Utilizing Recovered Heat In Subsequent Step In Process Patents (Class 203/27)
  • Patent number: 5389209
    Abstract: A process for making a light color maple syrup from a water-containing sap. In a first step, the sap is boiled under normal pressure to evaporate part of the water contained therein in the form of steam, to form the maple syrup and to develop caramelized and sweet characteristics and give flavor and a tinted color to this maple syrup. In a second step, the sap is heated at a temperature lower than the boiling temperature of the sap and atomized through an air circulating column to evaporate another part of the water contained therein. This second step which can be carried out before the first one, permits to concentrate the sap, to increase its sugar content and to avoid further caramelization thereof. The sap which is so obtained with an increased sugar content, may be recycled as long as necessary until a desired sugar concentration corresponding to a predetermined Brix number is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Yvon A. Paquette
  • Patent number: 5368700
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing hydrocarbons in wastewater includes an oil separator and a stripper tower. The tower has a housing that includes a stripper section and a condensation section. The stripper section includes a plurality of trays and steam inlet under the trays. The condensation section includes a plurality of trays and a pan tray having provisions to allow vapors to rise from the stripper section. The method includes having the oil separator remove the soluble oil from the wastewater stream which passes through the stripper section and has steam remove the hydrocarbons. The resulting vapors then contact cold process fluid which results in a heated process fluid stream. A portion of this heated process fluid stream is then mixed with crude so that hydrocarbons can be assimilated into the crude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: David E. Bachmann
  • Patent number: 5348623
    Abstract: An automatic water heating and distilling apparatus is provided having a hot water reservoir, an evaporator tank, a condenser, a distilled water reservoir and a control mechanism. Water is boiled within the evaporator tank generating steam which is condensed in the condenser to form distilled water. The heat rejected during condensation is transferred into the hot water reservoir. The distilled water reservoir has an input coupled to the condenser, an output for distilled water, and an overflow so that excess distilled water is returned to the evaporator tank. The control mechanism automatically regulates the operation of a heater within the evaporator to maintain the water in the hot water reservoir within a selected operating range. Various alternative embodiments are also described including a hot water heating apparatus utilizing an enclosed heat transfer device partially filled with liquid having a boiling point above the selected temperature for the water to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Terrill Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Salmon
  • Patent number: 5346593
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Cialkowski, Thomas P. Ognisty
  • Patent number: 5344528
    Abstract: Phenol plant waste water containing small amounts of phenol and sodium sulfate is successfully distilled through the addition of recovered sodium sulfate to enhance the volatility of the phenol relative to water; at least a portion of the sodium sulfate is recycled, while a significant portion of the phenol can be returned to the phenol plant for recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Aristech Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Bossler, Donald Glassman, Michael C. Grebinoski, Howard H. Morgan, Jr., Jennifer L. Voss
  • Patent number: 5312524
    Abstract: A distillation system for recovery of volatile components of contaminated liquids used in an industrial process includes a tube assembly including outer tubes to which hot bottoms liquids are supplied and inner tubes to which process liquids are supplied for transfer of heat from the bottoms to the process liquids. From the tube assembly the two liquids are discharged into the still through separate, elongated, parallel discharge pipes. The process liquids discharge pipe is positioned above the bottoms liquids discharge pipe and an elongated, metal, angle plate is positioned as an inverted V between the two discharge pipes. Efficiency is improved over prior systems wherein process liquids are added to the still without being preheated by the bottoms fluids, and without the unique still intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Filter Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Lyle B. Barcomb
  • Patent number: 5304286
    Abstract: To provide a balanced supply of distilled water and undistilled hot water for a household, a condenser coil communicates at one end with a steam generator located above a hot water heater and at its other end well the holding tank of a distilled water system, with a condenser entering the hot water heater near the bottom. The steam generator power input matches the power needed to meet the recovery rate to satisfy undistilled hot water demand under normal conditions. The condenser includes a plurality of loops grouped together so a line drawn from top to bottom through them is no longer than 5 inches. The length of the loops is at least 6 inches and the tubes have inside diameters between 1/4 inch and 5 inches and a total area of at least 25 square inches. Near the outlet of the condenser, the tube bends upwardly by approximately a diameter to create a water holding portion in the lower most loop of the condenser to restrain condensate and maximize heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: David G. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5286351
    Abstract: A water distiller is provided which is used in conjunction with a hot water heater where normally wasted energy is used to preheat the hot water heater inlet. The distiller includes a heat storage tank, an evaporator tank having a water inlet, a heater and a steam outlet, and a first and second heat exchanger located within the heat storage tank. Steam generated in the evaporator tank passes through the first heat exchanger and condenses, forming distilled water. The heat rejected during condensation is absorbed within the heat storage tank. The second heat exchanger is used to preheat the water flowing to the hot water heater inlet by passing the water through the second heat exchanger on an as needed basis where it absorbs heat from the heat storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Terrill Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Salmon
  • Patent number: 5252187
    Abstract: A method of recovering a solvent from a mother liquor in a system in which the mother liquor also contains non-volatile matter, volatile solute and volatile solvent, and the solute concentration is low, in which a heat pump distilling column (first column) is so operated as to work only as a concentrating section of a distilling column by feeding a mother liquor to the column bottom of the heat pump distilling column, contact of non-volatile matter with the concentrating section is prevented and the column bottom liquor is sent to an evaporator so as to separate the non-volatile matter by the evaporator, thereafter, a vapor from the evaporator is fed to a distilling column (second column), and distillates of first and second columns and bottoms of the second column are withdrawn as the products. The procedures described above are carried out under specific operation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Toyo Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ohtsu, Kanji Abe, Toshifumi Ida
  • Patent number: 5238540
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Krupp Koppers GmbH
    Inventors: Luzian Skatulla, Hans-Christoph Schneider, Hans-Jurgen Vollmer
  • Patent number: 5232556
    Abstract: A water desalination apparatus which is constructed of a main housing which includes a condensation chamber and a vapor chamber located above the condensation chamber. Brackish water is to be supplied into the vapor chamber with this brackish water to produce a vapor which is to be removed by a centrifugal compressor arrangement into the condensation chamber. The condensed brackish water from the vapor chamber is to flow through a mass of thin-walled tubes to be eventually discharged into the ambient. The exterior wall of these tubes is located within the condensation chamber and it is on the walls of these tubes that the distilled water vapor is to collect and condense and flow from the condensation chamber to a collection source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventor: Frank J. Passarelli
  • Patent number: 5227027
    Abstract: A water distillation system and process capable of high efficiency operation used in combination with a heat pump system wherein the water distillation apparatus includes a water pre-heating device positioned within the feed water to heat the feed water to approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit to facilitate operation of a water evaporator device which vaporizes the water by boiling thereof. Contaminants are removed from this pure water vapor which is at approximately 215 degrees Fahrenheit. The water vapor is passed to a water condenser to provide high purity water at approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat pump system provides for refrigerant condensing at approximately 225 degrees Fahrenheit to facilitate boiling of the water in the adjacent water evaporator and includes refrigerant vaporization adjacent the water condenser to facilitate absorbing and reclaiming of the latent heat of the distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Robert T. Topper
  • Patent number: 5129993
    Abstract: A method for treating manure including the drying of manure by displacing water out of the manure by a carrier liquid, extracting the carrier liquid by evaporation and purifying the carrier liquid vapor for re-use, wherein fats originally present in the manure are released as manure fat, by burning the manure fat in a controlled manner and at least partially using energy thereby released in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: MeMon B.V.
    Inventor: Erik D. J. Bleeker
  • Patent number: 5124004
    Abstract: A method of distillation employing a heat pump (which may be driven by a compressor) using a vapor stream from within the distillation system as a heat source and a liquid stream from within the distillation system as a heat sink. The selection of heat-source vapors and heat-sink liquid is such that at least one is withdrawn from the phase-contracting region of the distillation system. The return of streams withdrawn from the phase-contacting region of the distillation system to the distillation system is such that at least one of the streams is returned at a temperature different from that of the point from which it was withdrawn, and all withdrawn streams are returned in manner such that a stream removed as vapor is returned at a point with a temperature at most that at the point it was withdrawn, and a stream removed as liquid is returned at a point with a temperature at least that at which it was withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Hans E. Grethlein, Lee R. Lynd
  • Patent number: 5037510
    Abstract: An integrated system provides combined space heating, water heating and water distillation. The system is adapted for supplying combined services to residential and commercial buildings. The system may be used in retrofitting existing space heating furnaces and/or water heaters to provide an energy and cost efficient combined system. A portable water heating/water distilling unit can be used with an existing portable self-contained heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventor: Nils Nygards
  • Patent number: 5035776
    Abstract: A thermally-integrated extractive distillation process for recovering anhydrous ethanol from fermentation or synthetic feedstocks has a distillation train of four columns. Two columns are preconcentrators operated in parallel. The remaining columns are an extractive distillation dehydrating tower, and an entrainer-recovery column. The two preconcentrators and the dehydrating tower are operated at three successively increasing pressures so that the condensing vapors of the overhead product of the dehydrating tower supply the necessary heat to the reboiler of the intermediate-pressure preconcentrator. The overhead vapors of this preconcentrator are, in turn, used to supply the required heat to the reboiler of the lowest-pressure preconcentrator. The bottom product from each preconcentrator is used to preheat the dilute feed. Additional energy savings are accomplished by the appropriate heat exchange between the various feeds, overheads, and bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Knapp
  • Patent number: 4992143
    Abstract: A continuous multistage process for separating a partially water soluble organic component from a slurry containing an insoluble solid, a partially water soluble organic component and optionally water. In this process, the slurry is continuously fed to a tower or column equipped with a suitable vapor/liquid contact device. Energy is applied at a point below the vapor/liquid contact device. Vapors containing the partially soluble organic component exit the tower or column overhead and the inorganic solid is recovered at the bottom of the tower or column. This application of distillation technology to slurries is particularly advantageous in that a more efficient separation of that solid material from the partially soluble organic component is obtained. The improved separation efficiency can be utilized to either lower separation cost and/or to affect a more complete separation in order to obtain a solid material with a lower residual amount of the organic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mobay Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich E. Steude, Joerg Krell, Charles F. Ho, Charles E. Huffman, Michael E. Bowsher
  • Patent number: 4966276
    Abstract: An integrated continuous processes for concentrating "weak" nitric acid and concurrently reconcentrating the spent dehydrating agent used to break the nitric acid azeotrope to obtain "strong" nitric acid, the processes involving direct coupling of the nitric acid concentration with the reconcentration of the spent dehydrating agent so that less energy input is required. The major proportion of the feed "weak" nitric acid is vaporized before being fed countercurrently into a column to contact a large volume of the dehydrating agent, this vaporization being one of the two major sources of energy input, the second being through the reboiler at the bottom of the column. Energy input is balanced by energy rejection through condensation of strong nitric acid vapor and water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: Alfred A. Guenkel
  • Patent number: 4963231
    Abstract: Process for the evaporative concentration of liquids. Vaporization is carried out by indirect heat exchange with a heating fluid in an evaporator. The vapor produced in the evaporator is thereafter condensed in a condenser by indirect heat exchange with a cooling liquid which is mainly composed of the liquid to be concentrated or the liquid which has already been concentrated in the evaporator. The vapor pressure over the cooling liquid in the condenser may be lowered by causing gas to flow in contact with the cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Ahlstromforetagen Svenska AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ryham
  • Patent number: 4946558
    Abstract: A water distiller is provided which is used in conjunction with a hot water heater where normally wasted energy is used to preheat the hot water heater inlet. The distiller includes a heat storage tank, an evaporator tank having a water inlet, a heater and a steam outlet, and a first and second heat exchanger located within the heat storage tank. Steam generated in the evaporator tank passes through the first heat exchanger and condenses, forming distilled water. The heat rejected during condensation is absorbed within the heat storage tank. The second heat exchanger is used to preheat the water flowing to the hot water heater inlet by passing the water through the second heat exchanger on an as needed basis where it absorbs heat from the heat storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Terrill Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Salmon
  • Patent number: 4944839
    Abstract: A falling film evaporator in which some plate elements have their upper portions surrounded by a hood to prevent feed liquor from contacting hot vapor generated in the evaporator and exchanging heat therewith by direct contact. Other elements are located outside the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Rosenblad Corporation
    Inventor: Axel E. Rosenblad
  • Patent number: 4935104
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing essential oils by plant hydro-distillation including the following steps:(a) loading the plants continuously into a still where they are processed counterflow wise with steam,(b) continuous unloading of the exhausted plants,(c) recovery of the latent heat of distillation and condensation of the steam by means of a gas in a condenser,(d) drying of the exhausted plants by contacting with the gas, in a drying installation,(e) combustion of at least a part of the dried exhausted plants in a boiler and use of the combustion heat for producing steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Biolandes
    Inventor: Dominique Coutiere
  • Patent number: 4925535
    Abstract: The process for production of an aromate concentrate for use as a blending component for gasification fuel includes subjecting another feed hydrocarbon mixture to an extractive distillation using N-substituted morpholines as selective solvent in a extractive distillation column. Low-boiling non-aromates with a boiling range up to about 105.degree. C. practically completely and higher-boiling non-aromates with a boiling range between about 105.degree. and 160.degree. C. to a substantial extent are discharged as a raffinate from the top of the extractive distillation column. The extract bottoms from the extractive distillation are fed to a solvent stripping column where the solvent is at least partially recovered from other hydrocarbons. To eliminate condensation and polymerization products due to components with a boiling point over 170.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Krupp Koppers GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Preusser, Gerd Emmrich, Martin Schulze
  • Patent number: 4915792
    Abstract: A volatile component is separated from a mixture by vaporization in an evaporator and condensation in a condenser. The vapor is transported by a carrier gas that is circulated in and between the evaporator and the condenser. A flow of a liquid is circulated in subsequent heat transfer steps from contact with the mixture via a cooler, via contact with the carrier gas in the condenser, via a heater, and back to contact with the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Sten Zeilon
  • Patent number: 4909899
    Abstract: A method of concentrating sludges wherein liquor is heated under pressure indirectly with flue gases from the combustion of previously concentrated sludge, after which the sludge is caused to expand or subjected to reduced pressure which results in evaporation of water and concentration of the sludge to a dry-substance content of over 55%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Erkki J. Kiiskila
  • Patent number: 4861435
    Abstract: A water distillation apparatus having a distilled water storage tank and a water boiling tank. Components associated with the boiling tank control the level of water therein and production of steam from the water contained therein. A steam flow line permits steam flow from the boiling tank into the storage tank. A distilled water cooling coil disposed in the storage tank at a lower region below the distilled water level is connected with a cool water infeed flow line. A steam condensing coil disposed in the storage tank at an upper region thereof above the desired water level and the cooling coil is connected with the cooling coil. Steam which enters the storage tank can directly contact the condensing coil exterior surface for causing the steam to condense into distilled water in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Inventor: Herbert F. Sweet, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4834841
    Abstract: The improved method and apparatus treats the stack gases from a commercial bakery oven to remove and recover pollutants, specifically ethyl alcohol. The method includes the steps of cooling the stack gases and passing the cooled gases through a packed column to condense the water and ethyl alcohol and if the ethyl alcohol is to be recovered drying the ethyl alcohol by distillation and by absorption of the water therefrom by a molecular sieve. The apparatus includes blowers and controls to maintain the normal flow of gases from the oven so that the removal and recovery of the ethyl alcohol from the stack gases does not interfere or change the baking conditions of the oven. This may be accomplished by a system of dampers or by controlling the discharge rate of the blowers used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Peck
  • Patent number: 4824527
    Abstract: A fractional distillation system is provided for fractionating unequal liquid mixtures with lower heat throughput and lower energy consumption. For mixtures in which the heavy fraction is predominant (FIG. 1), a stripper (2) pre-fractionates part of the mixture at lower pressure and at no extra energy cost by being reboiled by an intermediate condenser (3). The pre-fractionator temperature range is preferably nested within (overlapped by) the distillation column (6) temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 4789428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaporation of spent liquor by heat from a blow condenser where blow steam from a pulp cooker is condensed in a direct condenser connected with a hot water accumulator. Spent liquor heated indirectly by hot water from the accumulator is brought to expand and released expansion vapor is used as a heat medium in a following evaporation stage. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger, at least one flash tank and at least one evaporation unit, the heat exchanger being disposed to receive hot water from the upper part of the accumulator and to return it to its lower part and thus heat the spent liquor, and the flash tank being disposed to receive spent liquor heated in the heat exchanger and to release liquor vapor and spent liquor to the evaporation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Ahlstromforetagen Svenska AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ryham
  • Patent number: 4778567
    Abstract: In the purification of ethylene oxide from an ethylene oxide-containing reaction formation gas produced by catalytic gas-phase oxidation of ethylene with a molecular oxygen containing gas, external thermal energy required for heating an ethylene oxide refiner is economized by a method which utilizes the diffusate obtained from the top of an ethylene oxide stripper as a heat source for the refiner. Further, the bottom liquid of the stripper can be used as a heat source for ethylene oxide refiner and/or a light ends stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Kagaku Kogyo Co.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Kakimoto, Masayuki Sawada, Yoshiaki Kajimoto, Isamu Kiguchi
  • Patent number: 4770231
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering heat in an isotopic exchange installation between a liquid and a gas and to an installation for performing this process. The liquid and gas are present in co-current in at least one isotopic exchange reactor, the liquid being vaporized at the inlet of each reactor and condensed during the cooling of the vapor and gaseous phases at the outlet of each reactor. This process is characterized by the recovery of the heat extracted from the vapor and gaseous phases during the cooling at the outlet of each isotopic exchange reactor and by using the thus recovered heat for contributing to the vaporization of the liquid and to the preheating of the gas at the inlet of another isotopic exchange reactor of the installation. The invention applies to a tritium extraction and/or production installation, as well as to the extraction of a isotope from hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Michel Rostaing, Etienne Roth
  • Patent number: 4769112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing water from a liquid mixture of water and ethanol contacts it with liquid carbon dioxide so that the ethanol is preferentially transferred into solution, dries the solution using an adsorbent, and then recovers dry ethanol by distilling off the carbon dioxide. This process is particularly energy efficient especially when it includes a fermentation process to generate the ethanol and uses the carbon dioxide generated during the fermentation as the source of liquid carbon dioxide. In this case the method and apparatus provide an additional product of dry carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: United Distillers P.L.C.
    Inventor: Alfred G. Wheldon
  • Patent number: 4756797
    Abstract: A multiple effect evaporator system and a process for concentrating a process liquid wherein evaporated process liquid from one effect serves as heating fluid in an adjacent effect. Low energy heating fluid in vapor form is fed to an evaporative surface condenser where it is condensed and collected as clean and foul condensate. Coolant for the evaporative surface condenser is provided in the form of process liquid from one of the effects. Prior to passage into the evaporative surface condenser, the process liquid is cooled. In the cooling circuit of the evaporative surface condenser, the process liquid absorbs the heat of condensation of the heating fluid and subsequently rejects the heat into a counter flowing air stream. The process liquid is thereafter heated and returned to another of the multiple evaporator effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Kamyr, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Elmore, Timothy Carter
  • Patent number: 4746610
    Abstract: An ethanol-producing plant and a method is provided for producing ethanol from sugars, starches, or cellulose. Some ethanol-producing plants consume more thermal energy than they produce. The present invention solves the efficiency problem by utilizing an internal combustion engine with high-efficiency mechanical drives for providing the mechanical power requirements of the ethanol-producing plant and by utilizing the thermal energy of engine coolant and exhaust to provide some, or all, of the thermal energy requirements of the ethanol-producing plant. The method includes electrically loading the internal combustion engine to increase the thermal losses of the engine to equal the thermal energy requirements of the steps of the ethanol-producing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignees: Douglas W. Wills, Linda Wills Maher, Nancy Wills Coffin
    Inventor: R. Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 4720328
    Abstract: A method for removing impurities from caprolactam is disclosed. The method comprises the sequential steps of treating the impure caprolactam with phosphorus pentoxide so that the impurities react therewith to form high boiling species and then distilling the so treated impure lactam to recover substantially pure caprolactam as overhead, with the impurities remaining as bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Akzona Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom F. Corbin, Jack A. Dellinger, Kenneth B. Wagener
  • Patent number: 4698136
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of boiler feed water from process waters in the oil extraction industry during which salts and hydrocarbons are removed from the water, without Fe.sup.++ precipitating. The heavy hydrocarbons are mechanically separated, the volatile hydrocarbons are separated from the water, by means of a thermal degassing, and the low boiling and the non-condensable hydrocarbons are separated in a shower evaporation step with downstream vapor compression, wherein the low boiling non-condensable hydrocarbons are evaporated with the waste water within the shower evaporator and the non-condensable hydrocarbons then are drawn off from a downstream separator. A salt-free oxygen-free pure water is removed from a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Fried Krupp GmbH
    Inventor: Mohammed El-Allawy
  • Patent number: 4692218
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously producing various forms of alcohol, including ethanol, which can likewise be withdrawn from the apparatus simultaneously. To this end, successive columns in the individual processing stages, each of which includes distillation, rectification, purification and dehydration, are connected in parallel for product flow but in series for energy flow and conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Fried, Krupp GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Houben, Hans U. Petzoldt, Joachim Stegemann
  • Patent number: 4687546
    Abstract: A beneficiated kaolin clay slurry is concentrated from a solids content of about 50% to 60% by weight to a solids content of at least 65% by weight by evaporating water therefrom by passing the aqueous clay slurry through one or more non-contact evaporated heat exchangers. The kaolin clay slurry is passed in indirect heat exchange relationship with a heating vapor, with the heating vapor comprising water vapor previously evaporated from the aqueous clay slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Georgia Kaolin Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Willis
  • Patent number: 4678543
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for simultaneously producing various forms of alcohol, including ethanol, which can likewise be withdrawn from the apparatus simultaneously. To this end, successive columns in the individual processing stages, each of which includes distillation, rectification, purification and dehydration are connected in parallel for product flow but in series for energy flow and conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Huftung Fried Krupp Gesellschaft mit beschrankter
    Inventors: Heinz Houben, Hans U. Petzoldt, Joachim Stegemann
  • Patent number: 4594131
    Abstract: A water purification process is described for the removal of ammonia and optionally one or more acid gases from wastewaters such as coke-plant or coal conversion wastewaters. The process involves adding alkali to these wastewaters in amounts sufficient to react with fixed ammonia salts present in the wastewater and to enable substantial amounts of the ammonia to be evolved upon distillation, and subjecting the thus treated wastewater to distillation to remove substantial amounts of the ammonia and acid gases present from the wastewater. This process is achieved by two separate and successive distillations. In this process, the vapor streams being withdrawn from the first and/or second distillations are subjected to an impurity removal process to thereby produce a vapor stream substantially reduced in impurities, and useful as a stripping vapor in this process, and then reusing this vapor stream as a stripping vapor in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Edward E. Maier
  • Patent number: 4586986
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering pure aromatic substances from a mixture of hydrocarbons containing both aromatic and non-aromatic fractions. The input mixture is fed through an extractive stage provided with a preliminary distillation column. In the preliminary stage the aromatics-containing product is treated at a pressure up to 20 bar and a temperature up to 300.degree. C. The pressure is adjusted to a value at which the operational temperature of the preliminary stage is higher than the pressure and temperature in the extractive stage and the heat of the vapors discharged from the preliminary stage is used for heating the extractive stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Krupp-Koppers GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Preusser, Martin Schulze, Gerd Emmrich, Hans-Christoph Schneider
  • Patent number: 4507175
    Abstract: A novel fractional distillation process and applications thereof to the production of thermal or mechanical energy from two low level heat sources wherein a mixture of two highly non-ideal reactive solutions such, for example, as of the water/ammonia type, is separated into its water and ammonia components in an apparatus comprising a cascade of condensers and evaporators operating respectively at the temperature of the cold source and at the temperature of the hot source and at staggered pressures. The residue and distillate formed are remixed in a mixing apparatus when it is desired to recover the thermal energy of dilution of the solutions.The invention is applicable, in particular, to the heating of buildings from low level thermal energy and from the thermal energy of "cold wind".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique C.N.R.S.
    Inventor: Pierre Y. J. Le Goff
  • Patent number: 4422903
    Abstract: An improved distillation method and apparatus are provided for recovering anhydrous ethanol from fermentation or synthetic feedstocks. The system includes at least one stripper-rectifier tower, a dehydrating tower, and an azeotropic agent stripping tower. Substantial energy savings are realized by operating the dehydrating tower, and preferably also the azeotropic agent stripping tower, at a higher pressure than the stripper-rectifier tower and by condensing the overhead vapors from the dehydrating tower (or dehydrating tower and azeotropic agent stripping tower) to provide the heat required in the stripper-rectifier tower. In a preferred embodiment, two stripper-rectifier towers are used, one operating at a higher pressure than the other, in which case the higher pressure tower is heated as just described and the overhead vapors from the higher pressure tower are condensed to supply the heat required in the lower pressure tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Raphael Katzen Associates International Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Messick, William R. Ackley, George D. Moon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4410400
    Abstract: A method for working up residues of an extractive distilling process for obtaining pure hydrocarbons. The residue from an extractive distilling column is fed to the about middle part of a distilling column. The hydrocarbons are distilled and removed at the head of the distilling column and the solvent is removed at the bottom of the distilling column. A sidestream is removed from the distilling column at a position above the feed plate for the residue from the extractive distilling column via a so-called reflux evaporator plate having an elevated level of liquid. The sidestream is heated by indirect heat exchange with the solvent flowing from the distilling column. The heated-up sidestream is fed back into the distilling column at a level at or above the reflux evaporator plate. The concentration of the solvent at the reflux evaporator plate is controlled by the amount of reflux at the head of the distilling column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Krupp-Koppers GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Preusser, Martin Schulze
  • Patent number: 4372822
    Abstract: Substantially anhydrous, i.e., absolute, ethanol is distilled at high thermal efficiency from a dilute feedstock such as a fermentate ("beer") containing one or more low boiling components whose removal at least in part prior to anhydrous distillation is necessary in order to achieve an acceptable degree of phase separation in a decanter. Most of the low boiling component(s) are removed from the feed in a rectifying column with the balance of the low boiling component(s), insufficient in amount to seriously interfere with proper operation of the decanter, being removed from the system employing a light-ends column. Both the anhydrous column and the light-ends column are operated at substantially superatmospheric pressure with thermal values recovered from these columns being used in the operation of the rectifying column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: National Distillers & Chemical Corp.
    Inventors: Werner C. Muller, Franklyn D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4348261
    Abstract: A continuous method and apparatus for distilling a liquid include conducting the distilling liquid through at least two successive distillation units operating at different temperature levels. The distilling liquid is vaporized in each distillation unit and the obtained vapor condensed into distillate by conducting the vapor into heat exchange relationship with the liquid discharged from the evaporators in a succeeding distillation unit which operates at a lower temperature level. At least one of the distillation units includes a plurality of communicating distillation stages, each distillation stage including an evaporator and a corresponding condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Inventor: Risto Saari
  • Patent number: 4344826
    Abstract: The waste water output of an RO unit in a distillation system is conveyed to a still's condenser cooling coil to minimize water requirements of the system. A portion of the heated water fron the condenser, in one embodiment, is circulated to the RO unit inlet, where a temperature mixing valve maintains an optimum temperature for the RO inlet water by mixing feed water and condenser output water in the desired proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Vaponics, Inc.
    Inventor: Verity C. Smith
  • Patent number: 4305789
    Abstract: In a process of preparing triaryl phosphates by direct esterification which comprisesA. Reaction Steps:The steps of(a) Reacting a hydroxyaryl with phosphoric acid or equivalent to form an aryl phosphate and water(b) Removing the water by entrainment by means of hydroxyaryl vapor, and(c) Condensing the water-containing entraining vapor, andB. Dehydration Step:The step of separating the water from the water-containing entraining vapor by distillation, andC. Recycling Steps:The steps of(a) Evaporating the dry hydroxyaryl liquid and(b) Using its vapor as the entraining vapor in step (A, b).the improvement which comprisesI. Carrying out the Reaction Steps A at essentially higher pressure than the Dehydration Step B, andII. Using all, or part of, the water-containing hydroxyaryl vapor from Step (A, b) as the heating medium in Step B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Inventor: Walter H. Prahl
  • Patent number: 4292140
    Abstract: In a distillation process, the heats of distillates and bottom product are recovered to preheat the feed and to generate the steam of higher than 5 kg/cm.sup.2 G which in turn may be utilized to improve the distillation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawasaki, Shigeharu Akashi
  • Patent number: 4280880
    Abstract: A process for the separation of isobutane from an alkylation reaction zone hydrocarbon effluent stream comprising isobutane, n-butane, propane and alkylate is disclosed. The hydrocarbon effluent stream is charged to an isostripper column. An isobutane vapor stream from the column is condensed in indirect heat exchange with the lower liquid stream from said column comprising n-butane. The lower liquid stream is flashed in indirect heat exchange with said vapor stream at conditions to provide a vapor phase, said vapor phase being compressed and recycled to said column at a temperature to promote vapor formation therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Bipin V. Vora, Anthony G. Vickers