Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the thickness of a flowing, laminar fluid film. The film flow may be gravity-induced or the result of an alternative force. The fluid is deposited on an upper end of a flow surface where a relatively thick layer of the film forms. The film flows over a fluid dispersal region where the surface area is rapidly expanding, which results in rapid thinning of the film thickness. The fluid then flows over an active region where the surface area is designed to control the fluid film thickness. For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to maintain an approximately constant film thickness as the fluid flows over the active region of the surface. The geometry of the flow surface is used to obtain the desired control over the fluid film thickness. The flow surface is the outer surface of a solid with a closed upper end and a lower end that may be open or closed.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a continuous contacting apparatus for separating a liquid component from a liquid mixture.

Abstract: An enthalpy exchanger is disclosed having a heat conducting wall along both sides of which two respective media can flow in mutual enthalpy-exchanging contact. The wall is provided on at least one side with a hydrophilic cover layer having little or no hygroscopic action. The cover layer may serve to absorb and retain a limited amount of moisture for evaporation into the media.

Abstract: A heater exchanger used to condense a refrigerant in a refrigeration system. The heat exchanger is designed to perform a heat exchanging operation by the use of latent heat of water vaporization, thus having improved heat exchanging efficiency as well as a reduced size. The heat exchanger includes an upper header having a refrigerant inlet port and distributing a refrigerant introduced into the upper header through the refrigerant inlet port, a plurality of heat exchanging tubes connected at upper ends thereof to the upper header and extending in a vertical direction, a lower header connected to lower ends of the heat exchanging tubes and gathering the refrigerant flowing from the heat exchanging tubes, with a refrigerant outlet port formed in the lower header, and a water supply unit assembled with upper portions of external surfaces of the heat exchanging tubes, and feeding water to the tubes to cause water to flow along the external surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: A liquid distributor for distributing liquid over the heat transfer surface of an evaporator includes a channel array including one or more supply channels and downwardly deviating distribution channels. Each distribution channel has a step-shaped expansion located downstream with respect to the supply channel and connecting therewith via a sharp point, restricting the liquid suction created in the distribution channel. Sharp points provided in the supply channel or channels further restrict the liquid suction.

Abstract: A method and equipment for heat-of-vaporization transfer in a heat exchanger, using steam bubbles. To achieve higher transfers at slight overheating, and with a very simple design, steam bubbles are introduced into evaporation chambers formed between heat exchanger walls, said bubbles then being deformed by said walls and rising in-between them. As they rise, the steam bubbles form a thin liquid film between themselves and the heat exchanger walls, with constrained convection inside the film. As a result excellent local conditions for heat conduction are achieved. Moreover the liquid is well mixed and by evaporation into the bubble it is cooled as far as the immediate vicinity of the heat exchanger walls.

Abstract: A film-type evaporator has an upright container, a heating system arranged on the outside of its jacket, a rotor rotating in the container and an upper part with a vapor chamber and droplet separator. In the upper area of the rotor the product is fed onto the inner container wall and runs down in the form of a thin film in which evaporation takes place. Circulation evaporation with a high thickening capacity is made possible in that the container has an unheated lower part constructed as a receiving flask in which the product is collected and a central part with the heating system, on whose inner wall film-type evaporation takes place, and in that the tubular rotor extends into the lower part and is constructed as a circulating pump, which delivers the product from the lower part on the inside of the tubular rotor into its upper area and centrifugally delivers it there to the inner wall of the central part.

Abstract: A single-stage desiccant regeneration system for use in an air conditioning system, the regeneration system comprising a falling film heat exchanger for transferring heat from concentrated desiccant to dilute desiccant, a boiler for regenerating dilute desiccant, piping for flowing dilute desiccant from the air conditioning system upward through the heat exchanger, and a flow path for directing concentrated desiccant from the boiler through the heat exchanger and to the air conditioning system.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat exchange between a fluid circulating in a tube of heat conductive material and a flow of liquid in a thin layer circulating by gravity in a channel of heat conductive material, in thermal contact with the tube and disposed in the manner of a helix around the tube. The invention has application to evaporation, desorption, condensation, and absorption in chemical and physico-chemical reactors, and especially in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Abstract: An improved boiler for liquefied gases comprises at least one heat transfer surface having means for creating a falling film of liquefied gas from its upper to lower end and means to heat the surface above the temperature at which the liquefied gas boils at the prevailing pressure. The subject apparatus is particularly suited for reboiling liquid nitrogen or liquid oxygen.

Abstract: An evaporative condenser of the plate type having spaced heat exchange elements incorporates a blow down concentrator. Vapor enters the elements and after condensation therein by heat exchange with liquid flowing as a film on the outer surfaces of the elements; condensate is discharged from the bottoms of the elements. The coolant liquid is itself evaporatively cooled by a flow of cooling air passing outside the heat exchange elements, within a casing that encloses the elements. The cooling air may even be warmer than the coolant liquid so long as the air is not saturated. The overflow of cooling water from the condenser elements goes to the concentrator section, thus eliminating a separate piece of equipment especially dedicated to the concentrating of used coolant.

Abstract: A power plant includes a source of water, a heat exchanger having an evaporator side maintained below atmospheric pressure for converting the water to steam, and a turbine responsive to said steam for producing work and heat depleted steam. The heat exchanger also has a condenser side for receiving and condensing the heat depleted steam. The evaporator side of the heat exchanger is separated by a barrier from the condenser side. Concentrated brine from a source thereof is caused to fall in a film on the condenser side of the barrier, and water from the water source is caused to fall in a film on the evaporator side of the barrier. The heat of dilution of the film of concentrated brine, as it is directly contacted by the heat depleted steam in the condenser side of the heat exchanger, is transferred through the barrier from the condenser side to the evaporator side raising the temperature of the film of water on the evaporator side which evaporates in the reduced pressure in the evaporator.

Abstract: A system for recovery systems improving heat recovery from hot waste water is provided whereby cold feed water is preheated by means of extracting heat from hot waste water by passing said hot waste water and said cold feed water through a heat exchanger. Said preheated feed water is directed simultaneously to the hot water heater and to mixing valves at the point of usage of tepid water. Equal volumes of waste water and cold feed water flow through the system.