6A1. Distiller types. At the date of this revision
(Jan. 1955) there are several different types and
models of distilling systems installed on submarines. They are:
a. Badger Model X-1, 1,000 GPD Vapor Compression Distilling Units. Two (2) units installed on each of the fleet type submarines and,
with various alterations, on many of the snorkel
b. Badger Model V-1, 1,000 GPD Vapor Compression Distilling Units. Two (2) units installed on some of the later submarines, (SS563-568).
c. Badger Model WS-1,300 GPD Vapor Compression Distilling Units. One (1) unit installed
on each "T" class submarine.
d. Cleaver-Brooks, 300 GPD Vapor Compression Distilling Units. One (1) unit installed on
each of the "K" class submarines.
e. Badger Model Y-1, 1,000 GPD Vapor Compression Distilling Units. Two (2) units installed on SSN type submarines.
f. Griscom-Russell, 4,000 GPD low pressure
two effect, soloshell type Distilling Unit. One
(1) unit installed on SSN type submarines.
All of these units, with the exception of soloshell
type, operate on the same basic principles, and
since it is beyond the scope of this text to describe
them all in detail, the Model X-1 has been selected
as typical. It differs from the others only in minor
In the later sections of this text some of these
differences will be described.
6A2. Model X-1. The Model X-1 vapor compression distilling unit is rated at 1,000 gallons of
distilled water per day. It will produce 50 to 60
gallons of distilled water per hour from about 70
to 90 gallons per hour of normal sea water. The
temperature of the distillate will be within 18 degrees F.
of that of the sea water feed. The overflow will
be about 30 degrees above the feed temperature. The
unit was primarily designed to make cleaning
Its main advantages over other models are:
a. It has a larger capacity.
b. It runs longer without cleaning.
c. It makes better battery water since it is constructed of nonferrous material, with the exception of 3/4-inch tubes in the heat exchanger, which
are copper-nickel and tinned to prevent the contamination of condensate with nickel.
d. Its feed is inside the tubes; steam is outside
e. It has short straight tubes. (This unit was
designed originally to employ a mechanical cleaning method instead of acid cleaning. Submarines
were equipped with mechanical cleaning equipment, and for a number of years the mechanical
method of cleaning was the only method in common usage; now however, acid cleaning is used
almost entirely, and it is expected that the mechanical cleaning gear will be deleted from the
f. It has an improved venting system.
g. It has more efficient auxiliary devices for
6A3. Difference between Model S and Model X-1
distilling units. The distillation process is the
same in both units, the only difference being in
mechanical design. In the Model S unit, the part
played by the cones of coiled tubing, called the
heat exchanger, is as follows:
a. Warming the feed.
b. Vaporizing the feed.
c. Condensing the vapor.
d. Cooling the condensate.
In the Model X-1 unit, the actions b and c are
performed inside the main unit or evaporator in
a space called the steam chest; actions a and d are
performed in an external heat exchanger. Figure
6-1 is a cutaway view of the Model X-1 unit