Abstract: The invention relates to a packing assembly for a material exchange column, comprising at least one structured packing plate and a container in which the at least one structured packing plate is arranged. The at least one structured packing plate has packing packets. Each packing packet has interconnected packing sheets. The packing sheets are corrugated and have corrugation peaks and corrugation valleys. Adjacent packing sheets contact each other at the corrugation peaks. Additional corrugated packing sheets are added between the packing packets such that the at least one packing plate is pretensioned against the container in a radial direction thereof. Both the corrugated packing sheets of the packing packets as well as the additional corrugated packing sheet added between the packing packets are arranged solely on a common preferred plane or parallel thereto.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the energy efficiency of biorefinery drying operations through integration of a dryer that utilizes the heat of condensation of process vapors to dry material whose emissions are captured with energy recovery. The dryer separates clean process vapors (e.g., ethanol) and steam from vapors containing volatile organic compounds and entrained materials, to minimize the need for vapor cleanup. An indirect dryer condenses vapors in a tube dryer similar to a steam tube dryer, but utilizing compressed process vapors, transferring the heat to wet material undergoing drying. The resulting exhaust vapors are either directed to a process stage that requires heat (e.g., distillation) and minimizes the need for vapor cleanup or to an out-of-contact heat exchanger that produces vapors for process use, or to another dryer as an additional effect. Mechanical-vapor recompression or thermal-vapor recompression are employed to produce vapors that optimize overall energy recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating acetone from acetone/water mixtures, according to which a partial flow of the acetone/water mixture is concentrated in a column operating under positive pressure in order to obtain a product with an acetone concentration of at least 80 wt. %, and a partial flow of the acetone/water mixture is concentrated in a column operating under normal pressure. The top product from the column operated under positive pressure is used to heat the bottom product of the column operated under normal pressure, by means of a heat exchanger, and the top product is then introduced into the column operated under normal pressure, above the supply of the partial flow of the acetone/water mixture. This method allows the specific energy demand for acetone separation to be significantly reduced, thereby presenting considerable cost advantages. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary evaporator having a rotary drive, having an evaporator flask rotatable about an axis of rotation by the rotary drive, having a vapor tube, and having a glass structure adjoining the vapor tube in the direction of vapor flow, wherein a filter connected upstream of the glass structure, in particular upstream of the vapor tube, is provided for filtering solids from a vapor flow.

Abstract: The object is to provide a method for producing an alcohol by applying a multiple-effect method to improve the energy efficiency of the whole process. The object is achieved by a method for producing an alcohol including a concentration step of introducing a water-alcohol mixed solution into a multiple-effect distillation column for concentrating the same; a condensation step of introducing a vapor recovered from the top of the distillation column into a condenser for condensing the same; and a separation step of introducing the water-alcohol mixed solution condensed in the condensation step in a liquid phase into a membrane separation apparatus for separating the water and alcohol in the mixed solution.

Abstract: An adsorptive gas separator incorporates a stator having plurality of a fluid passages where a thermal conductivity between a plurality of fluid passages is below a threshold thermal conductivity, to reduce the transfer of heat across the stator. A stator of an adsorptive gas separator may employ a port assembly having a low thermal conductivity and a floating seal which provides for sealing of heat and a fluid stream.

Abstract: An inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator based concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic system powered water desalination system comprises a concentrating electricity and heat cogeneration subsystem, a battery storage subsystem, a thermal storage subsystem with electric heater, a thermal power regeneration subsystem, and a water distillation system with electric heater. The inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator makes the concentrating system substantially low cost, and the hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panels used to construct the cogeneration receiver make the system ultra-high efficient. The cogenerated thermal energy is stored in a thermal storage and the cogenerated electric energy is stored in a battery storage to heat the stored thermal energy to pre-set high temperature for thermal power regeneration. The thermal energy after thermal power generation is used to desalinize water with assistance of electric heater powered by the stored electricity.

Abstract: A system for removing fine particulate matter from an aerosol, which, using a fine particulate matter capture device (1) comprising sheet members (2) parallel to each other and an interferent (3) between the sheet members, causes the aerosol to form a turbulent flow in passages between the sheet members (2), settles fine particulate matter in the aerosol on the outer surfaces of the sheet members under the action of turbulent fluctuation, thermophoretic force and/or vapor pressure gradient force, and meanwhile forms a water film on the outer surfaces of the sheet members (2) to prevent settled particulate matter from being carried away again by an air flow. The system is able to effectively remove fine particulate matter from an aerosol, especially sub-micron particulate matter, and significantly reduce the number concentration thereof.

Abstract: An agricultural equipment air screen cleaning assembly having a frame having an airflow opening having a non-circular outer perimeter, a screen mounted to the frame within the airflow opening and extending to the non-circular outer perimeter, a motor, and a suction wand operatively connected to the motor and located on an upstream side of the screen. The suction wand is rotatably connected about a rotation axis at a central region of the screen, and includes: at least one distal end that is movable in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis to follow the non-circular outer perimeter as the suction wand rotates about the rotation axis, one or more inlet openings facing the screen, and an internal suction flow path in fluid connection with the one or more inlet openings, the suction flow path extending from a manifold to the distal end of the suction wand.

Abstract: A method of retorting oil shale is provided, comprising: continuously feeding oil shale into a retorting unit; heating the retorting unit using renewable electrical energy; converting the oil-shale kerogen into kerogen oil; conveying a cross-flow sweep gas across a moving bed of the oil shale, to carry the kerogen oil out of the retorting unit; recovering the kerogen oil; and recovering spent oil shale. The combination of electrical heating and cross-flow retorting achieves uniform heating to optimize the production of hydrocarbons. A system for retorting oil shale is also provided, comprising: a retorting unit; an inlet for continuously feeding oil shale; electrical-energy elements within the retorting unit; an inlet for conveying a cross-flow sweep gas through the retorting unit; and an outlet for the cross-flow sweep gas carrying the kerogen oil. The principles of the invention may be applied to ex situ systems, in situ systems, or hybrid systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for recycling plastics, electronics, munitions or propellants. In particular, the method comprises reacting a feed stock with a molten aluminum or aluminum alloy bath. The apparatus includes a reaction vessel for carrying out the reaction, as well as other equipment necessary for capturing and removing the reaction products. Further, the process can be used to cogenerate electricity using the excess heat generated by the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to scalable processes for extracting, refining and remediating extracts of natural products, such as plant material and for providing well controlled refined extract.

Abstract: An airborne dust cleaner includes a case having an inlet at one side thereof, an outlet at another side thereof, and a space therein, a vortex vacuum generator installed at the inlet and generating and extending a low-pressure zone of a donut-like vortex around the inlet to collect fine dust, and a filtering assembly installed at the outlet and filtering the fine dust collected through the vortex vacuum generator.

Abstract: A multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray for a mass transfer column and method for liquid-vapor contacting in a mass transfer column is provided. The multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray has at least four mass transfer decks configured to provide contact between an ascending vapor passing upward through apertures on the tray surface and a traversing liquid on the tray surface. The tray further includes a central downcomers disposed near a central axis of the tray and two or more peripheral downcomers disposed near the edge of the tray and spaced apart from the central axis, wherein at least two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the peripheral downcomers and two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the central downcomer.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus has a cooling spiral surrounding at least a part of a vertical extent of a fraction collector in the disclosed technology. Connecting to and/or extending into an interior space of the fraction collector is an end of a vertically-extending passageway. This passageway is functionally connected at an other end to a lower-end entry portal. An outer cover substantially covers the cooling spiral, fraction collector, and a portion of the vertically-extending passageway, excepting for a top portal, a side exit portal, at least one cooling spiral intake, and at least one cooling spiral outtake.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for generating electric power and desalinating seawater, combining concentrated solar energy with one-or-more cogeneration alternatives; utilizing seawater as a working fluid. An inclined Fresnel-mirror-system of east-west primary axis, and site-latitude justification, is utilized to reflect the sun's incidental irradiance to a central receiving tube, and raising temperature of working-fluid therein, producing dry saturated, or wet steam, whereby resultant energy turns a rotary-screw-expander engine, providing mechanical power, thence turning a generator; producing electric power. Heat recovered in the working-fluid is utilized in seawater desalination using a Multi-Effect-Distillation system, whereby, during non-solar-dependent productive hours, a molten-salts Single-Temperature-Thermal-Energy storage system is utilized as a battery.

Abstract: Moisture separation systems and condensation devices for gas extracted from drilling fluids while drilling are provided. The condensation devices include a body having a first end and a second end and an exterior wall defining an interior surface, an interior passage providing a connection from the first end to the second end, and an angled support path within the interior passage, the angled support path extending from the interior surface and angled with respect to gravity. The angled support path is configured to direct a condensate away from the interior surface by the operation of gravity.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to humidification-dehumidification desalination systems, including apparatuses that include a vessel comprising a humidification region (e.g., a bubble column humidification region) and a dehumidification region (e.g., a bubble column dehumidification region), mobile humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination systems (e.g., systems having a relatively low height and/or a relatively small footprint), and associated systems and methods. Certain embodiments generally relate to methods of operating, controlling, and/or cleaning desalination systems comprising a plurality of desalination units (e.g., HDH desalination units).

Abstract: A continuous multi-stage vertically sequenced gasification process for conversion of solid carbonaceous fuel material into clean (low tar) syngas. The process involves forming a pyrolysis residue bed having a uniform depth and width to pass raw syngas there through for an endothermic reaction, while controlling the reduction zone pressure drop, resident time and syngas flow space velocity during the endothermic reaction to form substantially tar free syngas, to reduce carbon content in the pyrolysis residue, and to reduce the temperature of raw syngas as compared to the temperature of the partial oxidation zone.

Abstract: A high-temperature dust removal and filtering apparatus, comprising a set of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices and a pre-heating apparatus and regeneration apparatus provided for the high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices; a high-temperature dust removal and filtering system, comprising two or more sets of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices, and a pre-heating apparatus and regeneration apparatus provided for the high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices; a continuous dust removal and filtering method consisting of two or more sets of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices and a pre-heating apparatus and regeneration apparatus provided for the high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices. Said method is implemented with a high-temperature dust removal and filtering system capable of switching.