Abstract: Multi-chamber Compressor (6, 206, 506) of Mechanical Vapor re-Compression (MVC) and water treatment methods, the compressor bearing independent compression chambers of positive displacement, for heat-pumps, of two main variants: a) reciprocating-rotary motion (6, 206) wherein the compression chambers (7V) are radially arranged cylindrical sectors based on concentric circular sectors of the same angle, with, pistons of radially arranged vanes (20, 220) of respective surface and with the plane of the vanes passing through the axis of the common rotor (14) and the shaft (16) and b) reciprocating-linear motion (506) wherein the compression chambers (52v) are in series arranged cylinders with pistons/vanes (50v) of corresponding circular surfaces and with the plane of the vanes perpendicular to the common shaft (51). In both cases, the shaft (16, 51) and the motor are common to all the vanes (20v, 50v), which follow identical strokes.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for enhanced heat recover}/in a paraxylene manufacturing plant use a side condenser to recover high quality heat. By placing the side condenser below the location of a feed stream comprising low molecular weight gases, the heat recovered is free of such non-condensable gases. Such gases are undesirable when using the condensed vapor in other applications.

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.

Abstract: Integration of a carboxylic anhydride purification system in the manufacturing of cellulose esters may include processes that includes distilling the crude carboxylic anhydride stream (that includes a carboxylic anhydride and a carboxylic acid) in a distillation column having an overhead or side stream comprising purified, vaporous carboxylic anhydride and a bottoms stream; heating a steam condensate stream in a steam generator to yield a low-temperature steam; and cooling at least a portion of the overhead or side stream to yield a cooled overhead or side stream. In some instances, a heat exchanger may be utilized in parallel or series with the steam generator.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex.

Abstract: An accelerated vapor recompression apparatus 10 converts incoming flow 35a to a concentrate 35c by developing a concentration profile 146 within a tank 30 holding a liquid 23 containing dissolved solids. The resulting curve 160 of saturation temperature of the stratified liquid 23 (such as a brine 23 or other material 23) moves away from the curve 162 corresponding to fully mixed conditions. The shift 174, 180 in saturation temperature results in increased boiling without increased energy from a heater 70 or compressor 50. A method 90, 200 of control of the system provides interventions 203, 204, 205, 206 at different levels 92, 94, 96, 98 of control, ranging from mass flows 35 to work of a compressor 50, heat from a heater 70, and a predictive processing 215 of feedback 217 for controlling commands 216 algorithmically.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing vacuum in a vacuum oil-stock distillation column and includes pumping a gas-vapor medium out of a column by an ejector into a condenser; feeding a gas mixture and a high-pressure gas into a second gas-gas ejector from which the vapor-gas mixture is fed into a second condenser. A condensate is directed from the condensers into a separator in which the condensate is separated into a water-containing condensate and a hydrocarbon-containing condensate. The hydrocarbon-containing condensate is removed while the water-containing condensate is fed into a steam generator in which heat is supplied to the water-containing condensate from a hot distillate removed from the vacuum column and steam is produced from the water-containing condensate, the steam is fed as a high-pressure gas into the gas-gas ejectors. A plant for carrying out the method is also provided.

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.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex through heat exchange in associated xylene recovery facilities.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex through heat exchange in associated xylene recovery facilities.

Abstract: Water purification and recycling system having a large reservoir and a small reservoir adapted to provide potable water to a water user structure. After use by the water user structure, wastewater is applied from said water user structure via at least one wastewater path to wastewater treatment apparatus. The wastewater treatment apparatus receives and processes the wastewater using a coal free power plant that operates continuously to produce steam. The wastewater treatment apparatus is also powered by a co-adjuvant gas turbine generator is adapted to generate supplemental steam for the coal free power plant.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for purifying a chlorine supply that includes a chlorine component, a bromine component, and nitrogen trichloride. The method includes the steps of introducing the chlorine supply into a vaporizer, heating the chlorine supply in the vaporizer to form a vapor, and introducing the vapor into a distillation system to provide purified chlorine gas, a distillate that includes liquid chlorine and the bromine component, and a bottoms component including the nitrogen trichloride. The method also includes the steps of condensing the vapor in a reflux condenser, heating the condensate in a reboiler, removing the purified chlorine gas from the distillation system, and removing the distillate from the distillation system.

Abstract: A solar energy conversion and distillation apparatus floats on a body of saltwater and includes a matrix of buoyant distillation modules that produce and collect distilled water for on-shore usage. The distillation modules and other buoyant structures are mutually joined within a peripheral seawall to form an atmospheric barrier, and each distillation module includes a submerged energy absorber layer to form an energy conversion chamber that confines a shallow volume of solar-heated seawater. Water vapor in the air above the confined water condenses on chilled heat exchanger conduits, and the energy absorber layer is water permeable so that confined water lost to evaporation and condensation is replenished with water from a thermal reservoir underlying the energy conversion chamber. Buoyant mistifier units in each distillation module enhance the evaporative surface area of the water vapor subject to condensation.

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.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and a method for planning the operation of, monitoring processes in, simulating, and/or optimizing a technical installation comprising several units that can be combined with each other. Said system comprises at least one process planning module, at least one process simulation module, and at least one process optimization module. Components for modeling, simulating, and optimizing the technical installation are stored in said modules. The interrelated modules cooperate with a data management layer via at least one interface, said data management layer making available actual measured and/or historical process data for determining parameters and/or operational data for the modules in order to plan operations as well as simulate and optimize processes. The parameters and/or operational data determined in the modules can be fed to the data management layer for further processing by taking into account the stored components.

Abstract: Method for dewatering a mixture of mostly ethanol and water which is split into a first partial feed flow (3) that is directed to a distillation column (32) as a reflux flow while a second partial feed flow (4) is directed to an evaporator unit (31) as an evaporator inlet flow and leaves the top of the evaporator unit as an evaporator outlet flow (6). A top discharge flow (7) from distillation column (32) is returned and combined with the evaporator outlet flow (6) to a combined flow (8) at an overpressure and which in a compressor unit (33) is compressed to a combined, compressed flow (10) which enters a dewatering unit (34) in which it is split into a water-rich permeate flow (14) and a retentate flow (11) in the form of substantially water free ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating a multi-component feed mixture in a distillation system comprising a first distillation column having a first fired reboiler, and at least a second distillation column having a second heat-exchange reboiler, comprising the steps of a) introducing the feed mixture to the first column, and separating into at least a first top and a first bottom product; b) taking part of the first bottom product for providing heat to the second reboiler as a utility stream; and c) feeding part of said utility stream after heat-exchange as main feed to the second column for further separation. This process allows significant energy savings, by reduction of the amount of external heat required for the fired reboiler and omission of a conventionally used heat-exhanger. The invention also relates to such distillation system suitable for separating a multi-component mixture with the process of the invention.

Abstract: Saline waters are made suitable for use in large quantities in petroleum refining operations by evaporative desalination of a water source having a dissolved salt content of at least 30,000 ppmw with the heat liberated during the steam condensation used as low quality heat for petroleum refining operations. Sea water is most suitable for evaporative purification processes.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating a multi-component fluid are provided. The method can include introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column. The multi-component fluid can be heated to provide a first product, a second product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid. At least a portion of the first product can be compressed to provide a compressed first product. Heat can be indirectly transferred from the compressed first product to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate. The heated intermediate distillate can be recycled to the dividing wall column. The compressed first product can be expanded.

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.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes moving a first volume of fluid from a region above a heat-transfer element to a region below the heat-transfer element after the first volume of fluid is boiled from a second volume of fluid within the region above the heat-transfer element. The first volume of fluid including an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of the second volume of fluid. The region below the heat-transfer element has a temperature higher than a temperature of the region above the heat-transfer element. The method also includes transferring latent heat from the first volume of fluid to a third volume of fluid on a top surface of the heat transfer element. The latent heat is released when the first volume of fluid condenses.

Abstract: A process for reducing the energy consumption of a distillation column is disclosed. The process includes drawing off an intermediate vapor stream from the rectification section of the distillation column. The vapor stream is compressed and the heat in the vapor stream is exchanged with a portion of the liquid bottoms stream. The heat transfer condenses a portion of the vapor stream, while vaporizing the liquid bottoms stream.

Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.

Abstract: A process for separating vapors, for example for separating water from ethanol, uses a gas separation membrane unit. Permeate from the membrane unit is compressed and may be used for example as heating steam for distillation. The membrane unit may have two or more stages. Permeate from a stage may be condensed and used for example as fermentation make up water, compressed and fed to the permeate from an upstream stage or heating steam, or fed to another membrane stage for further dewatering. The gas separation membrane unit may be used to remove water from a fermentation broth that has been partially dewatered, for example by one or more of a distillation column or molecular sieve.

Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.

Abstract: Aromatic amines are produced by catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds. The reaction mixture generated by this hydrogenation is then worked up by distillation in a manner which makes it possible to substantially free the amine of water with increased energy efficiency. Water free of amine and low boilers and the low boiling materials are also obtained.

Abstract: This invention describes a low temperature, self-sustainable desalination process operated under natural vacuum conditions created and maintained by barometric pressure head.

Abstract: A distillation column is disclosed. The column includes a plurality of rectification zones and corresponding stripping zones. Each rectification zone is linked to a heat pump or a stage of a heat pump. Overhead material from the top rectification zone is compressed and used to heat bottoms liquid from the bottom stripping zone. Similarly, overhead material from a lower rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid taken from the uppermost or top stripping zone. Optionally, overhead material from a middle rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid from a middle stripping zone. A single multiple stage heat pump compressor may be utilized as opposed to a plurality of heat pumps. Because the heat exchanger from each rectification-stripping zone pair has a lower duty, economical stab-in heat exchangers may be utilized.

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%.

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing linear alpha olefins are described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for producing ethanol from an organic source and that operates to purify and dry ethanol from a beer source. The system for producing substantially anhydrous ethanol comprises: (a) a first distillation stripping column; (b) a second distillation rectifying column having a higher operating temperature than said stripping column; (c) a molecular sieve dehydration means in fluid communication with said rectifying column. Heat from the overhead of the second distillation rectifying column and the molecular sieve dehydration are used to heat the first distillation stripping column.

Abstract: An improved method for efficiently adding additional heat values into a distillation process to optimize the production of distillate from water.

Abstract: A method of operating an evaporator is described. In evaporator feed water, a Taylor bubble is developed which has an outer surface including a thin film in contact with an inner surface of an outer wall of an evaporator tube. The Taylor bubble is heated as it rises within the evaporator tube so that liquid in the thin film transitions into vapor within the bubble.

Abstract: A method for distilling ethanol from a mash includes feeding a fluid to a first distillation column. The fluid and a distillate of the first distillation column are delivered to a second distillation column. The fed fluid and/or distillate of the second distillation column is/are purified in a first and/or last step of the method by a membrane separation process.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a vapor-compression evaporation system includes a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component, a mechanical compressor coupled to the last vessel in the series and operable to receive a vapor from the last vessel in the series, a pump operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor, a tank coupled to the mechanical compressor and operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor, a plurality of heat exchangers coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the series operable to receive the vapor from the tank, at least some of the vapor condensing therein, whereby the heat of condensation provides the heat of evaporation to the first vessel in the series, and wherein at least some of the vapor inside the first vessel in the series is delivered to the heat exchanger in the next vessel in the series, whereby the condensing, evaporating, a

Abstract: A process for reducing the energy consumption of a distillation column is disclosed. The process includes drawing off an intermediate vapor stream from the rectification section of the distillation column. The vapor stream is compressed and the heat in the vapor stream is exchanged with a portion of the liquid bottoms stream. The heat transfer condenses a portion of the vapor stream, while vaporizing the liquid bottoms stream.

Abstract: A distillation system and method includes open reservoirs and pluralities of hollow fiber membranes and hollow tubes extending through portions of separate open reservoirs. The hollow fiber membranes are configured to allow vapor transmission, and the hollow tubes are configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission but allow transmission of thermal energy. Feed solution is circulated through the open reservoirs. Distillate is separated from the feed solution by the hollow fiber membranes and thermal energy is recouped through the hollow tubes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating fluids are disclosed. We have discovered that, surprisingly, providing an open pore structure between a wick and an open flow channel resulted in superior separation performance. A novel and compact integrated device components for conducting separations are also described.

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: 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: Salt-containing water is desalinated by first passing salt-containing water through a heat exchanger disposed in a basin containing solar-heated brine formed by several layers of water lying one above the other in the basin, each of the layers of water forming the brine having a higher salt content than the layer present there above. The heat exchanger is in the lowermost layer of water having a higher temperature than the temperature of the layers of water lying above the lowermost layer of water. The salt-containing water is heated in the basin by solar energy indirect heat exchange with the solar-heated brine to obtain heated salt-containing water. At least part of the heated salt-containing water is evaporated to obtain water vapor, and the water vapor is condensed to obtain desalinated water.

Abstract: The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a technique which allows biomass to be utilized as a fuel for the co-production of electrical power and potable water in a most efficient manner. Almost any biomass is suitable as a feedstock and biomass which is locally available may be used to fuel the process. The biomass is fed into a gasification device to produce a gas stream containing appreciable amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas stream is used to fuel an electrical generation system Waste heat from the electrical generation system is recovered and used in the purification of saline, brakish or river and well water to produce highly pure potable water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a vacuum and for separating volatile compounds during esterification, transesterification and/or polycondensation reactions. One or several jets of steam comprising a spray condenser, which is arranged up or downstream, are connected to the suction side of a reactor which is to be evacuated and phenol or steam containing phenol is used as propellant steam at a pressure of 0.5 hPa to approximately 1.5 MPa and liquid phenol or a liquid containing phenol is used as a spraying agent.

Abstract: A process for fractionating a starting mixture of two or more components by extractive distillation using a selective solvent in a dividing wall column aligned in the longitudinal direction of the column and extending to the upper end of the column and dividing the column interior into a first region, a second region, and a lower combined column region. The starting mixture is fed into the first region, a first top stream is taken off from the first region, and a second top stream is taken off from the second region, each stream having a prescribed specification. The selective solvent is introduced in the upper part of the first region and/or in the upper part of the second region, and solvent flow into the first region and/or solvent flow into the second region are set so that each of the prescribed specifications for the top streams are met.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reaction of amines with phosgene in the presence of inert organic solvents in a reactor and subsequent work-up of the reaction mixture leaving the reactor, wherein the solvent is separated off in a two-stage or multistage, preferably two-stage, distillation process in which the solvent is separated off at a pressure of 0.1-15 bar in a first apparatus and at 1-900 mbar in a second apparatus or further apparatuses, with the heat of condensation of the solvent vapor from the first apparatus being used for partial or complete vaporization of solvent in the second apparatus.

Abstract: A scalable technology for purifying ethanol, wherein the vaporization of ethanol is coupled with a chromatographic rectification process comprising feeding a vaporized ethanol/water mix onto a plurality of molecular sieve beds to produce dehydrated ethanol vapor, which can then be condensed to recover purified dehydrated ethanol liquid. The scalable technology process is suitable for farm-scale production of fuel-grade ethanol, having the added benefit of allowing wet distillers grains to be used on-site as live-stock feed. By reducing energy requirements, costs and pollution, the output can be scaled to produce fuel-grade ethanol at quantities of anywhere from about 1000 gallons per year to upwards of hundreds of millions of gallons per year. Particularly beneficial versions utilize a plurality of smaller molecular sieve beds in series and use heat generated during desorption and regeneration of the molecular sieve beds as an energy source to aid in the vaporization step.

Abstract: A condensing chamber and a heating chamber are arranged in an enclosure. Liquid is fed into the condensing chamber where it is pre-heated. The pre-heated liquid flows to the heating chamber where it is boiled to produce vapor. Gas sparging in the condensing chamber enhances heat transfer and absorbs additional vapor generated by pre-heating. The condenser is a helical or other horizontal tube heat exchanger.

Abstract: An energy efficient process scheme for a highly exothermic reaction-distillation system in which the reactor is external to the distillation column and the feed to the reactor is a mixture of at least one liquid product stream from the distillation column with or without other liquid/vapor reactants. The reactor is operated under adiabatic and boiling point conditions and at a pressure that results in vaporizing a portion of the liquid flow through the reactor due to the heat of reaction. Under these conditions, reaction temperature is controlled by reactor pressure. The pressure (and hence the temperature) is maintained at a sufficiently high level such that the reactor effluent can be efficiently used to provide reboil heat for the distillation column.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatuses for simultaneous heat and mass transfer utilizing a carrier-gas at various absolute pressures are described. A method may include: thermally coupling at least two continuous contacting apparatuses together; varying the pressure between the at least two continuous contacting apparatuses; allowing heat removed from the first continuous contacting apparatus to be the heat delivered to the second continuous contacting apparatus. A system may include: at least two continuous contacting apparatuses thermally coupled together and operating at different absolute pressures. A continuous contacting apparatus may include: an evaporation chamber and a dew-formation chamber both operating at an absolute pressure in a vacuum range. A continuous contacting vapor recompression apparatus may include: an evaporation chamber operating at a first absolute pressure; and a dew-formation chamber operating at a second absolute pressure higher than the first absolute pressure.