Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for separating salts, minerals, organic matter and other impurities from seawater, brackish water, wastewater or other water resources by freezing contained water in a downward vertical direction. Generally, feed water is pumped into a tank and a refrigerant contacts the upper surface of the feed water to form a layer of ice. During this process, salt and other impurities are rejected from the ice layer into the feed water below. By continuing this process, the feed water will freeze in a downward direction as the ice layer thickens. Salt and other impurities will continue to be rejected into the feed water and may be drained from the tank through a drain pipe after a block of ice is formed. Additional feed water may then be pumped into the tank to raise the block of ice for removal or ejection from the tank.

Abstract: A feedwater heater (10) for a steam generator communicating feedwater through an external heat exchanger (12), a deaerator (14) that allows the use of carbon steel feedwater tubes, a first heater (16), an evaporator section (18) and steam drum (17) for communicating a portion of the feedwater in the form of steam to the deaerator (14), and a second heater (20).

Abstract: A method of natural gas liquefaction may include cooling a gaseous NG process stream to form a liquid NG process stream. The method may further include directing the first tail gas stream out of a plant at a first pressure and directing a second tail gas stream out of the plant at a second pressure. An additional method of natural gas liquefaction may include separating CO2 from a liquid NG process stream and processing the CO2 to provide a CO2 product stream. Another method of natural gas liquefaction may include combining a marginal gaseous NG process stream with a secondary substantially pure NG stream to provide an improved gaseous NG process stream. Additionally, a NG liquefaction plant may include a first tail gas outlet, and at least a second tail gas outlet, the at least a second tail gas outlet separate from the first tail gas outlet.

Abstract: In a temperature control system using a controlled mix of high temperature pressurized gas and a cooled vapor/liquid flow of the same medium to cool a thermal load to a target temperature in a high energy environment, particular advantages are obtained in precision and efficiency by passing at least a substantial percentage of the cooled vapor/liquid flow through the thermal load directly, and thereafter mixing the output with a portion of the pressurized gas flow. This “post load mixing” approach increases the thermal transfer coefficient, improves control and facilities target temperature change. Ad added mixing between the cooled expanded flow and a lesser flow of pressurized gas also is used prior to the input to the thermal load. A further feature, termed a remote “Line Box”, enables transport of the separate flows of the two phase medium through a substantial spacing from pressurizing and condensing units without undesired liquefaction in the transport lines.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for producing liquefied gas, such as liquefied natural gas. In one embodiment, a liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream may sequentially pass through a compressor and an expander. The process stream may also pass through a compressor. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. A portion of the liquid gas may be used for additional cooling. Gas produced within the system may be recompressed for reintroduction into a receiving line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through an expander creating work output. A compressor may be driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates a vapor from the liquid natural gas. A portion of the liquid gas is used for additional cooling. Gas produced within the system may be recompressed for reintroduction into a receiving line or recirculation within the system for further processing.

Abstract: Multi-stage vacuum distilling, cooling, and freezing processes for solution separation and seawater desalination are implemented through multi-stage vacuum distilling, cooling, and freezing systems. The systems are set to their initial state for implementing constant temperature distilling process, drain-to-vacuum and freezing process, transferring of a specific solution, and recycling of a hot circulating solution, so as to separate the specific solution. In the multi-stage cooling process, vacuum evaporation cooling is utilized to cool the solution in order to supply the low-temperature solution needed in the multi-stage vacuum freezing process. Vapors produced in the multi-stage vacuum distilling and cooling systems provide condensation heat needed to melt ice crystals produced in the multi-stage vacuum freezing system.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting and storing carbon dioxide from fumes derived from the combustion of hydrocarbons in an apparatus designed in particular for the production of mechanical energy comprises: exchangers (11, 25) and a dehydrator (56), for extracting water from the fumes in liquid form at a pressure more or less equal to atmospheric pressure; an integrated cascaded refrigerating apparatus (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 32, 33, 34, 39, 40), for cooling the fumes at a pressure more or less equal to atmospheric pressure and at a temperature such that the carbon dioxide passes directly from the vapor state to the solid state, via an anti-sublimation process; a fixed (49) and/or removable (51) reservoir and suction means, in particular a pneumatic pump (48), for storing the carbon dioxide in liquid form after defrosting.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process and apparatus for delivering ultra high purity liquid carbon dioxide to a point of use at pressures above ambient without pumping. In the process a high purity carbon dioxide feed in gaseous or liquid form is charged to a vessel and at least partially solidified, i.e., converted to a solid phase. As the liquid is converted to a solid phase, additional liquid is added until the vessel is at least substantially filled with slush. Once filled, the slush or solid is isochorically heated, i.e., heated at constant volume whereby the solid phase carbon dioxide is converted to a liquid. Liquid, then, is withdrawn from the vessel at a desired pressure at a rate at which the solid phase carbon dioxide is converted to a liquid.

Abstract: A clathrate freeze desalination system and method in which a clathrate forming agent is injected through a submerged pipeline to a predetermined ocean depth at which the surrounding ocean temperature is less than the clathrate forming temperature. The agent combines with the salt water to form a slurry of clathrate ice crystals and brine. The pipeline is concentric and coaxial with a surrounding outer pipeline in which the slurry is formed. The slurry is pumped back to the surface through the outer pipeline and the ice crystals are washed to remove brine. The washed crystals are then melted, and the resultant water is separated from the clathrate forming agent, which may be discarded or recycled for re-injection through the inner pipeline. The melting of the clathrate ice as well as the cold water and air circulating in the desalination plant can be utilized as a source of air conditioning for local buildings and facilities.

Abstract: Adiabatic self-evaporation cooling of a refrigerant is performed in a crystallizer for a treated organic matter which contains the refrigerant and is fed into the crystallizer. Crystals produced by the adiabatic self-evaporation cooling are withdrawn from the crystallize. An evaporated vapor is introduced from the crystallizer into an absorber so as to be contacted with a concentrated solution transformed from a generator for condensation in the absorber. A condensate is introduced from the absorber into the generator, the refrigerant is evaporated in the generator, an evaporated vapor is introduced from the generator to the condenser, the evaporated vapor is condensed in the condenser, a condensate is supplied from the condenser to the crystallizer and the concentrated solution is circulated between the absorber and the generator by returning the concentrated solution, in which the concentration of an absorbent is increased by the generator to the absorber.

Abstract: Distillative Freezing Process is an energy conserving process for separating mixtures and superpurifying chemicals. The wet and dry distillative freezing process disclosed represents a major improvement to the distillative freezing technology and has significantly broadened its application field: the drying-up temperature and pressure are significantly higher than those of the corresponding direct dry process and a major fraction of low volatility impurities in the feed can also be removed. A basic wet and dry distillative freezing process comprises (a) a first step of transforming a liquid feed mixture into a first solid-liquid mixture, denoted as K.sub.1 mixture, (b) a second step of washing the K.sub.1 mixture with a wash liquid to thereby form a second solid-liquid mixture, denoted as K.sub.2 mixture, and an impure liquid L.sub.2, and (c) a third step of subjecting the K.sub.2 mixture to a dry distillative freezing operation to thereby form a mass of refined solid phase, denoted as S.sub.

Abstract: An improved crystallization process is disclosed for separating a crystallizable material and an excluded material which is at least partially excluded from the solid phase of the crystallizable material obtained upon freezing a liquid phase of the materials. The solid phase is more dense than the liquid phase, and it is separated therefrom by relative movement with the formation of a packed bed of solid phase. The packed bed is continuously formed adjacent its lower end and passed from the liquid phase into a countercurrent flow of backwash liquid. The packed bed extends through the level of the backwash liquid to provide a drained bed of solid phase adjacent its upper end which is melted by a condensing vapor.

Abstract: The parallel contact distillative freezing process is an improved distillative freezing process. The distillative freezing process is used in separating a mixture containing at least two volatile components, denoted respectively as A-component and B-component, by simultaneously vaporizing the two components from the mixture under a sufficiently reduced pressure to simultaneously crystalline B-component. The vapor mixture obtained is brought to a condensed state by lowering its temperature a few degrees without substantially pressurizing it. The process may be continued to completely eliminate the liquid phase and bring the mixture into the two phase solid-vapor region. Then, the solid phase is no longer contaminated by the adhering liquid phase and gives a high purity B-component on melting.

Abstract: The treatment of dilute solutions and freeze concentrations thereof by means of steam jet refrigeration pre-cooling of a feed solution sprayed into an absorber-freezer means in which heat is absorbed from the jet refrigeration and from which ice slurry is charged into a melter-worker means discharging product melt and concentrated by-product, and super-cooled by vapor compression refrigeration wherein the refrigerant is simultaneously condensed and chilled by the steam jet refrigeration for pre-cooling the feed solution, steam power therefor being supplied by the Peltier effect in a diffusion still separating water and concentrated refrigerant.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating paraffin from oil in refineries wherein such separation is accomplished by a cooling process, in a heat exchanger, the apparatus controlling the cooling process by sensing either the pressure upstream of the heat exchanger and directly controlling the flow through a heat exchanger bypass, or sensing the temperature downstream of the heat exchanger and inversely controlling the flow through a heat exchanger bypass, the flow control in each case regulating the flow of cooling liquid through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: In the Improved Vacuum-Freezing High Pressure Ice Melting Process, an aqueous solution is flash vaporized under a reduced pressure to simultaneously form a low pressure water vapor and ice crystals. The ice formed is first purified in a counter-washer and then melted inside of heat conductive conduits under a high pressure (e.g. 600 atm.) and the low pressure water vapor is desublimed to form desublimate (ice) on the outside of the conduits. The latent heat of desublimation released is utilized in supplying the heat needed in the ice-melting operation. The desublimate is removed intermittently by an in-situ dissolution operation utilizing an aqueous such as the feed solution or the concentrate; about an equivalent amount of ice is formed inside of the conduits by an exchange freezing operation. The ice so formed is also melted by the high pressure ice melting operation described. The process uses components that are available commercially and can be reliably operated.

Abstract: A method for separating components of a substance, for example, a fatty acid ester such as palm oil, by dissolving the substance in a solvent. The resultant solution is circulated and cooled in a circuit with crystals being formed in the solution as the temperature is lowered. The crystals are continuously separated from the circulating solution during the crystal separation phase of the process. The crystals are then preferably washed and recovered. Preferably there is a second crystallization phase in the process. The invention includes the apparatus used to carry out the process and, particularly, novel fractionating columns and filter surfaces within said columns used in the preferred embodiments of the process.

Abstract: The distillative freezing process disclosed is useful in separating a mixture containing at least two volatile components, denoted respectively as A-component and B-component, by simultaneously vaporizing the two components from the mixture under a sufficiently reduced pressure to simultaneously crystallize B-component. The vapor mixture obtained is brought to a condensed state either by a simple condensation operation or a condensation-desublimation operation without being substantially pressurized. The process may be conducted to completely eliminate the liquid phase and bring the mixture into the two phase solid-vapor region. Then, the solid phase in no longer contaminated by the adhering liquid phase and gives a high purity B-component on melting. The process is particularly useful in separating mixtures containing close boiling components, such as styrene-ethyl benzene mixtures, p-xylene-m-xylene mixtures and ethylene-ethane mixtures.