Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water by using thermal and/or thermocatalytic processes. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for processing impure water to remove and/or deactivate toxic inorganic, organic, and/or biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, anthrax, E. coli, Giardia cysts, salmonella, hepatitis, and Norwalk viruses. In the thermal process, contaminated water is heated (preferably superheated) forming steam, whereby a majority of inorganic and biological species are removed or deactivated from the water. The steam is then condensed, forming liquid purified water. In the thermocatalytic process, the steam is brought into contact with a hydrolysis catalyst, preferably in the form of a coated surface or replaceable catalyst element.

Abstract: A vapor-compression distiller includes a rotary heat exchanger. A reciprocating compressor (26) maintains a pressure difference between the compressor's evaporation chambers (46) and its condensation chambers (44). The compressor is assembled in a common rotating assembly with the heat exchanger, so the distiller does not need rotating seals between the compressor and heat exchanger. The compressor includes two pistons (56 and 58) driven in opposite directions in a rotating piston chamber (54). The directions in which they thereby reciprocate are substantially parallel to the rotating assembly's axis.

Abstract: A distillation system (10) is provided for recovering water from sea water and other polluted water source. The system (10) has a heat engine (12) embodying Carnot cycle and a Rankine cycle formed by heat exchangers (16 and 24), flash evaporator (26) and condenser (32). Burnt gases from the engine (12) such as a jet engine no longer fit for flying are directed into a duct (14) where the exchangers (16) and (24) are located. Sea water is pumped into the heat exchanger (24) for preheating by residue heat in the duct (14) and then into the exchanger (16) for further heating. A recirculating pump (20) raises water pressure in the exchanger (16) for increasing boiling point to about 165° C. The heated water is fed into the evaporator (26) where it changes into vapour and the condensed into water by the condenser (32). The jet air stream is used to create Venturi effect for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure in the evaporator (26). Any solid left in the evaporator (26) is removed by a transfer mechanism (50).

Abstract: A distilling apparatus and method use a two step distillation and purification process for processing a waste liquid, such as an impure sulfuric acid solution, to form a highly concentrated sulfuric acid solution. First, the waste liquid is stored in a concentrating column, where it is heated. A condenser, which uses the waste liquid as a cooling medium, condenses the vapor generated by the heater. The condensed vapor is passed through a filter, which separates impurities out of the waste liquid, prior to feeding the waste liquid back into the concentrating column. Water is then removed from the waste liquid via a distilling process. The resulting concentrated liquid is then fed to a purifying column, where it is again heated, to remove residue, and condensed, resulting in a highly pure waste liquid.

Abstract: A solar cell floats over a body of saline water. A submerged fresh water collection system underlies the cell. A partial vacuum is created in the solar cell for drawing water vapor from the cell to the collection system. Water vapor is condensed in a condenser disposed between the cell and the collection system. Heat generated by the condensation of water vapor is utilized to heat the salt water, which rises upwardly to replace the salt water vaporized in the cell.

Abstract: A process comprising electrically activating a thermoelectric module (24) to provide a first module heated surface (26) and a module cooler surface (28); feeding the impure liquid to the first module heated (26) surface to produce vapour of the liquid; and transferring the vapour to the module cooler surface (28) to effect heath transfer to the module cooler surface (28), the improvement comprising (a) directing a first portion of the vapour adjacent to or onto the module cooler surface (28) to effect heat transfer to the module cooler surface to produce a first condensed liquid (b) directing a second portion of the vapour to condenser means (18) comprising a second cooler surface (46) remote from the module cooler surface (28) to effect heat transfer to the second cooler surface (46) to produce a second condensed liquid; and (c) collecting the first and second condensed liquids; wherein the condensation means is such as to accept the balance of the latent heat contained in the vapour produced by the first mo

Abstract: The invention relates to a circulation evaporator for separating mixtures consisting of more volatile and less volatile components, which comprises a discharge container that consists of at least a chamber for the feed and of a chamber for the outflow. The invention further relates to a process for the separation by distillation of a mixture consisting of more volatile and less volatile components by employing the circulation evaporator.

Abstract: The invention consists of a cost-effective process and facilities for obtaining high quality drinking water and high-grade brine as a chemical raw material from raw water regardless of how much salt it contains. When combined with a thermal power-generation process, the plant also produces electric power with a fuel utilization of over 85%.

Abstract: A method of removing water from wet organoborane by dissolving the wet organoborane in an organic solvent in which water is incompletely soluble, decanting any insoluble water, and distilling the organic phase to remove water which may be contained therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of distillation uses a high temperature thermoelectric device to heat a liquid, such as water to vapor (steam) and cool the vapor to a purified, distilled liquid. Distillation system has no moving parts, thereby increasing reliability while reducing noise and maintenance. Liquid in a container has a heating section on the container extending into it to boil it into a vapor that is fed to a condenser section disposed on the container adjacent to the heating section. A thermoelectric section provided with a Peltier effect device is interposed between the heating section and condenser section. The Peltier effect device has one side in contiguous contact with the condenser to transfer heat from it and another side is in contiguous contact with the heating section to transfer heat to it to boil the liquid into the vapor and feed the vapor through the condenser that condenses it into distilled liquid.

Abstract: A system for recovering glycol from glycol and brine mixtures produced from oil or natural gas wells that combines energy efficiency with a capability for handling salt and other solids contained in the mixture. The system comprises three effect evaporator systems in series. Each effect evaporator system comprises an evaporator, a separator vessel, product pumps, and a solids removal system. The process utilizes the system to remove salt and other solids as well as excess water leaving a glycol stream that can be reused as a hydrate inhibitor. The process begins by preheating a glycol/brine stream comprising approximately fifty percent (50%) glycol. The stream is then subjected to three evaporation cycles. The first evaporation cycle comprises introducing the preheated stream into a suppressed boiling point evaporator where the stream is heated under a constant pressure. The stream pressure is then dropped to cause a portion of the water contained in the stream to vaporize or flash.

Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs counterflow-heat-exchanger modules (102, 104, 106, 108, and 110) to use the heat from water that has come from a rotary heat exchanger (32) to heat feed water that is being sent to it for distillation. In one of the modules the feed water is heated only by concentrate that results from the distillation process, whereas only condensate heats the feed water in the other modules. By thus employing four different flows in two sets of heat-exchanger modules rather than three flows in a single set, the distillation unit can employ relatively simple counterflow-heat-exchanger modules and easily adjust flows to achieve a desired output concentration in response to different expected feed concentrations while maintaining optimum feed flows.

Abstract: A distiller (10) that employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) introduces water to be evaporated into evaporation chambers (56). During most of its operation, it collects the water that has passed through the evaporation chamber (56) without evaporating, and it reintroduces the thus-collected liquid back into the evaporation chamber, where it also adds a minor amount of unrecirculated feed liquid to make up for evaporation and concentrate removal. Simultaneously, a minor amount of feed liquid is fed into one side of a transfer pump (116). During this mode of operation, the impurities concentration in the recirculating liquid tends to increase as a result of the evaporation of pure water vapor. Periodically, the erstwhile recirculating liquid is redirected to the other side of the transfer pump (116), where it causes the feed liquid stored in the transfer pump's first side to be fed without accompanying recirculant liquid into the rotary heat exchanger's evaporation chambers.

Abstract: Removal of water in a vinyl chloride monomer purification system is achieved through (1) providing a distillation column for separation of a liquid admixture of vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and water into (a) an essentially pure vinyl chloride product stream and (b) a hydrogen chloride distillate stream; and (2) placing a drying system in fluid communication with the distillation column midsection at a connection point where the water is at sufficient concentration to provide a useful mass transfer flux of water from a withdrawn midsection stream into a drying agent.

Abstract: A water distiller comprises a sub-atmospheric boiler having a non-recirculating brine section, an input, a brine output and a vapor output, the input for water to be distilled, the brine output for brine, and the vapor output for water vapor, a compressor connected to the vapor output for heating the water vapor, and an heated vapor line connected to an output of the compressor, the heated vapor line heating the brine section. Also provided is a method for distilling water comprising the steps of entering water to be distilled into a sub-atmospheric boiler, a part of the water to be distilled boiling immediately and a part entering a brine section of the boiler; raising a temperature of water vapor exiting the boiler so as to form a heated water vapor; passing the heated water vapor by the brine section so as to heat the brine section; and removing brine from the brine section when the brine reaches a predetermined salinity.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining pure water from crude water includes an evaporator arrangement (10) that has a first circuit (101) for cirulating crude water, a second circuit (102) for circulating liquid coolant, and membrane elements for separating the circulating crude water form the circulating liquid coolant and for obtaining pure water from the crude water by a membrane distillation process. Connected to the first circuit (101) is one side (111) of a heat exchanger (11) for raising the evaporator arrangement (10). The apparatus also includes a heat pump (12) for lowering the temperature of the liquid collant prior to said coolant entering the evaporator arrangement (10). The high-temperature side (121) of the heat pump is connected to the input side (1021) of the second circuit (102) via the remaining side (112) of heat exchanger (11) and a cooling device (13). The low temperature side (122) of the heat pump is connected to the output side (1022) of the second circuit (102).

Abstract: An improved continuous process and apparatus for treating an impure liquid to produce purified liquid, particularly, water, the process having an electrically activating a thermoelectric module to provide a first heated surface and a cooler surface; feeding the impure liquid to the first heated surface to produce vapour of the liquid; and transferring the vapour to the cooler surface to effect heat transfer to the cooler surface, the improvement being directing a minor portion of the vapour to the cooler surface to maintain the cooler surface at a temperature at or near the boiling point of the liquid; and transferring a major portion of the vapour to a condenser remote from the module to effect heat transfer and condensation of the vapour to produce the purified liquid and collecting the purified liquid from the condenser. The process is continuous in that it does not need to be intermittently stopped, or require auxiliary cooling of the module.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a distillation apparatus for water purifiers. The distillation apparatus includes a purifier body, a boiler, a condensing coil and a water storage tank that are sequentially connected to each other. The front portion of the condensing coil is extended through a preheating tube comprised of a heat chamber, an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the preheating tube and the purifier body is connected by a first purified water supply line. The outlet of the preheating tube and the boiler is connected by a second purified water supply line.

Abstract: Pervaporation or vapor permeation apparatus and method having a separator module located in an unpressurized tank. The module has a plurality of stacked, disk-like separator elements mounted on a central, axial permeate removal tube. The separator elements have a central permeate transport plate, a pervaporation membrane enveloping the permeate transport plate and annular sealing rings located between adjacent membranes, so that fluid has to pass through the membranes to enter the permeate removal tube. A vacuum applied to the permeate removal tube draws permeate through the pervaporation membranes and permeate transport plates into the permeate removal tube. The permeate can be condensed right in the permeate removal tube by direct contact condensation using chilled liquid permeate, however an external condenser can be used. Jets of solution or bubbles of permeate vapor passing between the separator elements reduce or prevent concentration polarization.

Abstract: A compact distilled water system for home, marine, and laboratory use which includes a closed circuit that provides high pressure water for dispensing water to remote locations and that also creates, in conjunction with an eductor, a partial vacuum in the evaporator tank to permit boiling and steam generation therein below atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The system for the recovery of water from urine aboard spacecraft includes a urine intake and pretreatment unit, a unit for water reclamation from urine and a condensate purification unit. The unit for water reclamation from urine is made on the basis of a rotary multistage vacuum distiller, each stage of which is formed by at least one heat-transfer plate and comprises an evaporation zone and a condensation zone. The stages of the distiller are separated from each other by separation plates, a chamber for collecting condensate and noncondensable gases being disposed downstream of the last stage and communicated with all the condensation zones of all the stages through water seals of condensate overflow and openings for the removal of noncondensable gases in disks mounted in the condensation zones.

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.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for regenerating a contaminated solvent wherein said solvent is first separated from higher-boiling contaminants in an evaporator, and then contaminants having a lower boiling point than said solvent are separated out in a condenser in which the temperature of said lower-boiling contaminants coming out of said condenser and the temperature of said solvent coming out of said condenser are separately controlled.

Abstract: A water distillation apparatus includes a degasification chamber having a top and a bottom. A liquid inlet is positioned adjacent to the bottom. A gas outlet is positioned adjacent to the top. A liquid outlet is positioned intermediate the top and the bottom. A float/valve assembly is provided for controlling the level of liquid within the chamber. A boiling chamber is provided having a top and a bottom. A liquid inlet is positioned intermediate the top and the bottom connected by a first transfer conduit to the liquid outlet of the degasification chamber. A steam outlet is positioned adjacent the top. A heating element is disposed within the boiling chamber whereby liquids within the boiling chamber are heated to the boiling point with the resulting steam passing out through the steam outlet. A condensation chamber is provided having a steam inlet and a liquid outlet. The steam inlet is connected by a second transfer conduit to the steam outlet of the boiling chamber.

Abstract: A distillator has an outer casing, a boiling device disposed in the outer casing, a hot water box disposed in the outer casing, a cold water box disposed in the outer casing, a first faucet disposed on the hot water box, a second faucet disposed on the cold water box, a first vapor pipe connected to the boiling device and the hot water box, a second vapor pipe connected to the hot water box and the cold water box, a water pipe connected to the boiling device and the cold water box and passing through the hot water box, the water pipe inserted in the first vapor pipe and the second vapor pipe, a heating device disposed on the boiling device, and a heater disposed on the hot water box. A connection is disposed on an end of the water pipe and passes through the cold water box.

Abstract: A compact apparatus of the distillation of solvent from a mixture of the solvent with oil seed for the extraction thereof according to the invention, the primary module includes a vapor scrubber forming a vapor contactor, a main evaporator and a first condenser while the secondary module has an after evaporator combined in a unit with the stripping column and the second condenser.

Abstract: A process wastewater treatment plant, and a process relating thereto, which converts process wastewater generated in battery manufacturing and the like into clean process water and sodium sulfate salt by treating the process wastewater to remove impurities and contaminants, including debris, oil/grease, heavy metal oxides, lead and other heavy metals, suspended solids, bacteria, organic compounds, and/or gases, from the wastewater to obtain a clean neutral sodium sulfate brine, subjecting the brine to heat to obtain distilled water and sodium sulfate salt, and purifying the distilled water by reverse osmosis for reuse as clear process water.

Abstract: Distillation system having an evaporator/condenser core with heat transfer plates welded together along their edges to form alternate boiling and condensing chambers. Feed liquid is supplied to the boiling chambers through a pair of heat exchangers which preheats the liquid and a steam stripper utilizing ceramic pieces to remove gasses from the liquid. Vapor from the boiling chambers is compressed and delivered to the condensing chambers where it is condensed and gives up its heat to the liquid in the boiling chambers. Pumps positioned between the two heat exchangers draw the condensed product and unvaporized feed liquid containing dissolved solids from the evaporator/condenser and circulate them through the heat exchangers to transfer heat to the feed liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus permits concentration of a water-miscible organic liquid in a mixture of such liquid and water, with recovery of a desired concentrate of the water-miscible organic liquid and water, and a relatively clean water containing only a very low content of the water-miscible organic liquid which enables disposal of the water in sewage systems, the method and apparatus thus enhancing the ability to satisfy environmental concerns; the method has particular application to the recovery of a reusable glycol/water mixture from diluted spent aircraft deicer fluid (ADF).

Abstract: A process and apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of a steam turbine power generating plant while simultaneously desalinating seawater or brine and purifying water which contains minerals, salts, and other dissolved solids. Exhaust gases from a power plant is heat exchanged against water in a secondary ecomomizer which circulates water at a temperature near, or slightly above the dewpoint of the combustion exhaust of the high-pressure boiler. The heated water is flashed to produce low-pressure steam. The low-pressure steam is condensed against the last effect of a multi-effect desalinization unit. Steam from the first effect of the desalination unit is condensed against steam condensate from the power plant turbine to preheat the condensate and thereby recover heat from the power plant's exhaust gas. Salinous water is fed to the multi-effect desalinization unit to produce fresh water and a concentrated brine.

Abstract: A solvent recovery system for an oil and grease test collects and condenses solvent vapors to recover solvent. A vessel having an inlet for sealingly receiving an outlet of a separatory funnel receives solvent from the separatory funnel. The solvent is filtered through a filter paper placed in a funnel integral with the vessel. The funnel has a lower tubular section protruding from the vessel. A vapor return tube, integral with the vessel, surrounds the tubular section providing an annular space between an inside wall of the vapor return tube and an outside wall of the tubular section. Filtrate flows downward through the funnel tubular section into an evaporation flask, where the solvent is heated and evaporated leaving an oil and grease residue. Solvent vapors flow upward through the annular space within the vapor return tube into the vessel. A condenser, integral with the vessel, receives and condenses the vapors forming a condensate that is collected in a solvent recovery flask.

Abstract: A solvent recovery method and apparatus recover waste wash liquid generated in automatic washing of a printing machine so as to enable a printing machine washing of high productivity, excellent safety and health effect, and low cost. The solvent recovery apparatus has a gravity separation tank (1) for receiving waste wash liquid used for washing of the printing machine and separating it by a specific gravity difference. A vaporizer (2) receives, heats and vaporizes the separated liquid from the tank (1) in order from a lower layer liquid (H) to an upper layer liquid (L). A condenser (3) receives, cools and condenses, by water (W), the vapor from the vaporizer (2). A distillate gravity separation tank (4) receives liquid from the distillate gravity separation tank (4) receives liquid from the condenser (3) and holds it statically to separate the liquid into organic solvent (S) and water (W).

Abstract: A water purifier which purifies water by superheated steam. The water purifier includes a raw water reservoir for contaminated water; a heater at least partially disposed within the raw water reservoir and including a heat source, an inlet for steam and an outlet for superheated steam; an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet of the heater for transporting steam produced by boiling said raw water; and a condenser in fluid communication with the outlet of the heater. The heater both boils the raw water to produce a substantially saturated steam and superheats the substantially saturated steam. The water purifier can further include a purified water reservoir in fluid communication with the condenser.

Abstract: A device for processing water having high concentrations of scale forming compounds and high solids content in a high efficiency vapor compression distillation system wherein a plate-in-frame heat exchanger is submerged in a boiling solution contained in a boiler drum. An impeller in the drum continuously circulates the boiling solution through the heat exchanger at a velocity to prevent suspended solids from accumulating and to inhibit scale formation on the boiling surfaces of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting solid residues from an aqueous slurry. The slurry is applied to the upper surfaces of disks that rotate in a hollow cylindrical vessel so that an evaporation enclosure is defined by the vessel and at least in part by the upper surfaces of the disks. Oscillating slurry dispensing arms are oriented radially relative to the axis of a hollow shaft that supports the disks. Slurry flattening rollers press the slurry on to these disk upper surfaces and slurry scraping means remove the residue from the rotating disk upper surfaces. Finally, a condensation enclosure is provided for removing liquid condensate from the vapor produced in the evaporation disclosure, and means is provided for eliminating non-condensable gases periodically from a condensation enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation apparatus (1) which is suitable in particular for the distillation of sea water into fresh water. The apparatus includes a plurality of flat, bag-like elements (3) formed from a thin film material such as plastic film and placed one against the other, the elements serving as heat exchangers between a vaporizing liquid flowing along the exterior surfaces of the element and a condensing vapor directed to the inside of the element, and a compressor (15) for increasing the pressure and temperature of the generated vapor before it is directed to the inside of the elements. The essential idea of the invention is that at the upper end of each bag-like element (3) there is a honeycomb-structured end strip (4) having substantially the width of the element, the strip containing parallel feeding ducts (26) separated from each other by partition walls, the ducts distributing the liquid to be evaporated over the entire width of the element surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating water from a condensate mixture having two or more components drained from a compressed gas system is disclosed. The apparatus has a boiler with an inlet for receiving the condensate mixture and an outlet through which water vapor is removed. The boiler is maintained at sufficient negative pressure to lower the boiling point of the water in the condensate mixture and to enable the water in the boiler to boil at a lower temperature than if the negative pressure were not present. Heat is provided to the boiler to raise the temperature of the condensate mixture to equal or exceed that of the boiling point of the water in the negative pressure environment, but below the boiling point of the remaining components in the condensate mixture.

Abstract: A waste water treatment system includes a preliminary first stage separator for separating an aqueous phase from other materials. A pressure vessel sedimentation follows for removing most of the remaining solids from the waste material. The liquid and a minor fraction of the solids then pass on to an evaporation vessel where the water vapor is removed, compressed and passed through a condenser inside the evaporator vessel to recycle heat in the evaporator. The condenser is a stacked plate heat exchanger of unique design with the plates separated by steam gaskets and water gaskets to provide a very high heat transfer surface area to volume ratio. The condensate from the condenser passes through a second heat exchanger that heats the liquid flowing into the evaporator. The effluent water is purified by the evaporation. The residual solids may be heat treated to evaporate residual moisture and to sterilize the solids using a steam-jacketed auger. The resultant solids may be used as fertilizer.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a dehydration fluid used to dehydrate gas. The system includes apparatus for converting all the organic constituents to a gaseous phase; and utilizing the gaseous organic constituents in the separation of the water from the dehydration fluid.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a clay slurry by subjecting the slurry to indirect heat exchange within a heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the slurry while specifically suppressing boiling of the liquid within the heat exchanger. The heated slurry is subsequently subjected to a rapid pressure reduction which causes flash evaporation of part of the liquid. The rapid pressure reduction can occur in a separation vessel.

Abstract: A water distilling apparatus includes a preheat tank having an inlet and an outlet for storing water from a water source via the inlet, a boiling tank formed of a conductive casing connected to a ground potential and having an inlet in connection with the outlet of the preheat tank, a heater located within the boiling tank to boil water thereby generating steam, and an outlet flue extending from the boiling tank through the preheat tank as to condense the steam and preheat the water within the preheat tank, a heat dissipation coil connected with the outlet flue out of the preheat tank, a fan blowing air against the heat dissipation coil, a cool water tank connected with the heat dissipation coil for storing condensed water therefrom, an electrode vertically extending into the boiling tank, electrically isolated from the case of the boiling tank and connected to a positive voltage source, a control circuit electrically connected to each of the electrode, the fan, and the heater for disconnecting the fan and th

Abstract: A distilling apparatus which includes a water chamber to receive cold water from an external water supply source, a heating chamber having an electric heater controlled to heat water to the boiling point, a guide pipe connected between the bottom side of the water chamber and the bottom end of the heat chamber to guide water from the water chamber to the heating chamber, a radiating coil pipe connected to a distilled water drain pipe outside the apparatus, and a steam pipe connected between the steam chamber and the radiating coil pipe and passing through the water chamber to guide steam from the heating chamber to the radiating coil pipe, permitting steam to be condensed into distilled water and heat to be absorbed by water in the water chamber.

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.

Abstract: An integral system and method for the separation and purification in a single operation of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which system can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction. The system includes a pre-evaporator, a vapor-liquid separator, a packed bed distillation column, a rotary thin film evaporator and an evaporator-stripper.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the volume of the liquid hazardous waste stream generated as a byproduct of the dry cleaning process combines an air atomization apparatus, and a temperature controlled water injection apparatus. The air atomization apparatus disposes of separator water by misting. The temperature controlled injection apparatus uses dry cleaning separator water to create and boil an azeotropic mixture in the still of the dry cleaning machine itself. Consequently, the storage and disposal of separator water is eliminated and almost no solvent is left in the residue of the still before disposal.

Abstract: An apparatus for desalination of sea water by the utilization of solar energy, advantageously accompanied by electric power generation, containing a heat caption unit (1) serving as a heat source, a sea water collecting tank (10), a pre-heating tank (11), a heat receiver (20), and evaporators (2,3,4) connected in line, and distilled water storage tanks (13). The sea water collecting tank (10) and the pre-heating tank (11) that pre-heats the sea water and cools the distilled steam are situated beside each other at different level, and the adjoining walls of the two tanks have an opening for through-flow (11a) or a through-flow tube; the discharge duct (8) of the pre-heating tank (11) is led into the evaporators where the first evaporator (2) is provided with a heater (72) heated by the heating agent, the second and the subsequent evaporators (3) are provided with a heating system consisting of pipe rings (73a) utilizing hot vapor and pipes connecting the pipe rings.

Abstract: In a solvent recovery plant including a recovery or distillation tower from which solvent product is recovered overhead, an isothermal separator, preferably a cyclone, is used to separate liquid phase contaminant (i.e. oil in a lubricating oil extraction process) in overhead product and to feed the separated liquid to the recovery tower as reflux. In addition, a portion of the feed to the tower can be branched off and mixed with the overhead product to bring its temperature down to close to the dew point of the solvent vapor. In this way, flooding of the uppermost tower trays and distillation of oil overhead can be overcome.

Abstract: A water distillation system (10) includes a boiling chamber (11) and a condensation chamber (12). Water is fed via an inlet pipe (13) to a degassing chamber (15) where volatile gases are removed from the water. The water is evaporated in the boiling chamber (11) and vapour is, in turn, condensed in the condensing chamber (12). Distilled water is collected in a water storage tank (30) and is used, with a pump (28) and entrainment device (27), to provide a substantial vacuum within the system (10).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping volatiles from a feed stream and concentrating the volatiles in the overhead vapors forming a condensate product and simultaneously producing a low percent volatiles outlet stream as a concentrate product. The volatiles separator and concentrator, ("VSC"), unit has many applications in the reduction and the concentration of voiatiles in the beverage, fuel, and industrial alcohol industries, as well as in chemical applications for removing or stripping volatiles from heat sensitive feed substrates which require low temperatures and a short residence time to prevent degradation of the product. For heat sensitive applications, the VSC unit utilizes a short feed stream preheat contact time in combination with turbulent high velocity flow to separate and concentrate volatile and nonvolatile components at temperatures below 100.degree. F. utilizing flash vaporization for volatiles separation with reboil capability to adjust volatiles concentration in the residue and product.

Abstract: A combination filter and evaporator unit for use in small engine applications includes a filter member that is screw threadedly engaged to the evaporator unit to facilitate replacement of filter media as needed. The design of the unit constrains incoming oil to flow first through the filter media and then to an evaporation chamber. A central hub and a bottom wall of the evaporation chamber are directly heated by a heating element, and the evaporation chamber is closed by an imperforate lid so that heat loss is inhibited.