Abstract: Saline water, typically sea water or brackish water, after deaeration and deoxygenation is preheated, then further heated by steam condensing with the preheated saline water. By the further heating, bicarbonates are thermally decomposed, forming carbon dioxide, while scale compounds, comprising magnesium hydroxide, anhydrite and minor compounds containing silica, iron, alumina, phosphate, etc., are thermally precipitated. Some of the steam is uncondensed and issues from the further heated saline water with included, evolved carbon dioxide. It is condensed in preheating saline water; evolved carbon dioxide is separated from the condensate and recycled to the saline water to prevent alkaline scale in preheating, while condensate is combined with the further heated saline water, forming post-thermal saline water. This is flash vaporized while cooling and the steam is regenerated by compressing the flashed vapors.

Abstract: A distillation process for removing light ends impurities from alkyl esters of carboxylic acids wherein a purified ester is removed as residue, and wherein an inert gas and water are added to the overhead vapors from the distillation so as to facilitate separation of the light ends therefrom.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator including a vertically oriented pipe heated exteriorly by a steam jacket and interiorly by a finned steam tube, all heating surfaces of the pipe and steam tube being formed of a material wet by water such as stainless steel, and packing within the pipe consisting of Raschig rings formed of a material that is not wet by water such as polyvinylidene fluoride.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering residual oil from solids previously substantially dehydrated by a process wherein a slurry of water-wet solids in oil is subjected to a heat evaporation step to substantially remove the water. The oil is then largely expressed from the solids after which the solids still containing some oil as residual oil are extracted with a relatively low viscosity and relatively volatile water-immiscible light oil. The light oil-laden solids are then brought into direct contact with steam whereby the presence of the steam effectively reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Excess externally supplied steam and light oil vapor are used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: Vertical tube type cracking furnace in which a convection-heating section for preheating the process fluid is provided above the combustion chamber, and gas passages connecting the convection-heating section and the combustion chamber are symmetrically provided.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water from aqueous wastes by evaporation while avoiding scaling and fouling as well as corrosion of the evaporator tubes. Addition of an oil, preferably a volatile oil, to the aqueous waste feed results in the formation of a coating of said oil on the surfaces of the tubes, thereby preventing corrosion and fouling and build-up of scale deposits. Volatile oil that distills over is separated from the aqueous distillate by conventional means and may be recirculated.

Abstract: Crude phosphate ester products resulting from the phosphorylation of phenol, lower alkyl phenols and mixtures of same are purified to prepare triaryl phosphates substantially free of unreacted phenols by the sequential steps of flash distillation and fractional distillation under controlled conditions with removal of the phosphate ester product as a liquid underflow.

Abstract: The contact plate for mass-exchange apparatus consists of two disks facing each other with their end surfaces and capable of mutual rotation round the axis thereof. Each disk has one slit-like hole shaped as an Archimedean spiral so that when one disk rotates with reference to the other said holes overlap each other.

Abstract: Voluminous precipitates or suspensions are contacted countercurrently with liquid purification or extraction agents that hold the continuously supplied precipitate or suspension in the upwardly flowing liquid in a kind of fluidized bed. A suitable apparatus is also described.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of evaporating an aqueous solution containing dissolved solids or mineral salts without adherence of the solids or mineral salts to any surfaces contacting the aqueous solution which comprises the following steps:A. Flowing the aqueous solution as an outside or continuous medium, mixed with sufficient dispersed oil to form a continuous film on all preferentially oil wettable contacting surfaces, upwardly through a confined heating and vaporizing zone having therein contacting heating elements, the surfaces of which are of substantially zero water adsorbent polymeric fluorocarbon material and totally wetted with a film of oil, thereby converting a portion of the aqueous solution to water vapor and precipitated solids, and forming a mixture of oil, misty vapors, solids, and remaining aqueous solution; andB.

Abstract: An evaporation apparatus for use in the evaporation, concentration, and/or purification of solutions containing alkali metal hydroxides and alkali metal chlorides, which apparatus has a liquid receiving chamber for the solutions being processed, a flow-through heating zone containing heat transfer elements, a separation chamber for forming a liquid-vapor mixture of the solution being processed, passageways connecting said chambers and said zones, and baffle and distribution means positioned within said chambers, zones and/or passageways, the improvement which comprises forming at least a portion of those surfaces of the said heat transfer elements, chambers, zones, passageways, baffle and distribution means of said apparatus which are in contact with the solution of said alkali metal hydroxide and said alkali metal chloride at temperatures in excess of about 50.degree. C of a ferritic stainless steel having the following composition:Carbon Up to 0.01% by weight Manganese Up to 0.

Abstract: A method for collecting a solid product from a liquid phase or liquid phase-gaseous phase feed stock. A solid forming zone is provided for accommodating the liquid phase or liquid phase-gaseous phase feed stock having a density greater than that of a liquid to be fed. A precipitation zone is provided at its lower portion with a feed port for feeding the liquid and a discharge port for taking out the solid product and communicating with the solid forming zone at its upper portion. The precipitation zone is provided therein with stirring means by which the solid product and liquid are contacted with each other countercurrently. The solid product is washed with the liquid and the density relation between the liquid phase and the liquid is reversed as the latter moves upwardly in the precipitation zone. Solid oxamide may be produced from cyanogen.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the growth of single crystal material from polycrystalline material by combining the pedestal and cold crucible techniques to yield a method of producing large, high purity single crystals on a commercial scale. The method includes feeding a bar of polycrystalline material, such as silicon, into a cold cage which can be a cold silver crucible or the like having an aperture in the bottom thereof to permit insertion of the polycrystalline feed bar. An RF coil surrounds the cold cage and melts the silicon as it reaches into the cage, the RF coil providing a temperature to the silicon material which is slightly above the melting point thereof. A rod of single crystal material, the same as the feed bar, is positioned in the melt from the top surface of the cold cage and acts as a seed crystal. The single crystal rod is then pulled upwardly from the cage while polycrystalline silicon is fed into the cage through the aperture in the bottom thereof.

Abstract: A new self-cleaning salt dissolver construction which includes a special dissolving zone which supports the salt for dissolution while at the same time permitting the collection of sludge-impurities in the dissolving zone such that the sludge-impurities can be removed by a special cleaning operation when desired, without requiring the removal of the salt bed from the dissolver.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement on the hot water process for recovering bitumen from tar sand. The aqueous slurry of tar sand is introduced into a first vessel, termed the sand separation cell, containing a body of hot water. The coarse sand settles out and is discharged as tailings. The top product, comprising bitumen, water and fine sand, is transferred to a second vessel, termed the froth formation cell, containing a second body of hot water. In this latter cell, the bitumen forms froth and is recovered, and the fine solids and some water are recycled to the lower end of the sand separation cell. Because the coarse sand has previously been removed in the sand separation cell, good distribution of the feed across the cross-sectional area of the froth formation cell is achieved. This leads to good recoveries and froth quality.

Abstract: In the processing of a corrosive liquid mixture, such as 50 to 80% aqueous sulfuric acid, by its passage over one surface of a wall of inert heat resistant material, and heating the other surface of said wall, thereby to evaporate from said corrosive liquid mixture the more volatile component thereof, the improvement which comprises heating said wall by contact with an inert liquid material, and heating said inert liquid material indirectly through heat exchange with a normally solid molten material. Desirably the wall of inert material is a pipe surrounded by a molten metal in a first annular jacket and a molten salt in a second annular jacket.

Abstract: An evaporation system for radioactive waste concentration comprises an evaporation chamber, a heat exchanger, and a circulation pump arranged in an upstanding spaced-apart configuration and enclosed within a radiation shield whereby access to the system is limited and frequently only possible from overhead. The steam chest of the heat exchanger is suspended from a removable top plate to allow removal for repair or replacement without exposing maintenance personnel to radiation. A novel circulation pump having a vertical shaft and propeller supported from a top plate which can be removed from overhead also allows maintenance or replacement of the pump without exposure to radiation or having to drain the system.

Abstract: A multistage flash-evaporator for producing soft water from a saline water, comprising a shell forming a pair of lobes enclosing therebetween a spinal portion in symmetrical arrangement with respect to a vertical longitudinal mid-plane. The top and bottom walls of the spinal portion are, in cross-sectional shape, circular arcs having their centres of curvature on the said mid-plane, while the lobes are polycentric curves each of which has its centres of curvature on a plane parallel to the mid-plane. A specifically shaped hood arrangement in the shell is provided to define in each stage a condensation chamber centrally located between a pair of evaporation chambers.

Abstract: A method of isolating rubber-like polymers from hydrocarbon solutions comprises at least three steps of steaming and a device for realization of this method in which the hydrocarbon solution is delivered into the upper section of the vertical column of the device, which is the first steaming step at which the temperature is maintained within the range from 80.degree. to 180.degree.C. At the first steaming step, the hydrocarbon solution is processed by steam which is delivered into the sections of the device through the steam intake. During this process the main bulk of the solvent is evaporated and the polymer is isolated in the form of granules. The solvent vapor, together with steam, are delivered to the condensation step. The isolated granules of the polymer are mixed with water to prepare an aqueous suspension by mechanical stirring means which are provided in each separate section of the column.

Abstract: Water containing dissolved salt, e.g., sea water, is desalinized by vaporng a part thereof by direct contact with a flame within a closed vessel, e.g., by introducing the water as a spray into a closed vessel onto the flame, removing a gaseous mixture of vaporized water and combustion products, and condensing the water in the mixture within a condenser, while withdrawing unvaporized residual water, enriched in salt, from the bottom of the vessel at a rate to maintain a pool thereof in the vessel.