DISTILLATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS

A distillation system and process for removing vaporizable components from an aqueous medium including a distillation column for receiving an aqueous medium containing vaporizable components and for passing steam through the column such that the steam directly contacts the aqueous medium to vaporize at least a portion of the components, a condenser in communication with the column to condense at least a portion of the vapor in the column, a separator in communication with the condenser to separate flash vapor from liquid condensate in the separator, and a thermal compressor in communication with the separator and the column to remove vapor from the separator and to inject exhaust steam from the thermal compressor into the column.