuser and of the inlet member collectively define a first flow path. A second portion of the diffuser defines a second flow path that diverges. A third portion of the diffuser and a second portion of the inlet member collectively define an evaporation volume between the first flow path and the second flow path. At least one of the diffuser or the inlet flow member includes multiple vanes that produce a rotation within a flow of the mixture when the flow exits the first flow path into the evaporation volume. A separator receives the mixture to produce a first flow of a portion of the solvent and a second flow of a portion of the solute.