Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for the separation of liquid-liquid and liquid-solids compositions by flash evaporation in a heated vacuum chamber. The compositions are injected through an atomizing spray nozzle having a spray cone downward of about 30 to 150 degrees. The compositions are preheated and injected under pressure into the preheated vacuum evaporation chamber. The vaporized liquid that is formed is collected in a condenser which draws the vapors by vacuum or pressure differential. Any solids are collected at the bottom of the vacuum chamber as semi-dry or dry solids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating draw solution solutes and product solvent from a draw solution using a plurality of distillation columns. In one embodiment, the draw solution is used in a Forward Osmosis (FO) water desalination process. In this embodiment, the draw solution is directed to the plurality of distillation columns in parallel while the energy stream (heat) is directed to the plurality of distillation columns in series such that the efficiency of heat use is improved and in turn the cost of the heat is reduced.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a water-soluble organic material wherein a mixture of the water-soluble organic material with water is distilled in a distillation column (11), and the fraction from the top (11a) of the distillation column (11) is separated by the use of a membrane separator (14) into a permeated vapor (F2) and a non-permeated vapor (F3), which comprises once condensing the fraction to form a condensate, heating the condensate in an evaporator (13) to generate a vapor (F1) having a pressure higher than the operation pressure for the distillation column (11), and introducing the vapor (F1) to the membrane separator (14), thereby separating water from the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy efficient process for the distillative working-up of aqueous amine solutions that occur in the catalytic hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds. In this process, the amine is freed from water and also the water is obtained free from amine and low-boiling compounds and the concentrated low-boiling compounds are obtained.

Abstract: A process arrangement for distilling fuel grade ethanol include a distillation portion which distills beer to produce thin stillage and hot ethanol vapor. In an evaporation portion, a set of first effect evaporators which are heated either by plant steam or hot ethanol vapor, concentrate thin stillage into mid stillage while producing first effect steam. The first effect steam from the first effect evaporators provides heat to a set of second effect evaporators which concentrate the mid stillage into a syrup for further drying. The second effect evaporators produce second effect steam which is used to heat the distillation portion of the process arrangement. The multiple evaporators of the first and second effects of the evaporation portion can be selectively taken off-line for maintenance while the evaporation portion and the remainder of the process arrangement continue to operate at full capacity.

Abstract: A device for delivering purified water from a reservoir of salt water including a vapor tube supported concentrically inside a barrier tube The vapor tube has apertures that provide a passage of purified condensate from interior of the purified waste to the space between the space between the outside of the vapor tube and the inside of the barrier tube. A pump between the reservoir of salt water and the interior of the vapor tube generates a pressure differential that forces water vapor from the surface of salt water to the inside of the vapor tube. Condensate inside the vapor tube flows as fresh water to outside the vapor tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the energy efficient separation of ethane and propane from any hydrocarbon feed, i.e., from natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquid natural gas, or from gases from refinery or petroleum plants.

Abstract: A feed stream is fed to a first distillation stage comprising at least one distillation column (stripper) and the distillate from the first distillation stage is fed to a second distillation column (rectifier). The feed stream is sub-divided into two streams and fed to two distillation columns, in such a way that the rectifier maintains a predefined energy balance.

Abstract: Process for preparing propylene oxide, which comprises at least the steps (iii) and (iv) (iii) separating off propylene oxide from a mixture (M1) comprising propylene oxide and at least one solvent by distillation in a distillation column, giving a bottom stream and a vapor stream consisting essentially of propylene oxide; (iv) compressing the vapor stream obtained in (iii) by means of at least one compressor to give a compressed vapor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An evaporation system uses the weight of condensed liquid as an energy source. An inlet feed is introduced into an enclosure through an inlet. The inlet feed is vaporized in an evaporation region of the enclosure, and condensed to a liquid in a condensation region of the enclosure. The condensed liquid collects in a liquid region of the enclosure. The liquid region has an outlet. A blower between the evaporation region and the condensation region maintains the condensation region at a higher pressure than the evaporation region. The level of the liquid in the liquid region defines the volume and pressure of the evaporation and condensation regions, such that as the liquid is drained from the outlet, at least in part by the weight of the liquid, the pressure in the evaporation region decreases. The flow through the inlet and the outlet is regulated to maintain the pressure in the evaporation region at a pressure that tends to vaporize the inlet feed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the optimal use of reaction heat resulting from the production of 1,2-dichloroethane from ethene and chlorine. The aim of the invention is achieved by extracting reaction heat liberated during the reaction of chlorine with ethene and the reaction heat contained in 1,2-dichloroethane. Extraction of said reaction heat from the reaction chamber occurs using at least one part of gaseous 1,2-dichloroethane (latent heat) and at least one part of liquid 1,2-dichloroethane (feelable heat) removed from the reaction chamber. Said reaction heat is used to heat two fractioning columns in order to purify 1,2-dichloroethane of impurities having a boiling point higher than 1,2-dichloroethane.

Abstract: Process for producing a nitric acid of a concentration from 75 to 99.9% from a more diluted nitric acid, wherein a nitric acid of a concentration of about 45 to 70% is rectified in contact with a liquid extraction medium to prevent the formation of a nitric acid-water-azeotropic mixture, and the vapors of the concentrated nitric acid are condensed and a concentrated nitric acid is obtained and wherein additionally the extraction medium is reconstituted through reconcentration and returned into the extractive rectification, wherein the nitric acid to be concentrated is fed as a boiling liquid or partially vaporized to the extractive rectification preferably carried out in two columns (K 1.0, K 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating and purifying an aqueous mixture that mainly consists of acetic acid, formic acid and high-boiling substances by extraction with a solvent in a cyclic process. The inventive method is characterized in that the flow of raffinate is fed to a solvent stripping column (11) with the major part of the water in order to remove the water from the cycle. The flow of extract is fed to a solvent recovery distillation column (8). In a first step, a mixture (A) that consists of water and solvent, is separated by overhead distillation. A mixture (B) that consists of acetic acid, formic acid and high-boiling substances is separated via a sump. Once the formic acid is removed in a column (29), mixture (B) is separated in an acetic acid distillation column to give pure acetic acid and high-boiling substances.

Abstract: The invention provides for the removal of impurities from treatment fluid comprising a base liquid and a variety 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 lower boiling point than the base liquid.

Abstract: The following process steps are carried out in order to purify a liquid by membrane distillation, in particular to produce desalinated water from seawater or brackish water or process water: passing a relatively warn vaporising stream of liquid (retentate stream) over a porous membrane, vapour flowing via the pores of the membrane to the other side of said membrane, and condensing said vapour on a relatively cool condenser surface to give a distillate stream, said condenser surface forming the non-porous separation between a feed stream to be purified and said distillate steam, which feed stream is in counter-current with the retentate stream so that an appreciable proportion of the latent heat will be transferred via vapour to the feed stream, and a gas gap with a width of less than 5 mm being present between the porous membrane and the condenser surface.

Abstract: A method to purify N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) from an aqueous solution containing acetic acid as a contaminant. Two fractional distillation columns are arranged in a series. The solution containing the contaminant is provided to the first column with a temperature profile to result in acetic acid partitioning into the overhead water. The material remaining in the bottom portion of the first column is recycled to the first column and also provided into a second column, whereby DMAc free of acetic acid contamination is recovered, and remaining DMAc and acetic acid are returned to the first column for further separation. The method uses standard fractional distillation procedures and equipment, thus eliminating the need for more complex extractions and/or chromatographic separations.

Abstract: A method for distilling a fluid which is useful, for instance, in eliminating salt from brackish and/or sea water includes percolating films on plates with multiple effects having several evaporating zones and condensation zones. The evaporation zones (EVAP) and the condensation zones (COND) are vertically arranged. The liquid to be distilled emerges in the top part of the evaporation zone (EVAP). The vapors produced in the evaporation zone (EVAP) are horizontally transferred into the condensation zone (COND) through a communicating connection. The condensed liquid percolates vertically along the walls of the condensation zone and is evacuated from the lower part of the condensation zone. A distilling plant is also provided for implementing the distilling method, and includes plural cascades made up of elementary cells alternatingly assembled in thermal series.

Abstract: A distillation system is provided having an evaporation conduit and a condensing conduit connected by a transfer system for transferring distillate vapour from the evaporation conduit to the condensing conduit to condense the distillate. The evaporation and condensing conduits operate under vacuum pressure. An intake conduit and a return conduit communicate in an unrestricted manner between a source of solution and the evaporation conduit. A distillate conduit communicates with the condensing conduit for dispensing condensed distillate therefrom. A radiant heat capturing system is provided for capturing and using heat radiated from the distillate conduit to generate power.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for treating produced water from a heavy oil thermal recovery unit to achieve water recovery and recycle levels of greater than 80% and as high as 100% to achieve zero discharge criteria. The method includes the initial steps of capturing the waste heat energy from the high pressure steam separator located downstream of the steam generators. Further, transferring the heat energy into a heated separator and reboiler exchanger to distill oil reservoir produced water and recover distilled water and a concentrated brine or solid product. The heated separator concentrated stream is circulated through the reboiler exchanger to maintain from 1% to about 50% mass vapour in the stream returning to the heated separator and prevent fouling and scaling. The apparatus includes a low pressure waste energy separator, heated separator and vapour compressor in combination with a forced circulation circuit to generate the distilled water.

Abstract: A thin film distiller is provided which applies distilland to an evaporative side by the use of wicks which work by capillary action. The evaporated vapor is transferred to the condensate side after being compressed to a higher pressure where it is condensed and removed by similar wicks. The condensing and evaporating surfaces are formed on opposing sides of a bellows-like sheet of heat conducting material. The sheet would preferably be formed into a cylindrical shape with the evaporative stage on the outside and the condensing stage on the inside of the cylinder. Either the wicks or the heat conducting material are moved with respect to the other such that the wicks place a thin film of distilland on the evaporative surface. Removal of condensate is performed in a similar manner by the wicks in the condensate stage.

Abstract: A method and system for handling foul condensate containing Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in a cellulose pulp mill has enhanced energy efficiency and lower cooling water usage, while complying with the Cluster Rules and other environmental regulations. The condensate is fed countercurrently to stripping vapor in the stripping column to produce a HAPs vapor and a clean condensate. Part of the clean condensate is fed from the stripping column reboiler, and the HAPs-rich vapor is directed to the reboiler to at least partially condense while vaporizing the clean condensate into the clean vapor (stripping vapor). The pressure of the stripping vapor is increased, such as utilizing a steam ejector, to about 0.1-30 psig and then is used as the stripping vapor in the stripping column. The non-condensed HAPs-rich vapor is fed to an external condenser, and the dirty condensate from the external condenser and the dirty condensate from the reboiler, are returned to the stripping column.

Abstract: An improved continuous process and apparatus for treating an impure liquid to produce purified liquid, particularly, water, the process having an electrically activating a thermoelectric module to provide a first heated surface and a cooler surface; feeding the impure liquid to the first heated surface to produce vapour of the liquid; and transferring the vapour to the cooler surface to effect heat transfer to the cooler surface, the improvement being directing a minor portion of the vapour to the cooler surface to maintain the cooler surface at a temperature at or near the boiling point of the liquid; and transferring a major portion of the vapour to a condenser remote from the module to effect heat transfer and condensation of the vapour to produce the purified liquid and collecting the purified liquid from the condenser. The process is continuous in that it does not need to be intermittently stopped, or require auxiliary cooling of the module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a contaminant from a fluid feed stream containing the contaminant. The method includes the steps of providing a feed stream (10) and heating it in a first step (18) to at least partially remove some of the contaminants and recover energy from a concentrate and distillate generated. Further heating the feed stream in a second heating step (20) in a heated separator generates a saturated vapor fraction (30) and a concentrated liquid contaminant fraction. The vapor fraction (30) may be compressed (32) to generate a temperature differential in the reboiler exchanger (34) with the vapor fraction being passed into contact with a reboiler exchanger (34) to provide a stream of condensed vapor from the reboiler. The stream may be circulated through the reboiler exchanger (34) and the heated separator to maintain from about 1% to about 50% by mass vapor in the stream.

Abstract: A thin film distiller is provided which applies distilland to an evaporative side by the use of wicks which work by capillary action. The evaporated vapor is transferred to the condensate side after being compressed to a higher pressure where it is condensed and removed by similar wicks. The condensing and evaporating surfaces are formed on opposing sides of a bellows-like sheet of heat conducting material. The sheet would preferably be formed into a cylindrical shape with the evaporative stage on the outside and the condensing stage on the inside of the cylinder. Either the wicks or the heat conducting material are moved with respect to the other such that the wicks place a thin film of distilland on the evaporative surface. Removal of condensate is performed in a similar manner by the wicks in the condensate stage.

Abstract: A compact distilled water system for home, marine, and laboratory use which includes a closed circuit that provides high pressure water for dispensing water to remote locations and that also creates, in conjunction with an eductor, a partial vacuum in the evaporator tank to permit boiling and steam generation therein below atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for purifying acetic acid containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of unsaturated compounds and carbonyl compounds as an impurity involves the step of purifying the acetic acid with a distillation column having at least 30 plates by operating the distillation column at a pressure ranging from 40 to 760 mmHg and a reflux ratio of at least 4, and yields a high-quality acetic acid which rates high in the potassium permanganate test without needing of the addition of any chemical to the acetic acid to be purified and a large amount of energy, and is economical.

Abstract: Liquid mixtures which contain (meth)acrylic acid as the main component are continuously separated in a distillation apparatus which comprises a still, a condenser and a connection between still and condenser and to which the liquid mixture to be separated is continuously fed, by a process in which the energy required for evaporation of the liquid mixture is supplied to the distillation apparatus by a procedure in which a part of the liquid content of the still is continuously removed, superheated and recycled to the still.

Abstract: A method for producing butyraldehydes, by separating and purifying mixed butyraldehyde products formed by hydroformylation of propylene, into n-butyraldehyde and isobutyraldehyde by using a distillation column, wherein the distillation column is operated under such conditions that the pressure at the top of the distillation column is within a range of from 0.001 to 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2 G, and the pressure at the bottom of the column is within a range of from 0.05 to 1.0 kg/cm.sup.2 G.

Abstract: A large and economical type of multi-stack vertical tube evaporator (MS-VTE) 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.

Abstract: Volatile compounds, such as methanol, are separated from secondary condensates formed in multi-effect evaporation of waste liquor, such as black liquor, from cellulose pulp processes. The condensable secondary vapor is condensed into first and second condensate flows, the first of which, smaller in volume, contains the majority of the volatile compounds condensed in the evaporating effect. The first condensate flows from one or more first evaporation effects, and/or condensers of the evaporation plant, are directed for cleaning into a first steam stripping column. At least some of the second flows are directed to a second steam stripping column to be recovered as very clean condensate, cleaner than the condensate flow from the first stripping column and typically have a methanol concentration of less than 25 ppm, preferably about 10 ppm or less.

Abstract: A method for processing waste liquids, having high solids content. The process includes the steps of spraying and evaporating the waste liquid together with a dry gas in a counterflow of dry gas within a spray tower, collecting the solids of the waste water in a lower section of the spray tower, discharging the moist gas from an upper section of the spray tower, and bringing the moist gas in heat exchange with an evaporator of a refrigerating means to condensed the liquid from the evaporator. The cooled dry gas is directed in heat exchange with the condenser of said refrigerating means and heated to be returned in a closed loop to repeat the cycle of operation.

Abstract: A distillation process and apparatus for recovering high purity aromatic products from a mixed aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock containing benzene, toluene and xylene by use of distillation towers integrated by heat exchange whereby substantial savings in operating costs and apparatus costs are realized. The distillation apparatus includes a benzene distillation tower and heat exchanger, a first toluene distillation tower and external heater, a second toluene distillation tower and heat exchanger and a xylene distillation tower and external heater, whereby the benzene distillation tower and heat exchanger are operably connected to the first toluene distillation tower and external heater and the second toluene distillation tower and heat exchanger are operably connected to the xylene distillation tower and external heater.

Abstract: In the multistage distillation of a methyl tertiary butyl ether reaction product comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary butyl alcohol, methanol, isobutylene and water, the methyl tertiary butyl ether reaction product is separated in a primary methyl tertiary butyl ether distillation column into a lower boiling methyl tertiary butyl ether fraction and a higher boiling aqueous tertiary butyl alcohol fraction; the lower boiling aqueous tertiary butyl alcohol fraction is separated in a tertiary butyl alcohol distillation column into a vaporized overhead tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and a higher boiling water fraction; cooling water is charged to the reflux condenser for the tertiary butyl alcohol distillation column to liquify the vaporized, overhead tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and to convert the cooling water to wet steam, and the wet steam is independently charged to the reboiler for the primary methyl tertiary butyl ether distillation zone to supply the heat necessary for the distillation to b

Abstract: To heat the circulating reboiler streams of multiple distillation columns a fired reboiler is provided for a first column requiring the most heat. A portion of the bottoms from the first column is passed through the tubes of the heater in the fired reboiler and recycled to the first column as is normal. A slip stream is taken from the recycle after heating and passed on to provide heat by indirect heat exchange to a second reboiler and if desired other reboilers or heat exchangers. The slip stream may then be recycled to the bottoms of the first column directly or to the circulating steam of the first reboiler. A portion of the recycled slip stream can be taken as feed into the second column.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a fluid distillation system wherein each embodiment uses a primary container or chamber for water or fluid to be distilled and a secondary water container or chamber. The two chambers are adjacent to each other, and the secondary chamber cooperates with the primary chamber to direct water vapor generated in the system to travel to a reservoir for collection. The primary chamber has a heater therewithin near the upper surface of the water carried thereby. The heater is provided for generating water vapor from aerated water, whereby the water vapor when heated will pass out of water at the upper surface of the water and into fluid passages for flow to the reservoir. The secondary container or chamber has no heater but carries aerated water before the water moves out of the secondary container or chamber and into and downwardly along a passage which lead eventually to the reservoir.

Abstract: To heat the circulating reboiler streams of multiple distillation columns a fired reboiler is provided for a first column requiring the most heat. A portion of the bottoms from the first column is passed through the tubes of the heater in the fired reboiler and recycled to the first column as is normal. A slip stream is taken from the recycle after heating and passed on to provide heat by indirect heat exchange to a second reboiler and if desired other reboilers or heat exchangers. The slip stream may then be recycled to the bottoms of the first column directly or to the circulating steam of the first reboiler. A portion of the recycled slip stream can be taken as feed into the second column.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is an apparatus for the distillation of liquids. The apparatus has a plurality of vertically-stacked, parallel disks which are rotated. The liquid to be distilled is introduced into the center of the disk stack and migrates by centrifugal force as a thin film across side 1 of each disk. During migration, the more volatile portion evaporates from side 1 and condenses on side 2 of a neighboring disk. Energy requirements for distillation are provided by heat transfer from side 2 to side 1. The apparatus is substantially adiabatic in that vaporization and condensation occur without external supply of heating or cooling.

Abstract: A methanol refining column and method using an intermediate reboiler. Use of the intermediate reboiler reduces methanol production energy requirements. A side stream at or near a fusel oil takeoff point is heated in an intermediate reboiler by a low temperature heating medium (relative to a bottoms reboiler) and returned to the column at or near the fusel oil take-off tray. The take-off tray is operated at 85.degree.-110.degree. C., and 70-90 percent of the reboiler duty is supplied through the intermediate reboiler. The remaining heat load is supplied by a bottoms steam reboiler.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fluid distillation in general, and in particular, of water, adapted for consumer or home use, but capable of being made and operated so that it is suitable for separating solvents and solutes and other industrial use. The apparatus includes a housing having divider structure to form one or more compartments for receiving water to be distilled. The divider structure also presents a fluid passage for receiving water vapor which is formed when the upper portion of the water in the housing is boiled by a heater. An aerator is provided in the housing below the heater and in a location within the water compartment. The aerator operates to direct air under a slight pressure into the water so that air bubbles can be generated in the water. The air bubbles will rise and break the surface of the water as the upper part of the water is being boiled by the heater.

Abstract: A distilled water fountain which is capable of supplying the users with purified icy, warm and hot drinking water and composed of a pre-heating exchanger, a condensing-and-heating exchanger, a distilled water tank, a steam generator, and an electronic chilling device. Running water flows into the pre-heating exchanger through water intake pipe, and further flows through the condensing-and-heating exchange into a steam generator wherein the water is vaporized and then condensed into distilled water for storage in the distilled water tank. The distilled water may be made available directly in warm water condition, or may be cooled into icy water through electronic chilling device, or heated into hot water through steam generator for drinking by users.

Abstract: The method of obtaining a pure aromatic hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon starting mixture includes extractively distilling the hydrocarbon starting mixture with a selective solvent; feeding the sump product of the extractive distillation through a first and second auxiliary boilers connected in series to form a cooled sump product at a temperature from 105.degree. to 120.degree. C.

Abstract: A method to recycle spent ethylene glycol in a continuous process for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate in at least one reactor vessel which includes:a. condensing the overhead vapor of spent ethylene glycol, water and other byproducts from the reactor vessel,b. feeding the condensed vapor to a single distillation column,c. removing only part of the water and other byproducts from ethylene glycol by distillation overhead in the column andd. feeding the resultant bottoms of the column back to the reactor vessel as recycle ethylene glycol along with virgin ethylene glycol, so that polyethylene terephthalate polymer being manufactured by the continuous process is essentially unaffected regarding polymer color and ability to be spun into high quality yarn, but with lower diethylene glycol content that polymer made from all virgin ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A distillation system has a degassing tank, a distiller for generating vapor of raw water taken from the degassing tank, a heater for heating the vapor from the distiller to convert the vapor into a high temperature and pressure vapor, a hydrophobic porous membrane through which the vapor from the heater flows, and a heat transfer unit provided in the distiller for effecting heat exchange between the vapor from the membrane member and the raw water from the degassing tank. The structural elements such as the heat exchange unit, piping, etc., with which the vapor from the membrane or the condensate thereof is brought into contact are made of titanium or titanium alloy.

Abstract: A system and method of concentrating spent caustic at a refinery has a multi-stage flash drum for separating a spent caustic stream into an overhead output stream including vaporized water and volatile organic compounds, and a concentrated spent caustic output stream. The system also has a condenser for condensing the overhead output stream, and a separator for separating the condensed overhead output stream into a volatile organic compound stream, a liquid hydrocarbon stream and a water stream. The system further has an ejector for applying a vacuum to the flash drum to vaporize the spent caustic stream at a reduced temperature, and to the separator to remove the volatile organic compound stream. The volatile organic compounds are removed from the overhead of the separator through the ejector to a burner of a fired heater.

Abstract: A method for rectification includes steps of supplying raw materials to a rectifying column from a raw material feed pipe; returning a refluent fluid from a refluxing pipe to the column; leading a hold-up liquid from a bottom tank having a higher surface to a bottom tank having a lower surface of a liquid in a bottom portion of the column; heating the hold-up in each of bottom tanks; exchanging heat by bringing a vapor produced by heating the bottoms into counter-current contact with the reluent liquid returned to the rectifying column on plates arranged in the rectifying column, taking out a vapor from the top of the rectifying column, and taking out bottoms from the bottom tank.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved solar water purification apparatus. More specifically, it relates to a solar water purification apparatus that includes a first and second preheater, an evaporation load tank, condenser, and pure distillate collecting tank. The condensing surface is a domed upper structure which includes a corrugated inner surface to increase the condensing surface. The outersurface of the domed upper structure is likewise corrugated and completely enclosed by a first preheater chamber the permit efficient cooling of the domed upper structure and encourage rapid condensation, thus transferring heat from the interior corrugations to the exterior corrugations of the first preheater chamber, further adding to the overall thermal efficiency.

Abstract: Aqueous hydrochloric acid of very high purity can be obtained in a process for purifying crude aqueous 5 to 20 wt. % hydrochloric acid. In the purification, process water or a water/HCl mixture is evaporated from the crude aqueous hydrochloric acid at a pressure of from 0.01 to 1.0 bar and a temperature of from 10.degree. to 100.degree. C. until a crude, azeotropic mixture of water and HCl is obtained. The crude, azeotropic mixture of water and HCl is distilled in a distillation apparatus at a pressure of from 0.1 to 1.5 bar and a temperature of from 50.degree. to 110.degree. C. A purified gaseous, azeotropic mixture of water and HCl is recovered from the head of the distillation apparatus and a liquid mixture is left at the bottom of the distillation apparatus. The liquid mixture which is left at the bottom of the distillation apparatus is distilled at a pressure of from 0.5 to 2.5 bar and a temperature of from 80.degree. to 130.degree. C.

Abstract: An installation for processing liquids having at least one vaporizer used for the process liquid, a condenser arranged downstream from this vaporizer, and a vacuum pump. Additionally, a gas-ring compressor, positioned in the exhaust pipe between the vaporizer and the condenser, presses the vapors from the process liquid through the condenser. The process liquid is vaporized in the vaporizer under a vacuum and the vapors are carried by an exhaust pipe that is connected to the vaporizer through the condenser to the vacuum pump. Also, the process liquid, which is used as the cooling liquid for the condenser, is heated in the condenser and then recycled to the vaporizer.