Indirectly Heated Patents (Class 202/235)
  • Patent number: 9492783
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide gas recovery device is provided which includes an absorption tower causing an absorbent to absorb carbon dioxide gas to generate a rich absorbent and a regeneration tower regenerating a lean absorbent by heating the rich absorbent to separate carbon dioxide gas therefrom. The regeneration tower includes a reboiler system heating the absorbent led out from the regeneration tower and reintroducing the heated absorbent into the regeneration tower and a mixed gas cooling system cooling a mixed gas led out from the regeneration tower, condensing a vapor fraction of a solute and a solvent, reintroducing the condensed vapor fraction into the regeneration tower, and discharging carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas recovery device further includes a heat pump as a heat source of an endothermic reaction in which carbon dioxide gas is separated from the rich absorbent in the regeneration tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Atsushi Tsutsumi, Akira Kishimoto, Yasuki Kansha, Kazuki Murahashi, Tomohiro Mimura, Mikihiro Hayashi, Yutaka Ekuni
  • Patent number: 8869879
    Abstract: An inside regular filler layer is disposed inside a pipe where heat is exchanged between an inside and an outside of a pipe wall so as to abut an inner peripheral surface of the pipe, and an outside regular filler layer is disposed outside the pipe so as to surround the pipe and closely contact an outer peripheral surface of the pipe. The outer peripheral surface of the pipe is subjected to close contact-promoting processing in order to enhance close contacting feature between the outer peripheral surface and the outside regular filler layer. The pipe/filler unit is used for the distillation section of an internal heat exchanging type distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Kimura Chemical Plants Co., Ltd., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Toshinari Nakanishi, Kazumasa Aso, Kensuke Iuchi, Kinpei Horiuchi, Masaru Nakaiwa
  • Publication number: 20140238837
    Abstract: A continuous type wastewater purifying device includes a wastewater tank defining a predetermined level of wastewater received in the wastewater tank. A purifying piping unit is mounted on a base and includes a wastewater pipe, a purified water pipe, and at least one heat conduction pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end respectively connected to and in communication with the wastewater pipe and the purified water pipe. The wastewater pipe has a first height from a mounting portion of the base in a height direction. The purified water pipe has a second height from the mounting portion in the height direction. The second height is greater than the first height. The inlet end and the outlet end of the at least one heat conduction pipe has a height difference therebetween. The outlet end of the at least one heat conduction pipe is higher than the predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jeng-Shiung Jan, Han-Ting Yen, Shuang-Yuan Chang, Meng-Hao Chuang, Shih-Kai Chou
  • Publication number: 20140124355
    Abstract: A method of harnessing geothermal energy to produce electricity by lowering a geothermal generator deep into a pre-drilled well bore below the Earth's surface. The Self Contained In-Ground Geothermal Generator (SCI-GGG) includes a boiler, a turbine compartment, an electricity generator, a condenser and produces electricity down at the heat sources and transmits it up to the ground surface by cable. The Self Contained Heat Exchanger (SCHE) is integral part of (SCI-GGG) system and can function independently. It consists of a closed loop system with two heat exchangers. No pollution is emitted during production process. There is no need for hydro-thermal reservoirs although not limited to hot rocks. It can be implemented in many different applications. The SCHE also includes an in-line water pump operatively coupled to the closed loop system and can be used in many different applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: Nikola Lakic
  • Publication number: 20140076708
    Abstract: A steam supply system that can reheat CO2 absorbing liquid without lowering performance of a reboiler by decompressing a condensed water drum is provided. This system includes a reboiler that raises the temperature of absorbing liquid contacted with exhaust gas discharged from a boiler to absorb CO2 in the exhaust gas and heated to eliminate CO2. The reboiler includes a heat exchanger tube to which steam for heating is supplied and a condensed water drum that recovers condensed water of the steam introduced from the heat exchanger tube as steam drain, and the condensed water drum is provided with decompression unit that lowers pressure in the condensed water drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Nakayama, Takahito Yonekawa, Masayuki Inui, Tatsuya Tsujiuchi, Osamu Miyamoto, Yoshiki Sorimachi
  • Patent number: 8623174
    Abstract: A liquid evaporation system for evaporating clean water from a reservoir of wastewater includes a liquid evaporator to evaporate and separate water vapor from the wastewater in a confined space, an air blower to supply air to the liquid evaporator, and a wastewater heating system arranged to collect heat to heat the wastewater in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8617358
    Abstract: Provided is a pure liquid manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing pure liquid such as pure water efficiently. Together with a series of units, from a heating unit to a condensation unit, for obtaining pure liquid from vapor, a drain tank unit for storing liquid is disposed, after the liquid discharged from the vaporization unit and the separation unit and new liquid are mixed in advance in the drain tank unit, the mixed liquid is pressurized by a pump unit and supplied to the heating unit. Consequently, the drain tank unit serves as a buffer for pressure, thus making it possible to maintain easily the pressure in the respective units such as the vaporization unit, etc., and reduce load of a vacuum exhaust unit to ensure a reduced pressure state, and dispose the required minimum valves for maintaining the pressure, thereby achieving the simplification of the apparatus structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Haruo Uehara
  • Publication number: 20130319844
    Abstract: A treater combination unit wherein the functions of a heater treater and one or more of a sales gas heater, instrument gas heater/dryer, two-phase separator, and a free water knockout are incorporated into a single unit are included in a single, self-contained and optionally portable unit. In one embodiment, an instrument gas dryer can also optionally be incorporated into the combination unit. In an alternative embodiment, the instrument gas dryer is added to the unit as a retrofit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Gary Heath, Forrest D. Heath
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130292241
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: David F. Bednarek, Jason A. Demers, Timothy P. Duggan, James L. Jackson, Scott A. Leonard, David W. McGill
  • Patent number: 8558043
    Abstract: A modular biomass treatment unit includes a first module having a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source. The pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical. The first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. The modular biomass treatment unit can also include additional modules each comprising a reactor, a separator, and a frame for transportation to and operation at a site such as the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
  • Patent number: 8377257
    Abstract: A total evaporator for fluids, including a cold chamber to prevent pre-evaporation, an evaporation region connected thereto having narrow flow cross-section for fast evaporation of the fluid, and a subsequent vapor chamber for pulsation damping and the controlled superheating of the vapor, the evaporation region being formed by a gap between concentrically nested cylindrical and/or conical tube sections and heat required for the evaporation and superheating processes is supplied by electric heating and/or by hot fluid and/or by catalytic or homogeneous combustion via the wall of the concentric tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Universitat Stuttgart
    Inventors: Gerhart Eigenberger, Andreas Freund, Grigorios Kolios, Clemens Merten, Jens Bernnat, Gudrun Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8361277
    Abstract: An evaporator is provided for evaporation of liquid from a solution or liquid mixtures, together with methods of operation of the evaporator. The evaporator comprises a chamber (1); a liquid reservoir (3) for holding a heat transfer liquid exposed to the interior of the chamber; a support (6) for supporting a container (8) in the chamber, such that the liquid sample in the container is exposed to a fluid path (15) for connection to a condenser (16), the fluid path being separated from the chamber interior, and at least a portion of the container is closely thermally coupled to the chamber interior; and means (4) for heating the heat transfer liquid in the reservoir to create heat transfer liquid vapor, which in use condenses and releases latent heat of vaporization to the liquid sample in the container. As the temperature of the sample is dependent on the saturated vapor temperature of the liquid in the reservoir, the temperature of the samples is reliably limited, thereby avoiding overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Genevac Limited
    Inventor: Donald Roger Lee-Smith
  • Patent number: 8304590
    Abstract: Autothermal torrefaction devices, which can be either stationary of mobile, are provided and include a torrefaction chamber having a chamber inlet for receiving biomass and at least one chamber outlet. The torrefaction chamber can be substantially surrounded by an exterior housing defining an outer jacket and having a jacket inlet and a jacket outlet. The outer jacket and torrefaction chamber define a space therebetween such that a burner unit including an inlet operatively connected to the chamber outlet and an outlet operatively connected to the jacket inlet allows vapors produced or released from within the torrefaction chamber to travel into the burner unit for combustion of at least a portion of the vapors and subsequently travel through the space between the jacket and the torrefaction chamber to provide heat necessary for autothermal torrefaction of biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: NOrth Carolina State University
    Inventors: Christopher B. Hopkins, Rucker Preston Burnette, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120228119
    Abstract: A distiller is provided. The distiller includes a liquid-tight enclosure and an input source connected thereto for inputting a quantity of water into the liquid-tight enclosure. A plurality of substantially vertical rotatable plates is aligned along a substantially horizontal axis within the liquid-tight enclosure. At least a portion of each of the substantially vertical rotatable plates is submerged within the quantity of water inside the liquid-tight enclosure, and each of the substantially vertical rotatable plates has an opening. At least one manifold, having one or more exit ports, extends through a plurality of the openings of the substantially vertical rotatable plates, wherein a portion of the quantity of water is transferred via the substantially vertical rotatable plates to the manifold during a rotation of the plurality of substantially vertical plates. An output opening is formed in the liquid-tight enclosure, the output opening arranged in fluid communication with the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Samuel T. Kjellman
  • Publication number: 20120211346
    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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Simpson, Steve R. McNeany, Thomas V. Dinsmore, Scott R. Hunter, Ilia N. Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8198493
    Abstract: Improved, fuel-efficient systems are provided for the processing of biomass, such as wood or crop residues, food waste or animal waste in order to selectively obtain thermally processed final products, such as a combination of torrefied and carbonized final products. The processes involve thermally drying incoming biomass using a dryer employing the hot gas output of a fuel-operated burner. Next, the dried product is torrefied in an indirect torrefaction reactor so as to evolve light volatile organic compounds which are used as a gaseous fuel source for the burner. Some or all of the torrefied product can be recovered, or some or all of the torrefied product is then directed to a separate carbonization reactor coupled with a reactor burner. Carbonization serves to remove most of the remaining VOCs which are used as a gaseous fuel input to the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Earth Care Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Livingston, Bijoy J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8080138
    Abstract: This invention describes a low temperature, self-sustainable desalination process operated under natural vacuum conditions created and maintained by barometric pressure head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagamany Nirmalakhandan, Veera Gnaneswar Gude
  • Publication number: 20110000778
    Abstract: There is provided an evaporative desalination apparatus of sea water using a phase change medium, and more particularly, a desalination method by evaporation, for producing fresh water from sea water by using various high heat sources, such as solar heat, engine heat and the like. Instead of a conventional method in which warm water is supplied to an evaporator of an desalination apparatus to evaporate seawater, the present invention provides the phase change medium capable of supplying a much more amount of heat to the evaporator, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the desalination apparatus to produce a great quantity of fresh water or manufacturing a compact desalination apparatus. The method of providing the amount of heat according to the present invention is to circulate the phase change medium. In the present invention, the latent heat generated when a gas of high heat is injected and is phase-changed to a liquid state is used to evaporate sea water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Hee Youl Kwak, Sang Kook Yun
  • Patent number: 7815776
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for desalinizing raw water are disclosed. The method can include wicking the raw water into a porous material by capillary action and heating the raw water in the porous material with a heating element to form water vapor. The water vapor then can be condensed to form purified water. The apparatus can include a chamber for holding raw water, a heating element, a sheet of porous material and a chamber for collecting water vapor evaporated from the raw water in the porous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: George E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7687041
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing urea are provided. In one or more embodiments, an apparatus for producing urea can include a first zone, which can include a first flow channel in fluid communication with a first tube disposed about a first end of a plurality of trays, a second flow channel in fluid communication with a second tube disposed about the first end of the trays and a second end of the trays, and a third flow channel in fluid communication with a third tube disposed about the first and second ends of the trays. The apparatus can include a second zone, which can include a fixed bed comprising one or more inert packing materials disposed therein to provide additional surface area. The apparatus can include a third zone, which can include a plurality of tubes disposed therein. The second zone can be disposed between the first and third zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Vishnu D. Singh
  • Publication number: 20090283398
    Abstract: A spiral double-tube structure including an inner tube for introducing a solvent vapor resulting from vaporization within a distillation still and an outer tube which a coolant gas cooled by an outdoor machine is passed through is disposed in a buffer tank; the solvent vapor is directly cooled from the surrounding area by the coolant gas with a large temperature difference and thus condensed into a liquid state; by means of an ejector, the liquid is mixed with the solvent suctioned from the buffer tank and returned into the buffer tank; since the solvent in the buffer tank is also directly cooled by the coolant gas, the cooling efficiency is high; accordingly, both the solvent vapor generated from the distillation still and the solvent in the buffer tank for reducing the pressure inside the distillation still can be efficiently cooled without using cooling water, and downsizing of the apparatus can also be attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Masaru Noro, Katsuhito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7572352
    Abstract: Salt-containing water is desalinated by first passing salt-containing water through a heat exchanger disposed in a basin containing solar-heated brine formed by several layers of water lying one above the other in the basin, each of the layers of water forming the brine having a higher salt content than the layer present there above. The heat exchanger is in the lowermost layer of water having a higher temperature than the temperature of the layers of water lying above the lowermost layer of water. The salt-containing water is heated in the basin by solar energy indirect heat exchange with the solar-heated brine to obtain heated salt-containing water. At least part of the heated salt-containing water is evaporated to obtain water vapor, and the water vapor is condensed to obtain desalinated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventor: Hans Josef Van Els
  • Publication number: 20090134004
    Abstract: This invention improves efficiencies of existing distilling devices and provides the opportunity to utilize latent heat for heating or cooling purposes. Sufficient heat sources or cooling sinks can drive the invention for mechanical power production. The innovative use of an elongated chamber hydraulic column positive pressure at the bottom to drive condensation; and pertaining negative pressure in a sealed volume at the top to evince evaporation give a new capability. Repeated mechanical inversions of the chamber allows the evaporated vapor volumes to be compressed and driven to condense by the fluid hydraulic column as a piston, eliminating requirements for seals. This allows operation with many fluid separations and in many physical environmental regimes, both internal to the elongated chamber and externally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: William J. Asprey
  • Patent number: 6969446
    Abstract: Process for producing a nitric acid of a concentration from 75 to 99.9% from a more diluted nitric acid, wherein a nitric acid of a concentration of about 45 to 70% is rectified in contact with a liquid extraction medium to prevent the formation of a nitric acid-water-azeotropic mixture, and the vapors of the concentrated nitric acid are condensed and a concentrated nitric acid is obtained and wherein additionally the extraction medium is reconstituted through reconcentration and returned into the extractive rectification, wherein the nitric acid to be concentrated is fed as a boiling liquid or partially vaporized to the extractive rectification preferably carried out in two columns (K 1.0, K 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: QVF Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Gottfried Dichtl, Frank Dorstewitz, Manfred Sassenberg, Ulrich Walter
  • Patent number: 6551464
    Abstract: A combination reflux/distillation apparatus is provided having interchangeable reflux and distillation columns, a segmented collection trough and an integrated indirect heating provision. The apparatus is uniquely adapted for refluxing and distilling small quantities of materials without the losses attendant to larger apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Howard Kimel
  • Patent number: 5858178
    Abstract: A process for preparing and/or extracting samples by heating them together with a solvent in a container under pressure, using a Soxhlet apparatus. The samples are dried by heating in a container; and the resultant vapors are drawn off to generate a vacuum in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Werner Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 5814192
    Abstract: A vapor compression distillation apparatus includes a vessel for containing a liquid to be distilled and a heat exchanger of the shell and tube type immersed in the liquid. The heat exchanger has top and bottom manifolds and vertical tubes surrounded by a shell. Foraminous vortex-drag induction plates extend across the shell between adjacent rows of tubes for inducing turbulence in the vortices to provide a better heat transfer from vapor passing through the shell to liquid in the tubes. Baffles are provided at selected intervals across the shell, between adjacent rows of tubes to produce a sinuous flow path for the heating medium. Steam injecting sparging tubes extend along the lower manifold of the heat exchanger to inject steam bubbles into the liquid to be evaporated. This produces turbulence in the tubes of the heat exchanger, promotes a better flow through the tubes and scrubs the tube interiors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Terra Mannix Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Pittmon, Randy Wasilenko, Brian Fisk
  • Patent number: 5783047
    Abstract: A monotube or multitube 2 is coupled to a body shell 1 via tube plates 3a and 3b at both ends, so that a tube interior 4 and a tube exterior 5 of the monotube or multitube 2 are isolated from each other. A difference is made in operating pressure between the tube interior 4 and the tube exterior 5, so that one of the tube interior 4 and the tube exterior 5 is used as a lower-pressure column and the other is used as a higher-pressure column. A wall of the tube is used as a heat transfer surface, so that heat is transferred from the higher pressure side (higher temperature side) to the lower pressure side (lower temperature side).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignees: Kimura Chemical Plants Co., Ltd., Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd., Maruzen Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Aso, Hiroshi Matsuo, Hideo Noda, Tomoaki Takada, Nobuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5730836
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminium Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Roy Greig, Peter James Tait, Peter John Noble
  • Patent number: 5711857
    Abstract: A microwave distillation apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a microwave heating chamber having a plurality of walls. A vessel is located within the chamber for containing a liquid to be distilled. The vessel has a mouth for receiving the liquid. A connecting tube extends though an opening formed in one of the plurality of chamber walls. The connecting tube has a first end thereof for sealably engaging the mouth of the vessel, and a second end thereof extending outwardly from the chamber. A biasing assembly is located outside of the chamber, and engages the connecting tube with a biasing force to maintain the seal between the connecting tube and the mouth of the vessel. A distillate capture assembly is connected to the connecting tube for receiving vapors emitted from the liquid when heated, and for condensing the vapors into a liquid distillate for capture and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Bernard Armstrong
  • 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: 5624530
    Abstract: Spray drying system for drying a liquid feed which is made up of a solution or suspension of particles in a fluid medium. The system enables the spray drying of wet material and converting the material into powder by evaporation of a liquid medium at reduced pressure or at a vacuum. The system includes a heating chamber and an evacuation device, communicating with the interior of the heating chamber. This provision enables creation of reduced pressure within the chamber, accompanied by evaporation of the fluid medium at temperatures lower than needed for evaporation at normal pressure, and evacuation of the moisture vapor generated during evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Dryer, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akper Sadykhov, Raphael Semiat
  • Patent number: 5597453
    Abstract: A vapor compression distillation/product concentration device includes an evaporator/condenser core, with alternating boiling and condensing chambers with edge manifolds such that substantially the entirety of each plate surface is used as a heat transfer surface. Seals are conveniently formed between adjacent plates by laying a bead of liquid gasketing material such that as the plates are laid atop each other and cured, a waffle-like seal is formed surrounding the contact points between adjacent plates which interlocks the seal with the plates. A truly perpendicular fluid flow is achieved between the alternating boiling chambers and condensing chambers as each fluid traverses the entirety of each chamber in a unidirectional flow as it passes through the evaporator/condenser core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Superstill Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephan B. Sears
  • Patent number: 5582691
    Abstract: An improved ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system which includes a novel combined evaporator/condenser. The combined evaporator/condenser further includes a plurality of evaporator spouts and a mist eliminator, wherein the pressure is maintained across the plurality of evaporator spouts. The OTEC system also generates fresh water as a primary product and generates only enough electricity, as a secondary product, to operate the OTEC system itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventors: Robert J. Flynn, George J. Cicchetti, Jonathan d'E. Coony
  • Patent number: 5582680
    Abstract: A compact, transportable and self-contained apparatus for treating wastewater containing as impurities and pollutants various non-volatile (at water boiling points) fluids such as greases, oils and soaps, having a vessel/evaporator for receiving the wastewater, a heater below the evaporator to heat the wastewater admixture and boil off the water, a collector to draw off the non-volatile fluids from substantially the entire height of the water evaporator, and automatic refill/shutdown control devices for the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Raymond E. Vankouwenberg
    Inventors: Raymond E. Vankouwenberg, Robert D. Gendreau
  • Patent number: 5582690
    Abstract: Desalination of sea water is achieved using a solar pond that includes a halocline interposed between a convective upper wind mixed layer exposed to the ambient atmosphere, and a lower heat storage layer of hot, concentrated brine, Hot brine from the heat storage layer is flashed into steam which is condensed into desalted water using an indirect heat exchanger cooled by saline water. The latent heat of condensation of the steam warms the saline water and effects evaporation of water therefrom in the form of vapor. The last mentioned water vapor is condensed into desalted water using a two-stage condenser, the first stage of which is an indirect heat exchanger cooled by saline feed water which is heated as a result producing warmed saline feed water that constitutes the saline water used for condensing the steam produced by flashing the brine from the heat storage layer of the pond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines (1965) Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph Weinberger, Uriyel Fisher, Gad Assaf, Benjamin Doron
  • Patent number: 5496448
    Abstract: An evaporator, which includes a water chamber for receiving water to be evaporated. A plurality of evaporator tubes which when heated, and when water is on an inner wall of a tube, evaporates at least a portion of that water. A plurality of distributors spatially connecting the water chamber with the evaporator tubes in a manner so that each distributor uniformly and distributes the water from the water chamber to an inner wall of a corresponding evaporator tube. A heat source, which heats the plurality of tubes to an evaporation temperature. Apparatus distills the water vapor resulting from the water evaporation to provide distilled water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Dinh-Cuong Vuong
  • Patent number: 5472576
    Abstract: A method for the production of an industrial diluent which includes the steps of heating a liquid waste from a facility that manufactures coatings, inks, lacquers, adhesives, or dyes in a mixer-reactor to generate a vapor, flowing the vapor into a distillation column, distilling the vapor to form distillation components, and transferring each component to a tank designated for such component. The method may include the additional steps of mixing at least two of the components in a predetermined amount, and thoroughly mixing the liquid waste during the heating step. The heating step is preferably effected by applying heat substantially uniformly to the liquid waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Anwar E. Berberi
  • Patent number: 5457277
    Abstract: To heat the circulating reboiler streams of multiple distillation columns a fired reboiler is provided for a first column requiring the most heat. A portion of the bottoms from the first column is passed through the tubes of the heater in the fired reboiler and recycled to the first column as is normal. A slip stream is taken from the recycle after heating and passed on to provide heat by indirect heat exchange to a second reboiler and if desired other reboilers or heat exchangers. The slip stream may then be recycled to the bottoms of the first column directly or to the circulating steam of the first reboiler. A portion of the recycled slip stream can be taken as feed into the second column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Chemical Research & Licensing Company
    Inventor: Angel Sy
  • Patent number: 5421962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to water treatment using solar energy.The desalination plant includes an evaporator-desalter communicating with an intake system for water to be desalinated and a vapour and condensate discharge system. The evaporator is essentially at least a portion of a water pool wherein the density of water is higher than that of the water being desalinated, and mounted above the water pool are atomizers and branch pipes of the vapour and condensate discharge system. The atomizers and the branch pipes are provided with a collapsible roof. The surface of the water pool of the evaporator is covered with a film having floating elements shaped as balls.The invention can be used for water desalination in droughty and waterless coastal areas nearby the seas and oceans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Mikhail E. Shvarts, Alexei M. Shvarts
  • Patent number: 5382328
    Abstract: For the processing of waste oil, i.e. environmentally safe processing, a process and installation are used whereby the waste oil is preheated with the distillation gases and is then distilled itself by burning the distilled waste oil. The liquid and solid residues are exposed to the flame produced by the combustion of the distilled waste oil, while the gaseous residues are heated to over 1,200.degree. C. in a long-hold chamber constructed as a fume incinerator. In order to calcine the solid or burn the liquid residues, they are collected in the distillation chamber and transported via a rotating cylinder and a chute into the combustion chamber where they are then correspondingly calcined by the burner flame. In contrast, the gaseous residues are fed to a long-hold chamber, whereby the latter is a pipe system with a length of 75 m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventors: Gerd Drespa, Heinz-Gunter Rittscher
  • Patent number: 5346593
    Abstract: A methanol refining column and method using an intermediate reboiler. Use of the intermediate reboiler reduces methanol production energy requirements. A side stream at or near a fusel oil takeoff point is heated in an intermediate reboiler by a low temperature heating medium (relative to a bottoms reboiler) and returned to the column at or near the fusel oil take-off tray. The take-off tray is operated at 85.degree.-110.degree. C., and 70-90 percent of the reboiler duty is supplied through the intermediate reboiler. The remaining heat load is supplied by a bottoms steam reboiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Cialkowski, Thomas P. Ognisty
  • Patent number: 5312524
    Abstract: A distillation system for recovery of volatile components of contaminated liquids used in an industrial process includes a tube assembly including outer tubes to which hot bottoms liquids are supplied and inner tubes to which process liquids are supplied for transfer of heat from the bottoms to the process liquids. From the tube assembly the two liquids are discharged into the still through separate, elongated, parallel discharge pipes. The process liquids discharge pipe is positioned above the bottoms liquids discharge pipe and an elongated, metal, angle plate is positioned as an inverted V between the two discharge pipes. Efficiency is improved over prior systems wherein process liquids are added to the still without being preheated by the bottoms fluids, and without the unique still intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Filter Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Lyle B. Barcomb
  • Patent number: 5306397
    Abstract: The apparatus is located almost completely under the surface of the sea. The vacua in the de-aeration and the evaporation chambers are generated by a vacuum pump and are maintained by the effects of a pressure reduction device at the inlet for warm seawater and a lifting pump at the outlet for brine. The de-aerator and the evaporator are laid out as heat exchangers and penetrated by heating tubes, which are flowed through passively by warm seawater. The immersion tube forming the steam compartment which is suspended vertically in the sea serves as a condenser. The condenser is cooled passively by cold seawater. The attachment to the bottom of the sea is performed by a single point mooring construction via an anchor chain at an anchor weight. The elevation of the water production unit is controlled automatically by means of an air chamber and an air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: PI Praktische Informatik GmbH
    Inventor: Edgar Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5236555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation method and an apparatus for the concentration and purification of water-containing liquid chemicals. The distillation is performed using constant, predetermined distillation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Athens Corp.
    Inventor: Wallace I. Yuan
  • Patent number: 5158649
    Abstract: When regenerating gas treating chemicals such as diethanolamine solution, the usual practice is to subject the chemicals to steam stripping. Ultimately such action is ineffective, and it is necessary to discard the chemicals. The waste chemical can be reclaimed by preheating the chemical in a countercurrent heat exchanger, in which heat is recovered from an already processed product; using a still to separate the preheated, partially vaporized chemical from the remainder of the chemicals; i.e. impurities or still bottoms; heating the still bottoms and recycling such bottoms for mixing with partially vaporized chemical immediately upstream of the still; returning the separated vapor product from the still to the heat exchanger for heating feed chemical; and separating the thus partially condensed product in a separator to yield reclaimed gas treating chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventors: Todd Beasley, Dwight A. Merritt
  • Patent number: 5102503
    Abstract: A system for on-site recovery of reusable industrial waste components, such as solvents, from a liquid waste stream includes a trailer that is internally partitioned to separate system components through which the waste stream passes in a first partitioned section of the trailer from support and control components in the second trailer section. Input waste is fed into a horizontal thin-film evaporator within the first trailer section, while steam is fed in a closed loop through the evaporator from the second section of the trailer for evaporating volatile solvents in the waste stream, and thereby separating the volatile solvents from non-volatile liquid and solid components of the waste stream. The evaporated volatile solvents are fed to a heat exchanger, again enclosed within the first partitioned section of the trailer, for recondensation through heat exchange with a coolant fed to the heat exchanger in a closed loop from the second trailer section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Environmental Technology Group Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Silinski, Robert A. Walz
  • Patent number: 5082525
    Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus rendering water-based fluid waste stream evaporation operations environmentally and otherwise safe, involving separately and independently existing the hot gas stream produced by fuel combustion and the vaporized fluid-air exhaust stream resulting from heat-vaporizing of the fluid, independently directing the streams in opposite directions toward one another and to a common region, and applying fan suction immediately at said region to exert the sole control of withdrawing the streams simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Hea Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel G. Travis
  • Patent number: RE35283
    Abstract: A highly efficient distillation unit is provided for heating water and condensing the generated steam to remove the contaminants from the water. Efficiency is enhanced by providing a compact air cooled fin-and-tube heat exchanger which removes heat from the steam, with a powered blower passing air by the fins. A removable bowl which houses the evaporating water is suspended from a rod biased toward its upper position. Mechanical linkage interconnects the rod and a valve which controls incoming water flow to the bowl. The valve closure member is incrementally moved from an opened position to a closed position as a function of the weight of the water in the heating bowl. A low density electrical heating element is powered with from 40 to 55 watts per square inch of submerged heating element exterior surface. The bowl is configured to have a large surface area of heated water to heater input power, thereby further maximizing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Arthur R. Helmich