Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for pressure-regulated melting are disclosed. A vessel includes a solids inlet, a fluids outlet, a cavity, and a melting device. Solids enter the vessel through the solids inlet. The cavity has an internal pressure. The solids inlet has a reducer that produces a first back pressure on the solids in the solids inlet. The melting device heats the vessel, the contents of the vessel, or a combination thereof. The heating rate of the melting device is matched to the feed rate of the solids such that the solids are melted directly to a product liquid at the internal pressure. The product liquid passes through the fluids outlet through a restriction that maintains the internal pressure in the cavity.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for pressure-regulated melting are disclosed. A vessel includes a solids inlet, a fluids outlet, a cavity, and a warm fluids inlet. Solids enter the vessel through the solids inlet. The cavity has an internal pressure. Warm fluids enter the vessel through the warm fluids inlet. The warm liquid being directed into the vessel provides an inlet pressure that produces a backpressure in the solids inlet. A feed rate of the warm liquid is matched to a feed rate of the solids such that the solids are melted directly to a product liquid at the internal pressure. The product liquid is passed out of the vessel through a restriction that maintains the internal pressure in the cavity.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for melting solids are disclosed. A vessel includes a solids inlet, a plunger, one or more fluid jets, and a fluid outlet. Solids are passed through the solids inlet into the vessel. The plunger is positioned adjacent to the solids inlet to provide a variable gap between the plunger and the solids inlet. The variable gap provides a restriction producing a back pressure at the solids inlet. Hot fluid is injected into the vessel by fluid jets. The one or more fluid jets enter the vessel and end adjacent to the variable gap. The hot fluid melts at least a portion of the solids.

Abstract: A device for bubbling a gas into a liquid is disclosed. The device comprises a first bubbling apparatus nested inside a second bubbling apparatus. The first bubbling apparatus comprises a gas inlet for receiving the gas and a plurality of first openings for releasing the gas. The second bubbling apparatus at least partially encloses the plurality of first openings of the first bubbling apparatus. The second bubbling apparatus receives the gas from the plurality of first openings. The second bubbling apparatus comprises a plurality of second openings for bubbling the gas into the liquid.

Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of an operating heat exchanger is disclosed. A carrier liquid is provided to the heat exchanger. The carrier liquid contains a potential fouling agent. The potential fouling agent is entrained in the carrier liquid, dissolved in the carrier liquid, or a combination thereof. The potential fouling agent fouls the heat exchanger by condensation, crystallization, solidification, desublimation, reaction, deposition, or combinations thereof. A gas-injection device is provided on the inlet of the heat exchanger. A non-reactive gas is injected into the carrier liquid through the gas-injection device. The non-reactive gas will not foul the heat exchanger surface and will not condense into the carrier liquid. The non-reactive gas creates a disturbance by increasing flow velocity and creating a shear discontinuity, thereby breaking up crystallization and nucleation sites on the surface of the heat exchanger. In this manner, fouling of the operating heat exchanger is prevented.

Abstract: A device for producing droplets is disclosed. A disk assembly comprising a first disk mounted to a second disk is provided. The first disk comprises first openings. The second disk comprises second openings. The first openings and the second openings alternately align with one another such that, as a liquid passes through the first openings and the second openings, the liquid falls as a droplet as the first openings and the second openings skew apart.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring solid particles between zones of different pressures is disclosed. A rotating annular disk spans a pressure barrier and comprises a radial piston cylinder connecting the exterior with the interior. A piston is disposed within the radial piston cylinder comprising a proximal end and distal end, the distal end comprising a cam follower. A stationary closed cam device is located within the interior portion comprising an internal cam profile. The cam follower is in contact with the internal cam profile. As the disk rotates, the cam follower tracks the cam profile causing the piston to move rectilinearly through the radial piston cylinder. As the radial piston cylinder aligns with a solids source, the piston retracts, providing a cavity into which the solid particles fall. As the radial piston cylinder aligns with a solids receptacle the piston returns, ejecting the solid particles into the solids receptacle.

Abstract: A device and method for transferring solid particles between zones of different ambient conditions is disclosed. A piston chamber comprising a solids inlet, a solids outlet, and a piston is provided. The solids inlet is adjacent to a source of solid particles, the source being at a first ambient condition. The solids outlet is adjacent to a solids receptacle, the solids receptacle being at a second ambient condition. The piston comprises a hollow. The piston traverses back and forth across the piston chamber such that the hollow is moved alternately adjacent to the solids inlet and the solids outlet. The solid particles pass into the hollow as the hollow is adjacent to the solids inlet, and pass out of the hollow as the hollow is adjacent to the solids outlet.

Abstract: A device and process for removing vapors from a gas is disclosed. A tower is provided. Sub-cooled pellets are distributed by the solids distributor across a horizontal cross-section of the tower. A process gas, comprising a product vapor, passes through the gas inlet. The product vapor and the sub-cooled pellets comprise the same material. The product vapor and the sub-cooled pellets agglomerate as the product vapor desublimates onto the sub-cooled pellets, forming product pellets and a vapor-depleted gas. A crushing device, a screening device, and a solids heat exchanger are provided. A portion of the product pellets are recycled as sub-cooled pellets to the solids distributor by crushing and screening the portion of the product pellets to the size distribution of the sub-cooled pellets and cooling the portion of the product pellets to produce the sub-cooled pellets.

Abstract: A process and device for separating a vapor from a gas is disclosed. A direct-contact exchanger comprising a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger is provided. An inlet gas, comprising a vapor, is passed through the bubbling apparatus, forming bubbles in a bottoms liquid. The bottoms liquid strips a portion of the vapor and exchanges heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas. A barren liquid is passed through the droplet-generating apparatus to form droplets of the barren liquid in the top portion. The droplets descend against the middle gas and strip a second portion of the vapor from and exchange heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas.

Abstract: A device is disclosed comprising a pinchable hose with an inner wall and an outer wall. The hose comprises a flexible material and one or more springs. A central axis of the one or more springs is contained within a space between the inner wall and the outer wall of the hose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling streams in a separations process comprising: determining a measured reading of a parameter of the separations processor is in a suboptimal range; separating, via a separation unit having a volume of contact fluid, the inert gas from the pollutant gas in the inlet flue gas stream to form a clean gas stream and a purified pollutant gas stream; removing at least 1% of the volume of contact fluid to form a removed volume of contact liquid; performing some unit operations on the removed volume of contact fluid; injecting the clean gas stream into the inlet flue gas stream to form a flue gas stream of lower pollutant concentration; and, repeating at progressively lower pollutant concentration, as the inlet stream until the processor determines that a measured reading of the parameter has been returned to a substantially optimal range.

Abstract: A process for separating a vapor from a gas is disclosed. A cryogenic liquid is provided to an inlet of a froth flotation device. A carrier gas is provided to a gas distributor of the froth flotation device. The carrier gas comprises a product vapor. Bubbles of the carrier gas are produced and passed through the cryogenic liquid in the froth flotation device. A portion of the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or a combination thereof to produce a solid product and a product-depleted carrier gas. Bubbles of the product-depleted carrier gas collect the solid product as a froth concentrate. The froth concentrate is removed by overflowing out of the froth flotation device.

Abstract: A process for separating a gas and a vapor is disclosed. A cross-flow horizontal spray vessel comprising horizontally-situated sections is provided. Each of the sections comprise a spray nozzle or nozzles, and a collection hopper. A carrier gas, comprising a product vapor, is passed through the sections. A contact liquid is provided through the spray nozzle or nozzles such that the carrier gas passes across the contact liquid and a portion of the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or combinations thereof as a product solid into the contact liquid, leaving a product-depleted carrier gas. The contact liquid and the product solid are passed to a next preceding upstream spray nozzle or nozzles such that a temperature profile is established across the sections by the contact liquids, as the contact liquids are progressively warmer. The contact liquid and the product solid are removed. The product-depleted carrier gas is removed.

Abstract: A process for forming a solid product or products is disclosed. The process is provided with n desublimating exchangers. An exchanger E1 being associated with a first exchanger and an exchanger En being associated with an nth exchanger, n representing the number of exchangers. The n exchangers comprise at least one direct-contact exchanger comprising a contact fluid. A process fluid is passed through the n exchangers in order from E1 through En. The process fluid comprises a product component or components. The solid product or products form from the product component or components in the plurality of exchangers by desublimation. The solid product or products are separated from the process fluid. In this manner, a solid product or products is formed.

Abstract: A method for preventing blockage of a cryogenic injection system is disclosed. The cryogenic injection system is provided comprising a gas feed line attached to a gas distributor. A gas is fed through the gas feed line and the gas distributor into a cryogenic liquid. A portion of the gas feed line passes through the cryogenic liquid. An insulative layer is provided for the portion of the gas feed line that passes through the cryogenic liquid. Heat transfer through the insulative layer between the portion of the gas feed line and the cryogenic liquid is countered sufficiently to prevent blockage of the gas feed line by a component or components of the gas. In this manner, blockage of the cryogenic injection system is prevented.

Abstract: A method for removing a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. A heat exchanger is provided. A coolant is provided to the coolant side. A slurry is provided to the process side. The slurry comprises a contact liquid and scouring solids. The carrier gas is provided to the heat exchanger, the carrier gas comprising a vapor. A portion of the vapor desublimates, condenses, absorbs, or reacts such that the portion of the vapor solidifies to form a product solid. At least a portion of the product solid deposits as a foulant on an outer surface of the coolant side and is scoured with the scouring solids to remove the foulant from the outer surface of the coolant side. A vapor-depleted carrier gas is removed from the heat exchanger. The slurry and product solid from the heat exchanger. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

Abstract: A method for causing a phase change from a cryogenic solid to a cryogenic liquid is disclosed. A melting device, a vessel, and a solids pressurization device are provided. The solids pressurization device passes through at least a portion of the vessel. The cryogenic solid is provided to the vessel with a recycled portion of the cryogenic liquid. The cryogenic solid is conveyed and pressurized towards an outlet of the vessel to a pressure above the triple point by the solids pressurization device. The cryogenic solid is warmed by the melting device to a temperature above the solid-liquid phase transition curve, causing the cryogenic solids to change phase and become the cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.

Abstract: A device and a method for thickening a slurry are disclosed. A pump is provided comprising an inner chamber, a pumping apparatus, an external wall, an inlet, and an outlet. The slurry comprises a solid and a liquid. The slurry enters the inner chamber through the inlet and is pumped and pressurized by the pumping apparatus through the inner chamber across a portion of the external wall comprising a porous wall, causing a portion of the liquid to be pressed through the porous wall as a liquid product stream and thickening the slurry into a thickened slurry stream. The thickened slurry stream leaves through the slurry outlet.