Abstract: Methods for using a hydrophobic liquid, such as mineral oil, to compress steam include using a compressor to compress a mixture of steam and the hydrophobic liquid. One embodiment includes the steam to be compressed coming from a boiling aqueous solution in an evaporator. The steam compressed with a hydrophobic liquid is routed to a heat exchanger which thermally communicates with the evaporator to create more steam. The resulting mixture of condensed steam and hydrophobic liquid from the heat exchanger is routed to a water/hydrophobic liquid separator. The hydrophobic liquid is also recycled to the compressor from the water/hydrophobic liquid separator.

Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) forming a multiplicity of evaporation chambers (56) into which a liquid to be purified is sprayed for evaporation. Spray arms (58) spray at a steady rate into all of the evaporation chambers (56) simultaneously but not at a rate that is adequate to maintain the wetting required for efficient transfer of heat to the liquid. A scanning sprayer (140) supplements this steady spray with spray from nozzles (142 and 144) into only a few of the evaporation chambers at a time, visiting all of them cyclically. The overall rate of spray from the two sources thus combined to spray the chamber cyclically maintains proper wetting even though on average it is lower than the rate that would be required of a constant-rate spray into all of the evaporation chambers.

Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) forming a multiplicity of evaporation chambers (56) into which a liquid to be purified is sprayed for evaporation. Spray arms (58) spray at a steady rate into all of the evaporation chambers (56) simultaneously but not at a rate that is adequate to maintain the wetting required for efficient transfer of heat to the liquid. A scanning sprayer (140) supplements this steady spray with spray from nozzles (142 and 144) into only a few of the evaporation chambers at a time, visiting all of them cyclically. The overall rate of spray from the two sources thus combined to spray the chamber cyclically maintains proper wetting even though on average it is lower than the rate that would be required of a constant-rate spray into all of the evaporation chambers.

Abstract: The invention provides for the removal of impurities from treatment fluid comprising a base liquid and a variety impurities contained in the base liquid by conveying the treatment fluid to at least one preheating separating device, including a preheating heat exchanger and a separator unit, before the admixture of a carrier gas to the treatment fluid. The treatment fluid is preheated by the preheating heat exchanger to a temperature below the boiling temperature of a base liquid so that the liquid impurities with lower boiling temperatures than the base liquid are evaporated and expelled thermally, whereby the evaporated and expelled impurities are separated in the separator unit of the preheating separator device. The treatment fluid is then evaporated and separated from impurities having a lower boiling point than the base liquid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In an embodiment 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, a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product, and an electric motor with motor rotor and magnets hermetically sealed within the fluid pressure boundary of the distillation system.

Abstract: A method of treating produced water from heavy oil production to provide feedwater for the production of high quality steam. A produced water from heavy oil recovery operations is initially treated by first removing oil and grease to a desired level, preferably to about twenty parts per million, or less. The pH is then adjusted, normally downward and by acid addition, to release at least some carbonate alkalinity as free carbon dioxide. Preferably, all non-hydroxide alkalinity is removed, or substantially so, by introducing the feedwater into a decarbonator. In some cases, the pH may be raised (without, or subsequent to decarbonation, depending upon water chemistry) preferably by caustic addition, to maintain silica solubility in the feedwater.

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

Abstract: A method including evaporating aqueous solutions containing ammonia, adding an acid to the evaporated vapor flow to form an ammonium salt, and condensing the vapor flow to form a liquid containing the salt. By this method the ammonia formed into a salt is not present as an inert gas layer which would impede condensation on the condenser surfaces.

Abstract: A desalination device includes a saltwater input line and a desalinator having a water input connected to the input line, a fresh water output and a brine output. A fuel cell generates electricity and is connected to an energy source for the desalinator. A heat exchanger transfers waste heat from the fuel cell to desalinator.

Abstract: A method for distilling water includes the steps of entering brine to be distilled into a sub-atmospheric boiler having a brine section with a brine output and a water vapor output; concentrating brine in the brine section to a concentration of at least 250 grams of salt or contaminants per liter; stirring the brine in the brine section; and exiting the brine through the brine output. A distiller with a subatmospheric boiler having a stirring device is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a contaminant from a fluid feed stream containing the contaminant. The method includes the steps of providing a feed stream and heating it in a first step to at least partially remove some of the contaminants and recover energy from a concentrate and distillate generated. Further heating the feed stream in a second heating step in a heated separator generates a saturated vapor fraction and a concentrated liquid contaminant fraction. The vapor fraction may be compressed to generate a temperature differential in the reboiler exchanger with the vapor fraction being passed into contact with a reboiler exchanger to provide a stream of condensed vapor from the reboiler. The stream may be circulated through the reboiler exchanger and the heated separator to maintain from about 1% to about 50% by mass vapor in the stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for distilling ammonia from a mixture, more particular from a mixture resulting from the reaction between aminonitrile and water (which reaction is also called cyclizing hydrolysis). The process for distilling the ammonia contained in an aqueous caprolactam solution, uses a column with a bottom temperature less than or equal to 160° C. and at an absolute pressure less than or equal to 5 bar, the ammonia distilled at the top of the column being compressed to a pressure greater than or equal to 10 bar and then condensed at a temperature of 25° C. to 60° C.

Abstract: A water distiller has a sub-atmospheric boiler having a non-recirculating brine section, an input, a brine output and a vapor output. The input is for water to be distilled, the brine output for brine, and the vapor output for water vapor. A compressor is connected to the vapor output for heating the water vapor, and an heated vapor line is connected to an output of the compressor, the heated vapor line heating the brine section.

Abstract: A distillation unit (10) employs a rotary heat exchanger (32) forming a multiplicity of evaporation chambers (56) into which a liquid to be purified is sprayed for evaporation. Spray arms (58) spray at a steady rate into all of the evaporation chambers (56) simultaneously but not at a rate that is adequate to maintain the wetting required for efficient transfer of heat to the liquid. A scanning sprayer (140) supplements this steady spray with spray from nozzles (142 and 144) into only a few of the evaporation chambers at a time, visiting all of them cyclically. The overall rate of spray from the two sources thus combined to spray the chamber cyclically maintains proper wetting even though on average it is lower than the rate that would be required of a constant-rate spray into all of the evaporation chambers.

Abstract: A distillation unit (10) includes a filter (116) through which feed water passes before it is introduced into a rotary heat exchanger (32) for evaporation and subsequent condensation. During a normal mode of operation, liquid that has not evaporated as a result of passage through the rotary heat exchanger's evaporation chambers (56) is recirculated for reintroduction into those chambers, together with a minor amount of feed liquid from the filter to make up for evaporation. At the same time, some filtered feed water is fed into one side of a transfer pump (166), where it slowly accumulates. Periodically, though, during short flushing-mode periods, the erstwhile recirculating liquid is redirected at a relatively high flow rate through the filter (116) in the reverse direction, thereby flushing it.

Abstract: A combination liquid distillation unit and heater, where the distilled liquid is heated to an elevated temperature to effect distillation, and then stored and maintained at an elevated temperature in a hot liquid tank. Thermal communication between the distillation unit portion and the storage tank allow heat from the distillation unit to be recovered in the hot distilled liquid in the tank to be transferred back to the feed water and/or to help maintain the hot distilled liquid in the tank at an appropriate elevated temperature. A start-up chamber in the distillation unit stores a reservoir of feed liquid during periods of inactivity, and allows the hot distilled liquid in the tank to preheat this feed liquid so that the feed liquid boils more quickly upon start-up.

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

Abstract: Unlike standard atmospheric glycol reconcentration units with reboilers, which release into the atmosphere column overheads containing water vapor, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), H2S (hydrogen sulfide) and other gaseous (including vaporous) pollutants extracted from lean glycol, the disclosed apparatus directs the overheads to the plant fuel system, or to a thermal/catalytic oxidation system, or to a compressor which is already in service compressing low pressure lease-produced gas or to a combination of these destinations. The reboiler operating pressure is maintained in the range of about 25 to about 125 PSIA. When using a stripper, which may either be in or downstream of the reboiler, one may for example achieve a 98.5+% TEG concentration at a reboiler pressure of 75 PSIA and a temperature of 390° F., using approximately 10 SCF of stripping gas per gallon of glycol circulated.

Abstract: An improved design of a vapor compression distiller which makes use of a rapid, highly turbulent flow through the heat-of-evaporation recovery, or primary, heat exchanger. The distiller may also include the use of turbulators to increase turbulence and mixing within the primary heat exchanger. The increased level of turbulence and mixing dramatically reduces fouling inside the primary heat exchanger and increases the heat transfer efficiency. The improvements in the distiller are maximized by recirculating the liquid to be evaporated at a high multiple of the flow rate of the liquid feed to the distiller. The distiller may also include a feed circulation loop with a secondary heat exchanger to increase the efficiency of heat-of-evaporation recovery in the evaporation/condensation cycle. Applications of the vapor compression distiller include purification of waste liquids, concentration of dilute liquid mixtures, and separation of liquid/liquid, liquid/gas, and liquid/solid mixtures.

Abstract: A method for removing a contaminant from a fluid feed stream containing the contaminant. The method includes the steps of providing a feed stream and heating it in a first step to at least partially remove some of the contaminants and recover energy from a concentrate and distillate generated. Further heating the feed stream in a second heating step in a heated separator generates a saturated vapor fraction and a concentrated liquid contaminant fraction. The vapor fraction may be compressed to generate a temperature differential in the reboiler exchanger with the vapor fraction being passed into contact with a reboiler exchanger to provide a stream of condensed vapor from the reboiler. The stream may be circulated through the reboiler exchanger and the heated separator to maintain from about 1% to about 50% by mass vapor in the stream. The apparatus includes a unique configuration of a vapor compressor, heated separator in combination with a forced circulation circuit to generate the decontamination result.

Abstract: Essence of the invention is a: a liquid, whose saturated vapour pressure is not less than the pressure at the top of a rectification column, is delivered into the nozzle of a liquid-gas jet apparatus as a motive liquid; the pressure maintained in a separator represents from 1.1 to 160 times the pressure of a vapor phase at the inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus; condensation of easy-condensable components of the vapor phase in the motive liquid and forming of a liquid-vapor mixture take place after mixing of the vapor phase with the motive liquid; the liquid-vapor mixture is separated in the separator into a compressed gaseous component and a liquid medium. The introduced method results in an increase in efficiency of a pumping-ejector system for the distillation of a liquid product.

Abstract: A process for separating a fraction containing low and middle boilers from a mixture of low, middle and high boilers, which involves treating the mixture in a column with low-boiler vapor in the bottom, so that the middle-boiling component accumulates in the low-boiler vapor and can be obtained at the temperature level of the low-boiling component.

Abstract: A method of treating cellulose pulp mill condensates having an MeOH content using an evaporator and a steam stripper having a reboiler, comprising: (a) Collecting a feed liquor stream having at least 50% of the pulp mill MeOH. (b) Feeding the feed liquor stream to the evaporator having at least two heating element sections separated on a motive steam side. (c) Evaporating the liquor in the evaporator to produce a vapor containing at least 40% of the at least 50% of the pulp mill MeOH. (d) Compressing the vapor from (c) to increase the vapor pressure. (e) Using the vapor from (d) as condensing heating media in (c) for the evaporation in a first heating element section of the evaporator and venting a portion of the vapor through the first heating element section. (f) Compressing the vented vapor from the heating elements of the evaporator from (e) to increase the vapor pressure to be used as heating media in the reboiler.

Abstract: A distillation plant includes a heat pump whose working fluid is compressed by a vapor jet compressor. A collection location for a liquid is arranged in the stripper part of a distillation column of the plant. At least a portion of the collected liquid is provided in the vaporized form as strip vapor. Connections lead from the collection location to a first vaporizer and to a second vaporizer. The liquid can be vaporized in these vaporizers at an elevated and at a reduced pressure respectively. The vapor jet compressor is connected to the two vaporizers and to the column in such a manner that the vapor from the second vaporizer can be compressed under a driving jet action of the vapor from the first vaporizer and used in the column as strip vapor. A pump is arranged in the connection to the first vaporizer and at least one restrictor member is contained in the connection to the second vaporizer.

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.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for vapor compression distillation is provided comprising a heat exchanger, a vapor compressor, and a liquid-vapor separator. The heat exchanger is preferably of the plate and frame type, with the plate faces being spaced apart to allow for the microscopic movement of the plates during the distillation process. This movement aids in the breaking off of hard scale which has accumulated on the plates. The process involves passing pressurized vapor and liquid into the heat exchanger, the pressurized vapor condensing to form a distillate, the liquid being heated to form a heated liquid and a non-pressurized vapor, the heated liquid and non-pressurized vapor being passed into a liquid-vapor separator where they are separated, the heated liquid being passed back into the heat exchanger and the non-pressurized vapor being passed into a vapor compressor for passage back into the heat exchanger.

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

Abstract: 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

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.

Abstract: A vapor compression distillation system including a boiler/condenser assembly wherein a portion of the condensate is redirected back to the condenser inlet to extract superheat from the compressed vapor and transfer it to the liquid in the boiler. The vapor entering the condenser is reduced to a saturation condition to prevent heat build up in the condenser to improve heat transfer efficiency. When the temperature of the incoming feed water is within the operating range of the boiler/condenser assembly, the system is operated under vacuum sufficient to match the boiler temperature with the temperature of the incoming feed water so that no preheater or waste heat recovery exchanges are required.

Abstract: A method for recovering solvent vapor in a manner which requires less power using an apparatus which is smaller in size, has a longer life, and is capable of being operated without reducing recovering efficiency, including locating an inlet of a suction pipe at a position within the container between the liquid surface of the solvent and an upper edge of the container, wherein the opening of the suction pipe is open downward, and drawing the vapor from the upper surface of the solvent in the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation apparatus (1) which is suitable in particular for the distillation of sea water into fresh water. The apparatus comprises a plurality of flat, bag-like elements (3) formed from a thin film material such as plastic film and placed one against the other, the elements serving as heat exchangers between a vaporizing liquid flowing along the exterior surfaces of the element and a condensing vapor directed to the inside of the element, and a compressor (15) for increasing the pressure and temperature of the generated vapor before it is directed to the inside of the elements. The essential idea of the invention is that the inside of each element (3) is divided into parallel vapor ducts (12) extending vertically from one end of the element to the other, into which ducts the vapor is fed from apertures (25) at the upper edge of the element.

Abstract: A process and device for purifying organically polluted waste water utilizing a primary system and a closed secondary system. The primary system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a cyclone located between the two heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger evaporates the waste water into a waste water vapor and a waste water sump solution. The heat for evaporating the waste water in the first heat exchanger is obtained primarily from raw water in the secondary system. A second heat exchanger in the primary system condenses the waste water vapor and in the process causes evaporation of raw water in the secondary system. The level of waste water in the primary system is monitored as is an operational parameter in the secondary system. With the data obtained from this monitoring, the drawing off of the waste water sump solution is controlled.

Abstract: A rotating evaporator device is disclosed for the distillation or concentration of liquids. The rotating evaporator device of the present invention utilizes a multiplicity of pairs of disks wherein each disk pair forms a cavity within which heating vapor condenses on the interior surfaces of the disk pair and evaporation occurs from a thin film of distilland deposited on the outside surfaces of the disk pair by means of flexible wipers pressing on the outside surfaces of the disk pair. The centrifugal force created by the rotation of the disks causes the distillate and distilland films to be very thin resulting in very high heat transfer coefficient. The pairs of disks are joined together at the inside peripheries and are rotated about a stationary hollow shaft wherein heating vapor is introduced into the cavities through ports in the shaft and stationary scoops are connected to the shaft to withdraw the condensate from the circumferential peripheries of the cavities.

Abstract: A process for separating ethylbenzene and styrene by distillation is described. The process provides the advantages of a vapor compression/heat pump system, and is designed in such a manner that the energy applied is optimally utilized. The head pressure of the distillation column (1) is controlled in a simple manner, whereby a surprisingly stable column is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation apparatus including a housing (1) a blower (2), preheat exchangers (7) and (8) and an evaporative condenser (25) comprising pairs (13) of membranes. One pair (13) of membranes at a time can be detached from the evaporative condenser (25) for replacement. The pairs (13) of membranes are preferably made of plastic or similar material and they hang down loosely in the evaporative condenser.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a distillation unit for distilling feed water. The distillation unit includes an evaporation part, a condensation part and a hydrophobic porous membrane interposed between the evaporation part and the condensation part, which are integrated with one another. A heating unit for heating the feed water and a cooling portion for cooling distillate produced by distillation of the feed water are provided apart from the distillation unit. One or both of the heating unit and the cooling unit are provided with a heat pump. With this construction, an additional heater does not need to be provided, and the distillation unit and both of the heating unit and the cooling unit can be changed in size and performance independently of each other, so that the overall size of the distillation apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of absolute alcohol from aqueous alcohol, whereby saving of energy to a greater extent is rendered possible in a more simple process, as compared with the prior art azeotropic distillation method using benzene or cyclohexane. That is, aqueous alcohol is subjected to extractive distillation in a first distillation column under such a condition that a liquid and gas of a solvent simultaneously coexist using low pressure propane, propylene and butane as the solvent, absolute alcohol substantially free from water is recovered from the bottom of the distillation column and subjected to stripping of hydrocarbons in a second distillation column, during which the gaseous phases of the first and second distillation columns are mixed and compressed, utilized through recompression as a heat source of a reboiler of the first distillation column, subjected to separation of water content and recycled to the upper parts of the first and second distillation columns.

Abstract: A method of recovering a solvent from a mother liquor in a system in which the mother liquor also contains non-volatile matter, volatile solute and volatile solvent, and the solute concentration is low, in which a heat pump distilling column (first column) is so operated as to work only as a concentrating section of a distilling column by feeding a mother liquor to the column bottom of the heat pump distilling column, contact of non-volatile matter with the concentrating section is prevented and the column bottom liquor is sent to an evaporator so as to separate the non-volatile matter by the evaporator, thereafter, a vapor from the evaporator is fed to a distilling column (second column), and distillates of first and second columns and bottoms of the second column are withdrawn as the products. The procedures described above are carried out under specific operation conditions.

Abstract: For the separation of butanes and butenes by extractive distillation, a charge mainly containing butanes and butenes is contacted in an extractive distillation column under pressure with a polar solvent (e.g., dimethyl formamide), the butanes being collected at the head. The solvent containing the butenes passes into a second column under pressure, where the butenes are partly desorbed and collected at the head. The solvent still containing butenes is purified in a third column under atmospheric pressure and the solvent-containing vapor distillate thereof is returned, after compression, to the lower part of the second column.

Abstract: A distillation system has a degassing tank, a distiller for generating vapor of raw water taken from the degassing tank, a heater for heating the vapor from the distiller to convert the vapor into a high temperature and pressure vapor, a hydrophobic porous membrane through which the vapor from the heater flows, and a heat transfer unit provided in the distiller for effecting heat exchange between the vapor from the membrane member and the raw water from the degassing tank. The structural elements such as the heat exchange unit, piping, etc., with which the vapor from the membrane or the condensate thereof is brought into contact are made of titanium or titanium alloy.

Abstract: In a plate heat exchanger for evaporation of a liquid by means of a heat emitting vapor every second plate interspace forms an evaporation passage (28) and the rest of the plate interspaces form condensation passages (30). Aligned openings (16) in the plates form an inlet channel through the plate heat exchanger for introduction of evaporation liquid into the evaporation passages (28). For enabling use of a large inlet area of each condensation passage (30) and a large outlet area of each evaporation passage (28) the plate heat exchanger is arranged in a container (1), the interior of which is divided in two chambers (6, 7) by the plate heat exchanger itself and a partition (5).

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.

Abstract: An installation for processing liquids having at least one vaporizer used for the process liquid, a condenser arranged downstream from this vaporizer, and a vacuum pump. Additionally, a gas-ring compressor, positioned in the exhaust pipe between the vaporizer and the condenser, presses the vapors from the process liquid through the condenser. The process liquid is vaporized in the vaporizer under a vacuum and the vapors are carried by an exhaust pipe that is connected to the vaporizer through the condenser to the vacuum pump. Also, the process liquid, which is used as the cooling liquid for the condenser, is heated in the condenser and then recycled to the vaporizer.

Abstract: Small quantities of one or more liquids having a high boiling point dispersed with a large quantity of one or more immiscible liquids having a lower boiling point are separated in a rapid and efficient manner. A non-reactive compressed gas is heated by recycled energy and make-up energy to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below that of at least one other liquid. The heated gas is combined with the unheated liquid mixture to be separated, and the liquid-gas blend is mixed, heated and distributed by an improved nebulizer, forming a mist inside a vessel containing a pool liquid of at least one liquid having a boiling point higher than that of at least one other liquid, which pool liquid has been heated to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below its own boiling point. The liquid having high-boiling-point in the mist settles by gravity and merges with the pool liquid.

Abstract: Evaporation of saline water in a desalinization process, or evaporation of other types of liquid such as black liquor from paper pulp processing, is accomplished utilizing a multiple effect evaporator. Each effect includes one or more (e.g. first and second) sets of horizontally elongated dimpled plate evaporator elements. Horizontally flowing heating fluid, such as steam, is introduced to the internal passage of at least the second set in all the effects, and a head of circulation liquid is provided to cause liquid being evaporated to flow downwardly from the head over the external surfaces of the sets of dimpled plates in a thin film. The vapor evaporated is drawn through a demistor and is used as the heating fluid for the next effect. Recirculating liquid that has not evaporated and liquid separated by the demisting process are recirculated to the head associated with each effect. Clean condensate--such as distilled water--is withdrawn from the last effect.

Abstract: A method of distillation employing a heat pump (which may be driven by a compressor) using a vapor stream from within the distillation system as a heat source and a liquid stream from within the distillation system as a heat sink. The selection of heat-source vapors and heat-sink liquid is such that at least one is withdrawn from the phase-contracting region of the distillation system. The return of streams withdrawn from the phase-contacting region of the distillation system to the distillation system is such that at least one of the streams is returned at a temperature different from that of the point from which it was withdrawn, and all withdrawn streams are returned in manner such that a stream removed as vapor is returned at a point with a temperature at most that at the point it was withdrawn, and a stream removed as liquid is returned at a point with a temperature at least that at which it was withdrawn.

Abstract: A low pressure distillation apparatus in which evaporation takes place at sub-atmospheric pressures. An evaporation chamber has a feed liquid inlet port, a concentrated liquid outlet port, and a vapor outlet port. The vapor outlet port is in communication with a vapor treating device immersed in distillate in a distillate chamber. The preferred vapor treating device is a rotating impeller pump which reduces the pressure in the evaporation chamber to a working pressure, draws off vapor boiled from the liquid in the evaporation chamber, entrains the vapor in a stream of distillate, and condenses the vapor in the stream of distillate to transfer the latent heat of condensation of the vapor directly to the distillate.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids are disclosed. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by means of a plurality of mechanical vapor recompression evaporators operating in staged array whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Residual fluidizing oil may be removed from the solids by direct contact with a hot blowing gas such as blowing steam. The invention is characterized by the conservation of energy through the use of heat exchangers whereby condensate gives up its heat to the feed.

Abstract: A thermally-integrated extractive distillation process for recovering anhydrous ethanol from fermentation or synthetic feedstocks has a distillation train of four columns. Two columns are preconcentrators operated in parallel. The remaining columns are an extractive distillation dehydrating tower, and an entrainer-recovery column. The two preconcentrators and the dehydrating tower are operated at three successively increasing pressures so that the condensing vapors of the overhead product of the dehydrating tower supply the necessary heat to the reboiler of the intermediate-pressure preconcentrator. The overhead vapors of this preconcentrator are, in turn, used to supply the required heat to the reboiler of the lowest-pressure preconcentrator. The bottom product from each preconcentrator is used to preheat the dilute feed. Additional energy savings are accomplished by the appropriate heat exchange between the various feeds, overheads, and bottoms.