Still And Absorber Patents (Class 202/183)
  • Publication number: 20150122631
    Abstract: A closed loop contaminant control system for an evaporative water purification process at an oil recovery facility includes an evaporator having a water inlet, a distilled water discharge, and an oil and brine water discharge. A sump in the evaporator is divided by an oil skimming weir into a main sump and a blowdown sump, with the oil and brine water discharge located proximate the blowdown sump and the steam discharge located above the oil and brine discharge. A distillate tank receives distilled water from the evaporator and discharges the distilled water. The distillate tank has a level controller, other controllers provided for the system include a distilled water flow meter, a blowdown flow meter, a cycle controller, a total flow controller, a hardness controller, and a silica controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: 1NSITE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth James, Bob Nabata
  • Publication number: 20150047965
    Abstract: The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to treatment of water contaminated with glycol to be recycled for further effective use of the cleaned water resulting therefrom, especially at airports. More specifically, this invention relates to improved techniques for efficiently and reliably generating continuous flows of cleaned water as well as a continuous flow of recyclable glycol water of controlled concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Brad M. MALATESTA
  • Patent number: 8715461
    Abstract: A system and method for preparation of meat flavorants, and flavorants, having increased flavor and aromatic intensity and which more closely resemble the natural flavor and aroma of cooked meat. Preheated edible, food grade oils and fats are exposed to temperatures between 290° C. and 475° C. under vacuum, in the presence of oxygen. The developing flavor vapors are immediately and completely removed from the heated oils and fats. The mixture of air-purge/flavor-vapor is immediately carried away from the heat transfer surface of the edible oil or fat. An evaporator, preferably a spinning disc, spinning band or thin film evaporator, without a condenser is used as process equipment. The air-purged flavor-vapors are diffused and absorbed in an absorption device into suitable food-grade liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Activ International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen D. Scheide, John M. Stefanicha
  • Publication number: 20140054161
    Abstract: A vapour absorption system (11) adapted to receive a vapour comprising a vacuum pump (16) having an operating liquid wherein the vapour is received by an operating liquid and condensed therein to provide condensed liquid mixed with the operating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Jayden Harman, Francesca Bertone, Peter Woodgate, Thomas Gielda
  • Patent number: 8647420
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a system for recovering carbon dioxide from flue gas, in which a reboiler in a regenerator can be compactly installed, and a method therefor, in facilities where CO2 or the like contained in flue gas is recovered. [Solving Means] To include an absorber 1006 that absorbs CO2 contained in flue gas 1002, a regenerator 1008 that strips CO2 from CO2 absorbent (rich solution) 1007 to regenerate absorbent, internal shells 101 provided at a bottom of the regenerator 1008 with a predetermined interval therebetween, into which regenerated CO2 absorbent is introduced by a feeding unit 102 from a bottom side thereof so that the CO2 absorbent overflows from an upper end of the internal shell thereof toward the bottom of the regenerator, and a reboiler that is inserted into the internal shells 101 in a direction orthogonal to a vertical axis and includes a heat-transfer tube 103 that reboils absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tsubone, Toyoshi Nakagawa, Takashi Kamijo, Tsuyoshi Oishi, Katsufumi Inoue, Osamu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8603223
    Abstract: A water desalination system including at least one pair of evaporators, said pair including a high pressure and a low pressure evaporator, each for evaporating saline water to produce water vapor; at least three adsorption beds in selective vapor communication with each evaporator, said adsorption beds arranged to reversibly adsorb the water vapor from the corresponding evaporator; said adsorption beds in selective vapor communication with a condenser, and in heat transfer communication with a heat source for selectively desorbing the adsorbed water vapor; said condenser arranged to condense the water vapor to desalinated water; wherein said system is arranged to sequentially connect, for a pre-determined period, each evaporator to a corresponding adsorption bed, and the heat source to the third bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Bidyut Baran Saha, Kim Choon Ng, Anutosh Chakraborty, Kyaw Thu
  • Publication number: 20130319844
    Abstract: A treater combination unit wherein the functions of a heater treater and one or more of a sales gas heater, instrument gas heater/dryer, two-phase separator, and a free water knockout are incorporated into a single unit are included in a single, self-contained and optionally portable unit. In one embodiment, an instrument gas dryer can also optionally be incorporated into the combination unit. In an alternative embodiment, the instrument gas dryer is added to the unit as a retrofit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Gary Heath, Forrest D. Heath
  • Publication number: 20130323133
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for treating two or more hydrocarbon feed streams. The apparatus according to one aspect includes a first feed line for supplying one aromatic feed stream and a second feed line for supplying another aromatic feed stream. The apparatus includes a juncture between the feed lines for combining the feed streams. The apparatus further includes a treatment zone in communication with the juncture for treating the combined feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Wugeng Liang, Mark G. Riley
  • Patent number: 8535486
    Abstract: A water desalination system includes an evaporator for evaporating saline water to produce water vapor and an adsorption means in selective vapor communication with the evaporator for reversibly adsorbing the water vapor from the evaporator. The adsorption means is in selective vapor communication with a condenser, and desorbing means for desorbing the adsorbed water vapor from the adsorption means for collection by the condenser. The condenser is adapted to condense the water vapor to desalinated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: National University of Singapore, Kyushu University
    Inventors: Kim Choon Ng, Xiao-Lin Wang, Lizhen Gao, Anutosh Chakraborty, Bidyut Baran Saha, Shigeru Koyama, Atsushi Akisawa, Takao Kashiwagi
  • Publication number: 20130213793
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of C4 olefins (butene-1, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, etc.) and C4 paraffins (normal butane, isobutane, etc) from a C4 hydrocarbon mixed gas including butene-1, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, normal butane, isobutane, etc. is provided. The apparatus includes several adsorption towers loaded with an adsorbent which selectively adsorb olefins and two distillation towers for the separation of the mixture gases of olefins/desorbents and paraffins/desorbents respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicants: SK ENERGY CO., LTD., KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH, SK ENERGY CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130168224
    Abstract: Systems for efficient generation of clean water from non-potable water leverage heat provided by concentrated solar power or waste heat is co-located at a source of non-potable water for efficient, low-cost operation based on steam provided by the source of heat. A process of using such systems operated by the steam provided and the non-potable water, is disclosed, to generate clean water and concentrate water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Altela. Inc.
    Inventor: Ned Godshall
  • Patent number: 8282791
    Abstract: This invention describes a low temperature, self-sustainable desalination process operated under natural vacuum conditions created and maintained by barometric pressure head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagamany Nirmalakhandan, Veera Gnaneswar Gude
  • Patent number: 8187361
    Abstract: Purified SiHCl3 and/or SiCl4 are used as a sweep gas across a permeate side of a gas separation membrane receiving effluent gas from a polysilicon reactor. The combined sweep gas and permeate is recycled to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: America Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarang Gadre, Madhava R. Kosuri
  • Publication number: 20120079851
    Abstract: A slug-containing vapor recovery system wherein pressure and/or fluid level sensors are provided which monitor for conditions caused by the entry of a slug of hydrocarbon liquid, including that caused by a plunger-lift system. The system can be configured to accommodate virtually any anticipated slug-events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Forrest D. Heath, Gary Heath
  • Patent number: 8137504
    Abstract: A system and method for preparation of meat flavorants, and flavorants, having increased flavor and aromatic intensity and which more closely resemble the natural flavor and aroma of cooked meat. Preheated edible, food grade oils and fats are exposed to temperatures between 290° C. and 475° C. under vacuum, in the presence of oxygen. The developing flavor vapors are immediately and completely removed from the heated oils and fats. The mixture of air-purge/flavor-vapor is immediately carried away from the heat transfer surface of the edible oil or fat. An evaporator, preferably a spinning disc, spinning band or thin film evaporator, without a condenser is used as process equipment. The air-purged flavor-vapors are diffused and absorbed in an absorption device into suitable food-grade liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Flavor & Food Ingredients, Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen D. Scheide, John M. Stefanicha
  • Patent number: 8080138
    Abstract: This invention describes a low temperature, self-sustainable desalination process operated under natural vacuum conditions created and maintained by barometric pressure head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagamany Nirmalakhandan, Veera Gnaneswar Gude
  • Patent number: 8052847
    Abstract: A system and method for removing water from a liquid desiccant such as a glycol used to dry cooled air in order to restore the desiccant to a purity up to around 97% in a closed continuous flow process. Liquid desiccant can be sprayed into cooled air in a conditioner where it gains moisture. The wet or gained desiccant can be optionally preheated in an economizing heat exchanger and then routed into a concentrator. Desiccant pure to around 97% can be removed from the concentrator, passed through an economizing heat exchanger to provide the preheating and returned to the conditioner holding area. The concentrator can be heated by steam or other means such as natural gas to boil the wet desiccant causing mixed vapor to enter a vertical distillation column where most of the glycol condenses out on the column packing or plates and returns to the concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Niagara Blower Company
    Inventors: Matthew Koban, Phillip Rowland, Michael Harvey, Peter Demakos
  • Patent number: 7988819
    Abstract: A system and method for preparation of meat flavorants, and flavorants, having increased flavor and aromatic intensity and which more closely resemble the natural flavor and aroma of cooked meat. Preheated edible, food grade oils and fats are exposed to temperatures between 290° C. and 475° C. under vacuum, in the presence of oxygen. The developing flavor vapors are immediately and completely removed from the heated oils and fats. The mixture of air-purge/flavor-vapor is immediately carried away from the heat transfer surface of the edible oil or fat. An evaporator, preferably a spinning disc, spinning band or thin film evaporator, without a condenser is used as process equipment. The air-purged flavor-vapors are diffused and absorbed in an absorption device into suitable food-grade liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Flavor & Food Ingredients, Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen D. Scheide, John M. Stefanicha
  • Publication number: 20110048920
    Abstract: An adsorption-desalination unit utilizing a silica gel—water working pair adsorbent—adsorbate having an economizing heat exchanger to pre-heat the incoming source seawater to be desalinated in an evaporator from about 8° C. to about 1° C. above the ambient seawater temperature. The economizing heat exchanger employs heat captured during the adsorption cycle to pre-heat incoming source seawater, thereby increasing the efficient use of energy in the unit. The heating fluid utilized to drive the desorption cycle is further utilized to heat the evaporator. A mist eliminator positioned intermediate the evaporator and the adsorbent heat exchanger chambers prevents non-vaporized water from entering the adsorbent heat exchanger chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Randall N. Avery, Charlie Booth
  • Patent number: 7790000
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an evaporation apparatus capable of supplying active ingredients sufficiently and stably. One embodiment of the invention includes a retention vessel keeping a liquid formulation which contains active ingredients, a liquid absorbing mechanism which absorbs the liquid formulation from said retention vessel, an evaporation mechanism which evaporates active ingredients of said liquid formulation absorbed into said liquid absorbing mechanism and adjusting means which adjusts the evaporation of active ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Earth Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiko Matsuda, Yasuko Umetani, Ryuji Okano, Nobuya Kubo, Shusaku Tsutsumi, Shoichi Kohmoto
  • Patent number: 7770511
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for preparing liquid from solid materials such as medicinal materials. It includes liquid and materials for preparing the liquid at the beginning and the end of the process. The device uses a steam generator, an intermediate switch valve and a material chamber, which are connected sequentially with pipes, and further includes an outlet pipe, which is at the bottom of the material chamber. The method involves the steps of: distillation and absorption; immersion; and repetition. The device and method for preparing liquid alternates the distillation and immersion steps, which reduces harmful substance in the prepared liquid that would otherwise occur by conventional methods. The method not only extracts soluble effective matter, but also reduces loss of volatile effective matter. Ultimately, the method makes the steps for preparing liquid simple and clear, and it can prepare liquid quantitatively, effectively and without pasty and shrinkable characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Shenzhen Zofu Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Linlin Yao
  • Patent number: 7563360
    Abstract: A top temperature T1 of a distillation tower 1 is held below a liquefying temperature of a light fraction by returning a part of an exhaust gas W, which is cooled by a condenser 5, to the upper zone of the distillation tower 1. A bottom temperature T2 is raised up to 300° C. at highest by returning a part of a liquid product P from a re-boiler 3 to a lower zone of the distillation tower 1. When a liquid hydrocarbon L comes in countercurrent contact with a stripping gas G inside the distillation tower 1 with the temperature profile that an inner temperature gradually falls down along an upward direction, mercury is efficiently transferred from the liquid L to a vapor phase without effusion of the light fraction in accompaniment with the exhaust gas W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, Senichiro Kaku, Kazutoshi Chaki
  • Publication number: 20090166173
    Abstract: Purified SiHCl3 is used as a sweep gas across a permeate side of a gas separation membrane receiving effluent gas from a polysilicon reactor. The combined sweep gas and permeate is recycled to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Sarang GADRE
  • Patent number: 7273672
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a fuel cell stack 21 formed by laminating a plurality of fuel cell units each of which includes a fuel electrode 23, an oxidant electrode 24, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22 interposed between the fuel and oxidant electrodes. The fuel cell unit is operable to generate an electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a first gas supplied to the side of the fuel electrode 23 and a second gas supplied to the side of the oxidant electrode 24. In this fuel cell, the first gas supplied to the side of the fuel electrode 23 and the second gas supplied to the side of the oxidant electrode 24 are adapted to flow generally in opposite directions in the fuel cell stack 21, so that a water created on the side of oxidant electrode 24 is reciprocally moved between the fuel electrode 23 and the oxidant electrode 24 to increase a water holding region in the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Sone, Mitsushi Ueno, Saburou Kuwashima
  • Patent number: 7087140
    Abstract: A carbonizing waste processing apparatus is operable to rotate and heat a radiant tube for carbonizing waste therein so as to generate granular char and vapors from the waste, transfer waste into an upstream end of the tube, temporarily impede movement of the waste through the tube at upstream and downstream locations therein so as to ensure that residence time of the waste in the tube is sufficient at the upstream location to carry out evaporation of moisture from the waste and at the downstream location to elevate the temperature of any solids in the waste for completion of carbonization of the waste, discharge the granular char and vapors from the tube, and flow the generated and discharged vapors through a succession of finned heat exchanger tubes so as to condense and separate the vapors into oil, water and methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Harry H. Menian
  • Patent number: 6964730
    Abstract: Disclosed is a purification apparatus and method. The purification apparatus includes: a mobile phase distillation part for distilling a mobile phase; a mobile phase liquefaction part for liquefying the distilled mobile phase; and a purification part disposed between the mobile phase distillation part and the mobile phase liquefaction part, for mixing the mobile phase liquefied at the mobile liquefaction part with to-be-purified material, removing impurities from the mixture through a bonded phase, and sending the impurity-removed purified material to the mobile phase distillation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Hoon Lee, Jeong Dae Seo, Hyoung Yun Oh
  • Patent number: 6958111
    Abstract: In a dividing wall column comprising as segments a) an upper column region (6), b) an inflow section (7), c) an offtake section (8) and d) a lower column region (9), the inflow section b) (7) and the offtake section c) (8) are separated from one another laterally by a dividing wall (10) fixed in the column and the dividing wall (10) is located between the upper column region a) (6) and the lower column region d) (9). The present invention provides for the dividing wall (10) to be constructed at least partly of an elastic material, the dividing wall (10) to have a slightly overdimensional width and the dividing wall (10) to be fixed in the column by the dividing wall exercising an elastic recovery force on the interior wall of the column. The dividing wall can easily be installed in, in particular, relatively small columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Rust, Gerd Kaibel
  • Publication number: 20040195083
    Abstract: The solar still has a frame, an evaporator within the frame and a glass sheet supported by the frame and spaced above the evaporator. The evaporator has a peripheral flange in contact with the edge of the glass sheet. The glass sheet and peripheral flange are nested within an inwardly facing channel on the frame, the sealing between the glass and the flange being by surface tension of water between the glass and the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: John Ward
  • Publication number: 20030024801
    Abstract: The present invention is a distillation system with individual fractionator tray temperature control, with the use of either a heating element or a cooling element, and in some preferred embodiments, the use of both a heating element and a cooling element in a plurality of fractionator trays. There is at least, and typically more than one distillation column having a plurality of fractionation trays, and having feed input, liquid removal, and vapor removal with the plurality of trays including at least one of a heating element and a cooling element. Controls are included for separate control of each of the heating element(s) and/or said cooling element(s). These controls may be regulated by a programmable microprocessor, and feedback from temperature sensors may be employed to provide discrete tray-by-tray temperature controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Li Young
  • Publication number: 20020066662
    Abstract: A process for the purification of crude N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), which comprises extracting crude DPPD with a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixtures thereby forming an extract solution containing DPPD, passing the extract solution over an adsorption layer, and recovering purified DPPD from the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Albert-Johannes Frings, Michael Horn, Peter Jenker, Jaroslaw Monkiewicz, Hans-Guenther Srebny, Burkhard Standke, Bertram Trautvetter
  • Patent number: 6213197
    Abstract: A sorption unit for air-conditioning technology apparatus with sheets for heat emission, past which water vapor is passed. The sheets are provided with zeolite, that forms string-shaped profiled bodies which are designed to have surface contact with the sheets. Channels for vapor passage are defined between bodies arranged one beside the other. A buffer section and a condenser/evaporator unit complete the sorption unit to form an air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Electrolux Leisure Appliances AG
    Inventor: Bengt Ebbeson
  • Patent number: 5744009
    Abstract: An improved urea recovery process is presented. In the improved process, multiple vacuum rated surface condensers used to condense water vapor evolved during urea vacuum evaporation/concentration are replaced by a direct contact cooler/absorber to obtain substantial capital and utility cost savings. Improved heat exchange efficiency of the present process significantly reduces cooling water usage in comparison to the surface condensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Vishnu Deo Singh, Richard Bruce Strait, Thomas Anthony Czuppon
  • Patent number: 5611895
    Abstract: An arrangement for discharging and collecting the distillate of rotary vacuum evaporators includes a rotating flask and a line for conducting the distillate from the rotating flask to a cooler for liquefying the distillate. The liquified distillate flows from the cooler into a collector and from the collector into a storage container. A safety check valve constructed as a pressure control valve is provided between the collector and the storage container. An excess pressure producer for increasing the pressure of the distillate is provided between the collector and the pressure control valve, wherein the pressure control valve and the excess pressure producer are constructed so as to interact in such a way that the pressure control valve opens when a sufficient excess pressure of the distillate has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Hans-Georg Genser
  • Patent number: 5571387
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for separating at least a first component from a second component of at least a first stream within a single vessel having at least one distillation zone and an adsorption zone. The invention may be applied to separates an alcohol from a mixture of the alcohol and water, such as separating isopropyl alcohol from a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. The invention may be applied to more complex systems such as separating isopropyl alcohol and separating diisopropyl ether from the effluents of each reactor of a two-stage diisopropyl ether production process. The benefit of the invention is a high purity separation process at reduced capital equipment costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Santi Kulprathipanja, Simon H. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 5492603
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for recovering acetic acid from an acetic acid/water waste stream which includes a dehydration column into which the stream is fed and a liquid-liquid extraction system for recovering acetic acid from the condensate of the overhead stream of the dehydration column. Optionally, low pressure and/or high pressure absorber systems are provided to process vapor and/or liquid streams associated with the recovery system and/or the plant in which the acetic acid is used to further the recovery of acetic acid and reduce atmospheric pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Glitsch, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Gualy, Wiston Lamshing, Joseph C. Gentry, Fernando Varela
  • Patent number: 5441605
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for reclaiming or concentrating waste aqueous solutions of gas treating chemicals, such as alkanolamines, used for removing acid components or water vapor from natural gas. The process involves heating the waste solution under a high vacuum to form a vapor and a liquid residue. The temperature and vacuum can be varied to form a vapor consisting mainly of water vapor or a vapor containing both water vapor and vaporized gas treating chemical. The vapor is subsequently condensed or passed through a wash column to produce a concentrated solution. The liquid residue is heated by passing it through a single pass, generally co-current heater at a rate which avoids localized overheating of a liquid to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the gas treating chemical. The heated liquid residue is then used to heat the feed waste solution by being thoroughly mixed with it, thus avoiding overheating of the feed solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Canadian Chemical Reclaiming Ltd.
    Inventors: Todd Beasley, Dwight A. Merritt
  • Patent number: 5352335
    Abstract: A continuous process for the extraction of halogenated hydrocarbons from a dilute, halogenated hydrocarbon-containing aqueous fluid, in high efficiency, while dramatically reducing the stripping medium requirement for the extraction and without substantially increasing the amount of halogenated hydrocarbons discharged to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip R. Beaver
  • Patent number: 5340444
    Abstract: A circulation cooler (10) has a heat exchanger (12) in a housing (11) that contains a cooling liquid and is detachably connected by its forward flow (13) to an inlet line (5), and by its return line (14) to the outlet (6) of a condenser (4) of a distillation apparatus (1). The circulation cooler (10) moreover has a vacuum pump (21) inside its housing (11) and an absorber (28) outside its housing (11). A second condenser (24) is interposed along the cooling agent inlet line (13) between the circulation cooler (10) and the condenser (4) of the distillation apparatus (1), and is connected to a vacuum line (27). The cooling liquid (25) flows successively to the heat exchanger ( 12) through the two condensers (24, 4) , then back to the heat exchanger (12). In both condensers, which are under a vacuum through common vacuum line (26, 27) , the condensation of the liquid substances is effected in the form of main condensation and aftercondensation phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Peter W. D. van der Heijden Laborbedarf
    Inventor: Peter W. D. van der Heijden
  • Patent number: 5314666
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon gas containing carbonyl sulfide with hot aqueous absorbent at hydrolysis gas containing carbonyl sulfide hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide to carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and formation of hydrolysis product gas, and for cooling the hydrolysis product gas with cool absorbent at cooling temperature, comprising (a) a hydrolysis section, (b) a cooling section; (c) a chimney tray positioned between the cooling section and the hydrolysis section; (d) a heater to heat the absorbent to form hot aqueous absorbent at hydrolysis reaction temperature; and, (e) a cooler to cool the absorbent withdrawn from the hydrolysis section to cool absorbent at cooling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: S. Travis Palomares, Thomas G. Morrison
  • Patent number: 5176798
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for recovering and disposing of volatile organic contaminants, from water contaminated with organics, which system includes a pump to feed water from the body of contaminated water to the system, with indirect heat exchange and direct steam addition to raise the temperature of the water, a stripping vessel to strip the heated water with gas to strip the volatile contaminants from the water, gas supply to provide stripping gas to the vessel conduits to pass the removed volatile contaminants to a vessel containing a bed of adsorbent selective for the removal organics and regenerating the near-saturated bed by stripping with ambient air heated by heat exchange with the exhaust gas from a fuel-fired heater, passing the contaminant-containing regenerating gas from the regenerating bed to said fuel-fired heater, and combusting the contaminants in said fuel-fired heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: John B. Rodden
  • Patent number: 5062926
    Abstract: The solvent recovery apparatus includes an adsorption tower having a gas adsorption element; a gas supply pipe for supplying a solvent-containing gas to the adsorption tower; a steam supply pipe for supplying steam to the adsorption tower; and a solvent recovery pipe for recovering a removed solvent. Disposed at the solvent recovery pipe are a condenser and a specific-gravity separating unit for recovering a liquefield solvent. An intermediate liquid storing unit is disposed between the condenser and the specific-gravity separating unit, and has a valve adapted to be automatically opened when the intermediate liquid storing unit stores a liquid of which amount exceeds a preset value, so that the liquid flows into the specific-gravity separating unit. With this solvent recovery apparatus, organic solvent gas or flon gas may be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignees: Osaka Gas Limited, Asahi Seisakusho Company Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Maeda, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Harukazu Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Sakai, Akio Ando, Yasuo Matsushita, Tetsuya Takemoto
  • Patent number: 5061348
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reprocessing waste piranha containing contaminated H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 from, for example, a semiconductor processing operation is described. The apparatus and method include a first distillation flask which is maintained under a substantial vacuum. The first distillation flask includes a first column packed with a column packing material and an input pipe for refluxing to retard loss of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in the first distillation. The second distillation flask boils off substantially pure H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and provides for a continuous automatic purge of the contaminants from the second distillation flask thus improving the purity of the H.sub.2 SO.sub.4. The substantially pure H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 flows through a column which is coupled to a condenser which condenses substantially pure H.sub.2 SO.sub.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Alameda Instruments
    Inventors: Marshall W. McCormick, Jesse C. Dobson
  • Patent number: 4846240
    Abstract: A high efficiency open-cycle absorptive approach to compressing steam or other vapor is disclosed, especially useful for industrial evaportion via recompression. Referring to FIG. 1, low pressure steam from evaporator 1 is absorbed in an aqueous absorbent solution so as to release heat in both absorber 7 and GAX exchanger 8. External heat is applied to generator 12. Steam at higher pressure is desorbed from both gnerator 12 and GAX exchanger 8, and used to heat evaporator 1. Absorber 7 heat is also used to heat and evaporate the mixture undergoing evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 4659433
    Abstract: Apparatus for concentrating and dehydrating maleic acid to form maleic anhydride, comprising: at least a first and a second vertical, independent and distinct, falling thin-film, multitubular evaporators of the static type arranged in series, wherein the first thin-film multitubular evaporator of the static type has an upper part and a lower part and includes a feedpipe at the upper part and a discharge pipe at the lower part; a separator connected by its sidewall to the discharge pipe from the first evaporator and including a first discharge pipe at the upper portion thereof and a second discharge pipe at the lower part; the second thin-film multitubular evaporator of the static type having a feedpipe having an upper part and a lower part connected to the second discharge pipe from the separator and including a discharge pipe only at the lower part thereof; a boiler having an upper part and a lower part, said upper part of said boiler being connected to and in open communication with the lower portion of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Societe Chimiques des Charbonnages
    Inventor: Roland Kotwica
  • Patent number: 4434034
    Abstract: A liquid desiccant regenerator is provided including an upstanding hollow reboiler having upstanding peripheral sides, a bottom and a top. A plurality of laterally space upstanding tubular flues are provided in the reboiler and open upwardly and downwardly through the top and bottom. A flue plenum chamber is disposed over the top into which the upper ends of the tubular flues open and a flue pipe opens upwardly from the plenum chamber. A combustion chamber is disposed below the bottom including low pressure gas burner structure therein and into which the lower ends of the flues open. An upper portion of the reboiler includes a lateral extension and a still column is supported from the lateral extension and is positioned relative thereto for regenerated liquid desiccant drainage from the lower end of the column into the lateral extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Inventor: Isaac F. Padilla
  • Patent number: 4301298
    Abstract: A normally liquid hydrocarbon having a minimum boiling point of about 425.degree. F. is utilized to provide the liquid seal in a vacuum pump which intakes a gaseous light ends stream resulting from a process for the production of ethyl acrylate by the reaction of ethylene with acrylic acid in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst. Upon contact in the vacuum pump, the gaseous light ends are partially absorbed into the normally liquid hydrocarbon, with the normally liquid hydrocarbon being recovered by fractionation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Celanese Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Horlenko, James L. Paul, James W. Gordon
  • Patent number: 4277311
    Abstract: The thermal efficiency of an ammonia still is significantly increased by the use, in conjunction with the usual countercurrent steam stripping medium, of an auxiliary inert gas stripping medium initially heated and humidified by passage through a heat exchanger together with hot still bottoms derived from the still.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Kwasnoski, Charles J. Sterner
  • Patent number: 4222825
    Abstract: A process and installation for the treatment of distillate water recovered by flash evaporation from impure water, such as sea water, in which gases desorbed during the flash evaporation, including carbon dioxide, are recovered and intermixed with the distillate water prior to and inside an absorber so that the carbon dioxide is absorbed by distillate water to thereby improve the property of the distillate water for human consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Eilandgebied Curacao
    Inventor: Remilio L. Eisden
  • Patent number: 4028072
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating hydrocarbons from flue gas and the like, including a gas scrubber, a collecting container supplying the scrubber with wash oil, and a vacuum distillation container receiving wash oil discharged from the scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: Aluminium Norf GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Braun, Gunter Hoffmann