How do you get potable water from this process ?

[deckofficer]

This is a teaser question that I have to ask the commercial sailors not to answer.

On our boats we use watermakers to push at high pressure, sea water through a number of membranes. It uses a fair amount of electrical energy to produce potable water. On commercial vessels, the wasted heat energy from the engine(s) at 180* F is used to boil sea water and collect the distillate via condensation, thus producing potable water.

The teaser question is how they manage to boil water at 180*F?

[ViribusUnitis]

Vacuum distillation.

They pull a vacuum over the water, and reduce the boiling temp of the water down to around 180F or less. Most of this vacuum can be typically generated by a condenser, and a small liquid pump. However typically they have to include a small vacuum pump in order to keep air from building up in the system.

[MacG]

Do you drink water?

[deckofficer]

Well that sure wasn't very challenging. This box is reinforced so it doesn't crumble like a beer can when pulled in a vacuum, you can see the bracing between the insulation.

ViribusUnitis nailed it in short order.

[S/V Alchemy]

So you don't lock up the side of a mountain? ehehheheh.