Plural Patents (Class 202/172)
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Patent number: 7153394Abstract: A process to isolate dianhydride from an exchange reaction comprises extracting a bisimide/anhydride exchange reaction aqueous phase with an organic solution comprising an exchange catalyst at a first temperature and pressure to form an extracted aqueous phase comprising water, exchange catalyst and a dianhydride precursor; removing water from the extracted aqueous phase at a second temperature and pressure to form a molten phase, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure; removing water and exchange catalyst from the molten phase at a third temperature and pressure to form an isolation mixture; and converting the dianhydride precursor in the isolation mixture to dianhydride at a fourth temperature and pressure, wherein the fourth temperature is greater than the second and third temperatures and the fourth pressure is less than the second and third pressures.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Link Guggenheim, David Anthony Mongilio
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Patent number: 7112262Abstract: A device is disclosed for downward flow evaporation of a liquid substance and subsequent condensation of the vapor formed, which includes a plurality of vertical evaporator tubes housed in a common casing in side-by-side relationship, a distributor tank which is arranged above the evaporator tubes and from which the substance contained therein can be fed to the evaporator tubes with production of a film of the substance running down the tube surface of the evaporator tubes, a heat exchanger arrangement arranged in the casing and having a plurality of vertical condensation tubes having a surface upon which the vapor can be condensed, receiving trays housed below the evaporator tubes and below the condensation tubes in the casing to separately receive unevaporated concentrate of the substance which runs down the tube surface of the evaporator tubes or condensed distillate of the substance which runs down the tube surface of the condensation tubes.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: GEA Wiegand GmbHInventor: Daniel Bethge
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Patent number: 6966974Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaporating a solution and an evaporator applied to it. The evaporator (1) has parallel plate heat exchanger elements (3) fitted inside a jacket (2), consisting of a flexible plastic film, for example, and a liquid distribution space (4) common to the elements, from where the solution to be evaporated can be spread, through supply channels (6), on the heat transmission surfaces (4) of the elements to run from the top downwards. The solution (10) that has not evaporated on the surfaces is recycled from the bottom of the evaporator back to the liquid distribution space, and from there to the heat transmission surfaces (4) of the elements for re-evaporation. In connection with evaporation, precipitate is separated from the solution as a result of over-saturation, ending up in the recirculation flow with the solution and being separated from the solution in the liquid distribution space (14) that works as a separator for the precipitate.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Oy Casparado ABInventors: Leif Ramm-Schmidt, Kari Myreen, Matti Laajaniemi
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Patent number: 6908533Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Ovation Products CorporationInventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Patent number: 6905576Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of silane by catalytic disproportionation of trichlorosilane in a reactive/distillative reaction zone having a catalyst bed of catalytically active solid.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: SolarWorld AGInventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Joachim Leimkühler, Dirk Müller, Johannes-Peter Schäfer, Georg Ronge
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Patent number: 6846387Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 5, 2000Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Ovation Products CorporationInventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20040267078Abstract: A method of separating and purifying conjugated dienes includes a step of obtaining a first bottom product by taking out a hydrocarbon mixture including conjugated diene under an environment in the presence of a polymerization inhibitor including at least one of nitrite and di-lower aklylhydroxylamine in a first extractive distillation column; a step of obtaining a second bottom product and a distillation portion by distilling the first bottom product in a first diffusion column; a step of obtaining a third bottom product by taking out the distillation portion under an environment in the presence of the polymerization inhibitor in a second extractive distillation column; a step of obtaining a fourth bottom product by distilling the third bottom product in a second diffusion column; a step of recovering the second bottom product and fourth bottom product and supplying to the first extractive distillation column and/or second extractive distillation column; a step of measuring concentration of a polymerizationType: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Masanobu Kanauchi, Masayoshi Kaji
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Patent number: 6835287Abstract: An apparatus comprising first to third columns, wherein the outlet of a first column reboiler and the inlet of a second column condenser are connected by a first introduction conduit, and the outlet of a second distillation column reboiler and the inlet of a third column condenser are connected by a second introduction conduit, and additionally the outlet of the second column condenser and the inlet of the first column reboiler are connected by a first return conduit, and the outlet of the third column condenser and the inlet of the second column reboiler are connected by a second return conduit.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Nippon Sanso CorporationInventors: Hitoshi Kihara, Hiroshi Tachibana, Shigeru Hayashida, Hiroshi Kawakami
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Publication number: 20040256212Abstract: A water-soluble organic material condensation apparatus equipped with a distillation column for distilling an aqueous solution of a water-soluble organic material, wherein a vapor generated at the top of the distillation column or a condensed liquid from the vapor is introduced to a device other than the distillation column which has the function to separate water from the water-soluble organic material to thereby condense the water-soluble organic material through separating water and then the condensed water-soluble organic material is recycled to the distillation column. The device other than the distillation column is desirably a separative film such as a zeolite film. The apparatus is improved in the operation of the upper portion of the condensation section of the distillation column and allows energy savings during distillation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Shiro Ikeda, Takashi Nakane
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Patent number: 6833056Abstract: A desalination apparatus capable of obtaining fresh water stably at low cost by utilizing low-temperature waste, wherein the desalination apparatus including a heat exchanger 92 cooperating with an evaporation can 60 so as to subject a low-temperature waste heat 11 and raw water 62 in the evaporation can 60 to heat exchange and generate water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; a condenser 98 cooperating with a raw water tank 72 so as to receive the water vapor 63 from the evaporation can 60, cool the water vapor 63 by subjecting the water vapor 63 and raw water 71 in the raw water tank 72 to heat exchange and obtain distilled water 76; a distilled water tank for storing the distilled water 76; vacuum means for evacuating the evaporation can 60 and depressurizing the inside thereof so as to promote generation of water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; and raw water supply means for supplying raw water to the evaporation can.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Ichiro Kamiya, Yuzo Narasaki, Tetsuo Kuroda
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Publication number: 20040245084Abstract: The invention concerns a downward flow evaporator, with internal condensation, comprising at least a vertical evaporator tube (12) housed in a casing (10), and a dispensing vessel (16) arranged above the evaporator tube (12), from which a liquid to be evaporated can be brought to the evaporator tube (12), producing a downward flowing film in its tubular housing. In order to ensure condensation of the vapour formed during evaporation of the liquid, there is provided a heat-exchanging device (18, 52), whereof the condensation surfaces consist, in accordance with the invention, of at least a condensation tube (18) arranged vertically in the evaporation tube (12), and having substantially the same axis. Above said pair of tubes (12, 13) are housed reception means (20, 22) in the casing (10), capable of collecting separately, the non-evaporated liquid concentrate, flowing from the evaporator tube (12), and the condensed liquid distillate, flowing from the condensation tube (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventor: Daniel Bethge
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Patent number: 6821394Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of extracting haw pits by dry distillation and the device used therein. The process includes the following steps: removing the impurities of haw pits and drying them; immersing haw pits in water and then dripping and charging the dried pit into the furnace for dry distillation; gradually raising the temperature and dry distilling the haw pits at two temperature ranges of 105-195° C. and 305-380° C. respectively and collecting the distillate; mixing together the distillate, allowing them to separate into layers by specific gravity difference and separating out the final brownish red transparent liquor by siphon. The method of the present invention can provide high yield of extraction and the present device is simple in structure. Further, the present invention is easy to be employed on the industrial scale.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Inventor: Yi Shi
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Patent number: 6802941Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) forming a multiplicity of evaporation chambers (56) into which a liquid to be purified is sprayed for evaporation. Spray arms (58) spray at a steady rate into all of the evaporation chambers (56) simultaneously but not at a rate that is adequate to maintain the wetting required for efficient transfer of heat to the liquid. A scanning sprayer (140) supplements this steady spray with spray from nozzles (142 and 144) into only a few of the evaporation chambers at a time, visiting all of them cyclically. The overall rate of spray from the two sources thus combined to spray the chamber cyclically maintains proper wetting even though on average it is lower than the rate that would be required of a constant-rate spray into all of the evaporation chambers.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Ovation Products CorporationInventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20040182693Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus and a process for purification of an acrylic acid family.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yukihiro Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20040108196Abstract: This invention relates to a system for distilling liquor. The system is multilayer and has devices including a top layer, a middle layer, a bottom layer and an outer cooling assembly and four units correspondingly arranged in those devices. The layers all have inner walls made of thermal-conductive and anti-corrosive material. The four units are a heating unit, a cracking unit, a purifying distilling unit and a cooling unit. The heating unit boils water to generate heating steam. The heating steam is introduced into the cracking unit to heat alcoholic paste to generate liquor steam.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventor: Ching-Piau Lai
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Publication number: 20040074757Abstract: A method and device for enhancing distillation in an evaporator. The evaporator includes phase change chambers, such as vertically-oriented cylindrical evaporation tubes. Each chamber has an evaporation region that can be heated externally. Each chamber has an inlet for introducing liquid to the chamber and an outlet opening for allowing vapor to exit from the chamber. Packing is inserted into one or more chambers to enhance distillation. The packing may include a rod with bristles emanating from the rod. Other chamber packing may include multiple rods or a mesh.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventor: Kingston Owens
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Patent number: 6689251Abstract: A distiller (10) that employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) introduces water to be evaporated into evaporation chambers (56). During most of its operation, it collects the water that has passed through the evaporation chamber (56) without evaporating, and it reintroduces the thus-collected liquid back into the evaporation chamber, where it also adds a minor amount of unrecirculated feed liquid to make up for evaporation and concentrate removal. Simultaneously, a minor amount of feed liquid is fed into one side of a transfer pump (116). During this mode of operation, the impurities concentration in the recirculating liquid tends to increase as a result of the evaporation of pure water vapor. Periodically, the erstwhile recirculating liquid is redirected to the other side of the transfer pump (116), where it causes the feed liquid stored in the transfer pump's first side to be fed without accompanying recirculant liquid into the rotary heat exchanger's evaporation chambers.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Ovation Products CorporationInventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20030205451Abstract: A process is provided herein for the high yield production of high purity glacial methacrylic acid (“HPMAA”) that is substantially pure, specifically 99% pure or greater with a water content of 0.05% or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Keith Frederick Briegel, James Clarence Day, Michael Stanley DeCourcy, Donald Alan Ebert, Jamie Jerrick John Juliette
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Patent number: 6623603Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 1999Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.Inventors: Charles J. Call, Alireza Shekarriz, Mike Powell, Seung-Ho Hong, Robert Beckius, Ezra Merrill
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Publication number: 20030173205Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: Arne Karlsson, Ivar M. Dahl, Jonny Engedahl, Mark A. Krawczyk, Ara J. Alexanian
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Publication number: 20030159914Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of extracting haw pits by dry distillation and the device used therein. The process includes the following steps: removing the impurities of haw pits and drying them; immersing haw pits in water and then dripping and charging the dried pit into the furnace for dry distillation; gradually raising the temperature and dry distilling the haw pits at two temperature ranges of 105-195° C. and 305-380° C. respectively and collecting the distillate; mixing together the distillate, allowing them to separate into layers by specific gravity difference and separating out the final brownish red transparent liquor by siphon. The method of the present invention can provide high yield of extraction and the present device is simple in structure. Further, the present invention is easy to be employed on the industrial scale.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventor: Yi Shi
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Publication number: 20030150704Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2003Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventor: Juan M. Posada
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Publication number: 20030132096Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20030132097Abstract: A desalination device includes a saltwater input line and a desalinator having a water input connected to the input line, a fresh water output and a brine output. A fuel cell generates electricity and is connected to an energy source for the desalinator. A heat exchanger transfers waste heat from the fuel cell to desalinator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: Brian Kenet, Pedro Joaquin Sanchez Belmar
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Publication number: 20030133864Abstract: The invention disclosed herein generally relates to a system and a method for supplying a carbon dioxide fluid feed to a plurality of applications. The method of the invention comprises the steps of directing a fluid feed, that includes a carbon dioxide component, from a carbon dioxide purifying means to a plurality of applications including at least two distinct applications, whereby contaminants are combined with the fluid at said applications, thereby forming an effluent that includes at least a portion of the carbon dioxide component and at least a portion of said contaminants; directing said effluent from at least one of the applications to said carbon dioxide purifying means; and purifying the carbon dioxide of the effluent at the carbon dioxide purifying means, thereby producing the carbon dioxide component of the fluid feed. The system of the invention is an apparatus for conducting the method of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: John Fredric Billingham, Henry Edward Howard, Kimberly Hershey
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Patent number: 6582564Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a column body; a partition for dividing the interior of the column body; a first distillation section composed of an enriching section and an exhaust section; a second distillation section composed of an enriching section formed above an upper end of the first distillation section, and an exhaust section located adjacent to the enriching section of the first distillation section; a third distillation section composed of an enriching section located adjacent to the exhaust section of the first distillation section, and an exhaust section formed below a lower end of the first distillation section; a condenser; a negative pressure generation system for generating a negative pressure to thereby withdraw vent gas; a gas cooler for cooling the vent gas; a first discharge system disposed at the side of the column body and adapted to discharge liquid rich in a medium-boiling-point component formed from a high-melting-point material; and a second discharge system disposed at the bottoType: GrantFiled: March 21, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Katsunori Tamura, Yoichi Harada
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Publication number: 20030079981Abstract: A distilling apparatus and method use a two step distillation and purification process for processing a waste liquid, such as an impure sulfuric acid solution, to form a highly concentrated sulfuric acid solution. First, the waste liquid is stored in a concentrating column, where it is heated. A condenser, which uses the waste liquid as a cooling medium, condenses the vapor generated by the heater. The condensed vapor is passed through a filter, which separates impurities out of the waste liquid, prior to feeding the waste liquid back into the concentrating column. Water is then removed from the waste liquid via a distilling process. The resulting concentrated liquid is then fed to a purifying column, where it is again heated, to remove residue, and condensed, resulting in a highly pure waste liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Hiroshi Osuda, Toru Matoba, Daisuke Adachi, Masataka Fukuizumi
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Publication number: 20030047438Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of instruments used in a distillation apparatus to thereby simplify control.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Katsunori Tamura, Ken Nishiyama, Taizo Inoue, Keiji Yoshimoto, Noboru Okamoto, Minoru Nagashima
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Patent number: 6514387Abstract: The invention relates to a rectifying column for extractive distillation, comprising a column main section (204) and a raffinate section (205) above said main section, an evaporator (208) situated on the lower end of the column, an inlet (214) disposed between the main section of the column and the raffinate section and a solvent inlet (215) arranged on the top side of the raffinate section (205) for feeding an extracting agent. According to the invention, the main section (204) has two chambers (216, 217) connected in parallel. A stripping section (222) is disposed between the bottom of the column (221) and the main section (204), in which concentration of the extracting agent occurs from the top down. The bottom (221) is connected to the solvent inflow (215) by a device (223) for recycling the extracting agent.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Krupp Uhde GmbHInventors: Gerd Emmrich, Bärbel Kolbe, Helmut Gehrke, Frank Ennenbach, Uwe Ranke
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Publication number: 20020175066Abstract: The invention relates to a circulation evaporator for separating mixtures consisting of more volatile and less volatile components, which comprises a discharge container that consists of at least a chamber for the feed and of a chamber for the outflow. The invention further relates to a process for the separation by distillation of a mixture consisting of more volatile and less volatile components by employing the circulation evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Kurt-Manfred Kupper, Andre Fellholter
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Patent number: 6461583Abstract: A method and apparatus for enrichment of heavy oxygen isotopes is provided wherein an oxygen starting material which contains heavy oxygen isotopes is enriched in at least one of oxygen molecule 16O17O, 16O18O, 17O17O, 17O18O and 18O18O, by means of cryogenic distillation of the oxygen starting material containing heavy oxygen isotopes. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for further increasing the concentration of at least one of the heavy isotope oxygen molecules by means of conducting isotope scrambling on the above-mentioned plurality of oxygen molecules enriched by means of the above mentioned cryogenic distillation.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Nippon Sanso CorporationInventors: Shigeru Hayashida, Nobuaki Egoshi, Hitoshi Kihara, Hiroshi Kawakami
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Patent number: 6436242Abstract: A water distiller has a sub-atmospheric boiler having a non-recirculating brine section, an input, a brine output and a vapor output. The input is for water to be distilled, the brine output for brine, and the vapor output for water vapor. A compressor is connected to the vapor output for heating the water vapor, and an heated vapor line is connected to an output of the compressor, the heated vapor line heating the brine section.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Inventor: Pedro Joaquin Sanchez Belmar
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Publication number: 20020092759Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) forming a multiplicity of evaporation chambers (56) into which a liquid to be purified is sprayed for evaporation. Spray arms (58) spray at a steady rate into all of the evaporation chambers (56) simultaneously but not at a rate that is adequate to maintain the wetting required for efficient transfer of heat to the liquid. A scanning sprayer (140) supplements this steady spray with spray from nozzles (142 and 144) into only a few of the evaporation chambers at a time, visiting all of them cyclically. The overall rate of spray from the two sources thus combined to spray the chamber cyclically maintains proper wetting even though on average it is lower than the rate that would be required of a constant-rate spray into all of the evaporation chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20020092758Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs counterflow-heat-exchanger modules (102, 104, 106, 108, and 110) to use the heat from water that has come from a rotary heat exchanger (32) to heat feed water that is being sent to it for distillation. In one of the modules the feed water is heated only by concentrate that results from the distillation process, whereas only condensate heats the feed water in the other modules. By thus employing four different flows in two sets of heat-exchanger modules rather than three flows in a single set, the distillation unit can employ relatively simple counterflow-heat-exchanger modules and easily adjust flows to achieve a desired output concentration in response to different expected feed concentrations while maintaining optimum feed flows.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20020092762Abstract: A distillation unit (10) includes a filter (116) through which feed water passes before it is introduced into a rotary heat exchanger (32) for evaporation and subsequent condensation. During a normal mode of operation, liquid that has not evaporated as a result of passage through the rotary heat exchanger's evaporation chambers (56) is recirculated for reintroduction into those chambers, together with a minor amount of feed liquid from the filter to make up for evaporation. At the same time, some filtered feed water is fed into one side of a transfer pump (166), where it slowly accumulates. Periodically, though, during short flushing-mode periods, the erstwhile recirculating liquid is redirected at a relatively high flow rate through the filter (116) in the reverse direction, thereby flushing it.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20020092624Abstract: In a distillation unit (10) a rotary heat exchanger (32) receives from a radially inward position feed liquid to be purified and collects on the inner surface of a rotating exterior shell (36) liquid that has passed through its evaporation chambers (56). Stationary scoop tubes (122 and 124) scoop liquid from the resultant liquid layer that forms on the shell (36)'s inner surface, and the kinetic energy of the liquid scooped from the thus-spinning layer drives it radially inward through the scoop tubes (122 and 124) into spray arms (58) for reintroduction into the rotary heat exchanger's evaporation chambers (56).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20020092757Abstract: A distiller (10) that employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) introduces water to be evaporated into evaporation chambers (56). During most of its operation, it collects the water that has passed through the evaporation chamber (56) without evaporating, and it reintroduces the thus-collected liquid back into the evaporation chamber, where it also adds a minor amount of unrecirculated feed liquid to make up for evaporation and concentrate removal. Simultaneously, a minor amount of feed liquid is fed into one side of a transfer pump (116). During this mode of operation, the impurities concentration in the recirculating liquid tends to increase as a result of the evaporation of pure water vapor. Periodically, the erstwhile recirculating liquid is redirected to the other side of the transfer pump (116), where it causes the feed liquid stored in the transfer pump's first side to be fed without accompanying recirculant liquid into the rotary heat exchanger's evaporation chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Publication number: 20020088701Abstract: A heat integrated distillation column provides heat at each theoretical stage of distillation in a heating portion and coolant at each theoretical stage of distillation in a cooling portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2001Publication date: July 11, 2002Inventor: James N. Sorensen
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Patent number: 6413378Abstract: An extractive distillation tower 4 supplied with a feedstock containing butadiene and a solvent and for distilling the feedstock to separate and purify the butadiene.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masanobu Kanauchi, Yasuhiko Arimori, Toshihiro Nakano
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Patent number: 6402897Abstract: A combination liquid distillation unit and heater, where the distilled liquid is heated to an elevated temperature to effect distillation, and then stored and maintained at an elevated temperature in a hot liquid tank. Thermal communication between the distillation unit portion and the storage tank allow heat from the distillation unit to be recovered in the hot distilled liquid in the tank to be transferred back to the feed water and/or to help maintain the hot distilled liquid in the tank at an appropriate elevated temperature. A start-up chamber in the distillation unit stores a reservoir of feed liquid during periods of inactivity, and allows the hot distilled liquid in the tank to preheat this feed liquid so that the feed liquid boils more quickly upon start-up.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1997Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Inventor: Charles L. Gunn
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Publication number: 20020038760Abstract: An evaporation product discharged from a lower end a falling-film evaporator (1, 2) enters a downpipe (7), makes a 180° turn at a bottom of the downpipe, and moves upward through an annular rising channel (9) defined between the downpipe and an intermediate housing (10). As the evaporation product moves along a spiral path (12) defined by the spiral fins, centrifugal forces urges water droplets and impurities to a radial outward periphery where they pass through openings (13) in the intermediate shell as pure steam continues through the spiral path and out a pure steam outlet (21). A cooling jacket (15) chills a peripheral wall of an outer shell (14) adjacent the holes such that the discharged water droplets condense on the outer shell and flow down a reject water return path to a reject water reservoir at the bottom of the outer shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Applicant: STERIS EUROPE, INC.Inventor: Mauri J. Salmisuo
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Patent number: 6365005Abstract: An improved design of a vapor compression distiller which makes use of a rapid, highly turbulent flow through the heat-of-evaporation recovery, or primary, heat exchanger. The distiller may also include the use of turbulators to increase turbulence and mixing within the primary heat exchanger. The increased level of turbulence and mixing dramatically reduces fouling inside the primary heat exchanger and increases the heat transfer efficiency. The improvements in the distiller are maximized by recirculating the liquid to be evaporated at a high multiple of the flow rate of the liquid feed to the distiller. The distiller may also include a feed circulation loop with a secondary heat exchanger to increase the efficiency of heat-of-evaporation recovery in the evaporation/condensation cycle. Applications of the vapor compression distiller include purification of waste liquids, concentration of dilute liquid mixtures, and separation of liquid/liquid, liquid/gas, and liquid/solid mixtures.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Inventor: James W. Schleiffarth
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Publication number: 20020023830Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a column body; a partition for dividing the interior of the column body; a first distillation section composed of an enriching section and an exhaust section; a second distillation section composed of an enriching section formed above an upper end of the first distillation section, and an exhaust section located adjacent to the enriching section of the first distillation section; a third distillation section composed of an enriching section located adjacent to the exhaust section of the first distillation section, and an exhaust section formed below a lower end of the first distillation section; a condenser; a negative pressure generation system for generating a negative pressure to thereby withdraw vent gas; a gas cooler for cooling the vent gas; a first discharge system disposed at the side of the column body and adapted to discharge liquid rich in a medium-boiling-point component formed from a high-melting-point material; and a second discharge system disposed at the bottoType: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Katsunori Tamura, Yoichi Harada
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Publication number: 20020017450Abstract: A liquid having certain undesired elements therein is distilled in a distillation column to form a vapor stream. This vapor stream is fed by means of an inert gas drive to a first container having an array of semi-permeable screens which are rotated at a speed of 3,000-10,000 rpm to generate vertical spiral vortexes which act on the vapor to separate out heavier impurities. An inert gas is employed to drive the vapor stream from the first container to the bottom of a second container having a narrower diameter array of semi-permeable screens, these screens being driven at a velocity of 6000-100,000 rpm. In the second container, the molecular species is separated from the main vapor stream by virtue of the exposure of the vapor to large centrifugal gravity forces generated by the horizontal velocity vectors of the rotating screens.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Inventor: Ernest Csendes
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Patent number: 6309513Abstract: A large and economical type of multi-stack vertical tube evaporator (MS-VTE) is disclosed having units of multiple stacks of vertical tube bundles or stages mounted in a single vessel, and having its liquid feed pumped to the uppermost VTE bundle stack or stage and having the feed then cascading downward through the lower bundle stacks in series flow, and wherein all the tube bundles are heated with the same waste steam of no or low $-value, e.g. with turbine reject steam in parallel flow under vacuum into the steam-sides of all tube bundles in the unit through a common steam conduit; and wherein the feed liquid is progressively evaporated from stage to stage or stack to stack and the vapors produced in the tubes of each bundle during the partial evaporation of the feed are separated between the stacks and condensed by parallel flow into one or more condensers.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1998Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Inventor: Hugo H Sephton
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Patent number: 6261419Abstract: The invention relates to an improved evaporator and condenser unit for use in distilling a liquid such as water. The evaporator and condenser unit includes a plurality of stacked, spaced-apart plates disposed within a housing. The plates are horizontally arranged around a common, vertical axis for rotation. Adjacent plates define spaces between their oppositely facing surfaces, which are alternating configured as evaporating and condensing chambers. An outlet tube transfers vapor generated within the housing to a compressor and an inlet tube delivers compressed vapor to the condensing chambers. A sump containing the liquid to be distilled is located at a lower portion of the housing. A rotating element extends into the sump and forces liquid to be distilled up a stationary feed pipe where it is discharged into the evaporating chambers which are open at both their inner and outer ends.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Ovation Products CorporationInventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Patent number: 6238524Abstract: The invention relates to an improved evaporator and condenser unit for use in distilling a liquid such as water. The evaporator and condenser unit includes a plurality of stacked, spaced-apart plates disposed within a housing. The plates are horizontally arranged around a common, vertical axis for rotation. Adjacent plates define spaces between their oppositely facing surfaces, which are alternating configured as evaporating and condensing chambers. An outlet tube transfers vapor generated within the housing to a compressor and an inlet tube delivers compressed vapor to central receiving space within the stack of plates. A sump containing the liquid to be distilled is located at a lower portion of the housing. Each plate includes a plurality of ports for distributing liquid to be distilled and for extracting a condensate.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1998Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Ovation Products CorporationInventor: William H. Zebuhr
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Patent number: 6171449Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for the distillation separation of styrene monomer from ethylbenzene utilizing a split feed to two distillation columns in conjunction with cascade reboiling utilizing thermal energy from the overhead of one column to supply heat to the second.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Washington Group International, Inc.Inventor: Vincent A. Welch
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Patent number: 6159344Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation and reaction device having a reaction section and a distillation-reaction section. The distillation-reaction section has a distillation zone with at least one device for circulation of the effluent from the reaction section to the distillation zone. Effluent from the reaction section is circulated to the distillation zone. The distillation-reaction section also has at least one distillation-reaction zone having at least one catalyst bed. The distillation-reaction zone is distinct from the distillation zone and provides at least partly the reflux of the distillation zone. The distillation-reaction section can also have at least one complementary reaction zone containing at least one catalyst bed. The invention further relates to a process for preparing at least one aliphatic monoalcohol, generally in excess, and at least one olefin.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1997Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Alain Forestiere, Christophe Thille, Jean-Charles Viltard
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Patent number: 6045660Abstract: Apparatus for use in the rectification of liquid mixtures (separation of liquid mixtures into their constituents) and other processes requiring equilibration of liquid and gaseous phases in which mechanical energy is used to create and repeatedly regenerate free flying liquid structures that facilitate the intimate interaction and equilibration of said phases beyond standard practice and thereby allow smaller, more compact, more efficient, and more accessible apparatus and make practical lower operating temperatures and the use of inert carrier gases and otherwise increase the engineering options available to designers of rectification equipment and other equipment requiring liquid/vapor equilibration.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1997Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Inventors: Kern Savage, Richard C. Wingerson, William Lee Woodie, John L. Wyatt, deceased, by Diana Jacobs, legal representative, by Melody Balport, legal representative, by Mark Wyatt, legal representative