Plate-type Evaporator Patents (Class 159/28.6)
  • Patent number: 10921067
    Abstract: A water-cooling radiator structure with internal partition member includes a water-cooling radiator unit, which includes a first water-receiving plate defining a first inner space and having a water inlet and a water outlet fluid-communicable with the first inner space. A working fluid flows into the first inner space via the water inlet and leaves the first inner space via the water outlet. The first inner space is internally provided with at least one first partition member, which horizontally divides the first inner space into a plurality of independent water chambers, so that the working fluid sequentially flow through the water chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., LTD
    Inventor: Wen-Ji Lan
  • Patent number: 10816239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger enabling the reduction of the number of components constituting the heat exchanger, the simplification of the coupling structure thereof, and also, the decrease of combustion gas flow resistance and the minimization of noise and vibration generation, the heat exchanger being provided with a heat exchange unit having heating medium flow channels through which a heating medium flows and combustion gas flow channels through which combustion gas combusted in the burner flows to be alternately formed and adjacent to each other in spaces between a plurality of plates, wherein the heat exchange unit comprises: a sensible heat unit which surrounds the outer side of a combustion chamber, is formed of one side area of the plates, and heats the heating medium by using sensible heat of combustion gas generated by the combustion of the burner; and a latent heat unit which is formed of the other side area of the plates, and heats the heating medium by using latent heat of w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Inchul Jeong
  • Patent number: 10571191
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus 100 for drying a substance 190, the apparatus 100 comprising at least one roller 121 rotatable about a central axis; a first belt 112 having a first side 112? and a second side 112?, the first side 112? of the first belt 112 adapted to receive the substance 190; and a plurality of heat induction elements 123 arranged to induce heat in the first belt 112 to heat the substance 190, where in operation, the first belt 112 urges via its first side 112?, the substance 190 towards a portion of an exterior circumferential surface of the roller 121, and the substance 190 is heated to remove fluids from the substance 190.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SINGNERGY CORPORATION PTE LTD
    Inventor: Keng Tai Chua
  • Patent number: 9989319
    Abstract: A Plate and Shell type plate heat exchanger, which comprises a plate pack, a shell surrounding the plate pack, and end plates mainly in the direction of the ends of the plate pack and inlet and outlet connections for a first heat exchange medium and a second heat exchange medium arranged through the end plate. The plate pack of the heat exchanger is arranged inside the shell in an acentric manner, so that the midpoint of the cross-section of the plate pack deviates substantially from the midpoint of the cross-section of the shell in the vertical direction and/or lateral direction of the cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: VAHTERUS OY
    Inventor: Mauri Kontu
  • Patent number: 9969559
    Abstract: A roll-formed steel slat for use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system. The roll-formed steel slat is formed in a manner so as to have an upper, load-carrying surface, and a pair of downwardly depending side legs. Each side leg terminates in a foot. One foot is vertically offset from the other to provide a “hold-down” function that prevents the slat from vertically rising as the slat reciprocates back-and-forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Keith Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jackson, Randall Mark Foster, Nathan Keeley, Victor Matthews, Scott Delamarter
  • Patent number: 9963298
    Abstract: A roll-formed steel slat for use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system. The roll-formed steel slat is formed in a manner so as to have an upper, load-carrying surface, and a pair of downwardly depending side legs. Each side leg terminates in a foot. One foot is vertically offset from the other to provide a “hold-down” function that prevents the slat from vertically rising as the slat reciprocates back-and-forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Keith Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jackson, Randall Mark Foster, Nathan Keeley, Scott Delamarter
  • Patent number: 9634337
    Abstract: Cathode exhaust of an evaporatively cooled fuel cell stack (50) is condensed in a heat exchanger (12a, 23, 23a) having extended fins (14, 25a) or tubes (24, 24a) to prevent pooling of condensate, and/or having the entire exit surface of the condenser rendered hydrophilic with wicking (32) to conduct water away. The cathode exhaust flow paths may be vertical or horizontal, they may be partly or totally rendered hydrophilic, and if so, in liquid communication with hydrophilic end surfaces of the condenser, and the condensers (49) may be tilted away from a normal orientation with respect to earth's gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Sitaram Ramaswamy, Masaki M. Yokose, Richard R. Phillips, Michael L. Perry, Catherine M. Goodrich
  • Patent number: 9605904
    Abstract: A water condenser includes a fan which draws a primary airflow through an upstream refrigerant evaporator, through an air-to-air heat exchanger and in one embodiment also an air-to-water heat exchanger uses cold water collected as condensate from the evaporator, the airflow to the evaporator being pre-cooled by passing through the air-to-air heat exchanger and the air-to-water heat exchanger prior to entry into the evaporator wherein the airflow is further cooled to below its dew point so as to condense moisture onto the evaporator far gravity collection. The evaporator is cooled by a closed refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Freedom Water Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Jonathan G. Ritchey
  • Patent number: 9005393
    Abstract: A method of operating an evaporator is described. In evaporator feed water, a Taylor bubble is developed which has an outer surface including a thin film in contact with an inner surface of an outer wall of an evaporator tube. The Taylor bubble is heated as it rises within the evaporator tube so that liquid in the thin film transitions into vapor within the bubble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8894810
    Abstract: A floating salt farm in which its purpose is to produce crystallized salt and bittern at offshore locations through the evaporation process using extracted seawater. The floating salt farm components can be consisted of a seawater tank, an evaporator tank, a heating tank, a deposit tank, a storage tank, and photovoltaic panels, which these components are installed onto the buoyant foundation. The evaporator tank component can consist of an evaporator plate and an evaporator bin. The evaporator plate, which captures the produced crystallized salt during the evaporation process, has a sieve surface. The contents inside the evaporator bin can affect the properties of the produced crystallized salt and bittern, such as their mineral compositions, during the evaporation process. The seawater can be extracted from desired water depths and/or in the proximity of volcanic sites, in which the seawater can have affected mineral compositions due to volcanic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pioli Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 8771478
    Abstract: A modular distillation apparatus including at least one heat exchanger that preheats contaminated liquids: a heater that heats the contaminated liquid from the heat exchanger; an evaporator condenser adapted o boil the contaminated liquid coming out of the heater to produce water vapor and contaminant concentrate, and condenser the water vapor into distilled water; a vacuum chamber capable of operating at below atmospheric pressure, the vacuum chamber housing the evaporator condenser and including at least one partition to separate the distilled water from the contaminate concentrate; a vapor compressor operably associated with the vacuum chamber to receive water vapor from the evaporator condenser in the vacuum chamber and pump the water vapor at pressure back through the evaporator condenser, wherein the heat exchanger recovers sensible heat from outgoing condensed distilled water and contaminant concentrate recycled from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Equus Environmental Ltd.
    Inventor: Dudley Edgar James Ward
  • Patent number: 8568495
    Abstract: An evaporator (e.g., a small-sized high-efficiency evaporator) and a fuel reformer having the same. The evaporator has multi-stage structure (e.g., a four-stage disk structure), in which the respective disks are filled with fin structures. The first two disks through which exhaust gas passes and the second two disks through which water passes are stacked alternately with each other. Also, the first two disks are coupled with each other by a first pipe penetrating through one of the second two disks, and the second two disks are coupled with each other by a second pipe penetrating through one of the first two disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In-Hyuk Son
  • Patent number: 8518212
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Globarl Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Taylor, Ravindra S. Dixit, Robert P. Shirtum
  • Patent number: 8137470
    Abstract: A crucible assembly for deposition and an inner plate used in the crucible assembly. The crucible assembly includes a main body having an inner space accommodating a deposition material and an opening arranged at an upper portion of the inner space, a cap having an aperture arranged at a top of the main body and combined with the main body and an inner plate arranged between the main body and the cap, the inner plate covering the opening of the main body, the crucible assembly including inner channels arranged to allow vapor of the deposition material from the inner space of the main body to be expelled to an outside of the aperture in the cap via a space arranged between an outer side surface of the inner plate and an inner side surface of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Soo Min, Chang-Soon Ji
  • Patent number: 7942955
    Abstract: The static devolatilisation apparatus serves to treat a liquid (7) containing polymers for the purpose of polymer devolatilisation. Volatile components are separated from the polymers in that the liquid standing under pressure is expanded in at least one phase separation chamber (2) in the upper regions of the container (10). A discharge pump (3) for the devolatilised polymer is located at the base of a sump region. An extraction line (4) for gases (8) is located in the upper region. The separation chamber includes an inlet (20) for the liquid to be treated, lower openings (210) for polymer discharge and at least a single upper opening (220) for gas discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventor: Felix A Streiff
  • Patent number: 7862692
    Abstract: A method of evaporating liquid in a liquid evaporating system having heat exchangers, evaporators, and steam reheaters, includes: preheating condensed water in the heat exchangers; distilling in the evaporators the condensed water from the heat exchangers, wherein the evaporators each has a horizontal plane evaporating chamber at an upper side thereof and a horizontal plane steam heating chamber at a lower side thereof, wherein heating steam is provided from an external boiler to the heating chamber; exchanging heat between the evaporating chamber and the heating chamber using a heat exchange boundary face formed in a concavo-convex shape, wherein the heat exchange boundary face is formed of a metal plate; and reheating in the steam reheaters the steam from the respective evaporators, wherein the reheaters each are coupled to a subsequent one of the heating chambers to serve as a heating source of the subsequent heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Jeong-Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 7857940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid radioactive waste treatment system. The liquid radioactive waste treatment system includes a plurality of evaporation plates and each of the evaporation plates has an uneven surface, in a housing comprised of a glass. A liquid radioactive waste is dispersed via a liquid waste dispersing unit to the evaporation plate, and the liquid radioactive waste is evaporated using solar heat and airflow in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Tae-Kuk Kim, Jong-Sik Shon, Kwong-Pye Hong, Han-Seok Cho
  • Patent number: 7731822
    Abstract: A column for distillation or fluid-fluid separation is oriented at an angle to the horizontal other than vertical to provide increased transfer plate surface area within the interior of a column of determined diameter and to reduce overall height of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Strom W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7722740
    Abstract: A modular construction micro-reactor with parallel microchannels on fluid guide plates for chemical reactions, but not for evaporation purposes is known. A modular construction falling film evaporator is disclosed, comprising a stack of alternate gap-like evaporation chambers and sheet-like evaporator modules with an assembly of parallel microchannels, whereby the evaporation chambers are open above and/or below across the whole width of the module and the stack is arranged in a container. The falling film evaporator is used in a method for obtaining a gaseous phase from a liquid medium on a technical scale and is suitable for the concentration of thermolabile solutions and rapidly adjustable production of a gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignees: UHDE GmbH, Degussa AG
    Inventors: Elias Klemm, Johannes Albrecht, Armin Lange de Oliveira, Georg Markowz, Stefan Gross, Ruediger Schuette, Johannes Ehrlich, Steffen Schirrmeister, Olaf von Morstein
  • Patent number: 7476298
    Abstract: A structure for a multiple-effect still includes a horizontal shell encompassing a plurality of effects and a series of vertical compound baffles fastened to the horizontal shell and dividing it into a series of pressure-tight chambers. Each chamber along with its associated apparatus constitutes an effect. Each compound baffle comprises a fixed baffle and a removable baffle. A heat exchanger is fastened to the removable baffle and includes an evaporation surface, a condensation surface, and a pressure chamber isolated from the pressure-tight chamber in which it is located. A port in the compound baffle allows evaporate to pass between the pressure chamber and the pressure-tight chamber of an adjacent effect. The shell is provided with a removable top plate to provide access to the heat exchanger and allow removal of the heat exchanger and removable baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Timothy R. Stout
  • Patent number: 7427336
    Abstract: A blade heat exchanger includes blades that extend axially with respect to an axis of rotation and are elongated in the radial direction. The blades are arranged about the axis such that, when they are disposed in a housing, they form composite condensation and evaporation chambers that are isolated from each other. The interiors of at least some of the blades form the composite condensation chamber. The exteriors of the blades and the inner surface of the housing cooperate to form the composite evaporation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Zanaqua Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Patent number: 7332058
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for devolatilizing a polymer including passing the polymer through a devolatizer including a plate heat exchanger wherein the plates of the plate heat exchanger are heated by a plurality of heating tubes and wherein the heating tube including a return tube nested inside of a supply tube. The use of the disclosed invention allows for a comparatively small heat profile across heating plates as compared to prior art plate heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Reimers
  • Patent number: 7097736
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recycling dairy wastewater wherein the wastewater is supplied to at least one first evaporation apparatus to produce a water distillate and sludge. The sludge is then supplied to at least one second evaporation apparatus arranged in series with the first evaporation apparatus. The process results in recycled water and a final sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Torsten Jonsson, Jan Hellstrom, Helena Eliasson, Lars-Ola Myrefelt
  • Patent number: 6984292
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for treating produced water from a heavy oil thermal recovery unit to achieve water recovery and recycle levels of greater than 80% and as high as 100% to achieve zero discharge criteria. The method includes the initial steps of capturing the waste heat energy from the high pressure steam separator located downstream of the steam generators. Further, transferring the heat energy into a heated separator and reboiler exchanger to distill oil reservoir produced water and recover distilled water and a concentrated brine or solid product. The heated separator concentrated stream is circulated through the reboiler exchanger to maintain from 1% to about 50% mass vapour in the stream returning to the heated separator and prevent fouling and scaling. The apparatus includes a low pressure waste energy separator, heated separator and vapour compressor in combination with a forced circulation circuit to generate the distilled water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: EnCana Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Kresnyak, Alex Braun
  • Patent number: 6908533
    Abstract: An evaporator and condenser unit for use in distilling a liquid, such as water, includes a rotary heat exchanger plate having a plurality of folds or pleats. Adjacent panels of the folded plate define spaces between their oppositely facing surfaces, and these spaces are alternatingly configured as evaporating and condensing chambers. The evaporating chambers, moreover, are defined between adjacent panels that are joined at an outer diameter fold, while the condensing chambers are defined between adjacent panels that are joined at an inner diameter fold. The evaporating chambers are thus closed at their outer diameter ends and open at their inner diameter ends, while the condensing chambers are closed at their inner diameter ends and open at their outer diameter ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Ovation Products Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Patent number: 6878342
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaporating liquid samples contained in sample holders mounted within a chamber and by rotated by the rotor during an evaporation process in which the pressure in the chamber is reduced below atmospheric and the sample holders are rotated at high speed so as to exert centrifugal force on the contents of the holders. Heat is supplied to elevate the temperature of the liquid component of the samples to assist in the evaporation process. The temperature of the sample material is continuously or regularly monitored during the evaporation process and temperature signals are transmitted to a remote computing means which is programmed to generate a control signal for controlling the supply of heat to the samples and controlling the evaporation process. The temperature may be sensed by a probe in a sample holder containing an evaporating liquid sample, or in an adjoining sample holder containing a buffer liquid. The rotational speed is also sensed and a speed signal conveyed to the computing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Cole
  • Patent number: 6846387
    Abstract: An evaporator and condenser unit for use in distilling a liquid, such as water, includes a rotary heat exchanger plate having a plurality of accordion-style folds, and having its two ends joined together so as to give the folded plate a generally circular form. The adjacent panels of the folded plate define spaces between their oppositely facing surfaces, and these spaces are alternatingly configured as evaporating and condensing chambers. The evaporating chambers have their inner edges sealed by corresponding folds, while the condensing chambers have their outer edges sealed by corresponding folds. The folded plate is disposed between first and second end plates, and is mounted for rotation about its axis in a housing having a sump containing the liquid to be distilled. Liquid is supplied to the evaporating chambers and compressed vapor is supplied to the condensing chambers. Condensate is removed from the condensing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ovation Products Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Patent number: 6761802
    Abstract: A closed tunnel system for distilling fresh water from ocean salt water is provided with an elongated evaporation plate adapted to hold ocean water for evaporation therefrom. During the distillation process, a vacuum is drawn in the tunnel, and sunlight is focused onto the evaporation plate with a concave lens-structure roof. External concave mirrors automatically track the sun and focus additional sunlight onto the lens-structure roof. An agitator-wiper unit agitates the ocean water on the evaporation plate to maintain a homogeneous liquid mixture, and to present additional water surface area for evaporation of fresh water. The fresh water vapor then condenses under pressure in heat exchangers that simultaneously pre-heat the ocean water prior to entry onto the evaporation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Hossein Azimi
  • Patent number: 6635150
    Abstract: A method for distilling a fluid which is useful, for instance, in eliminating salt from brackish and/or sea water includes percolating films on plates with multiple effects having several evaporating zones and condensation zones. The evaporation zones (EVAP) and the condensation zones (COND) are vertically arranged. The liquid to be distilled emerges in the top part of the evaporation zone (EVAP). The vapors produced in the evaporation zone (EVAP) are horizontally transferred into the condensation zone (COND) through a communicating connection. The condensed liquid percolates vertically along the walls of the condensation zone and is evacuated from the lower part of the condensation zone. A distilling plant is also provided for implementing the distilling method, and includes plural cascades made up of elementary cells alternatingly assembled in thermal series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Centre International de l'Eau de Nancy - Nancie
    Inventors: Pierre Le Goff, Jean-Marie Hornut, Viviane Renaudin
  • Patent number: 6627040
    Abstract: A device and process for the removal of volatile constituents from polymers is disclosed. The device entails a container having an inlet for a polymer solution, an outlet for the volatile components, an outflow for the polymer from which the volatile components have been removed and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is characterized in that it contains a plurality of specially structured channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Elsner, Jürgen Heuser, Christian Kords
  • Patent number: 6623603
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water by using thermal and/or thermocatalytic processes. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for processing impure water to remove and/or deactivate toxic inorganic, organic, and/or biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, anthrax, E. coli, Giardia cysts, salmonella, hepatitis, and Norwalk viruses. In the thermal process, contaminated water is heated (preferably superheated) forming steam, whereby a majority of inorganic and biological species are removed or deactivated from the water. The steam is then condensed, forming liquid purified water. In the thermocatalytic process, the steam is brought into contact with a hydrolysis catalyst, preferably in the form of a coated surface or replaceable catalyst element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Call, Alireza Shekarriz, Mike Powell, Seung-Ho Hong, Robert Beckius, Ezra Merrill
  • Publication number: 20030173205
    Abstract: A process vessel containing both an evaporation zone for evaporating a liquid feed and a treatment zone for treating the resulting vapor comprises an injector having an orifice, the orifice being in the evaporation zone, at least one evaporation surface for evaporating feed and generating vapor, the evaporation surface being located in the evaporation zone, wherein the injector orifice and the evaporation surface are positioned to prevent the formation of a drop at the orifice, a treatment zone for treating the vapor and at least one heater associated with at least a portion of the process vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Arne Karlsson, Ivar M. Dahl, Jonny Engedahl, Mark A. Krawczyk, Ara J. Alexanian
  • Publication number: 20030150704
    Abstract: One or more water distillation chambers are provided wherein water containing salt or other impurities enters an upper inlet at a chamber and flows down a solar heated evaporative surface. The evaporative surface may be the interior of a pipe or the surface of a bottom sheet enclosed by a cover. In this way, the steam produced in the process will be constrained and be guided into a steam drum. The steam drum interior has cooling tubes whereby vapor entering the steam drum will be condensed into fresh water and collected for use. The cover may be heated to limit the amount of vapor condensing back into water before entering the steam drum. Multiple evaporation chambers and steam collection stages limit the distance water vapor must travel before entering a steam drum of a given stage, thereby minimizing the loss of water vapor through re-condensation before the vapor enters the steam drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Juan M. Posada
  • Publication number: 20030132096
    Abstract: An evaporator and condenser unit for use in distilling a liquid, such as water, includes a rotary heat exchanger plate having a plurality of folds or pleats. Adjacent panels of the folded plate define spaces between their oppositely facing surfaces, and these spaces are alternatingly configured as evaporating and condensing chambers. The evaporating chambers, moreover, are defined between adjacent panels that are joined at an outer diameter fold, while the condensing chambers are defined between adjacent panels that are joined at an inner diameter fold. The evaporating chambers are thus closed at their outer diameter ends and open at their inner diameter ends, while the condensing chambers are closed at their inner diameter ends and open at their outer diameter ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Publication number: 20030116286
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved falling strand devolatilizer apparatus and method for devolatilization of viscous solutions to yield viscous liquids with lower content of volatile solvents, unreacted components, and reaction byproducts. The novel apparatus utilizes a devolatilization system comprised of a single vessel with two or more liquid compartments or zones, a recirculation loop, and one or more manifold and stranding distributor assemblies to divide the viscous liquid stream into a plurality of strands for effective devolatilization. A stranded stream of solution is dropped through a first zone of the chamber and collected at the bottom, the stream is recirculated, and then dropped through a second zone of the vessel and separately collected. Devolatilization is accomplished by stranding thi falling streams to optimum parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: PROCESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter R. Cowley, Randolph E. Newman
  • Publication number: 20030057085
    Abstract: A closed tunnel system for distilling fresh water from ocean salt water is provided with an elongated evaporation plate adapted to hold ocean water for evaporation therefrom. During the distillation process, a vacuum is drawn in the tunnel, and sunlight is focused onto the evaporation plate with a concave lens-structure roof. External concave mirrors automatically track the sun and focus additional sunlight onto the lens-structure roof. An agitator-wiper unit agitates the ocean water on the evaporation plate to maintain a homogeneous liquid mixture, and to present additional water surface area for evaporation of fresh water. The fresh water vapor then condenses under pressure in heat exchangers that simultaneously pre-heat the ocean water prior to entry onto the evaporation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Hossein Azimi
  • Publication number: 20020130029
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of distillation uses a high temperature thermoelectric device to heat a liquid, such as water to vapor (steam) and cool the vapor to a purified, distilled liquid. Distillation system has no moving parts, thereby increasing reliability while reducing noise and maintenance. Liquid in a container has a heating section on the container extending into it to boil it into a vapor that is fed to a condenser section disposed on the container adjacent to the heating section. A thermoelectric section provided with a Peltier effect device is interposed between the heating section and condenser section. The Peltier effect device has one side in contiguous contact with the condenser to transfer heat from it and another side is in contiguous contact with the heating section to transfer heat to it to boil the liquid into the vapor and feed the vapor through the condenser that condenses it into distilled liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Brian Stout, Robert Peebles
  • Patent number: 6435270
    Abstract: A lamina stack for a two-pass evaporator composed of laminae for converting two media mass streams from a liquid state into a gaseous state, comprises at least two laminae. Structures comprising recesses and raised regions on a first media lamina form a first media chamber perfused by one of the media mass streams. The structures on a second media lamina form a second media chamber perfused by the other one of the media mass streams. The at least two of the laminae can be supplied with thermal energy. Both media laminae have comparable structures, with at least a majority of the recesses in the one of the media laminae being disposed above or below the raised regions of the respective other media lamina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: XCELLSIS GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Freitag, Alois Tischler
  • Patent number: 6213197
    Abstract: A sorption unit for air-conditioning technology apparatus with sheets for heat emission, past which water vapor is passed. The sheets are provided with zeolite, that forms string-shaped profiled bodies which are designed to have surface contact with the sheets. Channels for vapor passage are defined between bodies arranged one beside the other. A buffer section and a condenser/evaporator unit complete the sorption unit to form an air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Electrolux Leisure Appliances AG
    Inventor: Bengt Ebbeson