ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.
If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, view access and subscription options

DEVELOPMENT OF A MICRO-DISTILLATION APPLIANCE FOR RESIDENTIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  701P0104,  . (doi: 10.13031/2013.15785)
Authors:   F.E. Becker, C.L. Blanchard, D.C. Serrano, T.R. Sobolewski, W.H. Zebuhr
Keywords:   Distillation, Distiller, Vapor compression, Wastewater treatment, Septic systems

The economical recovery and reuse of wastewater generated onsite by small-scale commercial and residential users can significantly reduce current water resource and pollution problems. While a number of technologies have been developed for water purification besides conventional bio-processes, such as reverse osmosis, micro/nano-filtration and carbon adsorption, their capability to treat wastewater from small-scale septic systems has not been proven practical or cost effective. An alternative and very effective method for removing contaminants from wastewater is by distillation. This paper presents the design of a cost effective, energy efficient, micro-distillation appliance that adapts a proven industrial process for residential septic systems. The design concept is based on a vapor-compression-distillation flow process in which the evaporating distillate vapors are mechanically compressed to a higher saturation temperature, enabling the heat of vaporization to be recycled to evaporate additional dirty influent. A completely automated micro-distillation appliance with a capacity of 12 gallons/hour has been successfully built and operated on a variety of aqueous fluids, including septic system water, residential laundry water, industrial rinse water, and ocean salt water. A specific-energy requirement of less than 37 Watt-hr/gallon was achieved with conductivity levels of the distilled water as low as three micro-Siemens/cm. System design modifications are presently in progress to increase the capacity to 20 gallons/hour and further reduce the specific energy requirements to 30 watt-hr/gallon or approximately 3% of the primary fuel-based energy input of a conventional single-effect boil and condense system.

(Download PDF)    (Export to EndNotes)