With Condensate-treating Devices Patents (Class 202/202)
  • Patent number: 11685680
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting and purifying rainwater. The system includes a humidifier including a heat exchanger for preheating collected rainwater. The preheated water is output to a heater. The heater heats the water to between about 80 degrees C. and about 100 degrees C. The humidifier also includes a nozzle coupled to an outlet of the heater. The nozzle injects water vapor into the humidifier. The humidifier also includes a fan capable of circulating the water vapor in an inner volume of the humidifier. The water vapor condenses on an outer surface of the heat exchanger. The system also includes a collector for collecting the condensed potable water from the outer surface of the heat exchanger and a delivery system for delivering the potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Ali Hassanzadeh, Justin Hicks
  • Patent number: 11639297
    Abstract: The direct solar desalination system with enhanced desalination has a main chamber having a slanted transparent top and vertical sidewalls. Saltwater is fed to the top of a series of plates, with the top plate and every other plate slanting into the chamber, while the intervening plates slant back toward the chamber wall. The lower edge of the plates that are slanted into the chamber have a plurality of copper channels or wires extending between the plate's edge and the opposite chamber wall. Saltwater that does not flow down the channels/wires drips down to the next plate and so forth, and any remaining saltwater is collected at the bottom of the chamber. The channels/wires are coated with a photothermal layer to enhance evaporation. The fresh water condenses on the bottom surface of the slanted top, flows down the surface, and is collected at the bottom of the shortest sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fadi Alnaimat, Mohammed Ziauddin
  • Patent number: 11618992
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a pre-heat chamber configured to heat incoming water to a temperature less than the boiling point of water, where the pre-heat chamber is configured to heat the water such that if the water contains a calcium compound, the calcium compound is caused to take a particulate form. The steam generator also includes a filter assembly in fluid communication with the pre-heat chamber, the filter assembly including a removable particulate filter element, where the filter element is reusable and cleanable. The steam generator also includes a water pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and operative to cause water flow through the steam generator and a boiler in fluid communication with the water pump, where the water pump is configured to cause water to flow to the boiler, and where the boiler is configured to boil water such that steam is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Boopalan Sampath, Daniel Richard Strong, Adam Joseph Mayer
  • Patent number: 11492269
    Abstract: An incinerator system includes an evaporator tank having a fluid inlet, a steam vent, and an evaporation cavity and a heating assembly having a plurality of heating rods mounted on a rod spacing mechanism and disposed in the evaporation cavity of the evaporator tank. The rod spacing mechanism is configured to move the plurality of heating rods within the evaporation cavity. The incinerator system also includes a sensor system having a plurality of sensors positioned to perform one or more sensor measurements in the evaporation cavity and a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the sensor system and the heating assembly. The programmable logic controller is configured to instruct the rod spacing mechanism to move at least one of the plurality of heating rods based on the one or more sensor measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Mahmoud A. Alqurashi, Ossama R. Sehsah
  • Patent number: 8974643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying a liquid comprising liquid particles and residual particles. It is hereby possible to generate substantially pure water from, for instance seawater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: High Voltage Water B.V.
    Inventors: Sybrand Jacob Metz, Gerrit Oudakker, Johannes Cornelis Maria Marijnissen
  • Patent number: 8888963
    Abstract: A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Ryan K. LaRocque, Andrew A. Schnellinger, Prashant Bhat, Stanley B. Smith, III, Otis L. Clapp, Jeremy M. Swerdlow
  • Patent number: 8864949
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8828192
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In an embodiment of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product, and an electric motor with motor rotor and magnets hermetically sealed within the fluid pressure boundary of the distillation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Scott A. Leonard, Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8771477
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water purification and desalination. The systems have a preheater, a degasser, multiple evaporation chambers with demisters, heat pipes, and a control system, wherein the control system permits continuous operation of the purification and desalination system without requiring user intervention or cleaning. The systems are capable of recovering hear from each distillation stage, while removing, from a contaminated water sample, a plurality of contaminants including: microbiological contaminants, radiological contaminants, metals, salts, and organics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sylvan Source, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Thiers
  • Patent number: 8747622
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for recovery of sulfolane used in a solvent-extraction or extractive-distillation process. A recovery column for the sulfolane solvent comprises a liquid-jet ejector for maintaining the needed vacuum conditions, preferably using water as the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Bisht, Anup Dhaigude, Sandeep Gupta
  • Patent number: 8696873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of bilge and sludge water on a ship, especially at sea, using excess heat from the ship's engine(s) to a level of oil contamination of less than 15 ppm. The invention also relates to a plant for carrying out the method, and a vessel including such plant, as well as the use of the method and plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: PPM-Clean AB
    Inventors: Benny Karlström, Jan Hedkvist
  • Publication number: 20130206576
    Abstract: A system and process that are a hybrid of distillation and membrane separations offers a highly efficient means of separating a fluid feed mixture into organic, solid, and aqueous components. The distillation section is followed by two membrane separation sections operated in parallel, with the distillation section separating the feed mixture into an organics-rich fraction and an organics-depleted and solids-rich fraction. One membrane section operates on the organics-rich fraction and separates it into a more organics-rich sub-fraction and a water-rich, organics-depleted sub-fraction, while the other membrane section operates on the organics-depleted, solids-rich fraction from the distillation section and separates it into a solids-rich sub-fraction and a solids-depleted, water-rich sub-fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: I3 NANOTEC LLC
    Inventor: I3 NANOTEC LLC
  • Publication number: 20130153400
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the regeneration of absorbed gas rich capture medium such as an absorption solution and the recovery of absorbed gas therefrom, an apparatus and method for the removal and recovery of a target gas from a gas stream, and the use of the same for post combustion carbon capture on a thermal power plant are described. The apparatus and method make use of a regenerative heating process. The apparatus and method are distinctly characterized by the use of CRH steam as a source of thermal energy for the heating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Scott Alexander Hume, Agnieszka Magdalena Kuczynska
  • Patent number: 8444830
    Abstract: A desalination process including heating brine in a preheating chamber and transferring the brine to a rotary kiln to be sprayed against the wall structure of the rotary kiln to boil to steam and a residue of salt/impurities, the exiting steam being pressurized in a compressor and passed to an externally powered heater to be heated and then fed to a hollow wall structure of the rotating kiln in which the steam condenses to pure water to be transferred to the preheating chamber to preheat the incoming brine, the rotating kiln being arranged to rotate past a scraper to remove salt/impurities from the wall structure for collection at the base of the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Garth Davey
  • Patent number: 8394241
    Abstract: A distillation-type drinking fountain includes a liquid providing unit having a liquid entry; a heat-exchanging tube having a liquid-incoming end, a liquid-outgoing end and a heat-exchanging room; a hot water tank having a body and a heating unit. The body has a heating room communicating with the liquid-outgoing end. A steam pipe has a first end and a second end, with the first end communicating with the heating room. A condensing unit has a condenser tube having one end communicating with the second end. A water-collecting container has a water-storing room communicating with another end of the condenser tube. An energy-saving heating unit includes an energy-saving heat-exchanging tube and a heating device. The energy-saving heat-exchanging tube includes a water-incoming end, a water-outgoing end and an energy-saving heat-exchanging room. An outlet valve communicates with the water-outgoing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Ariba Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Long-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 8366883
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David F. Bednarek, Robert Andrew Charles, Andrew Coll, Jason A. Demers, Timothy P. Duggan, Gustav Heinzmann, Joseph A. Hoell, Jr., James L. Jackson, Scott A. Leonard, David W. McGill, Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8337672
    Abstract: The invention relates to the oil processing industry and can be used for producing vacuum in a vacuum petroleum distillation column. The inventive method involves pumping out a vapor-gas medium from the column by of a gas-gas ejector in such a way that a vapor-gas mixture is formed at the entry thereof and supplying said mixture to a condenser for producing a gas mixture and a vapor phase condensate. The gas mixture is supplied from the condenser to a liquid-gas jet apparatus and the condensate is delivered to an additional separator. A hydrocarbon-containing condensate is removed from the additional separator for the intended use thereof and a water-containing condensate is fed to a steam generator for producing steam by supplying heat of a hot distillate evacuated from the vacuum column. The thus obtained steam is used in the gas-gas ejector as a high-pressure gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Valery Grigorievich Tsegelsky
  • Patent number: 8328995
    Abstract: A method and a system to produce a distillate stream from an aqueous stream containing at least one dissolved solid by a thermal distillation process using at least one of a heated aqueous stream from a turbine system intercooler and a stack heater as a heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Black & Veatch Holding Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Eddington
  • Patent number: 8282789
    Abstract: Extraction apparatus and method for obtaining essential oils, essence, and pigments from odorous raw materials (e.g., plant materials and Chinese medicinal herbs) by microwave radiation heating have advantages of easy operation, higher extracting temperature and efficiency. The microwave chamber has a power level of 100 W to 1,500 W and its microwave radiation has a frequency at 915 MHz or 2,450 MHz. The extraction process can be performed without any preheating necessary. A condenser is operated at temperatures between ?20° C. and 15° C. for cooling the gas flowing out of the extraction cartridges. Because both volatile fragrant compounds and pigments of the odorous raw materials can be extracted successfully by the top-down extraction fashion, the extracted essence is colorful. Since the extraction process by microwave heating is free from adding any organic solvent and/or any artificial chemical compound, the extraction apparatus and method are environmentally friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Bing-Nan Lee
  • Patent number: 8268132
    Abstract: A distillation drinking fountain includes a liquid providing unit having a liquid entry; a heat-exchanging tube having liquid incoming and liquid outgoing ends and a heat-exchanging room, wherein the liquid providing unit connects to the liquid incoming end and communicates with the heat-exchanging room; a hot water tank having a body and a heating unit, wherein the body has a heating room connecting to the liquid outgoing end and communicating with the heat-exchanging room; a steam pipe having first and second ends, wherein the first end communicates with the heating room, and a part of the steam pipe is received in the heat-exchanging room; a condensing unit having a condenser tube, wherein the condenser tube has one end communicating with the second end; a water-collecting unit having a water-storing room connecting to another end of the condenser tube; and an outlet valve communicating with the water-storing room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Long-Ming Wang
  • Publication number: 20120228118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for treating pulp mill black liquor so as to recover the energy in chemicals therein. In the invention the black liquor is pyrolysed in a pyrolysis reactor (4), where causticizing material consisting of metal oxide and sodium oxide and heated in a burning unit (6) is conveyed, and gaseous components formed in pyrolysis are conveyed for utilization and solids are returned to the burning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Timo Honkola
  • Publication number: 20120217162
    Abstract: A nitrogen compound-containing acidic liquid such as a monoethanolamine-containing dilute hydrochloric acid waste liquid discharged during the regeneration of condensate demineralizers in nuclear power plants or thermal power plants is efficiently and economically treated. A neutralization dialysis device 2 is provided in which a raw water chamber 22 and an alkaline solution chamber 23 are partitioned from each other with an anion exchange membrane 21. The nitrogen compound-containing acidic liquid is passed through the raw water chamber 22, while an alkaline solution is passed through the alkaline solution chamber 23, thereby neutralizing and demineralizing the acidic liquid. Thereafter, the nitrogen compound contained in the neutralized demineralized liquid is concentrated with an electrodeionizer 4. The neutralization dialysis treatment using the anion exchange membrane 21 and the alkaline solution can neutralize and demineralize the nitrogen compound-containing acidic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Komori, Nobuhiro Orita
  • Patent number: 8206558
    Abstract: A processing apparatus (1) for the processing of process or industrial wastewaters is provided. The processing apparatus (1) has an evaporator (4) in which a tube bundle heat exchanger is provided, whose pure distillate side is connected to a separating apparatus for separating the distillate from floating organic phase or similar free liquid constituents. This separating apparatus is intended to collect the floating organic phase from the condensate, in order that this phase can be sucked back into the evaporator (4). In addition, the vapor mixture is conducted from the separating apparatus (8) to a recuperator (3) and cooled to such an extent that the water, the volatile solvents and the organic material dissolved in the vapor can be condensed and discharged separately or can be sucked back into the evaporator (4). This allows significantly better distillate qualities to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: H20 GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fickenscher, Daniel Ladenberger
  • Publication number: 20120152721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating water in order to desalinate said water, including a step of reverse osmosis or distillation of said water in order to produce water that is at least partially desalinated and a first concentrate. According to the invention, said method includes: a first demineralisation step including a step of nanofiltering said first concentrate such as to produce a nanofiltrate and a second concentrate; a second step of demineralising said second concentrate by means of at least one active material including cationic and/or anionic ion-exchange resins, said second demineralisation step including the extraction of a third concentrate and the extraction of at least partially demineralised water, said at least partially demineralised water being mixed with said at least partially desalinated water; a step of regenerating said at least one active material, said regeneration step including a step of recirculating said nanofiltrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT
    Inventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Michel Coeytaux
  • Patent number: 8187464
    Abstract: Water from underground and other sources is brackish and not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in water make it brackish. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A combination of aeration systems, filtration systems, crystallizers and hydrophobic membrane carrying filter are used to desalinate the brackish water. Pressure retarded osmosis process using an apparatus is also used to further purify water. Various heat exchange apparatus are used for energy conservation and efficient processing of water in a feasible way. The disclosure enables to purify water and provide a useful technology to eradicate water scarcity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology “KACST”
    Inventor: Saad A Al-Jlil
  • Patent number: 8034217
    Abstract: A liquid condensation system heats a liquid raw material under a decompressed circumstance and evaporates a volatile component from a liquid surface to condense the liquid raw material. Therefore, the liquid condensation system includes: liquid condensers, each of which condenses the liquid raw material; a vacuum pump that is in communication with the liquid condensers; and a warm water circulation system as a heating source that heats the liquid raw material in the liquid condensers. The volatile component evaporated in the liquid condensers is led to the outside of the liquid condensers through vapor lines. The condensed liquid that is not evaporated in the liquid condensers is led to the outside of the liquid condensers through condensed-liquid lines. Condensed-liquid-line adjusting valves are interposed on the condensed-liquid lines, and heaters are attached to the condensed-liquid lines. A control unit controls the heaters and the condensed-liquid-line adjusting valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Ito, Yoshishige Endo, Hidekazu Tsudome, Fumiaki Numajiri
  • Patent number: 8016977
    Abstract: Dry pond water evaporation systems and methods are used to evaporate large quantities of water from industrial waste water sources, such as water produced by oil and gas wells. Dry pond systems include a water evaporation system that emits waste water into the air as a fine spray or mist to promote evaporation. Water that falls to the ground and any initially dissolved solids are captured in a water capture depression. Water and solids are transferred from the water capture depression to a water collection pool. Water from the water collection pool is recirculated through the water evaporation system to further concentrate the total dissolved solids (TDS). When the TDS are sufficiently concentrated, they may be harvested, such as by evaporating off the water and recovering salts or minerals as a solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Reform Water, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney Rasmussen, Paul C. Cox
  • Patent number: 7981254
    Abstract: In a heat pump system including a water purifier and an evaporator for evaporating feed-water to produce steam, water used for spray cooling is effectively used and productivity of purified water used for the spray cooling is increased. Discharged water from the water purifier is supplied to the evaporator when water used for spray cooling is produced by use of the water purifier. Otherwise, drain of the evaporator having higher temperature is supplied to the water purifier by using such a fact that in a reverse osmosis membrane type water purifier, the higher the temperature of feed-water is, the higher the purified water productivity becomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadaharu Kishibe, Susumu Nakano, Takanori Shibata
  • Patent number: 7981256
    Abstract: A splitter system is disclosed that produces a product stream from a mixed stream of two materials with similar boiling points. A multi-stage heat pump compressor is used in combination with a bottoms reboiler and an intermediate reboiler resulting in reduced utility consumption. The appropriately placed intermediate reboiler enables use of a lower temperature heat source relative to the bottoms reboiler heat source. As a result, a lower pressure overhead vapor stream can be used to deliver heat to both the intermediate and bottoms reboilers, thereby conserving energy. The first stage of the multi-stage heat pump compressor delivers pressurized overhead vapor to the intermediate reboiler and the second stage provides pressurized overhead vapor to the bottoms reboiler. The disclosed design and method lessens the heat pump compressor power consumption and trim condenser duty for a propylene/propane splitter system by over 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 7927464
    Abstract: A vapor compression distillation system (10) is provided and includes a fluid inlet (12) for receiving a fluid, a fluid outlet (14) for a distillate that has been distilled from the fluid, a heat exchanger (16) connected to the fluid inlet (12) and the fluid outlet (14) to transfer heat from the distillate to the fluid; and an integrated motor/compressor unit (18) connected to the heat exchanger (16) to receive vaporized distillate therefrom and to supply pressurized distillate thereto. The system 10 may further include a coolant system (20) connected to the integrated motor/compressor (18) to supply a coolant flow thereto. The system (10) may also include an air oil mist system (22) that is connected to the integrated motor/compressor unit (18) to supply an air oil mist thereto for bearing lubrication and cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mechanical Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: George V. Gsell, Kim C. Klein
  • Patent number: 7815776
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for desalinizing raw water are disclosed. The method can include wicking the raw water into a porous material by capillary action and heating the raw water in the porous material with a heating element to form water vapor. The water vapor then can be condensed to form purified water. The apparatus can include a chamber for holding raw water, a heating element, a sheet of porous material and a chamber for collecting water vapor evaporated from the raw water in the porous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: George E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7699961
    Abstract: 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 separating 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Ikeda, Takashi Nakane
  • Patent number: 7641772
    Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs a fluid circuit (FIG. 8) in which a counterflow heat exchanger (102, 104, 106, 108, 110) transfers heat from condensate and concentrate to feed liquid to be distilled. The pumping system (100, 238) that drives fluid through the circuit is arranged to keep the pressure in the counterflow heat exchanger's condensate higher than that in its feed-liquid passage. This tends to discourage the contamination that could otherwise occur in the concentrate if the fluid isolation ordinarily maintained between those passages is compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Zanaqua Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Patent number: 7608185
    Abstract: A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a seal disposed within the outer case, thereby dividing the interior region into a first chamber and a second chamber, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber, where at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes have first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, the first segments being configured to allow vapor transmission therethrough, and the second segments being configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission therethrough, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaohong Liao, Zidu Ma, James R. Irish
  • Publication number: 20090242379
    Abstract: A regenerated sulfur recovery apparatus positioned in a sulfur recovery plant, which apparatus contains a sulfur purifier that cools gaseous sulfur and condensates it, forming liquid sulfur while removing impurities contained therein; the apparatus containing a steam supplying means for melting solid sulfur deposited on an inner wall of the sulfur purifier, a molten sulfur reservoir that recovers and stores the melted sulfur, a reservoir heating means that heats the reservoir, an exhaust gas line that directs to the outside an exhaust gas formed in the reservoir when the reservoir is heated by the reservoir heating means, and an inert gas supply means that supplies an inert gas to the reservoir, such that the inert gas supplied into the reservoir flows to the outside through the exhaust gas line when molten sulfur stored in the reservoir is discharged from the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Tokumasu, Kazuo Fujita, Fumio Kubo
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7534327
    Abstract: A device for recovering drinking water from condensate includes a self-supporting moulded part 11 formed of a transparent synthetic resin such as PET or PC, which is resistant to UV radiation. The moulded part 11 presents an open bottom area 16 with a collecting channel 15 on the edge side, with the collecting channel 15 presenting an inner wall 18 oriented towards the circumferential surface 12 and serving, at the same time, as floating aid, and with the moulded part 11 being provided with a pouring opening in its upper section 13 . For the manufacture of this device, a vacuum is created in a special deep-drawing tool not only in the region of the circumferential surface to be produced but also in the region of the collecting channel to be formed, and the moulded part is separated from a separated deep-drawing tool element outside the zone of the collecting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventor: Stephan Augustin
  • Patent number: 7491298
    Abstract: A plant and process for efficient production of low deuterium water from seawater. The plant includes a solar still with a black pan for collecting solar heat, that vaporizes portions of the seawater and a porous sloped membrane positioned over the black pan to collect and condense the vapor and to direct the condensate via gravity to a condensate tank. The condensate water is separated into its atomic components, hydrogen and oxygen, in an electralizer; then the hydrogen and oxygen are combined in a reactor to produce heat and low deuterium water. In preferred embodiments the reactor is a fuel cell which in addition to the heat and water also produces electricity. At least a portion of the heat produced in the reactor is used in the solar still to assist in the vaporization of the seawater and to greatly increase the efficiency of the still.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Vladimir Z. Zlotopolski
  • Patent number: 7470348
    Abstract: A separation system has a distillation column, an overhead vapor supply pipe connected to the top of the distillation column, first and second branch pipes branching from the overhead vapor supply pipe and a superheater connected to the first branch pipe. A separator downstream of the superheater has a separation membrane for separating overhead vapor from the top of the distillation column into permeable vapor and nonpermeable vapor by allowing only a selected portion of the overhead vapor to permeate the separation membrane. A reflux unit has a condenser connected to the second branch pipe for cooling a portion of the overhead vapor into a liquid and a gas-liquid separator for separating gas from the liquid produced by cooling and returning the separated liquid into the top of the distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Seiki, Kazuto Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Osora, Keiichi Akimoto, Noritaka Matsumoto, Motoki Numata, Hiroaki Shimazu
  • Patent number: 7465376
    Abstract: The invention provides for the removal of impurities from treatment fluid including a base liquid and a variety of impurities contained in the base liquid by conveying the treatment fluid to at least one preheating separating device, including a preheating heat exchanger and a separator unit, before the admixture of a carrier gas to the treatment fluid. The treatment fluid is preheated by the preheating heat exchanger to a temperature below the boiling temperature of a base liquid so that the liquid impurities with lower boiling temperatures than the base liquid are evaporated and expelled thermally, whereby the evaporated and expelled impurities are separated in the separator unit of the preheating separator device. The treatment fluid is then evaporated and separated from impurities having a higher boiling point than the base liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventors: Joachim Neubert, Karl-Ferdinand Staab
  • Patent number: 7427336
    Abstract: A blade heat exchanger includes blades that extend axially with respect to an axis of rotation and are elongated in the radial direction. The blades are arranged about the axis such that, when they are disposed in a housing, they form composite condensation and evaporation chambers that are isolated from each other. The interiors of at least some of the blades form the composite condensation chamber. The exteriors of the blades and the inner surface of the housing cooperate to form the composite evaporation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Zanaqua Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Publication number: 20080006520
    Abstract: A system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstocks into useful sources for energy, chemicals, or other material includes a dryer into which the carbonaceous feedstock is placed and a reactor chamber in communication with the dryer for receiving dried feedstock and heat carrier for further processing of the feedstock in the generation of useful sources for energy, chemicals, or other material. The system also includes a char separation and recovery mechanism linked to the reactor chamber for separating char produced as a result of processing of feedstock within the reactor chamber from heat carrier, a condenser in communication with the reactor chamber for receiving gas and vapor from the reactor chamber to recover a liquid product, and a furnace linked to the char separation and recovery mechanism for burning char as needed for operation of the present system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Phillip C. Badger, Peter B. Fransham
  • Patent number: 7291250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum distillation plant and a process for concentrating organic aqueous solutions, especially spissum extracts, using said plant. The vacuum distillation plant of the invention comprises a flash evaporator, a means for vapor concentration and a multi-stage condenser positioned down-stream of said means for vapor concentration, means for recycling at least part of the condensate from a condensation stage into the bottoms product being provided. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for concentrating organic aqueous solutions such as concentrated extracts using said plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Bionorica AG
    Inventors: Michael A. Popp, Heinz Walter Joseph, Michael R. Rannow
  • 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: 6835287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kihara, Hiroshi Tachibana, Shigeru Hayashida, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 6797125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating condensates containing compounds, which are more volatile than water, in an evaporation plant, where liquid, such as effluent liquid from a pulp or paper mill is evaporated in multiple effects and where condensates generated in the evaporation are flashed and purified in a steam stripping column. In the method, the condensates from at least two evaporation effects are combined and flashed together, and the vapor obtained from the flashing is made to contact with a condensate stream to be purified in the stripping column, wherefrom the impurities-containing vapor and the purified condensate stream are discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Risto Honkanen, Jan E Öhman
  • Patent number: 6695951
    Abstract: The present water reclamation system includes a series of concentric thin shells. The shells mount within a housing that can be maintained under vacuum or low pressure. The shells rotate at high velocity. Contaminated liquid from outside the housing is injected into the space between half the shells. The centrifugal force causes the liquid to form a thin film along the inward facing surface of the shell. A compressor lowers the pressure adjacent the thin film causing the liquid to boil. The compressor carries the vapor to the other side of those shells at a slightly higher temperature. There the vapor encounters the wall, which is cooler because its heat was transferred to boil the contaminated liquid. The vapor condenses, and rotation throws the condensate against the adjacent wall where it is collected. When condensing, the heat of condensation transfers to the shell for boiling the incoming contaminated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventors: Jack G. Bitterly, Steven E. Bitterly
  • Patent number: 6663750
    Abstract: Cultivated field water is desalinated by a series of independent units that float on the water surface, taking up the saline water with a wick, evaporating the water from the wick in desalinating relation by concentrating incident solar radiation with a combination of a lenses and cooperating mirrors onto the upper end portion of the wick while the wick lower end portion is immersed in the field water, capturing the desalinated vapor resulting by condensing within the unit and returning the condensed, desalinated water to the field, and periodically renewing the wick by rinsing the salt from it at a cleaning station beyond the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Warren Coon
  • Patent number: 6640052
    Abstract: A water dispensing device includes a cold and a hot water tanks received in a housing, and a coupler coupled to the water tanks and coupled to a container. A device may be used for heating the water in the container to generate steam to the coupler, and another device may be used for cooling the steam to generate a distilled water to the water tanks. Two pumps may couple the tanks to a nozzle for outward supplying water. A device may be coupled to the container for evacuating the particles or the waste water from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kun Song Technical Company
    Inventor: Kun Song Lao
  • Publication number: 20030089593
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating condensates containing compounds, which are more volatile than water, in an evaporation plant, where liquid, such as effluent liquid from a pulp or paper mill is evaporated in multiple effects and where condensates generated in the evaporation are flashed and purified in a steam stripping column. In the method, the condensates from at least two evaporation effects are combined and flashed together, and the vapor obtained from the flashing is made to contact with a condensate stream to be purified in the stripping column, wherefrom the impurities-containing vapor and the purified condensate stream are discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Risto Honkanen, Jan E. Ohman