Many techniques have been employed for the treatment of impure water so as to provide a potable water supply. Generally the most widely employed techniques involving minimum expense utilize distillation of one form or another, with wide variations in the source of heat energy being employed. One of the major impediments to use of distillation involving rapid boiling of the water is the tendency for foaming to occur with certain types of contamination. This foaming often will require excessively large dimensions for the boiler or an intricate and elongated passage from the boiler to the condenser. Moreover, even with water feedstocks which do not evidence substantial foaming, rapid boiling will frequently produce a tendency for water droplets which are carried by the steam vapors into the condenser. As will be readily appreciated, foam droplets or such water droplets will exhibit the contamination of the feedstock and thereby contaminate the condensate which is produced.
Another problem which is frequently encountered in certain sections of the world involves the contamination of the water supply by organic compounds which vaporize along with the water in the boiler. Exemplary of such contaminants are carbon tetrachloride and chloroform which result from chlorination of water supplies containing dissolved methane and other hydrocarbons.
Various types of water purification devices have been suggested for providing potable water in the home, or on shipboard, or in other locations. Many of these devices require substantially continuous operation for efficiency, others require substantial investments, and still others require extensive maintenance from time to time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel water purification apparatus which substantially eliminates carry-over contamination of the condensate.
It is also an object to provide such an apparatus which may be simply and ruggedly constructed to provide a durable and readily serviceable unit.
Another object is to provide such apparatus which is capable of substantially eliminating dissolved gaseous contaminants.
Still another object is to provide such apparatus which may be discontinuously operated, and which, during operation automatically, regulates flow of water into the boiler and which, upon discontinuance of operation, automatically effects draining of the several components.
A further object is to provide a method whereby water feedstock containing impurities may be rapidly and efficiently distilled without carry-over contamination.