Tubular Patents (Class 202/237)
  • Patent number: 6290819
    Abstract: A continuous-flow water distiller includes a housing having a removable heating vessel which receives water to be distilled A heater is immersed within the water in the vessel for producing steam. The housing includes an openable lid which, when closed, seals the heating vessel so that steam can be directed through an outlet into a condenser located in the housing. Raw water is supplied to the heating vessel through a heat exchanger to preheat the raw water by effectively utilizing thermal energy recovery to initiate cooling of the steam, and distillate is supplied through the condenser to enhance heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Environmental Technology Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Glenn E. Land
  • Patent number: 6178926
    Abstract: A heater includes a radiant section having a wall and a roof, the roof having a longitudinal opening. A radiant heat exchange tube is disposed in the radiant section, and the tube has an inlet and outlet through which a process fluid can be carried respectively into and out of the radiant section. The tube between the inlet and outlet is arranged in generally horizontal tube lengths. A plurality of burners is provided, at least two of the burners being disposed on opposing sides of the tube. A plurality of tube supports is releasably positioned at longitudinal intervals along the tube lengths and define tube seats on which the tube lengths rest. The tube and tube supports are liftable as a unit through the longitudinal opening of the roof of the radiant section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Corporation
    Inventor: Donald D. Worman
  • Patent number: 6024842
    Abstract: A device for distilling a liquid feed which includes a core pipe and a first fluid in a series of helically wound tubes or vanes employing the core pipe as a mandrel. The liquid to be distilled passes over a series of interstices which are created by the helically wound tubes or vanes and a distillate recovered as a consequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Komax Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Tony King
  • Patent number: 5932073
    Abstract: A water distiller incorporates a removable vessel for containing water, a heat source disposed below the removable vessel for heating the water to produce steam, a condenser for condensing the steam into distilled water, and an outlet from the condenser for directing distilled water into a collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Glenn E. Land
  • Patent number: 5897749
    Abstract: Liquid mixtures which contain (meth)acrylic acid as the main component are continuously separated in a distillation apparatus which comprises a still, a condenser and a connection between still and condenser and to which the liquid mixture to be separated is continuously fed, by a process in which the energy required for evaporation of the liquid mixture is supplied to the distillation apparatus by a procedure in which a part of the liquid content of the still is continuously removed, superheated and recycled to the still.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ruprecht Kroker, Manfred Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 5820748
    Abstract: Gasses, water and solvents, major contaminants in used lubricating oils, can be removed from used lubricating oils at mild temperature conditions under vacuum. Apparatus in which the removal can take place includes a hollow vacuum separator vessel with a spray nozzle to spray an ultra fine spray of warm, used lubricating oil onto an angularly disposed thin film separator plate. In conjunction with the plate is a cooling device within the vacuum chamber. Cleaned oil can be passed from the bottom back into a holding tank, while water and solvents are drained out into a separate tank for safe disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Tajwar Shadikhan
  • 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: 5772850
    Abstract: A vapor compression distillation process and apparatus is provided wherein the apparatus includes a container having a generally vertical longitudinal center axis and bottom and top end caps, a plurality of generally vertical tubes spacedly disposed within the container, the tubes being fixedly held in position by opposing top and bottom tube sheets defining a condensing chamber therebetween wherein the condensing chamber has an upper, partially sectioned off chamber, an evaporation chamber within the container between the top tube sheet and a top end cap, a vapor compressor communicating with an upper area of the evaporation chamber and with the upper chamber of the condensing chamber, heat input communicating with the container, and a plurality of passages for passing a liquid into or out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Bobby D. Morris
  • Patent number: 5688377
    Abstract: Rotating parallel disks create radial cyclonic vortices between them. The axes of these vortices communicate with the bore of a hollow shaft, and a vacuum is drawn in the shaft bore by the action of a centrifugal pump. Particles, mist, and heavy vapors such as mercury, are separated out of a gas stream by the radial vortices, which cause whatever is relatively heavy in the vortex to migrate away from the vortex axis and then contact the rotating disks, whereby they are expelled from the space between the disks. Application to mist elimination for steam is discussed, as are application to cyclonic cracking of hydrocarbons and separation of gaseous waste from intra-lattice fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Inventor: Wilmot H. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 5684125
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying liquid polysiloxane containing impurities as a low-molecular-weight fraction, by evaporating the low-molecular-weight fraction, in which method a liquid stream of impure liquid material in the form of a bundle of a multiplicity of streams or jets is brought into contact with a flowing gas phase, after which the gas stream, which contains the impurities, is removed and purified liquid material is collected; a device for performing this method and also the use of purified liquid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franciscus Petrus Marie Nooren
  • Patent number: 5645694
    Abstract: An improved vapor compression distillation process and apparatus are provided having a container with a substantially horizontal longitudinal center axis, two opposing end plates closing each end of the container, a first and second passage area defined within and on opposing ends of the container, each adjacent one of the end plates, a collecting chamber defined within the container between the first and second passage areas, a plurality of generally horizontal tubes spacedly exposed within the collecting chamber generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, each of the tubes having two opposing ends which open into the first and second passage areas respectively, two opposing plates positioned on opposite ends of the horizontal tubes, each plate engaging similar ends of the horizontal tubes, a vapor compressor attached to the container such that the vapor compressor communicates with an upper area of the collecting chamber and communicates with the first passage area, at least one passage fo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Vacom II, L.P.
    Inventors: James M. Stewart, Bobby D. Morris
  • Patent number: 5614066
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting seawater or other contaminated water into pure water for reuse including: a source of the contaminated water; a first horizontal housing connected to the source of contaminated water and having a heat exchanger therein for vaporizing the contaminated water therein; a vertical housing connected to the distal end of the first horizontal housing for fluid communication therebetween; a second horizontal housing connected at its proximate end to the vertical housing for fluid communication therebetween, the second horizontal housing having a heat exchanger therein for condensing vapor therein; a weir vertically mounted in the first housing for retaining a portion of the contaminated water in the first housing and allowing the other portion of the contaminated water to pass through the heat exchange evaporator from the proximate to distal end of the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: William R. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5603809
    Abstract: A spinning band device for use in a distillation process including a particular pattern of apertures. The band is made of of an elongated strip, either metal screen or Teflon, twisted about its longitudinal center. Both embodiments contain frayed or jagged edges to create turbulences within a mixture and scrape the inner wall of a distillation column. The novel features of this band are the large apertures, which a situated on the longitudinal centerline for the metallic embodiment and scattered on the outer face for the Teflon embodiment, combined with the use of a plurality of spinning blades. Experimental testing and empirical data has proven this type of band to yield a significant increase in fractionating efficiency over the conventional two bladed bands without apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Roger R. Roark, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5573635
    Abstract: A thin film evaporating device includes a housing defining a space for receiving a plurality of elongated tubular evaporators. An inlet is associated with the housing for feeding a flowable heating medium to the space for heating the plurality of elongated tubular evaporators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Buss AG
    Inventor: Rolf Van Der Piepen
  • Patent number: 5534118
    Abstract: A controlled bubble of cavitation is formed within the distilland by opposed centrifugal and centripetal forces in the plane of an afferent mesial passage. Thus a distilland surface forms around the axis of rotation, and saturated vapor is continuously stripped from this distilland surface by the work of a vapor pump, which also creates the centripetal force. The vapor vortex within this cavitation region ejects by centrifugal force whatever in it is denser than pure vapor, including any particles or droplets which may somehow become entrained in the vapor. Bubbling at the distilland surface, which might produce mist, is suppressed by centrifugal force. Vapor is compelled to follow an afferent flow path, and is scrubbed by cyclones in the afferent mesial passage. Scrubbed vapor is then withdrawn from within the distilland along the axis of rotation. No container is necessary for the distilland and no heat is added to produce evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Wilmot H. McCutchen
  • 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: 5472574
    Abstract: Bands used in fractionating columns, and more specifically, to the type made from either a metal screen strip or from a Teflon sheet twisted into a helicoid. In addition to previously documented design characteristics, the present spinning band includes a number of additional, circular apertures cut into the face of the metal screen strip and Teflon sheet. The circular apertures, sequentially arranged along the centerline of the band, add to the operating efficiency of the spinning band as it is employed in a fractionation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Roger R. Roark, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5470431
    Abstract: A stack type evaporator includes tubular elements 1 each having a plurality of inwardly protruding recessed ribs 7 which extend from an upper header portion 1a of the element to a lower header portion 1b, with the ribs serving as straight drainage canals 7a of specified width and area. A hydrophilic resin coating of a specific composition covers the outer surfaces of the tubular elements 1 and fins 2 each interposed between two adjacent tubular elements. The combination of straight drainage canals, the specified width and area thereof and the specific hydrophilic resin coating is effective to facilitate the drainage of condensed water so that the waterdrop is substantially prevented from flying out of the evaporator, and the hydrophilic coating itself does not emit any unpleasant smell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corp.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okuda, Masayoshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 5435891
    Abstract: A home water distillation device for converting tap water to distilled water largely free of dissolved minerals and gases. A tubular shaped boiler with an electrical heating unit provides steam to a condensation coil immersed in an open top reservoir into which tap water is admitted under the control of a standard metering valve. The unit utilizes condensation heat to drive off chlorine and the like into the atmosphere, so that the steam is free of dissolved gases and the distillate product is corresponding free and therefore of increased palatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Inventor: William H. Snitchler
  • Patent number: 5417924
    Abstract: A device is mountable to the opening of a receptacle in which fumes are generated. The device includes a condensation chamber into which the fumes rise and are condensed. The condensed liquid flows back into the receptacle. A tube passing through the condensation chamber and is connectable to a source of suction which causes purging air to be circulated through the receptacle by drawing purging air into the receptacle through the condensation chamber and discharging the air through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Societe Prolabo
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Di-Martino, Eric Quentin
  • Patent number: 5415732
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for concentration of a flowable foodstuff can be accomplished by supplying a flowable foodstuff into a vaporization chamber as split into a plurality of free nappes and causing the free nappes to run a predetermined distance to release vapor from their surfaces. After covering this distance, the free nappes of flowable foodstuff are collected into a mass at the bottom of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Rossi & Catelli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Camillo Catelli
  • Patent number: 5385645
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus for processing a liquid continuously has a positive mechanical drive for a set of vertical whip rods each disposed in a vertical heat transfer tube. Each whip rod is free-standing on its lower end and is sufficiently flexible to conform closely to the inner surface of the tube as it orbits. The orbital drive propels the whip rod directly through a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced plates that engage the rods in loose openings that serve as fluid inlets from the drive plate. A motor rotates a drive shaft coupled to at least one of the drive plates through at least one eccentric crank. Each plate can be an opposed pair of plates with a separate eccentric drives 180.degree. out of phase with one another for a self balancing. Another form of drive plate uses a rigid circular ring that mounts rod-engaging sleeves via a network of wires supported by the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Y. T. Li Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Yao-Tzu Li
  • 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: 5282927
    Abstract: The concentrate holding lower portion of a sample and concentrate holding vessel has a jacket for shielding such concentrate holding portion from heat sufficient to volatilize appreciable solvent therefrom when the vessel is subjected to sufficient heat for effecting evaporative concentration of solution in such vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Mark Weidner
  • Patent number: 5268073
    Abstract: In concentrating solutions containing 1 to 10% by weight of salts and resins, the yield and economics and trouble-free running can be improved by using a flow tube which has a steady curvature at least in the last third and is sized in its diameter in such a way that the mean flow velocity at the tube outlet is at least 50 m/second, and at least 90% by weight of the vaporizable components are evaporated off at driving temperature gradients of 20.degree. to 200.degree. C. between the heating medium and the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Clemens Casper, Jorgen Weinschenck
  • Patent number: 5246549
    Abstract: An apparatus for distilling corrosive compounds under high temperatures, which would include primary vessel chamber, having a first interior annular wall lined with a loose polymer, such as PTFE (or TEFLON), a second annular wall exterior to the first annular wall, and defining an annular space between the interior and the exterior wall; a somewhat rigid porous material for supporting the interior PTFE liner positioned along the interior wall of the vessel; device for drawing air out of the annular space between interior and exterior walls, for creating a vacuum at the annular space, so that the PTFE liner is supported firmly against the somewhat rigid porous support member; next, a second means for drawing air out of the interior of the vessel for creating a vacuum therewithin so that a pressure equilibrium is established between the interior of the vessel and the annular space, and a corrosive material can be heated in the vessel chamber under the vacuum, and the liner be maintained flush against the wall o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventor: John Heil
  • Patent number: 5246541
    Abstract: A falling film evaporator includes a chamber having a top and bottom tube plate; a plurality of vertical tubes each having an interior and exterior surface and extending through the chamber and being supported by the top and bottom tube plates; an inlet at the chamber for feeding heating medium into the chamber; a distributor above the tubes for feeding liquid to be evaporated into the tubes and for causing the liquid to be distributed as a falling film along the interior surface of the tubes so as to evaporate the liquid and generate vapor as the liquid passes in heat exchanging relationship with a heating medium present at the exterior surface of the tubes; a vapor space defined by a circumferential wall below the tubes; a plurality of vertically elongated spaced elements having a substantially U-shaped cross-section with inwardly pointing vertical edges for receiving the evaporated liquid and the vapor, the elements being arranged in a circumferential wall below the tubes within the vapor space spaced from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Rolf Ryham
  • Patent number: 5232556
    Abstract: A water desalination apparatus which is constructed of a main housing which includes a condensation chamber and a vapor chamber located above the condensation chamber. Brackish water is to be supplied into the vapor chamber with this brackish water to produce a vapor which is to be removed by a centrifugal compressor arrangement into the condensation chamber. The condensed brackish water from the vapor chamber is to flow through a mass of thin-walled tubes to be eventually discharged into the ambient. The exterior wall of these tubes is located within the condensation chamber and it is on the walls of these tubes that the distilled water vapor is to collect and condense and flow from the condensation chamber to a collection source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventor: Frank J. Passarelli
  • Patent number: 5221439
    Abstract: An orbital evaporator has a vertical heat transfer tube or tubes mounted in a container driven in an orbital motion. A stiff whip rod is freely movable within the tube. Its lower end rests on a horizontal plate. The orbital motion causes the rod to roll over the interior surface of the tube to distribute the liquid in a thin film and to control fouling. A set of fins is mounted on the exterior of the tube to collect and channel the condensate to improve heat transfer through the tube. The fins are preferably longitudinal and the whip rod is preferably hydrophobic. Operating the evaporator with boiling temperatures substantially below 100.degree. C. in combination with the fins and a rolling whip rod allows operation as a desalinization unit for an indefinite period of time with a high total heat transfer coefficient. The evaporator preferably also includes a degasser to control the formation of a gas barrier at the exterior surface of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Y. T. Li Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Tzu Li, Henry Huang, I-Chieng Ho, Albert P. Yundt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5217579
    Abstract: A system for continuously recovering renewable volatile compounds by boiling points from waste organic solvent with minimum energy loss, and an improved thin membrane distillation apparatus for efficient distillation of renewable volatile compounds from waste organic solvent and enforced discharge of the residue or sludge. The waste treatment system includes a thin membrane distillation apparatus, a cooling unit, a first distillation unit, and a second distillation unit connected in this sequence. Alternatively, the system includes two thin membrane distillation apparatus, a reduced pressure distillation unit, and a normal pressure distillation unit connected in this sequence. The thin membrane distillation apparatus includes a decompression chamber, a waste inlet, an outlet for volatile compound, an air-tight chamber, and a breaking mechanism with a screw head movable into the air-tight chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Kusakabe, Tadao Fujii, Fumio Morishita, Shiro Ohta
  • Patent number: 5176799
    Abstract: An evaporation apparatus including a vessel defining an opening at the top thereof and forming an evaporation chamber to hold a liquid composition; a condenser assembly disposed above and hermetically sealed to the vessel and having a wall defining a condensation chamber communicating with the evaporation chamber through the opening, an accumulator for receiving liquid condensed on the wall, and a drain for removing liquid received by the accumulator; a fluid drive disposed above the condenser assembly and adapted to produce fluid flow downwardly through the condensation chamber and into contact with the liquid composition in the evaporation chamber and then upwardly into the condensation chamber; a heating mechanism for heating the liquid composition in the evaporation chamber so as to cause evaporation thereof; and a cooling means for cooling the wall so as to produce condensation thereon of vapor included in the fluid flowing upwardly from the evaporation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Zymark Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Roe, Larry A. Simonson
  • Patent number: 5156706
    Abstract: A vertical tube evaporation process for the concentration of saline water and other liquids, including the addition of an anionic mono-molecular dispersant thereto which interacts with materials precipitated during concentration and inhibits the formation of scale or fouling depositions on evaporator surfaces, and wherein the additive is incorporated into the precipitated materials and improves their removal during the descaling or defouling of evaporator surfaces by rendering such precipitates redispersable in fresh water or in a non-saturated liquid used for descaling or defouling of evaporator surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Inventor: Hugo H. Sephton
  • Patent number: 5149399
    Abstract: A liquid evaporator includes an air-tight outer container containing liquid therein, the liquid container having support legs adjacent the bottom surface thereof; an inner container mounted on the legs for partitioning the interior space of the outer container, the inner container having a wall made of insulating material; and a heater fixed to an upper portion of the outer container and positioned inside the inner container. The liquid evaporator may be combined with a deodorizing device for forming a urine treating device, wherein the urine treating device includes a deodorizing housing having an upper portion provided with a secondary heater therein, a catalyst surrounding the secondary heater, a blower provided outside the housing, and a diffusion pipe provided at the upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Japanic/Japanic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kishi, Toyohiko Sunaoka
  • Patent number: 5057190
    Abstract: A stripping column installation especially for separating starting materials with a high boiling point difference comprises a stripping column having a withdrawal plate and a column sump, and a circulating boiler connected with the stripping column and having a pipe bundle through which a sump product from the stripping column flows. The circulating boiler has an upper plate and a separating wall which separates a space above the upper plate into two chambers. One of the chambers has a connection for receiving the sump product from the stripping column, while the other of the chambers has a connection for discharging the sump product after heating in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Krupp Koppers GmbH
    Inventors: Luzian Skatulla, Hans-Jurgen Vollmer
  • Patent number: 4981554
    Abstract: A thin-layer evaporator particularly suited for treating high-viscosity fluids, including a treating chamber surrounded by a heating or cooling shell, and a rotor equipped with feed and thrust elements. The feed and thrust elements include at least two axial, equidistant and staggered rows of blade members having the same pitch and sloping with respect both to the rotor axis and to the axial plane passing through their connection line; each member being offset, with respect to the members of the adjacent rows, by a space equal to the half pitch of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Montedipe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mauro Loconsolo, Claudio Buonerba, Antonio Fucile, Francesco Ferrari
  • Patent number: 4954223
    Abstract: A distillation apparatus including a pair of vertical lower vessels each open at its upper end, and a pair of elongate upper vessels each having an open lower end, slidably mounted in a respective one of the lower vessels. A heat exchanger is mounted in each of the upper vessels, with the upper end of one upper vessel being connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger in the other vessel, and vice versa. A reciprocating drive mechanism drives the two upper vessels up and down in opposite directions so as to simultaneously effect compression in the space above the liquid level in the downwardly moving vessel while expanding the space above the liquid in the other vessel, driving vapor from the downwardly moving vessel into the heat exchanger in the other vessel, where it condenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventors: Joseph E. Leary, Edward L. Parr
  • Patent number: 4947983
    Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a heating device, an inlet for medium to be distilled, a vapor outlet, a distillation space between the distillation medium inlet and the vapor outlet and a drain for the separate components of the solvent, arranged in the bottom part of the distilling space and extending from same. In a heating vessel, which is able to be filled with a heating medium to be heated by the heating device, there is a downwardly extending down tube joined with the inlet and an up tube extending upwards to the vapor inlet. During operation the two tubes are surrounded by heating medium and form the distillation space. The drain is arranged under the junction between the up and down tubes and is provided with a U-trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Walter Jost
  • Patent number: 4925526
    Abstract: A falling film evaporator having vertical outer tubes with closed upper ends connected to an upper tube plate disposed in the lower region of the evaporator. Other parallel tubes are disposed inside the outer tubes and are connected to a lower tube plate under the upper tube plate. The evaporator also has a mechanism for distributing the material to be evaporated onto the upper ends of the outer tubes in such a way that the material flows down along the tubes and forms a film on the external surface of the tubes. The space between the tube plates, in which the ends of the outer pipes are located, is divided by an intermediate wall into an inlet and an outlet compartments. Heating steam is fed to the inlet compartment. Clean condensate is recovered from the inlet compartment and contaminated condensate from the outlet compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Reino I. Havukainen
  • Patent number: 4917771
    Abstract: A column construction or boiling space in a distilling apparatus, having a pure vapor input connector, an input connector for water to be distilled, numerous heat exchange tubes within the column construction, a pure vapor removal connector, a condensate removal connector, and a connector for removing water to be distilled that has not vaporized. Pure steam is disposed to flow through heat exchange tubes, while impure water to be distilled is disposed to flow through an intermediate space between the heat exchange tubes. The heat exchange tubes are, at both ends, joined to flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Oy Santasalo-Sohlberg Oy
    Inventors: Lauri Santasalo, Esko Huhta-Koivisto, Jouko Ruokonen
  • Patent number: 4915793
    Abstract: A potable water dispenser includes a first reservoir for storing raw water, a second reservoir for storing boiled hot water, and a third reservoir for storing boiled warm water. The second reservoir is surrounded by the raw water in the first reservoir so as to effect a heat exchange therebetween. A condenser is disposed on the top end of the second reservoir. A heating device is interposed between the first and second reservoirs so as to vaporize the raw water from the first reservoir. Then, the vapor flows into the condenser so as to form boiled hot water which falls into the second reservoir. The boiled hot water will flow from the second reserovir into the third reservoir through a water duct so as to form boiled warm water. Two water tap units are respectively communicated with the second and third reservoirs so as to supply hot and warm water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Tien-Fu Chou
  • Patent number: 4894140
    Abstract: Waste oil is treated in a tubular reactor having a length of up to and in excess of 2 km in a plurality of stages each of which involves heating the product to a different temperature and maintaining the product at a different pressure. The released fractions are evacuated from the path for the flow of waste oil and are immediately condensed and distilled to yield a variety of products from oil having a low boiling point to coke. One or more withdrawn fractions can be treated (for example, hydrogenated) in one or more discrete tubular reactors. The heating can involve raising the temperature of waste oil to several times the critical cracking temperature, and the regulation of pressure can involve a reduction of pressure to less than 1 mbar. The last stage of the reactor can be cleaned by abrasive particles, by vibration at high frequencies and/or by acceleration of the conveyed stream to an elevated speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventor: Christian O. Schon
  • Patent number: 4872955
    Abstract: A vapor-and-liquid contact structure for distillation, fractionation, rectification, absorption, and the refining, in a column, of various liquid materials such as petroleum, chemical, and alcohol solutions wherein provision is made for the inclusion of vertically-spaced bubble plate chambers, having respective liquid and vapor contact devices, to accommodate contact of counter-current flows of reflux liquid and vapors. A downcomer, including slanted ramps, is disposed outside of the vapor conduit-defining interior, and defines an elongate downcomer structure for liquid flow. Accordingly, descending reflux liquid flow is kept outside of primary vapor flow, with secondary vapor evolving from descending reflux being conducted circuitously back into the primary vapor flow for ascent to the next-above contact device. Plate efficiency is enhanced through maximum plate-area effective use and unidirectional liquid-flow over such plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Uni-Frac Inc.
    Inventors: Trent J. Parker, Byron M. Parker
  • Patent number: 4865689
    Abstract: A device for removing the volatile components of a polymer in a polymer train includes a hollow pipe which defines an interior chamber, a pair of flanges mounted on opposite axial ends of the pipe, a heat jacket mounted on the pipe and disposed to surround the pipe, a plurality of band heating elements mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the heat jacket, and an arrangement of fin elements disposed in the interior chamber of the pipe to contact the polymer flowing through the pipe. Heat from the heating elements is distributed by the heat jacket over the axial length of the pipe and is transferred to the fin elements to heat the polymer flowing through the pipe. The fin elements may be in a cruciform arrangement within the interior chamber of the pipe. A method of removing the volatile components includes forming a thin film of polymer and heating and distributing the heat evenly on the thin film of polymer so that the volatile components may be vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Clarence C. Hon
  • Patent number: 4857144
    Abstract: An evaporator having a vertically mounted elongated tubular chamber, a pair of upper and lower tube sheets mounted near the ends of said tubular chamber, each tube sheet having a plurality of openings therein with a plurality of vertical evaporator tubes mounted between the pair of tube sheets, tangentially mounted inlet tubes between the upper tube sheet and a top cover for the tubular chamber, and an inverted cone mounted as a filler piece on the underside of the top cover and having its apex just slightly spaced from the upper tube sheet and its circumferential edge substantially spaced therefrom for effecting a uniform and even flow and distribution to the evaporator tubes of a liquid/solid mixture inputted into the tangential inlet tubes. The elongated tubular chamber is also provided with lateral inlet and outlet openings for inputting/outputting heated and subsequently cooled fluid to flow externally past the evaporator tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Hanover Research Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Casparian
  • Patent number: 4836891
    Abstract: A method for concentrating salt water. Salt water is separated from oil-water mixture which has been produced from a well. Salt water is introduced into a recirculating weir and mixed with more concentrated brine. Brine is recirculated through a thermal syphon apparatus. Recirculation includes passing brine, including some salt water, from weir into boiler vessel. Brine is heated within boiler vessel to a boiling temperature whereby brine, while boiling, generates steam which passes up out of weir. All of foregoing steps are performed at atmospheric pressure. The density of brine is sensed at a location in the lower vicinity of weir. Concentrated brine is released from lower vicinity when density at sensed temperature is at a level corresponding to a brine concentration near the precipitation of salt from solution. Salt water and brine is passed through a magnetic water treating unit. The concentrated brine, as released, is passed into a holding vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Evaporation, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Files, Donald M. Harrel, John M. Montague, Thomas L. Stansbury Sr., Carlton T. Sikes
  • Patent number: 4810327
    Abstract: In a falling film evaporator of the vertical-tube type in which liquid to be evaporated is supplied at the top on the outer surface of vertical heat exchanger tubes and the heat medium is supplied to the heat exchanger tubes at the bottom for flow inside the same, at least one larger tube element than the heat exchanger tubes is disposed between and fixed to tube plates at the both ends of the group of tubes to stabilize the group of tubes against tension and especially compression stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Ahlstromforetagen Svenska AB
    Inventor: Kjell Norrmen
  • Patent number: 4781797
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating a more volatile substance from a liquid in which it is dissolved by vacuum means. The apparatus has a perforated inner casing having a plurality of sub-stages which contain packing material to provide a tortuous path of interstices for the liquid to flow through; an outer casing surrounds the inner casing to define an evacuating space between the outer and inner casing and vacuum means to create a vacuum in the evacuating space which communicates with the sub-stages through the perforations in the inner casing. The vacuum means also acts to pull off the more volatile substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Energy Conservation Partnership, Ltd.
    Inventor: Arthur F. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4770746
    Abstract: Spinning band fractionating column apparatus is disclosed having a spinning band formed with a magnet embedded in its bottom end in the manner of a magnetic stirring vane for rotation by a rotating external magnetic field at the bottom of the apparatus. Reflux is controlled by an angled drip edge on a rotatable condenser column that passes a portion of dripped condensate to a collecting spout with the portion varying as rotation of the condenser column brings the drip from said edge closer or further from center opposition with the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Microscale Organic Laboratory Corporation
    Inventors: Dana W. Mayo, Ronald M. Pike, Robert J. Hinkle
  • Patent number: 4767502
    Abstract: A steam generator, especially a pure steam generator, having a feed line for conducting feed water to the same, an electrode system for heating the feed water, a steam outlet for removing generated steam, and a separating space in a lower part of the generator 10, along with a droplet separator through which the steam that has been generated is disposed to flow from the separating space to the steam outlet. Electrodes have been placed in small tubular spaces in a water space (i.e. a space receiving incoming feed water). The steam generator may be used in a multi-stage distilling apparatus by conducting the steam that has been formed to a second column or stage of the distilling apparatus, to constitute feed steam therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Oy Santasalo-Sohlberg AB
    Inventors: Lauri Santasalo, Esko Santasalo
  • Patent number: 4762592
    Abstract: A wobbling-type evaporator mounts a container 1 holding at least one vertically oriented heat transfer tube 30 fed by a liquid inlet 35 to the container 1. The container 1 is supported with respect to a base 10 so that it wobbles in response to the rotation of an orbiting counterweight 2,2' the counterweight and container wobble as a two body system about common axis. In one form a set of struts 6 located around the container are part of the support system. The invention also includes inlet water distribution systems, compatible with this orbital drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Inventor: Yao T. Li