Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for transferring heat from a heat source at a first temperature to a heat sink at a second higher temperature in a phase change of a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid is subjected to a pressure variation which changes the temperature at which the phase change takes place.

Abstract: A new vacuum freezing separation process entitled "Vacuum Freezing Ambient Pressure Melting (VFAPM) Process" and a new apparatus entitled .cent.Sub-Triple Point Vapor Processing Unit" for generating and liquefying a sub-triple point vapor have been introduced. The process is useful in desalination, concentration of industrial solutions, water reuse and pollution abatement. The vapor processing unit can be used in vacuum freezing processes, distillative freezing processes, freeze-drying processes and other processes in which sub-triple point vapors are generated and are to be liquefied.The VFAPM Process is conducted in two processing zones, a vacuum processing zone and an ambient pressure processing zone.

Abstract: The invention is a method with equipments for conducting the solid-liquid-vapor multiple phase transformation steps of processes such as vacuum freezing, wet distillative freezing, vacuum crystallization and primary refrigerant eutectic freezing. All these processes require simultaneous vaporization and crystallization. The invented method for conducting this common step consists of (1) distributing the solution over a rotating surface area to form liquid films (2) subjecting the liquid films to simultaneous vaporization and crystallization (3) removing the crystals from the surfaces and (4) transporting the crystals to the next processing zone. The surfaces can be rotating screws with intermeshing flights or a sets of disks on rotating shafts. The screws are partially submerged in the solution. Elements of the screws are wetted when they are rotated into the pool.

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: A wet and dry distillative freezing process is provided which comprises (a) a first step of transforming a liquid feed mixture into a first solid-liquid mixture, denoted as K.sub.-1 mixture, by either a conventional freezing operation or a wet distillative freezing operation, (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.o mixture, and an impure liquid L.sub.o, and (c) a third step of subjecting the K.sub.o mixture to a dry distillative freezing operation to thereby form a mass of refined solid phase, denoted as S.sub.1, and a low pressure vapor V.sub.1. Various wash liquids may be used in the crystal washing step. It is important to note that the wash liquid used does not have to be a pure liquid but may contain some volatile impurities. This is so, because the volatile impurities in the wash liquid will be taken up in the K.sub.o mixture and will be removed in the dry distillative freezing step.

Abstract: Improved apparatuses and methods of operation for conducting the separation process entitled "Vacuum Freezing Multiple Phase Transformation Process (denoted as VFMPT Process)" have been introduced. Processing zones and valving means are properly arranged so that operations in most processing zones are continuous. An improved VFMPT plant can be operated simply and reliably and be constructed at a low cost. Corrosion problems, use of a low pressure compressor, use of an absorbing solution have been eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a process for effectively washing a crystal-liquid (mother liquor) mixture with a mass of wash liquid to thereby form a mass of highly purified crystals and also introduces apparatuses for use therein. The purification is accomplished by properly conducted alternative stationary and agitated crystal washing operations and substantially countercurrent transfer of the solid phase and the free liquid in a purification zone. The zone contains a set of stationary washing sub-zones and a set of agitated washing sub-zones that are laid alternatively along the vertical direction.The mass of crystals in a stationary sub-zone is compacted by a compacting means to form a bed with an enhanced degree of compaction. The masses of crystals and liquid in each agitated sub-zone are properly agitated so that the impurities in the mother liquors retained in the crystal mass are released to the free liquid.

Abstract: The distillative freezing process disclosed is useful in separating and purifying a mixture that contains a volatile and crystallizing component and one or more volatile and non-crystallizing components by vaporizing the volatile components from the mixture under a sufficiently reduced pressure to thereby simultaneously form a mass of solid enriched with the crystallizing component. Two components of a mixture processed are denoted as the key components: one is the crystallizing component and is denoted as B-component; the other is the non-crystallizing component present in the greatest amount and is denoted as A-component. For a mixture to be processable by the process, it is necessary that the vapor pressure ratio of the key components be within a certain range and a low pressure phase diagram of the binary system of the key components belongs to certain types of phase diagrams.

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 Vacuum Freezing Vapor Desublimation Desublimate Vaporization Process (denoted as VDDV Process) is an improved vacuum freezing process that is useful in separating solvent from a solution that contains one or more non-volatile solutes. It can be used in desalination of sea water and brackish water, renovation of waste water, and concentration of aqueous and non-aqueous solutions.Referring to sea water desalination, the process comprises the following steps: (a) feed sea water is flash vaporized under a reduced pressure to thereby form a first low pressure water vapor (3.5 torr) and an ice-brine slush; (b) the first low pressure water vapor is cooled without pressurization to form a mass of desublimate; (c) the ice-brine slush is separated into a mass of purified ice and a concentrated brine; (d) the desublimate is melted and vaporized to form a second low pressure water vapor that is at a pressure higher than the triple point pressure of water (4.

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 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. 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.

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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a heat engine, or a heat pump, in which the working medium used is subjected alternatively to solidification and melting operations. A working medium so used is referred to as an S/L type working medium. In a new heat engine, an S/L type working medium is subjected to cyclic operations, each cycle comprises of a high temperature melting step conducted under a first pressure, and a low temperature solidification step conducted under a second pressure. In a new heat pump, each cycle comprises of a high temperature solidification step conducted under a first pressure and a low temperature melting step conducted under a second pressure. When a non-aqueous medium is used, the first pressure and the second pressure are a relatively high pressure and a relatively low pressure, respectively. When an aqueous medium is used the two pressures are a relatively low pressure and a relatively high pressure, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention, introduces (i) a reflector-heat sink panel with myriads of miniature parabolic mirrors and conductive heat collectors and (ii) a flattened focusing mirror. The reflector-heat sink panel has a transparent cover, a multiplicity of miniature parabolic mirrors to focus the Sun's rays into their respective focal regions which also serve as heat sink regions. For an efficient operation, heat generated in these regions is collected and transmitted to a heat transfer surface which is located on the backside relative to the mirror surfaces by conductive heat collecting branches and a conductive main and is transmitted to a heat absorbing medium. Another convenient way is to use the space separating the transparent cover and the mirror surfaces as a conduit to carry a heat absorbing medium and use the surfaces of conductive heat collecting branches and the mirror surface as the heat transfer surface of transmitting heat energy to the heat absorbing medium.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a heat engine, or a heat pump, in which the working medium used is subjected alternatively to solidification and melting operations. A working medium so used is referred to as an S/L type working medium. In a new heat engine, an S/L type working medium is subjected to cyclic operations, each cycle comprises of a high temperature melting step conducted under a first pressure, and a low temperature solidification step conducted under a second pressure. In a new heat pump, each cycle comprises of a high temperature solidification step conducted under a first pressure and a low temperature melting step conducted under a second pressure. When a non-aqueous medium is used, the first pressure and the second pressure are a relatively high pressure and a relatively low pressure, respectively. When an aqueous medium is used the two pressures are a relatively low pressure and a relatively high pressure, respectively.