Directly Heated Patents (Class 159/29)
  • Patent number: 10954179
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reclaiming monoethylene glycol from a produced hydrocarbon stream are described. The method includes directly contacting a stream containing monoethylene glycol (MEG) with a heat transfer fluid, vaporizing the MEG by transferring heat from the heat transfer fluid to the MEG to produce a vapor stream, liquefying the vapor stream to form a liquid stream, passing the liquid stream through a filter comprising an oleophilic material, and removing residual heat transfer fluid from the liquid stream using the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nasser Ghorbani
  • Publication number: 20150122309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solar energy collection system that uses linear parabolic concentrators designed on a small scale and with a modular configuration that allows optimum usage of solar collection surface area in places such as the roofs or flat roofs of factories or shops where space is generally small or irregular. The solar collector is coupled in rows actuated by a fully autonomous system for electronically controlling solar tracking, the operation of which is based on an algorithm programmed in a microcontroller. An autonomous solar tracking system can efficiently control two parallel rows with a pre-defined number of solar concentrators, as well as automatically detecting the presence of impurities on a reflecting radiation surface for the maintenance thereof. The thermal energy produced is harnessed by a heat exchanger, the operation of which is based on conduction, convection and radiation for dehydration uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Aldo Agraz Huitron, Angel Alejandro Mejia Santiago
  • Patent number: 8877016
    Abstract: Systems and methods for solar steam generation are described. The systems and methods include moving at least one frame mounted optical focusing lens to track the sun in two axes and disposing a water boiler at a focus of each optical focusing lens. Raw water is pumped through an inlet at a bottom of each boiler and solar energy is concentrated, using each optical focusing lens, on each boiler, heating the raw water in each boiler and evaporating steam from the raw water. The steam exits each boiler, via a steam outlet pipe. Remaining salts and solids in each boiler are ground by rotation of salt grinding-cleaning gears. These ground salts and solids are drained and/or pumped out of each boiler from an exit in the bottom of each boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventors: Mazen A. Ba-abbad, Hany A. Al-Ansary, Essam A. Al-Ammar
  • Publication number: 20140228612
    Abstract: Provided are a process and device for reducing radioactive material of an object containing the radioactive material to a safe level in a living environment. Included are a step of performing at least a step of carrying out a heating process on the object, into which radioactive material is absorbed and/or adsorbed from an environment or which absorbs and/or adsorbs radioactive material from an environment, in a state where temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature of water and pressure is greater than or equal to the saturated vapor pressure of water, or a step of abruptly releasing the pressure; and a step of separating, after the above step, into liquid and solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicants: RADWASTE AND DECOMMISSIONING CENTER, CDM CONSULTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeto Hayafuji, Takeshi Kamaya, Hiroshi Hayakawa, Yasuhiro Jinbo, Kaname Mogami, Kenji Takeshita, Masanori Aritomi, Kunio Yoshikawa, Saburo Kikuchi, Akio Ishido
  • Patent number: 8668812
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of apparatuses for evaporative purification of a contaminated liquid. In each example, there is a first vessel for storing the contaminated fluid. The first vessel includes a surface coated with a layer of superhydrophobic material and the surface is at least partially in contact with the contaminated liquid. The contaminants do not adhere to the surface as the purified liquid evaporates, thus simplifying maintenance of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Simpson, Steve R. McNeany, Thomas V. Dinsmore, Scott R. Hunter, Ilia N. Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8585869
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and/or apparatuses for treating wastewater produced at a thermoelectric power plant, other industrial plants, and/or other industrial sources are disclosed. The wastewater is directed through a wastewater concentrator including a direct contact adiabatic concentration system. A stream of hot feed gases is directed through the wastewater concentrator. The wastewater concentrator mixes the hot feed gases directly with the wastewater and evaporates water vapor from the wastewater. The wastewater concentrator separates the water vapor from remaining concentrated wastewater. A contained air-water interface liquid evaporator may be arranged to pre-process the wastewater before being treated by the wastewater concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8568557
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8354002
    Abstract: Mixtures containing high boiling and low boiling components, at least one component being dissociatable into ions, are separated effectively by heating by passing an alternating electrical current through the mixture. The process is particularly effective in the workup of crude alkylchlorosilanes from the direct synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Paul Fuchs, Norbert Ellinger, Klaus Kaeppler, Gerhard Staiger
  • Patent number: 8343316
    Abstract: A vacuum dehydrator for processing an oil containing entrained contaminants such as water, air, and particulates comprises a tower enclosing upper and lower chambers. A random packing is contained in the upper chamber. The oil is preheated to a temperature above the boiling point of water and is introduced into the upper chamber for downward flow through the random packing into the lower chamber. Entrained air and water is retained as water vapor in the upper chamber, and particulates are retained in the random packing. Heated ambient air is introduced into the lower chamber for upward flow through the random packing into the upper chamber, and the upper chamber is cooled to condense the water vapor. Oil and condensed water are pumped respectively from the lower and upper chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Mortimer Daniel Williams, John G. Donnelly, Eric M. Laliberte, J. Rafael Lazo, Juan Alejandro Segrelles Sacristan, Anselmo Garcia Gracia
  • Publication number: 20120285629
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of apparatuses for evaporative purification of a contaminated liquid. In each example, there is a vessel for storing the contaminated fluid. The vessel includes a surface coated with a layer of superhydrophobic material and the surface is at least partially in contact with the contaminated liquid. The contaminants do not adhere to the surface as the purified liquid evaporates, thus allowing the contaminants to be harvested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: John T. SIMPSON, Scott R. HUNTER
  • Patent number: 8066844
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8066845
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8043479
    Abstract: A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 7832714
    Abstract: A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 7214290
    Abstract: In the methods for treatment of caustic effluents described in the specification, a spent caustic refinery effluent is supplied to a submerged combustion gas evaporator in which hot combustion gas containing carbon dioxide is injected into the caustic liquid to concentrate the liquid and convert a hydroxide constituent to a carbonate. Where the caustic effluent is from a petroleum refinery, oil in the waste liquid is separated from the aqueous constituent before, during or after concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignees: Shaw Liquid Solutions LLC., GEI Liquid Solutions LLC.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., John P. Gibbons, Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 6958107
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Alcos Technologies Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Neville Clarke, Paul Woodley
  • Patent number: 6913671
    Abstract: A compact evaporation apparatus includes an evaporator vessel with a sloped, bottom chamber. A combustion chamber is mounted to a top of the vessel, with a burner mounted to a top of the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber sized to achieve total combustion of an air/gas mixture supplied to the burner before being released below a liquid surface in the vessel. At least one turbulence diverter plate is located within the vessel beneath the liquid surface, the diverter plate being a submerged perforated plate extending horizontally from the combustion chamber, such that hot combustion gasses are released below the diverter plate, and as large gas bubbles rise to the surface they pass through small perforations in the diverter plate, thereby breaking large, hot gas bubbles into small bubbles, the gas to liquid contact area being maximized to increase system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventors: Danny R. Bolton, James E. Bigham
  • Patent number: 6821394
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of extracting haw pits by dry distillation and the device used therein. The process includes the following steps: removing the impurities of haw pits and drying them; immersing haw pits in water and then dripping and charging the dried pit into the furnace for dry distillation; gradually raising the temperature and dry distilling the haw pits at two temperature ranges of 105-195° C. and 305-380° C. respectively and collecting the distillate; mixing together the distillate, allowing them to separate into layers by specific gravity difference and separating out the final brownish red transparent liquor by siphon. The method of the present invention can provide high yield of extraction and the present device is simple in structure. Further, the present invention is easy to be employed on the industrial scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Yi Shi
  • Patent number: 6821382
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning condensate, produced during the production of cellulose pulp, including evaporation of spent liquor, utilizing a cleaning plant having several condensers, coupled in series. Process steam from the last evaporation stage and unclean condensate are introduced into a combined stripper/condenser, the process steam and the condensate being brought to flow in opposite directions so that direct heat exchange occurs, resulting in volatile compounds of the condensate being separated and taken up by the steam with simultaneous indirect cooling, resulting in condensation of the main part of the process steam, and the remaining process steam gradually flowing further on, the process steam being successively cooled first resulting in water and turpentine being condensed and collected and subsequently methanol being condensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Papsea AB
    Inventor: Allan Lundgren
  • Publication number: 20030159914
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of extracting haw pits by dry distillation and the device used therein. The process includes the following steps: removing the impurities of haw pits and drying them; immersing haw pits in water and then dripping and charging the dried pit into the furnace for dry distillation; gradually raising the temperature and dry distilling the haw pits at two temperature ranges of 105-195° C. and 305-380° C. respectively and collecting the distillate; mixing together the distillate, allowing them to separate into layers by specific gravity difference and separating out the final brownish red transparent liquor by siphon. The method of the present invention can provide high yield of extraction and the present device is simple in structure. Further, the present invention is easy to be employed on the industrial scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Yi Shi
  • Patent number: 6582552
    Abstract: A liquid evaporation method and apparatus wherein the contamination of the heat transfer surfaces is avoided by using a special circulating fluid. The liquid to be evaporated is heated in direct contact with the circulating fluid and conveyed to a vapor separation tank. In the evaporator according to the invention, heat transfer surface contamination may be limited by mixing the liquid to be evaporated with the circulating fluid only after the heat exchanger so that the heat surface contaminating liquid to be evaporated does not make direct contact with the heat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Rinheat Oy
    Inventor: Pentti Juhola
  • Patent number: 6200428
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment apparatus having a fluid receiving vessel for collecting and heating wastewater to a temperature below boiling, a superheated vaporizing chamber and at least one spray head to spray wastewater into the vaporizing chamber for conversion of the wastewater to vapor to be withdrawn from the apparatus, with the contaminants in the wastewater collected in the apparatus for separate removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Raymond E. VanKouwenberg
  • Patent number: 6197152
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously removing soluble minor constituents from brines containing soluble major and minor constituents by use of a Helminthoid evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Tarim Associates for Scientific Mineral & Oil Exploration AG
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Hsu
  • Patent number: 6090240
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting calcium carbonate scaling in a multi-stage evaporation plant of black liquor by heat-treating calcium-containing liquor includes a first stage wherein the calcium-containing liquor is heated to about 110-145.degree. C. with direct contact with the heating medium; a second stage wherein the liquor is maintained at this temperature in a retention tank for 1-20 minutes to reduce the amount of calcium in the liquor by precipitating calcium carbonate; and a third stage wherein the heat-treated liquor is evaporated for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Oy
    Inventors: Henrik Eneberg, Jarmo Kaila, Erkki Kiiskila
  • Patent number: 5670027
    Abstract: A method of drying a gas making use of the distillation of a liquid desiccant, the method comprising the introduction of a stream of make-up liquid containing water and of an organic solvent miscible with water, the solvent being a more volatile solvent than water under the conditions of the method and forming no azeotropes with water, in an intermediate zone of an elongated vertical contact and fractional distillation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Technip
    Inventor: Henri Paradowski
  • Patent number: 5587047
    Abstract: A method for separating boric acid from a liquid, especially liquid waste obtained from a nuclear power plant. In the method, the waste solution containing the boric acid is contacted with steam in a reactor so that the boric acid evaporates from the liquid and passes into the steam vapor phase. Consequently, the radioactive wastes which are not evaporated with the steam remain in the waste water while the boric acid is removed from the waste water when it passes into the vapor or steam phase. The boric acid can then be separated and recovered from the steam by means of a distillation and fractionating column or a wash column. By removing the boric acid from the liquid waste, it is possible to obtain concentrated radioactive waste having a reduced volume due to the absence of boric acid in the waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie
    Inventors: Aime Bruggeman, Johan Braet
  • Patent number: 5571385
    Abstract: A water purification method and apparatus is described which distills a contaminated water supply having contaminants dissolved therein with electrically powered spaced apart immersion electrodes. When connected to a source of alternating electrical current, the electrode members cooperate to distill water by heating while concurrently removing the contaminants as solid precipitates in the contaminated remaining water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventors: Mircea Faur, Maria Faur, David W. Epperly
  • Patent number: 5468347
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for separating boric acid from a liquid, especially liquid waste obtained from a nuclear power plant. In the process, the waste solution containing the boric acid is contacted with steam in a reactor so that the boric acid evaporates from the liquid and passes into the steam vapor phase. Consequently, the radioactive wastes which are not evaporated with the steam remain in the waste water while the boric acid is removed from the waste water when it passes into the vapor or steam phase. The boric acid can then be separated and recovered from the steam by means of a distillation and fractionating column or a wash column. By removing the boric acid from the liquid waste, it is possible to obtain concentrated radioactive waste having a reduced volume due to the absence of boric acid in the waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Studiecentrum Voor Kernenergie
    Inventors: Aime Bruggeman, Johan Braet
  • Patent number: 5441605
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for reclaiming or concentrating waste aqueous solutions of gas treating chemicals, such as alkanolamines, used for removing acid components or water vapor from natural gas. The process involves heating the waste solution under a high vacuum to form a vapor and a liquid residue. The temperature and vacuum can be varied to form a vapor consisting mainly of water vapor or a vapor containing both water vapor and vaporized gas treating chemical. The vapor is subsequently condensed or passed through a wash column to produce a concentrated solution. The liquid residue is heated by passing it through a single pass, generally co-current heater at a rate which avoids localized overheating of a liquid to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the gas treating chemical. The heated liquid residue is then used to heat the feed waste solution by being thoroughly mixed with it, thus avoiding overheating of the feed solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Canadian Chemical Reclaiming Ltd.
    Inventors: Todd Beasley, Dwight A. Merritt
  • Patent number: 5342482
    Abstract: In the representative leachate treatment system disclosed in the specification, leachate is supplied to a submerged combustion gas evaporator having a downwardly-directed central burner supplying combustion gases through a downcomer to a combustion gas distributor in an evaporation zone. A conical baffle beneath the gas distributor separates the evaporation zone from a quiescent settling zone in a conical bottom of the distributor from which leachate concentrate and sludge are removed. The leachate supplied to the evaporator is preheated by exhaust gases from the evaporator and combustion air supplied to the burner is preheated by leachate concentrate and sludge removed from the evaporator. Landfill gases may be used to fuel the burner and the sludge may be further concentrated and liquid from the concentrator returned to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5334291
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing non-volatile residues and impurities from a used solvent includes a self-scrubbing heating distillation subassembly for separating purified solvent for reuse and a controlled waste collector subassembly for overflowing concentrated residues and impurities stripped from the used solvent into an easy-to-service container. The apparatus may be disposed in a parallel in-line relationship with a circulating solvent flow circuit, such as in a dry cleaning operation, to continuously withdraw and purify aliquot portions of the circulating solvent stream, returning good solvent back to the flow circuit and concentrating non-volatile residues and impurities to a removable, environmentally sound serviceable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Corp.
    Inventors: Gilbert Gavlin, William M. Langdon, deceased, Boris Goltsin, Gunther Erlebacher, Douglas A. Larson
  • Patent number: 5330618
    Abstract: A process and system for treating aluminum salt cake containing water soluble halide salts by contacting the salt cake with water to dissolve water soluble halide salts forming a saturated brine solution. Transporting a portion of about 25% of the saturated brine solution to a reactor and introducing into the saturated brine solution at least an equal volume of a water-miscible low-boiling organic material such as acetone to precipitate a portion of the dissolved halide salts forming a three-phase mixture of an aqueous-organic-salt solution phase and a precipitated salt phase and an organic rich phase. The precipitated salt phase is separated from the other phases and the organic rich phase is recycled to the reactor. The remainder of the saturated brine solution is sent to a multiple effect evaporator having a plurality of stages with the last stage thereof producing low grade steam which is used to boil off the organic portion of the solution which is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: Edward J. Daniels, Bassam J. Jody, Patrick V. Bonsignore
  • Patent number: 5273719
    Abstract: A liquid evaporator includes an air-tight outer container containing liquid therein, the liquid container having support legs adjacent the bottom surface thereof; an inner container mounted on the legs for partitioning the interior space of the outer container, the inner container having a wall made of insulating material; and a heater fixed to an upper portion of the outer container and positioned inside the inner container. The liquid evaporator may be combined with a deodorizing device for forming a urine treating device, wherein the urine treating device includes a deodorizing housing having an upper portion provided with a secondary heater therein, a catalyst surrounding the secondary heater, a blower provided outside the housing, and a diffusion pipe provided at the upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Japanic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kishi, Toyohiko Sunaoka
  • Patent number: 5200033
    Abstract: A method and device for removing organic compounds from soil, solids, sludges and other types of contaminated materials utilizing a non-rotating contactor which can be tightly sealed from air infiltration. Binders such as cement, lime, flyash or kiln dust may be added to the soil prior to treatment so as to aid in the volatilization of the volatile organics and to immobilize the non-volatile constituents in the treated solids. The contaminated materials are fed to a chamber with a movable rake therein and are subjected to temperatures sufficiently high to violatize the organic constituents. The volatilized contaminants are purged with small amounts of air or other non-condensible gas and with superheated steam. The organic constituents can be captured in a vapor phase or they can be condensed and captured in the condensed liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: LWV Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Weitzman
  • Patent number: 5149399
    Abstract: A liquid evaporator includes an air-tight outer container containing liquid therein, the liquid container having support legs adjacent the bottom surface thereof; an inner container mounted on the legs for partitioning the interior space of the outer container, the inner container having a wall made of insulating material; and a heater fixed to an upper portion of the outer container and positioned inside the inner container. The liquid evaporator may be combined with a deodorizing device for forming a urine treating device, wherein the urine treating device includes a deodorizing housing having an upper portion provided with a secondary heater therein, a catalyst surrounding the secondary heater, a blower provided outside the housing, and a diffusion pipe provided at the upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Japanic/Japanic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kishi, Toyohiko Sunaoka
  • Patent number: 5076895
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids are disclosed. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by means of a plurality of mechanical vapor recompression evaporators operating in staged array whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Residual fluidizing oil may be removed from the solids by direct contact with a hot blowing gas such as blowing steam. The invention is characterized by the conservation of energy through the use of heat exchangers whereby condensate gives up its heat to the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Hanover Research Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Greenfield, deceased, Robert E. Casparian
  • Patent number: 5011571
    Abstract: A method of treating photographic process waste liquor through concentration by evaporation, including heating under reduced pressure an upper part of photographic process waste liquor to concentrate by evaporation the photographic process waste liquor in such a manner that a difference in temperature may be given between the temperature of the photographic process waste liquor in the vicinity of the heated part and the temperature at a bottom part of the photographic process waste liquor, and causing a solute in the photographic process waste liquor to settle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Shigeharu Koboshi, Nobutaka Goto, Masayuki Kurematsu, Naoki Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 5004522
    Abstract: A method of treating photographic process waste liquor through concentration by evaporation, including heating an upper part of photographic process waste liquor to concentrate by evaporation the photographic process waste liquor in such a manner that the difference between the temperature of the photographic process waste liquor in the vicinity of the heated part and the temperature at a bottom part of the photographic process waste liquor may become 5.degree. C. or more, and causing a solute in the photographic process waste liquor to settle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeharu Koboshi, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Nobutaka Goto, Masayuki Kurematsu, Naoki Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 4953538
    Abstract: A piggy back evaporator includes a drip pan having an oblique condensate drain sheet extending over the major length of the same. A steam hole within the condensate drain sheet allows steam to reach the lower surface of a bottom wall of a piggy back pan. The piggy back pan bottom wall is corrugated to define a series of laterally spaced troughs on its upper face and flues on its lower face. Maple sap is fed into the piggy back pan to a level covering the corrugations of the bottom wall. A hood overlies the piggy back pan and seals off the interior thereof. A high pressure air blower is mounted to the hood and feeds air under pressure into a plenum chamber and downwardly through the downpipes into individual horizontal sparging tubes which extend the length of the piggy back pan and are located within the bottoms of individual troughs defined by the corrugations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventors: Gordon L. Richardson, James G. Richardson
  • Patent number: 4947983
    Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a heating device, an inlet for medium to be distilled, a vapor outlet, a distillation space between the distillation medium inlet and the vapor outlet and a drain for the separate components of the solvent, arranged in the bottom part of the distilling space and extending from same. In a heating vessel, which is able to be filled with a heating medium to be heated by the heating device, there is a downwardly extending down tube joined with the inlet and an up tube extending upwards to the vapor inlet. During operation the two tubes are surrounded by heating medium and form the distillation space. The drain is arranged under the junction between the up and down tubes and is provided with a U-trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Walter Jost
  • Patent number: 4902446
    Abstract: Reducing the volume of radioactively loaded liquids, particularly evaporator concentrates, by heating in a storage container up to solidification, wherein liquids are replenished for filling up the storage container. Heating takes place discontinuously in heating periods separated from each other in time. The heat is introduced directly into the container contents. Vapors produced are drawn off intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietmar Erbse, Lydia Fuchs, Dietmar Bege, Horst Queiser, Siegfried Meininger
  • Patent number: 4819615
    Abstract: A piggy back evaporator is sealably coupled in open box form overlying a sugar maple sap evaporator and aligned with an upright flue pan of the conventional sugar maple sap evaporator which, when fired, boils off vaporizable constituents of the sap. The piggy back evaporator includes a drip pan sealably mounted to the flue pan. The drip pan includes an oblique condensate drain sheet extending over the major length of the same. A steam hole within the condensate drain sheet allows steam to reach the lower surface of a bottom wall of a piggy back pan. The piggy back pan bottom wall is corrugated to define a series of laterally spaced troughs on its upper face and flues on its lower face. A hood overlies the piggy back pan and seals off the interior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventors: Gordon L. Richardson, James G. Richardson
  • Patent number: 4708775
    Abstract: Volatile matter especially solvents is recovered from waste material using a hot granular material such as sand, as a heat carrier to drive off the solvents, and as a carrier for the non-volatile resin content of the waste; the resins are thermally decomposed in reactions which provide heat to maintain the granular material hot and the granular material is continuously circulated; the exhaust gases from the thermal decomposition of the resins can be used as a source of heat outside the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Anachemia Solvents Limited
    Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, D. Keith Jackson, Walter F. M. Brown, Kenneth Burrell
  • Patent number: 4609430
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying and powdering liquid radioactive wastes produced in radioactive material treating plants such as nuclear power stations comprising a vessel having liquid material inlet and outlet ports for liquid wastes, a support plate arranged in the vessel, a great number of spherical bodies piled in layers on the support plate, stirring means having stirring blades for rolling the spherical bodies, and heating means for heating the spherical bodies. An induction heating coil may be used as the heating means, when the spherical bodies are conductive. If electric resistance heating means is used, the spherical bodies are non-conductive. Hot air can be used for heating the spherical bodies. The electric resistance heating means consists of a plurality of resistance heaters one above the other around the vessel. The support plate is formed with slits concentric to each other and the stirring means is provided with pins rotating therewith and extending into the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Magoji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4563335
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously concentrating and denitrating a radioactive nitrate solution by microwave includes a rotatably supported concentrating and denitrating vessel disposed within an oven into which microwave is applied through waveguides. The concentrating and denitrating vessel comprises a circular vessel body supported rotatably about its center and a plurality of partition plates positioned radially inside the vessel body so as to divide the interior of the vessel body into a plurality of compartments. The nitrate solution supplied into the vessel is heated, evaporated, concentrated and denitrated in sequence in each of the compartments during one rotation of the vessel to form a denitrated oxide powder. The denitrated powder produced in one of the compartments is transferred into a receiving pan positioned adjacent to the outer periphery of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan
    Inventors: Hideo Akiyama, Akio Todokoro, Osamu Takanobu
  • Patent number: 4536973
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the water content of honey is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing for the honey, a rotatable high surface area body upon which the honey forms a thin film and means for supplying a nonturbulent stream of ambient pressure 40.degree. C. to 75.degree. C. air to said housing so as to reduce the water content of the thin film of honey. The method involves rotating the rotatable body so as to form a thin film of honey and passing a nonturbulent stream of ambient pressure 40.degree. C. to 75.degree. C. air over said honey to reduce its water content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Platt, Jr., John R. B. Ellis
  • Patent number: 4465554
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaporating liquid fractions is disclosed. The apparatus includes a nozzle from which a hot stream of non-reactive gas is directed onto the surface of the fraction that is to be evaporated, while the fraction and the nozzle are thermally insulated and sealed from the surrounding atmosphere. Means are disclosed for electronically, automatically controlling the evaporation process. A process for the effective evaporation of liquid fractions is also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Glass
  • Patent number: 4314891
    Abstract: Reconcentration of moist glycol, which has been used to dry natural gas, by heating the moist glycol with flue gas from a reboiler and by thereafter stripping water from the moist glycol with the dried flue gas or with a hydrocarbon gas by-product of the natural gas being dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Davy International AG
    Inventor: Walter Knobel
  • Patent number: 4296082
    Abstract: Wet process phosphoric acid is heated by passing alternating current through the acid, preferably in carbon apparatus to concentrations above 76% P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and preferably temperatures above 500.degree. C. to remove sulphate and fluoride and convert organic and basic impurities into a filterable precipitate; the acid is separated from the precipitate preferably after dilution with water to provide a high purity crystallizable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Albright & Wilson Limited
    Inventors: Edward J. Lowe, Michael W. Minshall, Arthur Wilson
  • Patent number: 4296072
    Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment, such as drying, freezing, crystallization of wet solids, slurries, suspensions, pulps and similar materials with heating or cooling.The apparatus is characterized by a treating body having two sections. The first section has a horizontally arranged axially flared annular treating drum rotatable around the horizontal or near-horizontal longitudinal rotation axis, and having end plates with a material feeding inlet pipe leading into the interior through one end plate, while the other end plate is provided with an opening arranged eccentrically in relation to the rotation axis. The second section of the treating body is connected rigidly and thus rotatably to the treating drum, the second section of the treating body having at least three duct-like oblong treating members leading into each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Richter Gedeon Vegyeszeti Gyar
    Inventors: Istvan Takacs, Zoltan Banos, Janos Illes, Endre Vereczkey, Peter Rudolf, Gyorgy Kerey