A　mechanical　vapor　compression　(MVC)　based　desalination　system　for　oilfield　waste　water　is　proposed　to　combat　the　difficulties　resulted　from　complicated　and　strongly　polluting　pollutants　of　the　waste　water　in　using　membrane　methods.　The　complete　mathematical　model　for　process　simulation　and　design　is　developed　for　the　MVC-based　oilfield　waste　water　desalination　system　and　the　influences　of　the　heat　transfer　temperature　difference　of　falling-film　evaporators,　waste　water　temperature　and　evaporation　temperature　on　the　system　performance　are　analyzed.　The　results　show　that　the　temperature　difference　is　the　controlling　factor　that　determines　the　specific　heat　transfer　area　and　the　specific　compression　work　of　the　system.　Reducing　this　temperature　difference　will　directly　decrease　the　specific　compression　work　and　increase　the　specific　heat　transfer　area.　Higher　waste　water　temperature　results　in　a　slight　decrease　in　the　specific　heat　transfer　area,　which　demonstrates　that　the　system　is　highly　perfect　in　thermodynamics.　The　results　also　show　that　increasing　evaporation　temperature　may　significantly　improve　the　performance　of　the　system.　©　All　Rights　Reserved.