Abstract: A feedforward control system for a multiple-effect evaporator is provided wherein control is based on maintaining desired values for inferential variables of concentration and boiling point rise for a solution of a solid inorganic substance.

Abstract: The invention provides a compact automatically operating distillation apparatus comprising a baseplate that will free-stand, but is more usually located on a reservoir to receive the distillate, which usually is water. A boiler container having an electric heater is removably mounted on a support, which is movably mounted on the baseplate with the weight of the container and the water opposed by a spring. The support operates electric switches that open a solenoid-operated valve to supply water to the boiler when its weight decreases a predetermined amount, and that will switch off the heater if the boiler has insufficient water. The output of the boiler goes to a condenser coil which is supplied with cooling air by a fan. A float in the reservoir controls another switch that will stop operation when the reservoir is full.

Abstract: An evacuator system employed in an evaporative waste recovery system uses an eductor to create a partial vacuum. The partial vacuum is selectively employed to evacuate concentrate and distillate from an evaporator unit for transferal to respective concentrate and distillate containers. A plurality of air operated valves are automatically operated to transfer concentrate and distillate for reuse in a plating process system.

Abstract: A fluid nozzle for the atomization of liquids and, more particularly, a three-fluid nozzle for effectuating a unique method of atomizing high viscosity liquids and difficult-to-spherize liquids which are to be spray-dried. Also disclosed is a novel method of atomizing high viscosity liquids and liquids which are difficult to spherize in an essentially two-step atomization sequence through the utilization of the inventive three-fluid atomizing nozzle.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for cooking or gelatinizing a material in an atomized state, so that there is obtained an easily dryable, uniform and finely-sized product. The material which is to be cooked is injected through an atomization aperture in a nozzle assembly to form a relatively finely-sized spray. A heating medium is also injected through an aperture in the nozzle assembly into the spray of atomized material so as to heat the material to a temperature effective to cook or gelatinize the material. An enclosed chamber surrounds the atomization and heating medium injection apertures, and defines a vent aperture positioned to enable the heated spray of material to exit the chamber. The arrangement is such that the elapsed time between passage of the spray of material through the chamber, i.e., from the atomization aperture and through the vent aperture, defines the cooking or gelatinization time of the material.

Abstract: A conventional cross-flow or paired-stage multi-stage flash evaporator plant is provided with duct means for collecting distillate from collection trays in the successive evaporator units in the plant. Distillate from individual units is diverted to a bypass flow path from the duct means when it is detected to be contaminated with brine.

Abstract: A control system for use in a condensation heating facility to control the secondary vapor blanket used to prevent loss of primary vapor. The control system includes a pair of secondary vapor sensors which detect a secondary vapor blanket slightly below and alternatively slightly above a design depth. The sensors are connected to control relays which energize a high rate dispensing pump to build the secondary vapor blanket when it is below the low depth and to energize a low rate dispensing pump when the secondary vapor blanket is between the low depth and the high depth. Additional control is arranged to inhibit dispensing of secondary liquid when the secondary vapor blanket is above the high depth or the primary vapor blanket is below its designed depth or finally during a vapor phase heating cycle where the primary and secondary vapor blankets collapse as a function of heating during the cycle.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer solutions in organic solvents are converted to granules of relatively uniform sizes and a narrow distribution range by passing the polymer solution through a jet nozzle to form a high velocity stream, injecting super heated steam into the high velocity stream to form a suspension of fine polymer particulates in a gas stream, passing the particulates into a heated agglomeration tube having a series of adjoining circular turns of at least 180.degree. wherein the particulates are substantially completely agglomerated into granules and the granules are recovered from the gas stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the moisture content of prilled products which are produced by air drying a spray of the liquid product, comprises a vessel for receiving a flow of air and a flow of the liquid product (10), a supply line for supplying air to the vessel (14) and a supply line for supplying liquid product to the vessel (16). The product is advantageously a solution of urea. Moisture content is measured or inferred for the product flow, the input air, and the air coming out of the vessel. An air flow controller (24) is connected for controlling the flow of air (14) into the vessel (10) which controller is itself controlled by a circuit that calculates the required air input flow rate for a desired moisture concent in the prilled product.

Abstract: A solar crystallizer and a process for producing solar salt adaptable for use in climates heretofore believed unfavorable for solar salt production. The invention employs a solar crystallizer defining a shallow pond of salt solution the level of which is carefully monitored and controlled by withdrawing unsaturated solution from the upper stratum of the pond such as produced from rainfall and introducing substantially saturated brine into the pond at a lower stratum overlying the salt crop on the bottom thereof providing a continuous protective saturated brine layer and enhancing the efficiency of water evaporation by a comparatively shallow depth.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing tomato products to an established consistency standard by providing a concentrator having a tomato feedstock input means, means to circulate the material within the concentrator, output means with a valve for releasing the material from the concentrator, control means including first and second measuring means for measuring the initial precipitate weight ratio and the initial Brix level of the feedstock respectively, input means for receiving the respective measurements, first and second computing means for computing the expected precipitate weight ratio and the expected Brix level respectively of the tomato product, final measuring means for measuring the Brix level in the concentrator, comparer means for comparing the computed expected Brix level with the Brix level in the concentrator and means connecting the comparing means to the valve means of the concentrator output to control the valve means in response to the comparison made to effect release of tomato product from the

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling liquid levels in different vessels, and the blending of different materials in the separation and purification of polymeric materials in solution, such as polyethylene in cyclohexane.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaporating liquid fractions is disclosed. The apparatus includes a nozzle from which a hot stream of non-reactive gas is directed onto the surface of the fraction that is to be evaporated, while the fraction and the nozzle are thermally insulated and sealed from the surrounding atmosphere. Means are disclosed for electronically, automatically controlling the evaporation process. A process for the effective evaporation of liquid fractions is also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing tomato products to an established consistency standard by introducing a tomato extract feedstock having an initial precipitate weight ratio and an initial Brix level into a system, measuring these initial conditions of the feedstock, calculating an expected precipitate weight ratio of the tomato selected for manufacture from the feedstock, computing an expected Brix level of the tomato product, which may be done by comparing the initial precipitate weight ratio and Brix level of feedstock and the expected precipitate weight ratio of the tomato product to a programmed relationship between the initial precipitate weight ratio, the initial Brix level, the expected precipitate weight ratio and an expected Brix level of the tomato product to establish this expected Brix level of tomato product and concentrating the tomato extract feedstock until the expected Brix level is achieved.

Abstract: System for concentrating and recovering acid comprising in combination a receptacle or storage tank for receiving and containing weak or dilute acid; an evaporating pan including a pipe connected to the receptacle or storage tank and a pump whereby acid may be delivered to the evaporating pan; a second receptacle or storage tank including a pipe connected to the evaporating pan and a pump whereby concentrated acid may be delivered to the second receptacle or storage tank; and an air drier device in the form of a tank containing acid and including an inlet through which air and water vapor may be introduced, and a pipe connection to the tank for weak or dilute acid; wherein the evaporating pan includes a heat collecting surface as a floor thereof and a lens focus top whereby heat energy from the sun's rays will heat and concentrate the acid therein by developing water vapor which is removed with air.

Abstract: A device for controlling evaporation of a liquid has a container and a heating element for heating and evaporating liquid in the container. The container is disposed on a base plate which is supported by a leaf spring which allows the base plate to move between two microswitches depending upon the amount of liquid in the container. The microswitches are connected to a control circuit for activating the heating element and interrupt the flow of power to the heating element when little or no liquid is present in the container, or when a maximum amount of liquid is present in the container.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for purifying or reclaiming liquid desiccant comprising heating a water rich desiccant to form dilute desiccant vapor; partially condensing said vapor to produce a purified desiccant equal in strength to the feed stream, reintroducing a first stream of said vapor by sparging into the means of heating said desiccant and cooling a second stream of said vapor thereby refluxing condensible desiccant and venting non-condensible gases, and recovering condensed vapor for use elsewhere.

Abstract: An apparatus for concentrating polyvinyl alcohol liquid which comprises a supply line for supplying a liquid containing polyvinyl alcohol, a filter in connection with the supply line for filtering foreign materials from the liquid, a first tank for receiving the liquid after the liquid is passed through the filter, a preliminary mixing apparatus in fluid connection with the first tank, an evaporator in fluid connection with the preliminary mixing apparatus, the evaporator including a plurality of pipes through which the liquid may flow, a steam heating assembly in connection with the evaporator for heating the liquid flowing through the plurality of pipes, a second tank in fluid connection with the evaporator, the second tank receiving the liquid from the plurality of pipes within the evaporator, a return pipe in fluid connection with the second tank for returning liquid contained within the second tank to the preliminary mixing apparatus such that the liquid may be combined within the preliminary mixing appa

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for removing concentrated radioactive aqueous waste from an evaporator and delivering the waste to a storage tank. The evaporator drain conduits are maintained full of feed liquor when concentrated waste is not being removed from the evaporator and feed liquor is used to rinse the conduits after the concentrated waste removal through the conduits is completed. The liquid fed through the conduits is carefully controlled by a sequencer or timer. A fast acting evaporator drain valve is used which can be rinsed by feed liquor to avoid plugging and deposition of radioactive solids in the valve.

Abstract: A plurality of spray nozzles are utilized to introduce a fluid into a vessel. Control valves are associated with each one of the plurality of spray nozzles. The control valves are either fully closed or fully open. The actual value of a process variable is compared to the desired value of the process variable to generate a difference signal. Control signals are generated in response to the difference signal. Different combinations of the control valves are opened in response to the control signals so as to provide a fluid flow rate which will maintain the actual value of the process variable substantially equal to the desired value. The on-off nature of the control valves provides a substantially maximum pressure drop across the spray nozzles when fluid is flowing through the spray nozzles.

Abstract: A high speed centrifugal concentrator includes a vacuum chamber within which a centrifuge rotor is rotatably mounted for spinning a plurality of vials containing biological solutions or the like at high speed while subjecting the solution to a vacuum condition for concentrating and evaporating the latter. The vacuum chamber has a hinged cover and is completely enclosed to maintain the vacuum condition therein and the centrifuge rotor is driven by an electric motor located outside of said closed vacuum chamber and remote therefrom. The electrical circuit for driving the motor includes dynamic braking means for braking the motor in response to manual operation of a selector switch, or to the raising of the vacuum chamber cover from closed position.

Abstract: By cooling the barrel of a devolatilizing extruder rather than by heating it, both the solvent removal rate and the polymer feed rate could be increased furthermore, the power surging of the motor driving the extruder was largely reduced or even eliminated by the process of this invention.

Abstract: A vacuum pan is controlled by directly monitoring the total solids concentration of a boiling solution. A preferred type of process relates the change in concentration of sugar in a massecuite to the growth rate and increase in the number of crystals, and uses this relationship to control the rate of growth of the crystals by setting temperature and pressure to correspond to the rate of crystal growth desired. Water is evaporated from the pan solution at reduced temperature and pressure. Massecuite is withdrawn from the pan, and split into two streams: (1) a first stream wherein the mother liquor is separated from the sugar crystals and analyzed to determine the total sucrose content of the stream, and (2) a second stream which is analyzed to determine the count and size of the crystals. The sum-total of the two streams is used to determine the total concentration of sugar. Readings taken over definite intervals determine the rate of growth of the crystals.

Abstract: An improved automatic vacuum dehydrating apparatus in a slurry carrying vessel including a hold for loading slurry therein provided with a plurality of dehydrating ports at its bottom is described herein, which comprises a dehydrating pipe branched at one end and connected to said respective dehydrating ports through respective closure valves individually provided in the respective pipe branches, a vacuum tank adapted to be evacuated and connected to the other ends of said dehydrating pipe, and pressure detector-controller means for detecting a pressure in the vicinity of each said dehydrating port and for controlling said closure valve in response to the detected pressure value.

Abstract: A crystallizable solute is crystallized from a solution containing the same by introducing a solution of said solute into a first stage evaporative-crystallization zone together with seed solute crystals. Within the first stage evaporative-crystallization zone the solution is concentrated to yield a saturated first stage concentrate containing crystals of said solute. The crystals of said solute are substantially larger than said seed crystals and are suspended in a solution more concentrated with respect to said solute than the solution supplied to said first evaporative-crystallizaton zone. A stream of said first concentrate is removed from said first evaporative-crystallizaton zone and transferred to a second evaporative-crystallization zone for further concentration or crystallization of solute and for the production of solute crystals of increased size.

Abstract: In a continuous sugar evaporator-crystallizer having a plurality of evaporating-crystallizing vessels as stages, each evaporating-crystallizing stages being communicated one to another in series and being provided with a means for feeding an aqueous sugar solution, a heating means and a means for withdrawing generated steam, by feeding an aqueous sugar solution to each evaporating-crystallizing stage, heating the aqueous sugar solution in each evaporating-crystallizing stage, thereby evaporating water off the aqueous sugar solution and crystallizing sugar crystals, and withdrawing the generated steam from each of the stages, while feeding seed sugar crystals to the first evaporating-crystallizing stage and withdrawing the resulting sugar crystal slurry from the last evaporating-crystallizing stage, sugar crystals of high quality is obtained in the slurry with an effective suppression of occurrence of conglomerated sugar grains by providing sugar crystal distances of 0.26 to 0.

Abstract: Sugar is continuously crystallized from a sugar bearing solution in a single stage vacuum pan by a method and apparatus comprising means for and the steps of continuously supplying a sugar bearing solution of a constant, desired purity to the vacuum pan by combining a relatively low purity sugar bearing solution flow stream with a relatively high purity sugar bearing solution flow stream while regulating the ratio of relatively low to relatively high purity sugar bearing solution in the combined flow stream, continuously supplying sugar seed crystals having a relatively uniform crystal size distribution to the vacuum pan, continuously boiling at least a portion of the sugar bearing solution and sugar seed crystals in the vaccum pan to form a boiling massecuite, and continuously removing at least a portion of the massecuite from the vacuum pan.

Abstract: An improved liquid level regulator is associated with the reservoir of a degassing stage of an evaporation installation wherein a pump connected to the output of such degassing stage is effective to propel the distillate at an ideally constant rate out of the degassing stage to a suitable utilization device. A feedback path is connected between the pressure outlet of the pump and the suction input thereof via a float valve. The float valve communicates with the degassing stage in such a manner that changes in the distillate level of the degasser reservoir effect corresponding changes in the liquid level of the float valve, whereby a constant level of such distillate in the reservoir of the degasser is maintained.

Abstract: A crystallizable solute is crystallized from a solution containing the same by introducing a solution of said solute into a first stage evaporative-crystallization zone together with seed solute crystals. Within the first stage evaporative-crystallization zone the solution is concentrated to yield a saturated first stage concentrate containing crystals of said solute. The crystals of said solute are substantially larger than said seed crystals and are suspended in a solution more concentrated with respect to said solute than the solution supplied to said first evaporative-crystallization zone. A stream of said first concentrate is removed from said first evaporative-crystallization zone and transferred to a second evaporative-crystallization zone for further concentration or crystallization of solute and for the production of solute crystals of increased size.

Abstract: A method of evaporating liquids to separate solid substances contained therein to form a residue of the substances characterized by applying subatmospheric pressure to at least one discrete portion of the liquid at a first pressure level and subsequently applying subatmospheric pressure to the discrete portion at a second pressure level lower than the first level to gradually evaporate the liquid from the discrete portion thereby leaving a residue of solid substances. Apparatus for performing the foregoing method preferably comprises an enclosure within which a support means is used for supporting at least one discrete portion of the liquid to be separated, a vacuum pump connected to the enclosure for evacuating atmosphere from within the enclosure, and a valve means between the pump and enclosure operable automatically to apply first and second subatmospheric pressure levels to within the enclosure.

Abstract: In a deodorizing apparatus, at least the lower part of a column is surrounded at least partly by compartments which are not connected together, each compartment having means for supplying treatment fluid and means for discharging the treated material with separate control but opening into a common duct. The duct for discharging the treated material from the central column is divided into separate ducts the outlets of which open into the compartments and which are provided with separately-controlled means for carrying the material to the respective compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating feed solution, such as chrome or nickel plating rinse solutions, into a concentrated liquor portion and a solvent portion, comprising vertical shell and tube evaporator means for generating a stream of vapor and entrained droplets; first impingement means for separating a first liquor portion from the stream; second impingement means for separating a second liquid portion from the stream; mesh entrainment pad means for separating a third liquor portion from the stream to form a stream consisting essentially of pure solvent vapor; reduced pressure generating means for drawing the stream from the evaporator tubes through the impingement and mesh entrainment pad; capacitance means for accumulating a preselected volume of the first, second, and third liquor portions above the lower end of the evaporator; and conduit means for recycling liquor from the capacitance means to the evaporator means.

Abstract: A method for control of the steam flashing of poly(arylene sulfide) reaction product to remove substantially all of the reaction diluent from a reaction mixture containing poly(arylene sulfide) polymer, organic polar diluent, byproduct alkali metal halide, and reaction mixture impurities is provided by measuring the vapor effluent from the flashing operation, producing a signal representative of this flow, controlling the rate of flow of the effluent from the reactor in response to this signal, and controlling the rate of flow of steam admixed with the reactor effluent in ratio to the effluent flow.