Abstract: The technical description relates to energy storage systems and methods. Specific examples described herein relate to in-ground energy storage systems and methods of selectively discharging electrical energy from an energy storage system. An example energy storage system comprises a first fluid storage tank, a second fluid storage tank, a first fluid disposed in the first fluid storage tank, a second fluid disposed in the second fluid storage tank, a heating unit operably connected to the first fluid storage tank and adapted to heat the first fluid, a cooling unit operably connected to the second fluid storage tank and adapted to cool the second fluid, and an energy conversion unit exposed to the first fluid and the second fluid. The energy conversion unit is adapted to convert a temperature difference between the first fluid and the second fluid directly to electrical energy or indirectly to electrical energy through intermediate mechanical work, such as rotational motion.

Abstract: A MEG reclamation process includes the step of increasing above 2,000 ppm the divalent metal salts concentration of a rich (wet) MEG feed stream flowing into a precipitator. The increasing step includes routing a salts-saturated MEG slipstream from the flash separator it to the precipitator. The slipstream may be mixed with a fresh water feed stream, a portion of the rich MEG feed stream, or some combination of the two. The rich MEG feed stream also may be split into two streams, with a portion of the stream being heated and routed to the flash separator and the other portion being combined as above with the removed slipstream. The process can be performed on the slipstream after dilution and prior to entering the precipitator or after being loaded into the precipitator. Removal of the insoluble salts may be done in either a batch or continuous mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods of producing a concentrated solution from a gas stream are disclosed. The method of producing a concentrate solution includes introducing the gas stream having the contaminant into an absorption chamber, introducing a dilute liquid having the contaminant into the absorption chamber, at least one of the gas stream and the dilute liquid being at an elevated temperature, and contacting the gas stream with the dilute solution to produce a liquid-enriched gas stream and a concentrate solution. The systems for producing a concentrated solution include a source of a gas stream having a contaminant, a source of a dilute solution having the contaminant, and an absorption chamber fluidly connected to the source of the gas stream and the source of the dilute solution. The source of the dilute solution can have a subsystem for removing contaminants from the gas stream, constructed and arranged to receive the gas stream or a liquid-enriched gas and produce the dilute solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of water and solvent-free hydrogenated nitrile rubber polymers, to the hydrogenated nitrile rubbers and the use thereof.

Abstract: An installation tool for installing reactor components into a reactor is disclosed. The tool comprises a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a releasable attachment assembly for securing a reactor component support to the tool, the attachment assembly being pivotably inside the housing; a gas supply hose connected to the first end of the housing; and a gas outlet at the second end of the housing in fluid communication with the gas supply hose. The gas outlet is configured to provide gas to expand a reactor component secured by the releasable attachment assembly. A control line for the releasable attachment assembly runs inside the gas supply hose.

Abstract: A method of preparing organic or inorganic nanoparticles is useful in the manufacture of of fertilizers, pharmaceutical or phytopharmaceutical active ingredients, or insensitive energy materials. The method includes preparing a solution of a compound in a solvent, heating the solution under a pressure ranging from 3 to 300 bars at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent, atomizing the solution in an spray drying chamber using at least one dispersion device and at an angle ranging from 30 to 150° under pressure ranging from 0.0001 to 2 bars, separating the solvent in gaseous form, and recovering the nanoparticles.

Abstract: A system and process for the removal of divalent ions from a MEG-water stream are presented. The system includes a chemical treatment tank that receives the MEG-water stream, means for precipitating the calcium, magnesium, and hydroxide ions that are contained in the MEG-water stream, means for discharging the MEG-water stream from the chemical treatment tank, and means for recycling the discharged MEG-water stream back to the chemical treatment tank or routing it to a solids removal system. The means for precipitating the calcium, magnesium, and sulfate ions may be employed simultaneously or sequentially.

Abstract: A static devolatilisation apparatus (1) adapted for devolatilising a viscous liquid (2) comprising a volatile component is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a phase separation chamber (100) in an upper region (5) for treating the viscous liquid (2) in a first devolatilisation step to form a first devolatilised viscous liquid (21), and a distributor sub-unit 200 is located below the phase separation chamber (100) and above a lower sump region (4). The sub-unit (200) has a second discharge region (222) embodied such that it is contacted by the first devolatilised viscous liquid (21), and the region (222) has a surface (223) embodied such that the first devolatilised viscous liquid (21) is treated in a second devolatilisation step. The present invention further relates to a process to devolatilising a viscous liquid using the apparatus (1) and also to the use of the apparatus (1) in the devolatilisation of polymer melt or solution.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly includes an inlet member and a diffuser, and receives a mixture of a gas and a solution to vaporize a portion of a solvent from the solution. First portions of the diffuser and of the inlet member collectively define a first flow path. A second portion of the diffuser defines a second flow path that diverges. A third portion of the diffuser and a second portion of the inlet member collectively define an evaporation volume between the first flow path and the second flow path. At least one of the diffuser or the inlet flow member includes multiple vanes that produce a rotation within a flow of the mixture when the flow exits the first flow path into the evaporation volume. A separator receives the mixture to produce a first flow of a portion of the solvent and a second flow of a portion of the solute.

Abstract: The present invention provides a configuration of a multi stage flash cross tube evaporator wherein flash stages are arranged in a plurality of at least two tiers with a first flash stage to which a heated solution is fed, a plurality of intermediate flash stages and a last flash stage from which the concentrated solution is discharged in each tier, wherein the flash stages in each tier are in a serial flow communication and the flash stages of each tier are in parallel flow communication to the flash stages in the other tier(s). Such configuration allows to minimize the size of the tube bundles, flash stages and evaporator shell and consequently minimizing evaporator weight and cost.

Abstract: A process for concentrating wastewater includes combining heated gas and liquid wastewater to form a mixture of heated gas and entrained liquid wastewater, breaking the entrained liquid wastewater into fine entrained liquid wastewater droplets, transferring heat from the heated gas to the entrained liquid wastewater to partially evaporate the entrained liquid wastewater, and removing a portion of the fine entrained liquid wastewater droplets from the mixture to provide a demisted gas.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enhanced process for separating dissolved and suspended solids from valuable or harmful liquids and more particularly to improving the operational aspects and separation efficiency of treating certain water miscible fluids including those used for oil and gas processing such as glycols, as well as automobile and aircraft fluids, that have become contaminated with dissolved and/or suspended solid matter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for improving the efficiency of a combined-cycle power generation plant and desalination unit. The process includes supplying exhaust gases from a gas turbine set used to generate electrical power to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and then directing the steam from the HRSG to a steam turbine set. Salinous water is supplied into an effect of the desalination unit. Steam exhausted from the steam turbine set is utilized in the effect of the desalination unit to produce a distillate vapor and brine from the effect by heat exchange. Additionally, steam is introduced steam from at least one additional heat source from the combined-cycle power generation plant to the effect to increase the mass flow rate of steam into the effect. In one embodiment, the additional heat source is an intercooler heat exchanger. Heated water from the intercooler heat exchanger is provided to a reduced atmosphere flash tank, and the steam flashed in the flash tank is provided to the effect.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating brine effluent from desalination plants by distillation, is disclosed. To eliminate the brine the salt is converted into a solid and all of the water in the brine is converted to distilled water. The key to achieving this is reducing or eliminating the scale formation in the heating chamber. In one embodiment the process can be used to reduce or eliminate scale formation in a vapor compression sea water desalinization system and there-by use this system to produce drinking water. This process requires no chemical additives but relies entirely upon separation of the process of vaporization of the fluid involved, from the process of heating of the fluid. In one embodiment of this apparatus sea water can be desalinated and the resulting products can be dry salt and pure water leaving no brine return to the ocean.

Abstract: A method and a system to produce a distillate stream from an aqueous stream containing at least one dissolved solid by a thermal distillation process using at least one of a heated aqueous stream from a turbine system intercooler and a stack heater as a heat source.

Abstract: A method for processing wastewater includes the steps of introducing air and a liquid into a pump, and subjecting the air and liquid to high heat and pressure; delivering the heated and pressurized air and liquid from the pump to a gas and liquid separator to separate the air from the liquid; expanding the air from the gas and liquid separator through a nozzle to accelerate the air as it expands; injecting at least some portion of the wastewater to be processed into the air from the nozzle in an entrainment section downstream from the nozzle to entrain the wastewater into the air; passing the liquid portion from the gas and liquid separator through a valve to lower the pressure of the liquid to achieve flash evaporation of the liquid to produce water and steam; introducing the water and steam produced from the valve into the air and entrained wastewater in the entrainment section, to enhance entrainment of water into the air; and delivering the air and entrained wastewater from the entrainment section to an i

Abstract: A vessel header comprising a plurality of lateral flow tubes arranged in a parallel configuration and entering the vessel header through alternating header penetrations with a single header penetration per lateral flow tube. A method of increasing the throughput of a polymerization reaction comprising conducting the polymerization reaction in a reaction vessel comprising a plurality of lateral flow tubes arranged in a parallel configuration and entering the vessel header through alternating header penetrations with a single header penetration per lateral flow tube wherein the polymerization reaction displays an increase in throughput of 10% and a decrease in volatiles of from 5% to 10% when compared to a polymerization reaction carried out in a reaction vessel lacking a plurality of lateral flow tubes arranged in a parallel configuration and entering the vessel header through alternating header penetrations with a single header penetration per lateral flow tube.

Abstract: A vessel header comprising a plurality of lateral flow tubes arranged in a parallel configuration and entering the vessel header through alternating header penetrations with a single header penetration per lateral flow tube. A method of increasing the throughput of a polymerization reaction comprising conducting the polymerization reaction in a reaction vessel comprising a plurality of lateral flow tubes arranged in a parallel configuration and entering the vessel header through alternating header penetrations with a single header penetration per lateral flow tube wherein the polymerization reaction displays an increase in throughput of 10% and a decrease in volatiles of from 5% to 10% when compared to a polymerization reaction carried out in a reaction vessel lacking a plurality of lateral flow tubes arranged in a parallel configuration and entering the vessel header through alternating header penetrations with a single header penetration per lateral flow tube.

Abstract: A system for treating feedwater includes a fluidized bed heat exchanger unit connected to receive feedwater and a flash concentrator column connected to receive feedwater discharged from the fluidized bed heat exchanger unit. A spray dryer is provided to receive a solids/liquid slurry discharged from the flash concentrator column. Feedwater can be treated by converting dissolved solids in the feedwater to suspended solids, vaporizing a portion of the feedwater to produce a solids/liquid slurry, and separating solids from the solids/liquid slurry.

Abstract: A system for distilling sea or brackish water includes a feed water arrangement for supplying feed water from a feed water source to one or more flashing stages. Each flashing stage has a water flash evaporator for vaporizing at least part of the water therein, and a condenser for receiving the vapour and converting at least a part of the vapour into distilled water. A heat storage arrangement provided with a heat generating source for storing heat energy is used to heat a fluid medium flowing through it. A heat exchange arrangement receives the hot fluid medium and transfers heat to a stream of vapour flowing under pressure from each flashing stage. The vapour leaving the heat exchange arrangement being at a raised temperature is arranged to be condensed into water at the condenser and to transfer some of its latent heat to the evaporator.

Abstract: An improved de-entrainment device for use in distillation towers, especially vacuum distillation towers used for fractionating petroleum atmospheric resids is in the form of a baffle which is to be located in the portion of the tower below the feed zone and at the top of the flash zone. The baffle is in the form of an apertured plate above the stripping zone and in its preferred form comprises number of radial fins or blades, resembling a static fan with openings between the fins to permit vapors from the lower portions of the tower to pass upwards through the baffle with a minimal pressure drop. The fins of the baffle are preferably oriented at an angle between 30° and 60° away from the incoming feed so that the incoming feed stream skims over the top edges of the fins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the purification of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C., which further has approximately 275 g carboxylate ions/l or less, preferably 250 g carboxylate ions/l or less, and preferably less than 1% by weight ionic impurities, calculated on the basis of the total solution. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous purification and concentration, on an industrial scale, of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C. According to the method, this solution is subjected to two or more distillation steps, the first distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 150° C. and a pressure of from 50 to 250 mbar, and the second distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 200° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 50 mbar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for producing ethanol from an organic source and that operates to purify and dry ethanol from a beer source. The system for producing substantially anhydrous ethanol comprises: (a) a first distillation stripping column; (b) a second distillation rectifying column having a higher operating temperature than said stripping column; (c) a molecular sieve dehydration means in fluid communication with said rectifying column. Heat from the overhead of the second distillation rectifying column and the molecular sieve dehydration are used to heat the first distillation stripping column.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi stage flash long tube evaporator with flash stages arranged in a plurality of at least three tiers, wherein each tier is divided into a plurality of at least two flash stages and a plurality of at least three tube bundles are arranged in parallel and in a longitudinal direction in each tier. This configuration allows to minimize the evaporator shell volume, shell surface, foot print and weight, minimizing the cost of an evaporator and other related plant cost. This configuration is in particular suitable for large evaporator unit capacities.

Abstract: A design method of batch falling strand devolatilizers is disclosed. The method includes following steps. Firstly, construct a database that contains data of batch falling strand devolatilizer vs. devolatilization of at least one kind of polymer. Then data in the database is substituted into a mass balance difference equation to get a backmixing parameter. When the backmixing parameter is zero or is approaching zero, a liquid diffusion stage efficiency equation having a film equation or a pool equation is integrated with the mass balance difference equation to get a devolatilization process efficiency equation. By optimizing of a theoretical value of the backmixing parameter, a theoretical value of the process efficiency from calculation of the devolatilization process efficiency equation approaches the value of the process efficiency.

Abstract: A devolatilizer nozzle comprising at least one perforated flow tube having a non-circular cross-section. In an embodiment, the non-circular cross-section has equal to or greater than 3 sides. The non-circular cross-section of said nozzle may be a triangle, diamond, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, or octagon. A majority of the perforations in the flow tube of said nozzle may have a maximum strand angle of equal to or less than 45 degrees. The nozzle may further comprise tapered holes, which may be formed by a water jet. The nozzle may further comprise a plurality of parallel flow tubes. The nozzle may comprise 304 stainless steel, AL-6XN stainless steel, or LDX 2101 stainless steel.

Abstract: A vapor based liquid purification system and process utilizes an evaporator for evaporating a liquid into a vapor and a vapor condenser for condensing the vapor into the processed liquid. The vapor condenser has a stator and a rotor, with the rotor disposed for rotation about the stator. The stator and the rotor each have protrusions proximate to an inlet of the vapor condenser. These protrusions cooperate to draw vapor from the evaporator into the vapor condenser. The stator and the rotor each further have at least one axially extending ridge. These ridges cooperate to move a mixture of the vapor and the processed liquid towards at least one drain in the rotor where the processed liquid is communicated to an outlet of the vapor condenser. A multi-level vapor based purification system may also be utilized.

Abstract: A devolatilizer apparatus and method for devolatilization of viscous polymer liquids yields polymer products with very low levels of residual volatile components. A stream of liquid polymer is dropped through a first vacuum chamber, thereby removing a portion of the volatile components. The stream is collected at the bottom of the first chamber, and is re-circulated to a manifold and liquid distributor assembly in a second chamber in the same vessel. The stream flows by gravity through the second chamber, which is maintained at a higher level of vacuum than the first chamber. Improved devolatilization is accomplished by exposing the polymer liquid to multiple stages of vacuum in a single vessel. The first chamber may be located generally above the second chamber, but in the same vessel, with the stream falling through the second chamber a first time before re-circulation to the manifold.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for the separation of liquid-liquid and liquid-solids compositions by flash evaporation in a heated vacuum chamber. The compositions are injected through an atomizing spray nozzle having a spray cone downward of about 30 to 150 degrees. The compositions are preheated and injected under pressure into the preheated vacuum evaporation chamber. The vaporized liquid that is formed is collected in a condenser which draws the vapors by vacuum or pressure differential. Any solids are collected at the bottom of the vacuum chamber as semi-dry or dry solids.

Abstract: A separation system has a distillation column, an overhead vapor supply pipe connected to the top of the distillation column, first and second branch pipes branching from the overhead vapor supply pipe and a superheater connected to the first branch pipe. A separator downstream of the superheater has a separation membrane for separating overhead vapor from the top of the distillation column into permeable vapor and nonpermeable vapor by allowing only a selected portion of the overhead vapor to permeate the separation membrane. A reflux unit has a condenser connected to the second branch pipe for cooling a portion of the overhead vapor into a liquid and a gas-liquid separator for separating gas from the liquid produced by cooling and returning the separated liquid into the top of the distillation column.

Abstract: The invention provides for the removal of impurities from treatment fluid including a base liquid and a variety of impurities contained in the base liquid by conveying the treatment fluid to at least one preheating separating device, including a preheating heat exchanger and a separator unit, before the admixture of a carrier gas to the treatment fluid. The treatment fluid is preheated by the preheating heat exchanger to a temperature below the boiling temperature of a base liquid so that the liquid impurities with lower boiling temperatures than the base liquid are evaporated and expelled thermally, whereby the evaporated and expelled impurities are separated in the separator unit of the preheating separator device. The treatment fluid is then evaporated and separated from impurities having a higher boiling point than the base liquid.

Abstract: A sulfur-bearing residue treatment system is provided for the recovery of valuable organic components and the reduction of capital costs and operating costs. The treatment system involves the use of a stripping vessel in conjunction with a heating apparatus. All elements of the treatment system may be coupled together to form one integral piece of equipment.

Abstract: A system for cooling a heated juice by partial low-pressure evaporation, the system includes a vat with at least two compartments that are connected to each other through a variably positioned shutter element, where the juice is subjected to decreasing pressure reductions within the vat and the movement of the variably positioned shutter element creates a pulsed effect that removes solid particles contained in the juice.

Abstract: An evaporating device including: a material retaining part for being filled with an evaporating material and heating the evaporating material; an opening for dispersing the evaporating material vaporized from the material retaining part toward an evaporated member; and a high-temperature body disposed between the material retaining part and the opening, the high-temperature body being heated to a temperature higher than a temperature of the evaporating material heated in the material retaining part.

Abstract: Incoming wastewater is preheated in a heat exchanger before delivery to a flash chamber through an orifice for flashing into water vapor rising into an upper section of the flash chamber which also has a bottom section into which liquid waste oil or other contaminants settles. Rise of such water vapor into the upper chamber section is induced by a vacuum established therein by a vacuum pump withdrawing the water vapor in a superheated and compressed condition for cooling within a condenser from which the incoming wastewater is delivered to a heat exchanger for preheating. The water vapor during rise into the upper section of the flash chamber is filtered to extract contaminates therefrom while liquefied water vapor thereafter formed therein is collected before the remaining water vapor is cooled into the condensate for collection within a distillate tank from which it is withdrawn for overboard discharge after being monitored for oil content.

Abstract: A vessel is provided for collecting a process stream and fractionating the process stream into a liquid and gas phase in the vessel. Cooling may be provided by an internal bath and/or an external bath. The liquid phase retained in the vessel and the gas phase collected in lots from the vessel may be delivered to a lab for analysis.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering polymer solids from a polymerisation reactor effluent. The process comprises extracting the polymerisation effluent from a Slurry polymerisation reactor; passing the effluent, or a part thereof, to a flash vessel for flashing liquid in the effluent to vapour, and removing said vapour from said flash vessel; passing the polymer solids from the flash vessel to a transfer apparatus which comprises a transfer vessel; passing the polymer solids from the transfer vessel to a purging means for removing residual liquid from the polymer solids; wherein the polymer solids are passed from the flash vessel to the purging means in a continuous flow such that a quantity of polymer solids is maintained in the transfer vessel. An apparatus for performing the process is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for devolatilizing a polymer including passing the polymer through a devolatizer including a plate heat exchanger wherein the plates of the plate heat exchanger are heated by a plurality of heating tubes and wherein the heating tube including a return tube nested inside of a supply tube. The use of the disclosed invention allows for a comparatively small heat profile across heating plates as compared to prior art plate heat exchangers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum distillation plant and a process for concentrating organic aqueous solutions, especially spissum extracts, using said plant. The vacuum distillation plant of the invention comprises a flash evaporator, a means for vapor concentration and a multi-stage condenser positioned down-stream of said means for vapor concentration, means for recycling at least part of the condensate from a condensation stage into the bottoms product being provided. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for concentrating organic aqueous solutions such as concentrated extracts using said plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for stripping residual volatile compounds contained in a thermoplastic polymer. The process comprises (1) forming the polymer in the form of a melt flowing as a main stream, (2) forming a foaming agent in the form of one or more secondary liquid streams, (3) adding the secondary stream(s) to the main stream by spraying so as to divide each secondary liquid stream into several fractional streams and thus to form a polymer melt/foaming agent pre-mixture, (4) introducing the pre-mixture into a static mixer, then into an expansion chamber at reduced pressure so as to separate the polymer melt from the residual volatile compounds and from the foaming agent, and (5) withdrawing the polymer melt from the expansion chamber. The invention also relates to an apparatus for removing residual volatile compounds contained in a thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: An low concentration dope is fed through a nozzle into a concentrating apparatus, and flash evaporation of the low concentration dope is performed at an end of the nozzle. The low concentration dope is concentrated thereby to an concentrating dope which is contained and heated in the concentrating apparatus. Thus part of solvents of the low concentration dope and the concentrating dope is evaporated to a solvent gas. The solvent gas is cooled and condensed in a condensing section of the concentrating apparatus, and thereafter drawn through a first exit from the concentrating apparatus. The concentrating dope is concentrated to a high concentration dope, which is drawn through a second exit from the concentrating apparatus.

Abstract: A process to isolate dianhydride from an exchange reaction comprises extracting a bisimide/anhydride exchange reaction aqueous phase with an organic solution comprising an exchange catalyst at a first temperature and pressure to form an extracted aqueous phase comprising water, exchange catalyst and a dianhydride precursor; removing water from the extracted aqueous phase at a second temperature and pressure to form a molten phase, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure; removing water and exchange catalyst from the molten phase at a third temperature and pressure to form an isolation mixture; and converting the dianhydride precursor in the isolation mixture to dianhydride at a fourth temperature and pressure, wherein the fourth temperature is greater than the second and third temperatures and the fourth pressure is less than the second and third pressures.

Abstract: A method of decontamination includes generating a decontamination gas by evaporating an aqueous solution in which the decontamination gas with a higher boiling point than water is dissolved. The decontamination gas is charged into a hermetically sealed decontamination chamber, and then condensed therein. A condensed liquid layer is formed in a form of a thin film on an outer surface of a decontamination subject in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The condensed liquid layer is evaporated at least partially by supplying unsaturated gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The unsaturated gas does not saturate in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The decontamination gas is re-condensed after the evaporating step to re-form the condensed liquid layer, by closing supply of the unsaturated gas and re-charging the decontamination gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber.

Abstract: A method of treating a waste stream comprises a vacuum treatment to promote disintegration of the waste material by “flash vapor” production, causing a swiftly vaporizing fraction inside the material to literally explode or shred apart the matrix of the material as a whole. A main processor operates at a level of vacuum that determines a given boiling temperature for a vaporizing fraction, and one which lower than the fraction's boiling temperature for the local vicinity's barometric pressure (eg., atmospheric pressure). The input stream is pre-heated to above the given boiling temperature for that fraction as determined by the main processor's vacuum level without, however, going over the boiling temperature for the local barometric pressure. It is then introduced into the vacuum of the main processor whereby a minor percentage of the vaporizing fraction flashes into vapor, and this presumptively promotes destruction and/or disintegration of the material.

Abstract: According to a method of desalinating sea water, sea water sampled from deep sea is injected into a decompression chamber of a reduced pressure tank having a steam chamber, steam at an atmospheric pressure superheated to a boiling temperature or higher by high-frequency heating is supplied to the steam chamber at a surrounding of the decompression chamber at an interval of a heat conducting wall therebetween, water in the sea water is evaporated by heating sea water in the decompression chamber and the evaporated water is condensed to thereby provide fresh water. Concentrated sea water remains in the decompression chamber and therefore, the method can be utilized also as a method of concentrating sea water. Salt can be obtained by further evaporating the water of the concentrated sea water as necessary.

Abstract: Process for producing a nitric acid of a concentration from 75 to 99.9% from a more diluted nitric acid, wherein a nitric acid of a concentration of about 45 to 70% is rectified in contact with a liquid extraction medium to prevent the formation of a nitric acid-water-azeotropic mixture, and the vapors of the concentrated nitric acid are condensed and a concentrated nitric acid is obtained and wherein additionally the extraction medium is reconstituted through reconcentration and returned into the extractive rectification, wherein the nitric acid to be concentrated is fed as a boiling liquid or partially vaporized to the extractive rectification preferably carried out in two columns (K 1.0, K 1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the components of a feed material prior to or simultaneously with at least partially vaporizing one of the components is described. The apparatus comprises at least one inlet (8) for admitting the feed material (10) containing the two components to the apparatus (2) wherein a device for introducing a first movement to the feed material is located, such as, for example, an in-line swirl generator (14), which imparts a swirling movement to the feed material to partially separate the components into two swirling flows. The partially separated material on emerging from the in-line swirl generator (14) is in an evaporation tube (20) in which the more volatile component is vaporized to further assist in separating the two components into a liquid component and a gaseous or vapor component. The liquid component and the vapor phase are discharged from the apparatus in two streams through the same outlet (36).

Abstract: A sulfur-bearing residue treatment system is provided for the recovery of valuable organic components and the reduction of capital costs and operating costs. The treatment system involves the use of a stripping vessel in conjunction with a heating apparatus. All elements of the treatment system may be coupled together to form one integral piece of equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a contractor apparatus and method for removing solvent from a polymer cement. The resulting polymer is substantially free of solvent and exhibits improved oil absorption and lower fines. In one aspect, a contractor is provided including a cylindrical casing having a high pressure section, a convergence section, a high velocity section, a divergence section, and a discharge section. The polymer cement is introduced into the high pressure section to significantly and unexpectedly improve solvent removal. The convergence and divergence sections have cross-sectional areas that correspond to an effective angle from about 4° to about 65°, such as 6°. The polymer cement is mixed with high pressure steam. After converging, the polymer cement forms more uniform droplets due to high shear of steam. In the divergence and discharge sections, the polymer is substantially devolatized.