Automatic Patents (Class 159/44)
  • Patent number: 11946005
    Abstract: A gasification gas treatment facility for treating a gasification gas obtained by gasification of a fuel includes: a first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a purified gas obtained by removing at least ammonia and hydrogen chloride from the gasification gas and steam at a saturation temperature; a second heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the gasification gas and at least condensed water produced by the heat exchange in the first heat exchanger to produce the steam at the saturation temperature; and a circulation system for circulating a circulating fluid including at least one of the steam or the condensed water between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The circulation system is configured to supply the circulating fluid including at least the condensed water at the saturation temperature produced in the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori Yoshida, Rikio Kan, Seiji Kakesako
  • Patent number: 10797567
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor plate to rotate around a first axis, a bucket attached to the rotor plate and to rotate around a second axis, and a stop plate to rotate around the first axis between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the stop plate engages the bucket to fix an angular position of the bucket relative to a plane of rotation of the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly further includes a housing for a sensor array component, the housing disposed in the bucket and including a solution inlet, a solution outlet, a transfer basin, a solution retainer disposed between the solution outlet and the transfer basin, and a collection reservoir in fluid communication with the transfer basin. The solution inlet and the solution outlet to engage ports of a flow cell of a sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Todd Roswech
  • Patent number: 10532292
    Abstract: A thin-film treatment apparatus for treating viscous material, including a housing, having a heatable and/or coolable housing casing, which encloses a rotationally symmetric treatment chamber extending in the axial direction, an inlet port, arranged in an inlet region of the housing, for feeding the material to be treated into the treatment chamber, an outlet port, arranged in an outlet region of the housings, for discharging the material from the treatment chamber, and a coaxially extending, drivable rotor shaft, arranged in the treatment chamber, for producing a material film on the inner face of the housing casing and for conveying the material in the direction from the inlet region toward the outlet region, the rotor shaft including a central rotor shaft body and rotor blades arranged on the circumference thereof, the radially outermost end of which rotor blades is distanced from the inner face of the housing casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BUSS-SMS-CANZLER GMBH
    Inventor: Hans Peters
  • Patent number: 10407361
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides natural gas and petrochemical processing systems, including oxidative coupling of methane reactor systems that may integrate process inputs and outputs to cooperatively utilize different inputs and outputs in the production of higher hydrocarbons from natural gas and other hydrocarbon feedstocks. The present disclosure also provides apparatuses and methods for heat exchange, such as an apparatus that can perform boiling and steam super-heating in separate chambers in order to reach a target outlet temperature that is relatively constant as the apparatus becomes fouled. A system of the present disclosure may include an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) subsystem that generates a product stream comprising compounds with two or more carbon atoms, and a dual compartment heat exchanger downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the OCM subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SILURIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Guido Radaelli, Suchia Duggal, Joel Cizeron, Wayne Schammel, Franciscus J. A. Martens
  • Patent number: 10259631
    Abstract: The invention provides an easy to grasp handle and opening for packaging of individual packaged products that are sold in multi-packs, also referred to herein as bundles. The multi-pack is a plurality of individually packaged products that are over-wrapped together by a wrapper, such as a plastic film. In certain embodiments the packaged products comprise a package and a consumer good, such as facial tissue. The bundle of individually packaged products comprising a plurality of packages, wherein each of the plurality of packages contains at least one product and a film wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of packages, wherein the film wrapper comprises an overlapped portion having a first film wrapper layer and a second film wrapper layer, the overlapped portion having an attached zone and an unattached zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew David Zillges
  • Patent number: 9592473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for separating and recycling a perfluorinated or perfluor compound, and more particularly, to a system for separating and recycling a perfluorinated compound, which is developed to prevent damage of separation membranes and degradation of the separation efficiency of through the application of a constant pressure to respective separation membranes when the perfluoro compound passes through a plurality of separation membranes in a process of effectively separating, removing and recycling the perfluoro compound including sulfur hexafluoride primarily generated in a semiconductor manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: FINETECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young-Seok Roh
  • Patent number: 8951391
    Abstract: A solar distillation apparatus utilizing a substantially vertical reactor assembly is disclosed. The reactor includes a tubular outer shell, a base, a cap, and a central tension member. The annular space between the outer tube and the central tension member forms the reactor chamber. Seawater or other feed liquid enters the reactor chamber through the base plate. Reflected or direct solar energy heats the feed liquid, generating low pressure vapor. The vapor exits the reactor through the cap structure or the base. The concentrate left behind settles by gravity to the bottom region of the reactor's liquid column. Extension tubes on the feed openings allow feed liquid to enter the liquid column above the concentrate layer and avoid excessive mixing of the feed liquid and the concentrate. The concentrate exits the reactor through one or more openings in the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Miles McClure
  • Patent number: 8951392
    Abstract: A modular portable evaporator system for use in a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) systems having an evaporator, with a sump including an oil skimming weir, a short tube vertical falling film heat exchanger including an outer shell containing short tubes provided for lower water circulation rate. The system further having external to the evaporator, a compressor for compressing evaporated steam from the tube side of the heat exchanger and routing to the shell side of the same exchanger, a distillate tank to collect hot distilled water, a recirculation pump to introduce liquids from the sump into the heat exchanger and an external suction drum protecting the compressor from liquid impurities. The evaporator system receives produced water from the SAGD process into the sump and provides cleaned hot water to a boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: 1nSite Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth James
  • Patent number: 8916029
    Abstract: A contaminated solvent recycling system is disclosed and claimed. The system comprises a distillation vessel having an upper distillation zone and a separate, lower, waste collection zone. A heater heats contaminated solvent feed within the distillation zone to distill off the solvent. By separating the distillation zone from the waste collection zone, the distillation zone can process consecutive batches of contaminated solvent feed. The waste collection zone can accommodate waste accumulating from the distillation process for extended periods of time between waste removal operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: ChemChamp, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Harland, Dennis William Mount, Mathieu Fredette
  • Patent number: 8871062
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the thickness of a flowing, laminar fluid film. The film flow may be gravity-induced or the result of an alternative force. The fluid is deposited on an upper end of a flow surface where a relatively thick layer of the film forms. The film flows over a fluid dispersal region where the surface area is rapidly expanding, which results in rapid thinning of the film thickness. The fluid then flows over an active region where the surface area is designed to control the fluid film thickness. For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to maintain an approximately constant film thickness as the fluid flows over the active region of the surface. The geometry of the flow surface is used to obtain the desired control over the fluid film thickness. The flow surface is the outer surface of a solid with a closed upper end and a lower end that may be open or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Charles David Gilliam, Stefanie Renee Gilliam
  • Patent number: 8864949
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8828192
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In an embodiment of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product, and an electric motor with motor rotor and magnets hermetically sealed within the fluid pressure boundary of the distillation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Scott A. Leonard, Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8696873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of bilge and sludge water on a ship, especially at sea, using excess heat from the ship's engine(s) to a level of oil contamination of less than 15 ppm. The invention also relates to a plant for carrying out the method, and a vessel including such plant, as well as the use of the method and plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: PPM-Clean AB
    Inventors: Benny Karlström, Jan Hedkvist
  • Patent number: 8623179
    Abstract: A seawater desalinization device includes a container portion, a guiding pipe, a plug, a heat conduction cover, a switch, and a connecting pipe. The container portion defines a receiving chamber, a slot, and a through hole communicating with the receiving chamber. The guiding pipe is fixed on the container portion to communicating with the slot. The plug is detachably inserted into the guiding pipe. The heat conduction cover covers on the container portion and sealing the receiving chamber and the slot. The switch is assembled in the container portion to control open or close the through hole upon a seawater level in the container portion. The connecting pipe is inserted into the through hole and a seawater source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Zheng Shi, Jiang-Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 8562791
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8517052
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David F. Bednarek, Jason A. Demers, Timothy P. Duggan, James L. Jackson, Scott A. Leonard, David W. McGill, Kingston Owens
  • 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: 8506761
    Abstract: An assembly for recycling a solvent from a contaminated solvent solution includes a recycler module including a distillation assembly and an air handler assembly. The distillation assembly includes a distiller and a conduit that includes a condenser and a sight glass. The air handler assembly includes a duct having an intake port, an exhaust port and a source of air flow. The condenser is disposed within the duct and the sight glass is disposed external to the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, David Kisela, Tim Rothwell, Greg Merz, Gary Myers
  • Patent number: 8486223
    Abstract: A falling film evaporator having a shell pass, multiple tubes parallel to each other, a condensed steam outlet, an inlet for an aqueous solution on the top of the tube pass, an outlet for the aqueous solution at the bottom of the tube pass, a distributing assembly having a plurality of distributing trays arranged vertically from top to bottom in incremental diameters and each having multiple holes, and a plate for collecting the aqueous solution below the distributing assembly. The tubes are straight and installed vertically in the evaporator; inner wall of the tubes is smooth, and the top portion of the tubes is protruded above a horizontal plane of the plate. The evaporator is particularly useful for concentrating an aqueous solution containing thermosensitive materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaogen Feng, Nongyue Wang, Xiaohui Mao, Ruibiao Yu, Qianwen Cheng
  • Patent number: 8475632
    Abstract: A method for recycling cutting fluid includes preparing and processing a cutting fluid of silicon including a silicon mixture and a cutting fluid at an anoxic circumstance of 150° C. to 350° C. in a container, to obtain a vaporized cutting fluid and a silicon slurry; and condensing the vaporized cutting fluid to obtain a recycling cutting fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hong Jing Environment Company
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Sun, Yung-Hao Liu, Ming-Zhe Tsai
  • Patent number: 8470137
    Abstract: An assembly for recycling a solvent from a contaminated solvent solution includes a reservoir module connected to a recycler module. The reservoir module includes a mounted reservoir including an interior volume and a removable lid that reduces the interior volume and includes an access port. The recycler module includes a distillation assembly and an air handler assembly. The distillation assembly includes a distiller and a conduit including a condenser and a sight glass. The air handler assembly includes a duct having an intake port, an exhaust port and a source of air flow. The condenser is disposed within the duct and the sight glass is disposed external to the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, David Kisela, Tim Rothwell, Greg Merz, Gary Myers
  • Patent number: 8470136
    Abstract: An assembly for removing contaminants from objects and recycling a solvent from a contaminated solvent solution includes a parts washer assembly including a container for a contaminated solvent solution and a recycling assembly that includes a reservoir module connected to a recycler module. The reservoir module includes a mounted reservoir including an interior volume and a removable lid that reduces the interior volume and includes an access port. The recycler module includes a distillation assembly and an air handler assembly. The distillation assembly includes a distiller and a conduit including a condenser and a sight glass. The air handler assembly includes a duct having an intake port, an exhaust port and a source of air flow. The condenser is disposed within the duct and the sight glass is disposed external to the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, David Kisela, Tim Rothwell, Greg Merz, Gary Myers
  • Patent number: 8470138
    Abstract: A distillation assembly that reduces malodors resulting from a process of recycling a solvent from a contaminated solvent solution that includes a distillation chamber defined by a top wall, a side wall and a bottom wall, a heating element disposed in the distillation chamber including an active portion and an inactive portion. The contaminated solvent solution disposed at a level within the distillation chamber such that the active portion always disposed below the level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, David Kisela, Gary Myers
  • Patent number: 8460509
    Abstract: A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding a fluid reservoir and an air flow path that is disposed over top of the fluid reservoir. The housing has an inlet opening and a spaced apart outlet opening that both provide communication between the outside environment and the air flow path. A fan is positioned to draw the air out of the air flow path through the outlet opening. A baffle projects into the air flow path at a location between inlet opening and the outlet opening so as to constrict the area of the air flow path thereat. A plurality of spray nozzles are positioned within air flow path between the baffle and the first end of the housing. A pump is configured to draw fluid from the reservoir and deliver it to the plurality of spray nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Total Water Management, LLC
    Inventors: Janos I. Lakatos, Edward Clay Slade, Clayton R. Carter
  • Patent number: 8444830
    Abstract: A desalination process including heating brine in a preheating chamber and transferring the brine to a rotary kiln to be sprayed against the wall structure of the rotary kiln to boil to steam and a residue of salt/impurities, the exiting steam being pressurized in a compressor and passed to an externally powered heater to be heated and then fed to a hollow wall structure of the rotating kiln in which the steam condenses to pure water to be transferred to the preheating chamber to preheat the incoming brine, the rotating kiln being arranged to rotate past a scraper to remove salt/impurities from the wall structure for collection at the base of the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Garth Davey
  • Patent number: 8430993
    Abstract: A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding a fluid reservoir and an air flow path that is disposed over top of the fluid reservoir. The housing has an inlet opening and a spaced apart outlet opening that both provide communication between the outside environment and the air flow path. A fan is positioned to draw the air out of the air flow path through the outlet opening. A baffle projects into the air flow path at a location between inlet opening and the outlet opening so as to constrict the area of the air flow path thereat. A plurality of spray nozzles are positioned within air flow path between the baffle and the first end of the housing. A pump is configured to draw fluid from the reservoir and deliver it to the plurality of spray nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Total Water Management, LLC
    Inventors: Janos I. Lakatos, Edward Clay Slade, Clayton R. Carter
  • Patent number: 8425732
    Abstract: A method of operating an assembly for recycling a solvent from a contaminated solvent solution including a source for the contaminated solvent solution at a level and a recycling assembly including a reservoir module and a recycler module. The reservoir module includes a reservoir and the recycler module includes a controller and a distillation assembly including a distiller having a conduit and a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve includes a tube. The method includes connecting the conduit to the source below the level; connecting the pressure relief valve tube to the source; pumping solvent into the reservoir, distiller and conduit to an operational level; and selecting a duty cycle of the controller to regulate a rest period after the controller operation of a distillation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, David Kisela, Gary Myers
  • Publication number: 20130032298
    Abstract: A system and method for providing operational control to a dehydration unit involves monitoring a rate of liquid extraction from material in the unit. The volumetric flow rate of condensate from air extracted from the dehydrating unit may be monitored and used to control operation of the dehydrating unit, particularly termination of the heating process of the dehydrating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Michael D. Putt, Steven M. Eno, Shaun A. Leid
  • Patent number: 8366883
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David F. Bednarek, Robert Andrew Charles, Andrew Coll, Jason A. Demers, Timothy P. Duggan, Gustav Heinzmann, Joseph A. Hoell, Jr., James L. Jackson, Scott A. Leonard, David W. McGill, Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8343310
    Abstract: A vessel-based system and method for disposing of wastewater including bilge water from a bilge of the vessel. The system including a treatment unit for receiving and treating the wastewater to produce a substantially oil-free treated water and, an evaporator for receiving the treated water from the treatment unit. In an embodiment, the evaporator having an evaporation element for transferring heat to the treated water to evaporate the treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Ian Fielding, John Moriarty
  • Patent number: 8303766
    Abstract: A method and device for evaporating a predeterminable volume of fluid includes successive addition of partial volumes of the predeterminable volume to a supply line at different adding rates, at least partially evaporating the partial volumes forming vapor film between them and a supply line wall, conveying the partial volumes through the supply line to an evaporator surface, and applying the partial volumes to an evaporator surface region varying as a function of mass and/or volume adding rate of the partial volume, permitting effective evaporation of fluid, particularly urea/water solution. Utilization of the highest possible proportion of evaporator surfaces is achieved by mass and/or volume addition rate-dependent distribution of impingement surfaces on the evaporator surface. This heating strategy in the supply line region ensures the Leidenfrost effect when individual partial volumes are added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: EMITEC Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 8252148
    Abstract: A mobile waste processing system and method is disclosed for processing materials in a tank, typically an underground storage tank. A mobile fluid processing module is disposed adjacent to or over the tank, and sealingly connected to the tank through a tank riser. Support equipment, which may include an electric power module, a chiller module, a heating module, and a control and monitor module, are disposed a distance from the processing module, and connected thereto. A pump and optionally a dispersal nozzle are deployed from the processing module into the tank, and effluent is extracted for processing. The processing trailer includes effluent processing equipment such as an evaporator and demister, condenser, vacuum pump, and interim storage tank. The effluent is processed, and at least a portion is removed. Some of the processed effluent may be returned to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Columbia Energy & Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Wolfe, Brian Brendel
  • Patent number: 8246789
    Abstract: A treatment system for a watery material that includes: a dewatering tank in which liquefied matter of a material that is gaseous at a normal temperature and a normal pressure is contacted with the watery material and the watery material is separated into the resultant watery material and a liquid phase that contains an aqueous component from the watery material; an evaporator that vaporizes the material that is gaseous at a normal temperature and a normal pressure from the liquid phase; a separator that separates a gas of the material thus vaporized from effluent water; a condenser that condenses the gas into liquefied matter, two or more external heat sources selected from atmosphere, sewage, warm effluent water, and ground water; an external heat temperature detector that detects temperatures of external heats of the external heat sources; and an external heat supply destination controlling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kanda, Hisao Makino, Mayumi Morita, Keizo Takegami, Akio Yoshikoshi, Masazumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8206558
    Abstract: A processing apparatus (1) for the processing of process or industrial wastewaters is provided. The processing apparatus (1) has an evaporator (4) in which a tube bundle heat exchanger is provided, whose pure distillate side is connected to a separating apparatus for separating the distillate from floating organic phase or similar free liquid constituents. This separating apparatus is intended to collect the floating organic phase from the condensate, in order that this phase can be sucked back into the evaporator (4). In addition, the vapor mixture is conducted from the separating apparatus (8) to a recuperator (3) and cooled to such an extent that the water, the volatile solvents and the organic material dissolved in the vapor can be condensed and discharged separately or can be sucked back into the evaporator (4). This allows significantly better distillate qualities to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: H20 GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fickenscher, Daniel Ladenberger
  • Patent number: 8206557
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing that has at least an inlet and an outlet. The housing is configured to receive a volume of fluid via the inlet. The volume of fluid is in a substantially liquid state and at least a portion of the volume of fluid includes a dissolved impurity. The apparatus also includes a heat-transfer element coupled to an interior volume of the housing. The heat-transfer element includes a surface, at least a portion of which is disposed at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The volume of fluid includes a surface parallel to the horizontal plane. The apparatus further includes a compression component configured to compress at least a portion of fluid boiled from the volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hydrologic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis P. Burke, Kenneth J. Horne, David B. Taylor, Stephen R. Topaz
  • Patent number: 8202401
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes moving a first volume of fluid from a region above a heat-transfer element to a region below the heat-transfer element after the first volume of fluid is boiled from a second volume of fluid within the region above the heat-transfer element. The first volume of fluid including an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of the second volume of fluid. The region below the heat-transfer element has a temperature higher than a temperature of the region above the heat-transfer element. The method also includes transferring latent heat from the first volume of fluid to a third volume of fluid on a top surface of the heat transfer element. The latent heat is released when the first volume of fluid condenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Hydrologic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Taylor, Stephen R. Topaz
  • Patent number: 8192588
    Abstract: Water is removed from oily water produced during operation of a separation column by withdrawing the oily water from the column during separation into an external separator where the oily water is separated into a water phase and an oily phase. The oily phase is then heated to a temperature effective to produce a density differential that drives the oily phase back into the operating column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8177936
    Abstract: Evaporation of calciferous water is performed by an evaporator using electrical heating. An injection nozzle is connected to a spray hose arranged in an upper third of the evaporator, immediately above a thermostat that is disposed on the bottom side of the evaporator. A distance between the injection nozzle and the thermostat is less than 15 mm. A steam hose is connected to the evaporator via a steam connector. The steam connector has an inside diameter of at least 5 mm. The steam hose leads to a collector situated at an angle of inclination of 5° to 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Dietmar Berghaenel
  • Patent number: 8114249
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring an evaporator (2), whereby a liquid is applied onto a heating unit (3) and evaporated and the temperature drop caused by the evaporation heat in the heating unit (3) is detected. In the absence of a predetermined temperature drop, a signal is generated. In this way, the evaporation process can be controlled in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Rupert Meinzinger, Manfred Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8092646
    Abstract: A vaporization apparatus and related vaporization method is provided that relies on thermocapillary convection. The apparatus of a thermocapillary evaporator has three sections: an evaporation section, a displacement section, and a storage system for storing the liquid to be evaporated. The evaporation section is operable to distribute thermal energy substantially along the entire liquid-gas interface. The method of the present invention includes providing a thermocapillary evaporator. Advantageously, the present invention provides substantial evaporation from relatively low temperature heat sources, compared to conventional evaporators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Ward Charles Albert
  • Patent number: 8066844
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8066845
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8052846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid cleaning device that is intended for purifying liquid from pollutants, which liquid cleaning device includes a vessel, having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, which lower chamber is connected to a heating member arranged to heat the liquid in said lower chamber, as well as further including a riser and liquid-distributor member, which riser is arranged to transport heated liquid from said lower chamber up to the upper part of said upper chamber, where the liquid-distributor member is arranged to impart the heated liquid an increased area of exposure to surrounding air, the liquid then, by means of the gravity, running back downward outside the riser and being collected in the lower part of the upper chamber of the vessel, said upper chamber and lower chamber being in at least conditioned communication with each other in order to allow transfer of the liquid from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Purity AB
    Inventor: Peter Holmberg
  • Patent number: 8052845
    Abstract: The reflux divider for a separation column has portions for the transfer of material arranged in parallel which are mutually bounded by a vertical dividing wall and which include members for the controlled dividing of a liquid to be treated. A reflux divider feeds part flows to the respective portions employing connection lines that are feed from a common container. A restrictor valve is used in one connection line to control the flow based on signals from a pair of flow meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventors: Laurent Zuber, Christian Gottlieb Bachmann, Ilja Ausner
  • Patent number: 8034217
    Abstract: A liquid condensation system heats a liquid raw material under a decompressed circumstance and evaporates a volatile component from a liquid surface to condense the liquid raw material. Therefore, the liquid condensation system includes: liquid condensers, each of which condenses the liquid raw material; a vacuum pump that is in communication with the liquid condensers; and a warm water circulation system as a heating source that heats the liquid raw material in the liquid condensers. The volatile component evaporated in the liquid condensers is led to the outside of the liquid condensers through vapor lines. The condensed liquid that is not evaporated in the liquid condensers is led to the outside of the liquid condensers through condensed-liquid lines. Condensed-liquid-line adjusting valves are interposed on the condensed-liquid lines, and heaters are attached to the condensed-liquid lines. A control unit controls the heaters and the condensed-liquid-line adjusting valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Ito, Yoshishige Endo, Hidekazu Tsudome, Fumiaki Numajiri
  • Patent number: 8016977
    Abstract: Dry pond water evaporation systems and methods are used to evaporate large quantities of water from industrial waste water sources, such as water produced by oil and gas wells. Dry pond systems include a water evaporation system that emits waste water into the air as a fine spray or mist to promote evaporation. Water that falls to the ground and any initially dissolved solids are captured in a water capture depression. Water and solids are transferred from the water capture depression to a water collection pool. Water from the water collection pool is recirculated through the water evaporation system to further concentrate the total dissolved solids (TDS). When the TDS are sufficiently concentrated, they may be harvested, such as by evaporating off the water and recovering salts or minerals as a solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Reform Water, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney Rasmussen, Paul C. Cox
  • Patent number: 7998309
    Abstract: A one step method and system for producing nanofluids by a nanoparticle-source evaporation and deposition of the evaporant into a base fluid. The base fluid such oil or ethylene glycol is placed in a rotating cylindrical drum having an adjustable heater-boat-evaporator and heat exchanger-cooler apparatus. As the drum rotates, a thin liquid layer is formed on the inside surface of the drum. An insulated heater-boat-evaporator having an evaporant material (nanoparticle-source) placed within its boat evaporator is adjustably positioned near a portion of the rotating thin liquid layer, the evaporant material being heated thereby evaporating a portion of the evaporant material and forming nanoparticles, the nanoparticles absorbed by the liquid film to form nanofluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Milivoje Kostic, Mihajlo Golubovic, John Hull, Stephen U. S. Choi
  • Patent number: 7967946
    Abstract: An improved boiler that allows distillation of ethanol from a continuous flow of a hydrous feedstock compound, which may be beer or other semi-solid substance. The internal compartment of the boiler is separated into different zones by a plurality of primary baffle plates and secondary baffle plates. The hydrous feedstock compound is heated as it passes from one zone to another zone and ethanol inside the hydrous feedstock compound vaporizes. The ethanol rich vapor is channeled through a collector column and then collected for further processing. The temperature of the hydrous feedstock compound is slightly different from one zone to another zone because of ethanol concentration changes as the hydrous feedstock compound moves from one zone to another. At the last zone, where most of ethanol is removed, the remaining hydrous feedstock compound is removed from the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Michael R. Ling
  • Patent number: 7955476
    Abstract: A multiple application recycling and purification device has a coaxial core that is horizontally oriented, non-rotating, cylindrical distillation chamber. The enhanced, completely coaxial configuration continuously cleans the entire distillation chamber and spreads a thin film of liquid to enhance distillation and positively aid in the removal of remaining contaminants. Through a timed and positioned valve, the device removes and purges lower-temperature contaminants. Timed valves and sensors control all phases of the distillation to provide a coaxially integrated, stand-alone, adaptable, scalable and maintenance free distillation unit that self-monitors, self-cleans and economically functions to produce the pure distilled liquid, e.g., water. This device can be modified to purify any numerous array of liquids and can be scaled to produce any amount of purified liquids for either household, commercial, or industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mansur Corporation
    Inventor: Pierre G. Mansur
  • Patent number: 7857945
    Abstract: A solar still includes a relatively shallow chamber with a pyramid shaped transparent cover and a transparent base. The still also includes a pair of rollers and an endless heat absorbing belt rotatable about the rollers. The still is positioned to receive solar energy passing through the transparent cover and impinging on an upper surface of the heat absorbing belt in order to vaporize seawater within the chamber. The efficiency of the still is increased by one or more mirrors disposed below the still for reflecting sun light up through the transparent base to impinge on a lower outer surface of the belt to enhance the vaporization of the seawater. One or more fans are also provided for cooling the cover to enhance the condensation of water that will then run down the cover and into a pure water receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Ahmed Al-Garni, Ayman Kassem, Farooq Saeed