Abstract: A dividing wall column for separating a mixture into 3 or more fractions by distillation is described, where at least one dividing wall is detachably attached within the dividing wall column.

Abstract: An evaporator flask for a rotary evaporator is formed in two portions: a substantially cylindrical bowl and a lid secured to the bowl by a connecting ring. The lid is connected to a rotary drive mechanism, and a conduit passes through a central aperture in the lid to provide fluid communication between the interior of the flask and a condenser. A mechanical scraper or stirrer is affixed to the end of the conduit within the bowl portion of the flask.

Abstract: A microwave distillation apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a microwave heating chamber having a plurality of walls. A vessel is located within the chamber for containing a liquid to be distilled. The vessel has a mouth for receiving the liquid. A connecting tube extends though an opening formed in one of the plurality of chamber walls. The connecting tube has a first end thereof for sealably engaging the mouth of the vessel, and a second end thereof extending outwardly from the chamber. A biasing assembly is located outside of the chamber, and engages the connecting tube with a biasing force to maintain the seal between the connecting tube and the mouth of the vessel. A distillate capture assembly is connected to the connecting tube for receiving vapors emitted from the liquid when heated, and for condensing the vapors into a liquid distillate for capture and storage.

Abstract: A water purification apparatus positionable on an existing dispenser has a valve control member positionable in the water plenum of the dispenser to control release of purified water from the apparatus to the dispenser. A feedwater tank receives supply water which is fed to a water level control tank to maintain the water level in the boiler of the apparatus above the heating element. The control tank includes a partition separating a main reservoir from a de-foamer control chamber within which anti-foaming agent may be added. A condenser is coiled into a number of convolutions about a central opening and has external heat exchanger fins. An end cap assembly closes the central opening except for a small portion through which air is blown by a fan so that substantially all of the air flows over the fins. The boiler is a cylindrical container having a peripheral lip about an open end on which a lid having a steam outlet tube is positioned.

Abstract: An improved vapor compression distillation process and apparatus are provided having a container with a substantially horizontal longitudinal center axis, two opposing end plates closing each end of the container, a first and second passage area defined within and on opposing ends of the container, each adjacent one of the end plates, a collecting chamber defined within the container between the first and second passage areas, a plurality of generally horizontal tubes spacedly exposed within the collecting chamber generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, each of the tubes having two opposing ends which open into the first and second passage areas respectively, two opposing plates positioned on opposite ends of the horizontal tubes, each plate engaging similar ends of the horizontal tubes, a vapor compressor attached to the container such that the vapor compressor communicates with an upper area of the collecting chamber and communicates with the first passage area, at least one passage fo

Abstract: An assembly for prepping sulfuric acid for spectrometric analysis comprised of a vessel member having sleeve members formed with channels disposed about an outer peripheral surface and a cap member including a disc shaped top portion and a lower body portion and further including a gasket member to be positioned between the cap member and the vessel member wherein the lower body portion extending into a chamber of the vessel member and wherein the top portion includes channels to be aligned with the channels of the sleeves of the vessel member for receiving mounting devices for rigidly mounting the cap member to the vessel member.

Abstract: A vapor compression distillation/product concentration device includes an evaporator/condenser core, with alternating boiling and condensing chambers with edge manifolds such that substantially the entirety of each plate surface is used as a heat transfer surface. Seals are conveniently formed between adjacent plates by laying a bead of liquid gasketing material such that as the plates are laid atop each other and cured, a waffle-like seal is formed surrounding the contact points between adjacent plates which interlocks the seal with the plates. A truly perpendicular fluid flow is achieved between the alternating boiling chambers and condensing chambers as each fluid traverses the entirety of each chamber in a unidirectional flow as it passes through the evaporator/condenser core.

Abstract: An evaporator flask for a rotary evaporator is formed in two portions: a bowl and a lid secured to the bowl by a connecting ring. The lid is connected to a rotary drive means, and a conduit passes through the lid to provide fluid communication between the interior of the flask and a condenser. A mechanical scraper or stirrer is affixed to the end of the conduit within the bowl portion of the flask.

Abstract: A concatenable module for a multiple-effect still has a chamber encompassed by four walls and two baffles, where one baffle is shared with the preceeding effect and the other the subsequent effect. Heat exchanger tubes mount into an accumulator which is sealed to a baffle, an aperature in the baffle at the accumulator allows vapors and fluids to flow between modules.A distribution plug seals the top end of a heat exchanger tube while carrying distilland through internal channels until it reaches a ring channel which carries distilland in evenly around the plug. A gap below the ring channel between the plug and tube allow distilland to flow evenly on the tube as it leaves the plug.

Abstract: A rotating evaporator device is disclosed for the distillation or concentration of liquids. The rotating evaporator device of the present invention utilizes a multiplicity of pairs of disks wherein each disk pair forms a cavity within which heating vapor condenses on the interior surfaces of the disk pair and evaporation occurs from a thin film of distilland deposited on the outside surfaces of the disk pair by means of flexible wipers pressing on the outside surfaces of the disk pair. The centrifugal force created by the rotation of the disks causes the distillate and distilland films to be very thin resulting in very high heat transfer coefficient. The pairs of disks are joined together at the inside peripheries and are rotated about a stationary hollow shaft wherein heating vapor is introduced into the cavities through ports in the shaft and stationary scoops are connected to the shaft to withdraw the condensate from the circumferential peripheries of the cavities.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for distilling liquids in a vacuum, having a receptacle for a liquid that can be connected to a vacuum pump, a heating arrangement for heating the receptacle causing the liquid to evaporate, a condenser for condensing the vapour, and a collecting vessel for the condensate. To be able to handle the apparatus quickly and more simply and to make it overall more economical and make it possible to carry out continuous distillation, the heating arrangement includes a vacuum-tight receiving chamber (1) for the receptacle (2) and a microwave generator (13, 13.

Abstract: A process for the purification and concentration of sulfuric acid contained with nitric acid by-products and organic components pursuant to the mixed acid nitration of aromatics.

Abstract: An apparatus for thickening liquids with solid contents has a container receiving the liquid and a vapor outlet and a heater, which is positioned in the liquid column in the container. The heater is constructed as a rotor rotating in the container and is formed from a plurality of substantially parallel plates arranged with a limited axial spacing and extending outwards from the rotor axis, every second space between adjacent plates forming a heating chamber sealed with respect to the liquid, while the spaces located between the same close to the rotor axis and on the circumference thereof are open towards the container interior.

Abstract: In a plate heat exchanger for evaporation of a liquid by means of a heat emitting vapor every second plate interspace forms an evaporation passage (28) and the rest of the plate interspaces form condensation passages (30). Aligned openings (16) in the plates form an inlet channel through the plate heat exchanger for introduction of evaporation liquid into the evaporation passages (28). For enabling use of a large inlet area of each condensation passage (30) and a large outlet area of each evaporation passage (28) the plate heat exchanger is arranged in a container (1), the interior of which is divided in two chambers (6, 7) by the plate heat exchanger itself and a partition (5).

Abstract: A vacuum concentrator uses microwave heating to enhance the rapid drying of a liquid specimen. Microwave heating without excessive arcing is made possible in a vacuum chamber by controlling the power of a microwave generator, by modifying antenna-like objects, and by interposing air in a direct path between opposing edges of microwave injection slots, while maintaining the vacuum condition in the vacuum chamber. This can be accomplished by using air filled plastic bosses passing through, and substantially filling the microwave injection slots. An alternate to the air filled bosses can be a non-metallic closure plate that excludes the microwave injection slots from the vacuum chamber, while allowing energy to be injected freely into the chamber. The microwave heating energy is absorbed by a vacuum chamber cover and dissipated to the atmosphere as heat.

Abstract: A microdistillation column for the quantitative steam distillation of cyanide, phenolic compounds, hydrogen fluoride, ammonia, sulfites and other volatile analyte compounds from samples of environmental waters and sludge for their subsequent analysis involves volatilizing the water in the sample tube of the microdistillation column. The pressure which develops due to the water vapor forces all volatile compounds from the water sample, including the water itself, through a hydrophobic membrane and into the collector tube of the microdistillation column. The volatile compounds and the water vapor condense in the cooler collector tube and are quantitatively trapped and retained over the membrane. Relatively small samples may be distilled in the column.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus including a pair of vertical lower vessels each open at its upper end, and a pair of elongate upper vessels each having an open lower end, slidably mounted in a respective one of the lower vessels. A heat exchanger is mounted in each of the upper vessels, with the upper end of one upper vessel being connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger in the other vessel, and vice versa. A reciprocating drive mechanism drives the two upper vessels up and down in opposite directions so as to simultaneously effect compression in the space above the liquid level in the downwardly moving vessel while expanding the space above the liquid in the other vessel, driving vapor from the downwardly moving vessel into the heat exchanger in the other vessel, where it condenses.

Abstract: A cold trap vapor control system for use in vapor control systems having a heat removal channel and a heat removal surface area arranged so that during operation a narrow or contoured path is formed for vapors therebetween such that condensation takes place in the path and condensate is thereby drained away from the trap, or utilized to improve vapor containment.

Abstract: A liquid mixture is separated by pervaporation in an apparatus formed by a unitary stack of upright rectangular plates, diaphragms, and seals held together by tie rods. Each of the plates is formed with two upper and two lower corners formed with respective holes and each plate is formed inward of the respective holes with a corrugated central portion and the holes of the plates are aligned horizontally. Each diaphragm is sandwiched between two plates to form a cell having a pair of compartments separated by the respective diaphragm. The seals are arranged in the upstream region of the stack such that the liquid mixture enters one of the lower holes, passes downstream along the upstream portion into one of the compartments of each cell, and its lighter fraction passes as vapor through the diaphragms into the other compartments of these cells while its heavier fraction passes back upstream and exits the apparatus from one of the upper holes.

Abstract: A water purifying system having a condenser made of two superposed sheets of hydrophobic plastic film bonded together to form a tortuous steam path through the condenser. As steam enters the condenser it is cooled by the ambient air, condensed into water and then removed from the condenser.

Abstract: A high pressure evaporation vessel which is operated at a predeterminate pressure above atmospheric pressure, is connected to a low pressure expansion vessel which is operated at a predeterminate pressure below the pressure prevailing in the high pressure evaporation vessel, through a U-shaped siphon tube. The U-shaped siphon tube contains a liquid column absorbing the pressure difference existing between the high pressure evaporation vessel and the low pressure expansion vessel.

Abstract: A column construction or boiling space in a distilling apparatus, having a pure vapor input connector, an input connector for water to be distilled, numerous heat exchange tubes within the column construction, a pure vapor removal connector, a condensate removal connector, and a connector for removing water to be distilled that has not vaporized. Pure steam is disposed to flow through heat exchange tubes, while impure water to be distilled is disposed to flow through an intermediate space between the heat exchange tubes. The heat exchange tubes are, at both ends, joined to flanges.

Abstract: Sludge or slurry is dewatered by passing it on a screw conveyor through a sealed vessel at a vacuum more negative than -10 inches of Hg.As a result, moisture is removed from the sludge or slurry as water vapor. The vessel is sealed from air by the presence of the sludge or slurry at the inlet and outlet port extents of the vessel.

Abstract: A distilling and desalination apparatus comprising an evaporation chamber and a condensing chamber in which the evaporation chamber through a cooling circuit communicates by way of heat exchange with the condensing chamber and rotates in relation thereto. The evaporation chamber is constructed to form a thin fluid film on the inner surface of the evaporation chamber during rotation, surplus water being slung out along the edge and into channels and led tangentially to the rear by blades. The cooling circuit comprises a condensing portion and an evaporation portion, the fluid being evaporated along the inner surface of the coolant condensing portion, and fluid vapors being condensed along the outer surface of the coolant condensing portion, whereupon the drops of fluid are slung outwards and collected.

Abstract: In the distillation of fresh water from sea water, the sea water is passed ownwardly in a falling film evaporator through a multiplicity of vertical tube evaporator (VTE) stages and multiple stage flash (MSF) evaporators. After the sea water passes through the first VTE stage where it forms a liquid component and a steam component, the liquid component is distributed evenly into the next VTE stage while the steam component enters an adjoining MSF stage. Condensed fresh water flows downwardly from one MSF stage to the next and experiences flash evaporation. The sea water or brine component and the fresh water distillate flow downwardly through the VTE and MSF stages so that the brine component can be removed from the final VTE stage and the fresh water distillate from the final MSF stage.

Abstract: A sealing means for a vacuum distillation apparatus is provided having a vapor tube rotatably and sealably mounted within a vacuum tube through which vapor passes.

Abstract: For concentration and possible purification of mineral acids, particularly sulphuric acid, a furnace which can be heated is utilized, in which one or several long quartz tubes are placed. The quartz tubes are sealed at the upper and lower parts of the furnace and inside the furnace the quartz tube is heated from the outside with the utilized means. The acid which is to be treated is fed to the respective quartz tube via the upper parts of this, and the purified acid is collected in a vessel located at the lower parts of the quartz tube. Packings of small and/or medium dimensions are arranged in the quartz tubes.

Abstract: There is provided a distillation plant of the multiple stage flash distillation type. The plant comprises a reinforced concrete shell which is divided into a large number of flash chambers and a heat supply chamber by means of partitions. A bundle of condensation tubes, preferably of plastic, extend throughout all of the chambers. The inlet and outlet manifolds for the tube bundle are defined by an end of the shell and an adjacent partition. The shell has preferably a plastic coating or consists of a polymer concrete. Preferably, the partitions consist of or comprise plastic so that a bundle of plastic tubes may be sealed to openings in the partitions by gluing or welding.

Abstract: Phosphorus is recovered from phosphorus mud by introducing a skip of phosphorus mud into a furnace, closing the furnace and contacting the skip inside the furnace with a pool of molten lead. Phosphorus vapour is distilled from the mud and recovered.