Abstract: A control system for a fractional distillation column in which a pumparound stream is used to remove heat from the fractional distillation column is disclosed. A combination of feedforward and feedback control is utilized to control the heat removal by the pumparound stream in such a manner that smoother operation of the fractional distillation column will be accomplished and a closer approach to required product specifications will be approached.

Abstract: There is disclosed a water distiller, primarily for producing water for human consumption which includes a boiler, a distillation tower extending about two or more feet above the boiler, and a steam conduit exiting from near the top of the tower leading into a helically grooved condensation tube with a water-cooled jacket. The boiler and tower are of uniform cross-section to facilitate cleaning. The water jacket has a water inlet located in the bottom and an exit orifice for preheated input water at the top. A conduit from the orifice leads to an evaporator for volatile impurities on top of the tower, and a conduit for preheated input water leads to the bottommost part of the boiler from the evaporator. An overflow conduit with an intermittent siphon is provided connected to the bottom of the boiler; the highest and lowest points of the siphon serve to automatically regulate the maximum and minimum depths of water in the boiler.

Abstract: A dirty or otherwise contaminated volatile solvent or other treatment fluid including relatively more volatile non-flammable and relatively less volatile flammable constituents is recovered or reclaimed by boiling it off from its impurities. As the remainder is concentrated, the evaporated vapor becomes increasingly flammable. In a work process, a treatment tank is used for chemically treating work pieces in a volatile treatment fluid which has a liquid phase and a relatively non-flammable heavier-than-air vapor phase. In this process, heat energy is added to the fluid to maintain the upper vapor phase surface at a substantial distance above the upper liquid phase surface in the tank. When the treatment fluid becomes sufficiently contaminated with dirt introduced by the work pieces or otherwise, it must be removed from the tank and replaced with clean treatment fluid.

Abstract: A water distiller assembly comprising a bottom boiler unit and a top condensing unit incorporates heat exchange passage means for supply water and steam arranged in the condensing unit in such a way in combination with tubular flow connections between the condensing unit and boiler unit that cool, incoming supply water is preheated by steam rising from the boiler unit and flows by gravity down into the boiler unit, with the steam thereby being cooled and condensed to distilled water. Mineral laden residue water in the boiler unit is discharged therefrom continuously by means of a discharge passage providing a predetermined flow restriction against the flow pressure generated by the vapor pressure in the boiler unit. A supply water vessel forming a portion of the condensing unit is removably secured to the top of a boiler vessel by spring clips, which also serve to tightly seat lids covering the supply water vessel and the boiler vessel.

Abstract: An electronic system for automatically controlling the operation of a desalination system, and particularly such systems utilizing waste heat from internal combustion engines. The automatic control system is responsive to physical parameters within the desalinator and is particularly useful during warm-up and cooling periods at the beginning and end of use of such a desalination system for minimizing wear on system components and for maximizing the operational life of the system.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus including vapor condenser control means wherein one component is separated from a second component of a liquid solution by vaporization and then recovered by condensing including at least one chamber for vaporizing the first component from the liquid solution and a second chamber for recovering the vapor, the vapor generating chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering chamber being in heat abosrbing relation with a heat absorbing means, the heat absorbing means including a temperature sensing device at a preselected position within the second chamber to control the vapor level of the vaporized component, the sensing device actuating a cooling fluid which is included within the heat absorbing means whereby the vapor level in the apparatus is controlled by the temperature sensing device in combination with the heat absorbing control means.

Abstract: The portable water distiller is constructed to distill water placed within a housing and to dispense it directly into a separate storage vessel or to a distilled water space in the housing. In the latter case, the distillers are provided with a flexible impermeable partition which may be in the form of a bag and which divides the interior of the housing into a raw water space and a distilled water space. A boiler is disposed within the raw water space in order to vaporize the water and a compact radiator and fan assembly is mounted on top of the housing in order to condense the vapor into distilled water for delivery to the distilled water space within the housing. A heater-thermostat shut-off means is also provided for turning off the heater when the supply of water is too low.

Abstract: The steam which develops during water cooling of a furnace is withdrawn from the cooling system of the furnace, introduced into a distillation plant wherein it is subjected to at least partial condensation, and the thus-obtained condensate is recirculated into the cooling system of the furnace. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for regulating, or controlling heat input to the reboiler section of a fractionation column. Flow-measuring means, disposed in a substantially liquid-free environment within the confines of the reboiler section, produces a signal which is representative of the quantity of vapor flowing from the reboiler section upwardly into the fractionation section. This signal is transmitted to heat-varying means, whereby fuel input to an external reboiler heater is regulated in response to the quantity of vapor flow.

Abstract: The environment of the invention comprises work degreasing apparatus wherein a tank contains liquid solvent to be vaporized by a heater for degreasing contact with work introduced into the tank, the vapor being subject to condensation, there also being a tank cover having open and closed positions. The inventive improvement comprises means responsive to closing of the cover to control the heater to reduce heat transfer to the liquid solvent, and also responsive to opening of the cover to control the heater to increase heat transfer to the liquid solvent.

Abstract: Heat balance of a fractionation column is controlled and maintained by obtaining three differential temperatures between selected temperature-sensing points along the height of the column. A signal representing one of the delta-T's is employed in regulating the quantity of reflux returned to the rectification zone. The remaining two delta-T's are conjunctively utilized to regulate the enthalpy (heat-input content) of the reboiled liquid bottoms stream being returned to the reboiler section of the column. With respect to the latter, a selected one of the two delta-T signals is multiplied by a multiplier representing the ratio of the number of trays between the temperature sensing points supplying the non-selected delta-T signal to the number of trays between the temperature sensing points supplying the selected delta-T signal.

Abstract: Heat balance of a fractionation column is maintained through the utilization of differential temperature sensors located at selected points in the height of the column. Signals representative of three delta-T's are employed in regulating the quantity of reflux to the rectification zone and the enthalpy (heat-input content) of the reboiled liquid bottoms stream. With respect to the former, two differential-temperature signals are used; these result from four temperature sensors vertically-spaced along virtually the entire height of the fractionation column.

Abstract: Equipment is provided having a distillation tank with a heater and a vapor offtake, with a condenser receiving the offtake vapor and delivering liquid condensate. A control system provides safety features including pressure and temperature responsive devices operative to shut off the heater and further including means for shut off of the heater when the tank is being filled. Still further provision is made for shutting off the heater under the influence of a float valve associated with the condensate discharge line and operative to shut off the heater under the influence of rise in level of condensate in the receiving vessel.

Abstract: A control method and system for regulating the heat input to the reboiler section of a distillation column having attendant thereto a first external heat-recovery reboiler. Flow-measuring means, disposed within a substantially liquid-free environment, produces a signal which is representative of the quantity of vapor flowing from the reboiler section upwardly into the fractionation section of the column. This signal is transmitted to heat-varying means whereby the heat input to a second external reboiler heater is regulated in response to the quantity of vapor flow.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus for separating one component from a second component of a liquid solution and recovering the first component including at least one chamber for generating vapor from the liquid solution and recovering the vapor in a liquid form, the vapor generating portion of the chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering portion chamber being in heat absorbing relation with a heat absorbing means. A preferred system for providing heat to the vapor generating portion of the chamber and removing heat from the vapor recovering portion of the chamber is a refrigerating system which includes condensing coils and evaporating coils in heat transfer relation with the vapor generating and vapor recovery chamber.

Abstract: The temperature of light straight run gasoline from a depropanizer tower is controlled as the function of the Reid Vapor Pressure change of a crude oil feeding a flash tower which provides an overhead product to the depropanizer tower and flashed crude oil to an atmospheric tower. The Reid Vapor Pressure is determined from the overhead product, the flashed crude, the pressure of the vapor in the flash tower and the temperature of liquid in the flash tower. A control unit includes a network which determines a change in the Reid Vapor Pressure as the quality of the feed crude oil to the flash tower changes. The network determines the change in the Reid Vapor Pressure and when the change exceeds a limit, provides a feed forward signal corresponding to a desired temperature associated with the new Reid Vapor Pressure. The desired temperature signal is determined in accordance with the equations hereinafter disclosed.

Abstract: A method for control of the steam flashing of poly(arylene sulfide) reaction product to remove substantially all of the reaction diluent from a reaction mixture containing poly(arylene sulfide) polymer, organic polar diluent, byproduct alkali metal halide, and reaction mixture impurities is provided by measuring the vapor effluent from the flashing operation, producing a signal representative of this flow, controlling the rate of flow of the effluent from the reactor in response to this signal, and controlling the rate of flow of steam admixed with the reactor effluent in ratio to the effluent flow.