Filming Of Distilland For Vaporization Patents (Class 203/89)
  • Patent number: 7431804
    Abstract: A process is proposed for the distillation or reactive distillation of a mixture that includes at least one toxic component, the process being carried out in a column containing a structured packing, having at least one packing layer (1) having a lower end (2) and an upper end (3), the packing layer having an internal geometry varying over its height, in such a manner that in the distillation or reactive distillation, in a first, lower region (6) of the packing layer (1) a bubbling layer having a predominantly disperse gas phase can be established and simultaneously in a second, upper region (7) of the packing layer (1) a film flow having a predominantly continuous gas phase can be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eckhard Ströfer, Gerd Kaibel, Achim Stammer, Carsten Oost, Martin Sohn, Manfred Stroezel, Walter Dobler
  • Patent number: 7316781
    Abstract: Pseudo-distillation, steady-state method for purifying dry cleaning solvents containing laundry soils and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Arseni Valerevich Radomyselski, Mark Robert Sivik, Victor Manuel Arredondo, William Michael Scheper, John Christian Haught
  • Patent number: 7211193
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for efficiently obtaining BHET of high purity from an EG (ethylene glycol) solution containing crude BHET (bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate), especially a decomposition product solution obtained by decomposing a polyester containing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as a main component, by use of EG, while minimizing by-production of impurity components such as DEG (diethylene glycol), DEG ester and oligomers. The decomposition product solution is subjected to crystallization and solid-liquid separation under specific temperature conditions. Further, in accordance with the invention, a method of purifying BHET is taught which comprises evaporation steps of evaporating low-boiling-point components from the decomposition product solution under specific conditions so as to obtain a melt solution and a molecular distillation step of distilling the obtained melt solution under specific conditions so as to obtain a specific fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Pet Rebirth Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Inada, Kikuchi Sato
  • Patent number: 7128815
    Abstract: Process for recovery of highly pure acrylonitrile by quickly vaporizing under vacuum the contaminated acrylonitrile as well as fresh acrylonitrile followed by contacting with hydrophilic agents in an extractive distillation column using plural number of packed sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Prashant Purushottam Barve, Shrikant Madhukar Ghike, Ravindra William Shinde, Milind Yashwant Gupte, Chandrashekhar Narayan Joshi
  • Patent number: 6984293
    Abstract: Cyclic esters of hydroxy organic acids can be produced and recovered via azeotropic distillation. In certain embodiments cyclic esters, such as glycolide and lactide, can be produced from a fermentation broth or other feed stream that contains a hydroxy organic acid, an ammonium salt of a hydroxy organic acid, an amide of a hydroxy organic acid, or an ester of a hydroxy organic acid using azeotropic distillation. The hydroxy organic acid of the feed stream or the hydroxy organic acid derived from the feed stream by decomposition is reacted to produce the cyclic ester. In other embodiments a crude composition of a cyclic ester of an organic ester can be purified using azeotropic distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Charles Milner Cockrem, Istvan Kovacs
  • Patent number: 6860966
    Abstract: A method of removing substantially all solvent from a solution containing a polyphenylene ether polymer resin with little by-product formation (less than 250 ppm) is provided. The method employs a wiped thin film evaporator with a cylindrical heating chamber operating under conditions that satisfy the relationships defined by Equations I and II. 5.3*1024RL? exp(?24123/T)/m<C??I 100?(4960AP/Tm)<C??II; Yields are maximized wherein values for feed rate (m) and percent solids (C) are selected to provide a maximum value for the output, Q, determined from the equation m*C=Q and the melt viscosity of the polyphenylene ether product is less than 50,000 centipoise at the operating temperature of the cylindrical heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric
    Inventors: David Parrillo, Probjot Singh
  • Publication number: 20040195083
    Abstract: The solar still has a frame, an evaporator within the frame and a glass sheet supported by the frame and spaced above the evaporator. The evaporator has a peripheral flange in contact with the edge of the glass sheet. The glass sheet and peripheral flange are nested within an inwardly facing channel on the frame, the sealing between the glass and the flange being by surface tension of water between the glass and the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: John Ward
  • Publication number: 20040188236
    Abstract: Process for recovery of highly pure acrylonitrile by quickly vaporizing under vacuum the contaminated acrylonitrile as well as fresh acrylonitrile followed by contacting with hydrophilic agents in an extractive distillation column using plural number of packed sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Prashant Purushottam Barve, Shrikant Madhukar Ghike, Ravindra William Shinde, Milind Yashwant Gupte, Chandrashekhar Narayan Joshi
  • Publication number: 20040182692
    Abstract: A method for processing a vitamin E acetate-containing product stream, which comprises
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Harald Laas, Jens von Erden, Frank Kinner, Bernd Rumpf
  • Publication number: 20040026225
    Abstract: The invention concerns appliances, one of which uses solar energy as sole source of power. It comprises an accumulation solar water heater (222) and quasi-reversible liquid/vapour heat exchanging alveolar elements, provided with hydrophilic coatings. Elements of types E and C, respectively assigned to water evaporation (224a, b, c) and to vapour condensation (226a-b) are interposed, with narrow free spaces, in a heat-insulated treatment chamber (223), arranged above the boiler (222). Hot water coming from the heater (222) flows in closed circuit, by thermosiphon, from the top downwards of elements E and from the bottom upwards of elements C. A slightly cooling member (242) is interposed between the bottom collectors (240-244) of elements E and C. Hot water spills over slowly from the top of the hydrophilic coatings of elements E and the vapour produced is condensed opposite, on the walls of elements C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Domen
  • Publication number: 20040020757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semibatchwise process for the mild distillative separation of mixtures, in a first stage a column being supplied continuously with a feed and the feed being separated at least into different fractions, one of the fractions being removed continuously into a container, and, in a second step, the fraction removed into the container being recycled to the column and being separated again batchwise into different fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Ludwig Deibele, Dieter Heinz, Jan Thomas Leu, Johannes-Peter Schafer, Kai Fahrenkamp, Wolfgang Scheinert, Thomas Schilling, Paul Wagner
  • Patent number: 6656327
    Abstract: An evaporation product discharged from a lower end a falling-film evaporator enters a downpipe (7), makes a 180° turn at a bottom of the downpipe, and moves upward through an annular rising channel (9) defined between the downpipe and an intermediate housing (10). As the evaporation product moves along a spiral path (12) defined by the spiral fins, centrifugal forces urges water droplets and impurities to a radial outward periphery where they pass through openings (13) in the intermediate shell as pure steam continues through the spiral path and out a pure steam outlet (21). A cooling jacket (15) chills a peripheral wall of an outer shell (14) adjacent the holes such that the discharged water droplets condense on the outer shell and flow down a reject water return path to a reject water reservoir at the bottom of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Steris Europe, Inc. Suomen Sivuliike
    Inventor: Mauri J. Salmisuo
  • Patent number: 6638398
    Abstract: A method including evaporating aqueous solutions containing ammonia, adding an acid to the evaporated vapor flow to form an ammonium salt, and condensing the vapor flow to form a liquid containing the salt. By this method the ammonia formed into a salt is not present as an inert gas layer which would impede condensation on the condenser surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hadwaco Ltd Oy
    Inventors: Leif Ramm-Schmidt, Matti Laajaniemi, Peter Koistinen
  • Patent number: 6635150
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Centre International de l'Eau de Nancy - Nancie
    Inventors: Pierre Le Goff, Jean-Marie Hornut, Viviane Renaudin
  • Patent number: 6627047
    Abstract: A method is provided for preventing an easily polymerizable substance from being polymerized in a thin-film type evaporating device by supplying a solution of the substance to the evaporating heating surface of the device by the centrifugal force of a stirring rotary shaft, characterized by mixing a distilled vapor of the substance with a molecular oxygen-containing gas and supplying the extracted liquid or a solution having lower viscosity than the extracted liquid to a feed raw material inlet thereby adjusting the quantity of a wetting liquid per unit length of the surface in the range of 0.02-2 m3/mHr. In the evaporation of the substance by the use of the device, a method for preventing the substance from polymerization is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ijiri, Takeshi Nishimura, Yukihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6623546
    Abstract: According to the invention, the vapor is taken from the condensation chamber of the dehydrator and, prior to being compressed and at a temperature substantially equal to 100° C., it is caused to pass in succession through a series of purifiers, and in each of the purifiers it is forced through rain containing a purifying solution, at least one of the rain solutions being water, another containing an acid, and another containing a base. The invention is applicable to treating the vapor that results from dehydrating a variety of kinds of matter, such as farmyard manure, in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sirven
    Inventor: Jacques Bourdel
  • Publication number: 20020157937
    Abstract: Cyclic esters of hydroxy organic acids can be produced and recovered via azeotropic distillation. In certain embodiments cyclic esters, such as glycolide and lactide, can be produced from a fermentation broth or other feed stream that comprises a hydroxy organic acid, an ammonium salt of a hydroxy organic acid, an amide of a hydroxy organic acid, or an ester of a hydroxy organic acid using azeotropic distillation. The hydroxy organic acid of the feed stream or the hydroxy organic acid derived from the feed stream by decomposition is reacted to produce the cyclic ester. In other embodiments a crude composition of a cyclic ester of an organic ester can be purified using azeotropic distillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Charles Milner Cockrem, Istvan Kovacs
  • Publication number: 20020108721
    Abstract: Volatile siloxane oligomers are removed from an emulsion containing siloxane polymers and volatile siloxane oligomers prepared by emulsion polymerization of volatile siloxane oligomers by continuously feeding the emulsion to a continuous flow device for vaporizing liquids, continuously feeding a stripping gas to the continuous flow device, continuously removing an overhead fraction of volatile siloxane oligomers from the continuous flow device, and continuously removing an unvaporized bottom fraction from the continuous flow device of an emulsion containing siloxane polymers which is substantially free of residual volatile siloxane oligomers used to prepare the emulsion. A benefit of the method is that the viscosity of the siloxane polymer in the emulsion before the emulsion is fed to the continuous flow device is substantially the same as the viscosity of the siloxane polymer in the emulsion after the emulsion is removed from the continuous flow device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Burt Michael Wrolson, Brett Lee Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6423187
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Ovation Products Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Patent number: 6365413
    Abstract: Thin film thermal oxidative engine oil or other oleaginous liquid deposit device has an oleaginous test liquid placement volume; a heatable depositor surface in liquid communication with the volume; a supply for at least one of an oxidant and another substance which can adversely affect the test liquid; and a relatively thin film forming unit which delivers the test liquid to the depositor surface in a relatively thin film. Thin film thermal oxidative engine oil or other oleaginous fluid deposit method is also provided, which includes providing an oleaginous test liquid in an oleaginous test liquid placement volume; providing a depositor surface and heating said surface; delivering the test liquid as a relatively thin film to the heated depositor surface; providing to the test liquid an oxidizing and/or other substance which can adversely affect the test liquid; and observing any deposits or other activity thereabout. The invention is useful in oil testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Savant, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Hall, David A. Dalman, Theodore W. Selby, Jennifer J. Richardson
  • Patent number: 6350352
    Abstract: A process for distillative separation of pure (meth)acrylic acid from mixtures which include comprise (meth)acrylic acid and dimers and oligomers of (meth)acrylic acid and are essentially free from aldehydes and from components whose boiling point is lower than that of (meth)acrylic acid, using a distillation apparatus which has a thin-film evaporator, a condenser and a connection which contains a baffle device and links the thin-film evaporator and the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ruprecht Kroker, Manfred Wiedemann
  • Publication number: 20020008009
    Abstract: Liquid organic material is controllably delivered to a receptacle located in the center of a heated surface capable of horizontally rotating about its central axis. As the heated surface rotates, material deposited within the central receptacle is forced outwardly and across the rotating surface. As the material moves radially, it evaporates into a vapor which is then transported to one or more nozzles. From the nozzles, the vapor is applied to a substrate and condensed. Relative to existing devices and methods, the present invention enables the evaporation of a wider variety of organic liquids, greater reliability in continuous operation, a decrease in maintenance, and a larger and more constant material flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles Daniel Lemme, Marc G. Langlois
  • Patent number: 6340414
    Abstract: Process for the recovery of fluorinated sulphonic acid including the step of subjecting the spent acid to heat treatment with stepwise or continuously increasing temperature, withdrawing at least two fractions during the heat treatment; and recovering the fluorinated sulphonic acid from each fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft
  • Patent number: 6336997
    Abstract: A heat-deteriorative compound contained in a liquid mixture is refined by a distillation procedure using a distillation column in which a vapor fraction and a liquid fraction containing the heat-deteriorative compound are generated from the liquid mixture, and a liquid film-falling reboiler in which the liquid fraction falls in the form of liquid films along inner surfaces of a plurality of vertical heat-conductive pipes at a Reynolds number (Re) of 700 to 10,000 and heated to a temperature lower than the heat-deterioration temperature of the heat deteriorative compound to such an extent that 1 to 15% by weight of the liquid fraction is evaporated per pass through the reboiler, the heated liquid fraction being returned into the distillation column to generate the vapor fraction from the liquid mixture fed into the distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Inaba, Kazunori Fujita, Hiroshi Kofuji
  • Patent number: 6334935
    Abstract: A (meth)acryloxy-bearing alkoxysilane is isolated and purified to a high purity by distilling a reaction solution containing the (meth)acryloxy-bearing alkoxysilane in a thin-layer distillation device at a temperature of 90-160° C. and a vacuum of 1-15 mmHg. The resulting alkoxysilane product does not give rise to the quality problem that the product will gradually whiten during storage owing to contact with air. The occurrence of self-polymerization of the alkoxysilane is restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Uehara, Mikio Endo, Tohru Kubota, Satoshi Uchida, Kanji Murofushi
  • Publication number: 20010050217
    Abstract: A (meth)acryloxy-bearing alkoxysilane is isolated and purified to a high purity by distilling a reaction solution containing the (meth)acryloxy-bearing alkoxysilane in a thin-layer distillation device at a temperature of 90-160° C. and a vacuum of 1-15 mmHg. The resulting alkoxysilane product does not give rise to the quality problem that the product will gradually whiten during storage owing to contact with air. The occurrence of self-polymerization of the alkoxysilane is restrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: KATSUHIRO UEHARA, MIKIO ENDO, TOHRU KUBOTA, SATOSHI UCHIDA, KANJI MUROFUSHI
  • Publication number: 20010050216
    Abstract: A process for distillative separation of pure (meth)acrylic acid from mixtures which comprise (meth)acrylic acid and dimers and oligomers of (meth)acrylic acid and are essentially free from aldehydes and from components whose boiling point is lower than that of (meth)acrylic acid, using a distillation apparatus which has a thin-film evaporator, a condenser and a connection which contains a baffle device and links the thin-film evaporator and the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: RUPRECHT KROKER, MANFRED WIEDEMANN
  • Patent number: 6080273
    Abstract: A process and a device for treating a liquid by separating out constituents contained in the liquid. Pollutants are removed or the liquid is sterilized by partial evaporization. The liquid is introduced into a vacuum tank in which a portion thereof is evaporated. The remaining liquid phase is discharged from the vacuum tank. The liquid in the vacuum tank flows under the effect of gravity on a fixed inclined or horizontal surface on which it forms a liquid film. The vapor phase emerges from the liquid film as a function of the vapor pressure defined relative to the prevailing temperature. The flow surface slopes downwardly away from the inflow of the liquid, it rises slightly or it extends horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Martin Schrems
  • Patent number: 6066232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for evaporating a liquid containing vaporizable oxidation-sensitive compounds in an evaporator in which the liquid is brought into contact with a heated solid surface for evaporation, by a process in which direct contact between the resulting vapor phase and the heated solid surface is substantially avoided. It also directed to an evaporator composed of a heatable solid surface (16), an apparatus (2, 3) for heating the solid surface and an apparatus (10) for feeding a liquid containing vaporizable compounds to the heatable solid surface, wherein the apparatus for feeding the liquid is designed and arranged in the evaporator in such a way (12, 14, 18) that direct contact between a resulting vapor phase and the heatable solid surface is substantially avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Mohr, Frans Vansant, Axel Werner Polt, Stephan Scholl, Siegfried Kruger, Hartmut Staatz
  • Patent number: 5944950
    Abstract: The process for the final evaporation has at least two evaporation appliances. These appliances are coupled in series with respect to the black liquor and in parallel with the live steam (primary steam), which drives the evaporation, and with the secondary steam that is generated by the evaporation. The pressure of the primary steam that is supplied to the appliance(s) where the liquor concentration is at the highest concentration is greater than the pressure of the primary steam supplied to the other appliances where the liquor concentration is not so high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Lars Olausson, Olle Wennberg
  • Patent number: 5904814
    Abstract: A process for removing water and ammonia from benzophenone imine reactor effluents resulting from the catalytic reaction of benzophenones of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, have the meaning stated in the specification and wherein ammonia is distilled off from effluents and wherein water is either distilled off from the effluents over removed non-distillatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guido Voit, Matthias Dernbach, Karl Beck, Martin Holderbaum, Hans-Jurgen Weyer
  • Patent number: 5873981
    Abstract: A is a process for removing water from an alkanesulfonic acid such as methanesulfonic acid or ethanesulfonic acid by mixing an azeotropic excess of a phenolic compound with water and the alkanesulfonic acid, then boiling off substantially all of the water, and leaving as a remnant substantially all the alkanesulfonic acid and some of the phenol. This process is particularly useful for recycling an alkanesulfonic acid for a reaction which requires the phenolic compound as one of the reagents. One such reaction is the alkanesulfonic acid catalyzed condensation reaction of a phenolic compound with an .alpha.haloketone to form a chlorinated intermediate of a dihydroxy-.alpha.-alkylstilbene such as 4,4'-dihydroxy-.alpha.-alkylstilbene (DHAMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Son T. Nguyen, Louis L. Walker, Katherine S. Clement
  • Patent number: 5868908
    Abstract: A process for separating inorganic salts from a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide, water and salts including feeding the solution plus a hydrocarbon based oil to a vacuum thin film evaporator. The DMSO and water are vaporized and condensed outside the evaporator for reuse or further purification. The salt and oil exit the evaporator as a liquid phase slurry. Water is added to the slurry to dissolve the salt and produce an aqueous phase and an oil phase which are separated. The oil phase is recycled to the thin film evaporator portion of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: WRR Environmental Services Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Hager
  • Patent number: 5795446
    Abstract: A method and equipment for heat-of-vaporization transfer in a heat exchanger, using steam bubbles. To achieve higher transfers at slight overheating, and with a very simple design, steam bubbles are introduced into evaporation chambers formed between heat exchanger walls, said bubbles then being deformed by said walls and rising in-between them. As they rise, the steam bubbles form a thin liquid film between themselves and the heat exchanger walls, with constrained convection inside the film. As a result excellent local conditions for heat conduction are achieved. Moreover the liquid is well mixed and by evaporation into the bubble it is cooled as far as the immediate vicinity of the heat exchanger walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Eduard Kirschmann
  • Patent number: 5766412
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for reducing the amount of waste water and recovering reusable constituents from a waste stream comprising at least two constituents having different relative volatilities. The system includes a vapor thermocompression evaporator, into which the waste stream is directed, to vaporize one of the constituents within the waste stream without appreciably vaporizing other constituents in the waste stream. The vapor thermocompression evaporator also has a vapor compressor for compressing the vaporized fraction of the first constituent and delivering this compressed vaporized fraction to transfer heat to the waste stream. The system further has a film evaporator in series with the vapor thermocompression evaporator which transfers heat to the stream after it leaves the vapor thermocompression to vaporize substantially all of the first constituent without appreciably vaporizing the second constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Recovery Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jay M. Railey
  • Patent number: 5710261
    Abstract: Aliphatic alcohols with up to 30 and especially with 6 to 18 carbon atoms are separated from a mixture of alkyl glycosides and alcohols which are unreacted during the production of these glycosides, by single or multi-stage distillation. The alcohols are distilled off by a drop film evaporator to impoverish the reaction mixture to residual alcohol contents of 5 wt % and under. The strip load of the drop film evaporator is set to at least 1.0 m.sup.3 /h m, especially at least 1.8 m.sup.3 /h m and preferably at least 3.0 m.sup.3 /h m. It is possible to reduce the alcohol content of the product to any value between 0.1 and 5 wt % at acceptable overall cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Wilhelm Johannisbauer, Michael Nitsche, Lutz Jeromin
  • Patent number: 5683555
    Abstract: Reaction mixtures obtained in addition reactions of OH-- or NH-- carrying compounds with acetylene or propyne in the presence of alkali metal alcoholates or alkali metal amides are worked up by distilling off the vaporizable components from the reaction mixture in a thin-film evaporator. Before removal of the vaporizable components from the reaction mixture, a particularly defined polyether is added thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Heider, Michael Karcher, Martin Schmidt-Radde, Albrecht Dams
  • Patent number: 5630914
    Abstract: A method for decontaminating a liquid of a contaminant having a vapor pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid. A contaminated liquid is directed through an inclined conduit. A gas is directed into the inclined conduit, whereby the gas contacts the liquid and transports the contaminant, which has volatilized in the inclined conduit, out of the inclined conduit, thereby decontaminating the liquid. The liquid is discharged from the inclined conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Pharm-Eco Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yesh P. Sachdeva, Richard L. Gabriel
  • Patent number: 5607558
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating the components of and/or decomposing a liquid material, involving the application of an artificial gravitational field to a liquid material by rotating the liquid material in a rotatable vessel. A non-rotatable mechanical member contacts the liquid material while the liquid material is exposed to the artificial gravitational field. The liquid material is thusly subjected to thermomechanical frictional heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Olav Ellingsen
  • Patent number: 5582692
    Abstract: A method for the separation and purification in a single pass of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which method can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Artisan Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Baird
  • Patent number: 5562808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for decontaminating a liquid surfactant of a dioxane having a vapor pressure which is higher than the surfactant. A contaminated liquid surfactant is directed through an inclined conduit. A gas is directed into the inclined conduit, whereby the gas contacts the surfactant and transports the dioxane contaminant, which has volatilized in the inclined conduit, out of the inclined conduit, thereby decontaminating the surfactant. The liquid surfactant is discharged from the inclined conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Pharm-Eco Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yesh P. Sachdeva, Richard L. Gabriel
  • Patent number: 5556516
    Abstract: 1-aminopropanediol-2,3 containing 2-aminopropanediol-1,3 of less than 0.30% by weight can be prepared by the present purification process, which involves distilling a 1-aminopropanediol-2,3 containing at least 0.3% of 2-aminopropanediol-1,3 based on the weight of 1-aminopropanediol-2,3 using a distillation column, said distillation column having low pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Koyama, Etsuo Takemoto
  • Patent number: 5534113
    Abstract: A solution of cellulose is formed by moving a premix of a tertiary amine N-oxide, water and cellulose through a thin-film evaporator using a bladed rotor under treatment conditions which specify, inter alia, an area of heated surface (1 m.sup.2 to 125 m.sup.2), a blade speed (2.5 to 8 m/sec), a pressure (25 to 100 mb) and a temperature (90.degree. to 135.degree. C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Courtaulds Fibres (Holdings) Limited & Buss AG
    Inventors: Michael C. Quigley, Rainer F. Naef
  • Patent number: 5472575
    Abstract: A rotary evaporator is described utilizing a magnetically driven fluorocarbon cylinder, operating within a solvent container, to create a thin solvent film for rapid evaporation without the usual requirement for rotating the entire solvent container assembly. Infra-red heating is employed for efficient evaporation rates. Solvent heating is controlled during evaporation by a single temperature probe, turning the infra-red heater on and off on demand of the probe. Over heating of the product is prevented by maintaining a solvent residue at or near the conclusion of an evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Maustat Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Parkinson, Francis Gomer
  • Patent number: 5421962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to water treatment using solar energy.The desalination plant includes an evaporator-desalter communicating with an intake system for water to be desalinated and a vapour and condensate discharge system. The evaporator is essentially at least a portion of a water pool wherein the density of water is higher than that of the water being desalinated, and mounted above the water pool are atomizers and branch pipes of the vapour and condensate discharge system. The atomizers and the branch pipes are provided with a collapsible roof. The surface of the water pool of the evaporator is covered with a film having floating elements shaped as balls.The invention can be used for water desalination in droughty and waterless coastal areas nearby the seas and oceans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Mikhail E. Shvarts, Alexei M. Shvarts
  • Patent number: 5419815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying fatty acid amides, which contains the following process steps:neutralization of the fatty acid by addition of an aqueous alkaline solution andsubsequent distillation of the neutralized mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Hoechst AG
    Inventors: Norbert Doerpinghaus, Siegbert Rittner
  • Patent number: 5411640
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Arnold Ramsland
  • Patent number: 5364500
    Abstract: A silver nitrate feed solution containing nitrites and nitric acid is treated to produce a low-nitrite silver nitrate product solution. In the process, the temperature of the feed solution is established in the range of from about 80.degree. C. to about the boiling point of the feed solution. The feed solution is introduced into a vessel having a stripping zone containing a contacting element and is dispersed over the contacting element. The feed solution is flowed counter to and intimately contacted in the stripping zone with a motive gas to strip nitrites from solution and form a low-nitrite silver nitrate product solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Patrick M. Chefalo, Andrius A. Naujokas, Stephen M. Popham, Gary M. DiStefano, Robert J. Buesing
  • Patent number: 5316628
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously exchanging material and for exchanging heat, material change being effected between a gas phase and at least one liquid phase by contact and passage in opposite directions of the gas phase and of the at least one liquid phase and heat exchange being effected between a compartment (I) and another compartment (II). In compartment (I) a plurality of spacer plates defining material exchange passages are arranged and the material exchange is effected by causing the at least one liquid phase to flow over a substantially vertical or inclined wall of a corrugated spacer plate having perforations and by causing at least a fraction of the gas phase to traverse simultaneously said perforations in a substantially ascending direction to contact said at least one liquid phase. The heat exchange is effected by circulating a heat exchange fluid in the compartment (II) which has a common wall with the compartment (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Collin, Joseph Larue, Alexandre Rojey, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 5302255
    Abstract: Polyether glycols, especially poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMEG) having a narrow molecular weight distribution of about 1.25 to 1.80, or dispersity of 1.05 to 1.90, are made by a process involving distilling the low molecular weight fraction in unit operations including at least one short-path distillation evaporator. Two short-path distillation evaporators, in series, are desirable if significant narrowing of the PTMEG is required. In these units, PTMEG is subjected to temperatures in the range of 270.degree.-400.degree. C. with the hold-up time varying between 10-200 seconds. The required vacuum to force the separation of the low molecular weight PTMEG varies between 0.001 mm and 1.0 mbar. PTMEG residue from the distillation unit is also characterized by its low water content and low concentration of oligomeric cyclic ethers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Suriyanarayan Dorai, Frank L. Rawling, Jr., James A. Schultz