Acoustical distillation apparatus

TLDR: In this article, the free surface of the liquid to be distilled is subjected to cyclic pressure fluctuations occurring at an acoustic frequency to cause the pressure at the liquid surface to proceed through alternate rarefaction and compression modes.

Abstract: An acoustic distillation method and apparatus are provided wherein the free surface of the liquid to be distilled is subjected to cyclic pressure fluctuations occurring at an acoustic frequency to cause the pressure at the liquid surface to proceed through alternate rarefaction and compression modes. During the rarefaction modes, the vapor pressure at the free surface of the liquid is lowered to induce vaporization of liquid from the surface and conversion of liquid enthalpy into kinetic energy of the liquid vapor. The vapor is super heated during the compression modes and is thereafter passed in heat transfer relation to the incoming liquid to preheat the latter. In one disclosed embodiment, the acoustic pressure fluctuations are produced by a mechanically powered oscillating diaphragm. In a second disclosed embodiment, the acoustic pressure fluctuations are produced by an acoustical vapor engine.