Abstract: An apparatus for use in an evaporator for selectively controlling the flow of solid particles within the evaporator. The apparatus includes a separation chamber having a plurality of apertures, each of which has a critical size. In the separation chamber, solid particles which are larger than a critical size are separated from the remainder of the solution. The separated particles exit the separation chamber via a bypass conduit for circulation directly to the sump of the evaporator for recombining with the separated liquid portion which passed through the separation chamber and was subsequently concentrated in the heat exchange tubes. The apparatus prevents solid particles from clogging the system and allows for continuous circulation of the solution and solid particles.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for using water to remove amine from an oil-amine component. The oil-amine component is typically produced in prior art processes using an amine having an inverse critical solution temperature with water to break emulsions and sludges. The steps of the present invention include adding water to the oil-amine component in an amount sufficient to form a water-amine azeotrope with substantially all the amine in the oil-amine component followed by heating to remove the azeotrope. The method of the present invention may be used to remove amine from an oil-amine component even where the amine is present in an amount as low as 10% or less by weight.

Abstract: A method for ensuring an adequate amount of seed crystal in solution concentration systems employing preferential precipitation to control scaling and fouling over relatively low concentration factors. In systems concentrating solutions at concentration factors between 1 and 2, the method comprises determining the minimum amount of seed crystal necessary for the solution being concentrated at a concentration factor of about 10 or greater and introducing into the feeds solution a percentage of this amount according to the equation, % introduced=25.times.(C.F.).times.(C.F..sub.MAX /C.F..sub.MAX -1).

Abstract: Concentrated alcohol and distillery slop are produced from fermented beer with a reduced amount of energy by use of a multiple effect distillery slop evaporator in which evaporator vapors from one or more effects are used to strip alcohol from the fermented liquor before they are returned as heat source for the next succeeding effect, and by using vents from the partial condensation of these vapors in an evaporator effect as the principal heat and alcohol source for the rectification system. Condensed vapors from the vented evaporators and the bottom stream from the rectifier are stripped of their remaining alcohol content in a condensate stripper. The overhead stream from the condensate stripper can also be used as a heat source for an evaporator effect before being fed to the rectification system as a source of heat and alcohol.

Abstract: A sludge, or other material containing solid matter and bound and unbound water, is dewatered by admixing the sludge with an amine having an inverse critical solution point with water, always maintaining the temperature of the resulting slurry below the inverse critical solution temperature, and thereafter separating the solid matter from the resulting single phase liquid.The single phase liquid is then heated to a temperature above the inverse critical solution point to form an amine phase and a water phase, after which the water phase is separated from the amine phase. The liquid-solid separation rate is significantly increased by preventing the slurry temperature from rising above the inverse critical solution temperature during mixing and separation.

Abstract: A method for processing an oil-water emulsion to remove oily material therefrom comprising forming a mixture of the oil-water emulsion with liquid amine, in which oils of the emulsion are soluble and having an inverse critical solution point with water, at a temperature below the phase separation temperature of the amine and water so as to form a single liquid phase of amine, oil and water, separating said single liquid phase from any solids which may be contained in the emulsion, raising the temperature of the resulting single liquid phase above the critical solution temperature to effect liquid phase separation whereby an amine phase containing substantially all of the oily material of the emulsion and a water phase containing substantially no oily material are formed, and then separating the two liquid phases. The amine phase is readily processed to recover oily matter therefrom and may be recycled for the processing of additional oil emulsion.