multiple-effect distillation

Multiple-effect distillation, often called multistage-flash evaporation, is another elaboration of simple distillation. This operation, used primarily by large commercial desalting plants, does not require heating to convert a liquid into vapour. The liquid is simply passed from a container under high atmospheric pressure to one…

…series of three to five multiple-effect evaporators.

Multiple-effect distillation also takes place in a series of low-pressure vessels (effects), but it differs from multistage distillation in that preheated salt water is sprayed onto evaporator tubes in order to promote rapid evaporation in each vessel. This process requires pumping the salt water from…