Abstract: Polluted industrial waste water having a high chemical demand for oxygen and fine particles in suspension is purified using the following steps: directly heating and evaporating the polluted water without subjecting it to the usual prior steps of mechanical separation such as sieving or decanting; separating sludges from the evaporated water; condensing the evaporated water; subjecting the condensed evaporated water to a physico-chemical purifying process of the coagulation-flocculation type; and filtering the purified condensed evaporated water. The purified water is pure enough to be recycled through a dyeing works. The installation includes an evaporator (10) which is preferably built in several stages with the vapor from each stage other than the first being used to evaporate the polluted water in the next stage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for separating the catalyst system from reaction mixtures which are obtained by reacting methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen at elevated temperatures to acetic anhydride and optionally ethylidene diacetate in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of carbonyl complexes of noble metals belonging to group VIII of the Periodic System, acetic acid, an organophosphorus or organonitrogen compound, methyl iodide and optionally compounds of carbonyl-yielding common metals, and which issue from the reaction zone under a pressure of 25 to 150 bars at a temperature of 100.degree. to 250.degree. C. More particularly, the reaction mixture coming from the reaction zone is introduced into a separator heated to 60.degree. to 140.degree. C. and released to a pressure of 0.5 to 3.

Abstract: An apparatus for the distilling and evaporating of sea water so to produce pure fresh water on a large production basis; the apparatus including an evaporator having a baffle system of novel design therein so as to separate evaporated steam from non-evaporated water drops, a duct for conveying the evaporated steam to a condenser and a pure water supply tank; the evaporator being supplied by sea water.

Abstract: An improved evaporation process for accomplishing the separation of a solution into its volatile and non-volatile components. The improvement over conventional evaporation, according to which the solution is fed to a calandria where it is heated and partially vaporized and the resulting calandria vapor stream is subjected to vapor-liquid separation for the removal of entrainment, relates to the practice of an additional and intermediate step in which the calandria vapor is contacted with the feed solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for reducing solute in a vapor stream and, particularly, to the adaption of this process in concentrating solutions in an evaporator wherein the solution is heated to volatilize solvent. The improvement for reducing solute in the vapor stream resides in (a) the utilization of a wire mesh mist eliminator pad having a wire diameter of from 0.001-0.05 inches, an interfacial area from 50-200 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3, a void space of about 90-99 percent and a packing thickness of 4-16 inches and (b) spraying a liquid through the mist eliminator pad, the liquid being sprayed uniformly over the surface of the mist eliminator pad at a rate of 0.6-2.5 pounds liquid per pound of vapor to provide a wetting rate of 0.1-0.25 gallons per minute per square foot of mist eliminator surface area. The process has been particularly advantageous in the multistage concentration of corrosive products particularly in the concentration of a 60-70% sulfuric acid solution to about 93 percent.

Abstract: A flashing apparatus for a geothermal power plant in which underground hot water introduced into the flashing apparatus is flashed therein to generate flashed steam is divided into a flashing chamber, a water separation chamber, a drain discharge chamber, and a steam discharge chamber by several vertical and horizontal perforated partition plates and the generated steam is fed into a steam turbine through these chambers and partition plates. The flashing apparatus comprises a horizontal cylindrical container closed at both ends by end plates one of which has a hemi-spherical configuration on which the underground hot water is ejected and a drain catcher is located in the flashing chamber to catch and remove drain.

Abstract: Apparatus usable to heat fluid comprises:(a) a steam vessel having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam,(b) heating means associated with the vessel to heat water received therein and produce steam, and(c) a condenser connected with the vessel outlet to receive steam, the condenser adapted to extend in heat transfer relation with the fluid to heat that fluid in response to condensation of steam in said condenser, the condenser having a condensate outlet, and(d) other means to remove solid particles from the vessel.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating a solvent from a bituminous material by pressure reduction and steam stripping without carry-over of entrained bituminous material. A fluid-like phase comprising bituminous material and solvent is reduced in pressure by passage through a pressure reduction valve to vaporize a portion of the solvent. The reduction in pressure also results in dispersing a mist of fine particle size bituminous material in the vaporized solvent. The stream of vaporized solvent, fine particle size bituminous material and fluid-like bituminous material then is introduced into a steam stripper through an inlet horn that imparts a centrifugal motion to the stream. The inlet horn contains a plurality of corrugated vanes which utilize the centrifugal motion to create turbulence in the stream within the inlet horn.

Abstract: An apparatus for desalinating ocean waters by distillation and furnishing electrical power, utilizes an evaporator, barometric leg conduits, a closed condenser, ocean water circulating circuits for circulating warm surface water to the evaporator and cool ocean water to the condenser and using the mass flow of vapors evolved from the evaporator to drive a prime mover which in turn drives an electrical generator. A portion of the electrical power so-generated is used to control the operation of respective pumps and valves in the apparatus. The liquid level of the condensate water is controlled in a barometric leg condensate outlet conduit. The system is also provided with a vacuum pump at least for initiating a reduced pressure and particle separator channel means is provided to prevent liquid entrainment in the condenser.

Abstract: A separator assembly (30) for an evaporator comprises an ensemble of spaced-apart corrugated vanes (31) mounted in a hollow cylindrical configuration at the outlet (22) of the evaporator. The spacing between adjacent vanes (31) is such as to prevent line-of-sight passage of vapor between adjacent vanes (31) from the outer wall (33) to the inner wall (34) of the ensemble. The upper end of the ensemble of vanes (31) is secured to an annular support member (32), which is secured to the evaporator circumjacent the outlet (22). A closure member (40) is secured to the lower end of the ensemble. The annular support member (32) and the closure member (40) prevent vapor from leaving the evaporator via any path other than tortuous path between adjacent vanes (31) in a direction from the outer wall (33) to the inner wall (34). Droplets entrained in the vapor passing through the separator assembly (30) impinge upon the vanes (31) and are thereby separated from the vapor.

Abstract: A method is provided for the transfer of heat from a source of thermal energy to at least one thermal user or heat consuming apparatus wherein waste water, such as from an industrial process, is used as the heat transfer medium and wherein a portion of the waste water flow is evaporated in an indirect heat exchanger under pressure to yield a mixture of steam and heated liquid waste water. The steam is supplied to an indirect heat exchanger for supplying heat to the heat consuming apparatus and the heated waste water is subsequently vaporized in a plurality of stages by reducing the pressure on the waste water in each stage and by using the steam formed by the vaporization in each stage to supply part of the heat of vaporization for the waste water in the subsequent stage. When the heat requirement of the heat consuming apparatus is reduced, the heat exchanger supplying heat to the heat consuming apparatus may be valved out of the system or the steam flow thereto may be reduced.

Abstract: A vapor compression type distillation unit is provided for distilling brackish water or seawater wherein high heat transfer rates are achieved in a vertical shell and tube type vaporizer while avoiding carry-over normally resulting from excessive foaming and its entrainment of liquid droplets in the vapor. A pool of liquid is maintained at the lower end of the vaporizer to be fed into the tubes with the level of the liquid being relatively low so that most of the length of the tube is filled with a frothy mixture conducive to high heat transfer rates. The mixture of vapor and liquid discharged from the upper ends of the tubes is caused to flow laterally and then downwardly through a downtake passage communicating with the lower end of the vaporizer. A vapor outlet is provided intermediate the ends of the downtake passage in such a manner that the vapor must change its direction of flow, preferably substantially 180.degree.

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

Abstract: A water purification apparatus capable of treating water having impurities producing substantial foaming includes a boiler tank having a water inlet and heater, and a stack portion thereabove containing contact surface means and a heater for heating the contact surface means to a temperature above the vaporization temperature of water. In this manner water droplets which may be carried by the steam vapors from the boiler and/or foam will be immediately vaporized as it comes in contact with the contact surface means. The steam vapors pass through a condenser assembly, and the condensate passes through a filter assembly before storage in a tank. The contact surface means desirably comprises screen members providing a tortuous path and high heat conductivity. Baffle members may be interposed in the flow path for vapors from the boiler tank to the stack.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for beneficiating relatively small shredded scrap metal particles, such as aluminum metal particles preparatory to remelting the same, by passing the particles through a beneficiating chamber that is heated to a substantially uniform elevated metal temperature throughout and while passing the particles through such chamber effecting a vaporization of the non-aluminum volatiles, such as coatings, paints and lacquers that adhere to said particles and while avoiding ignition of the said volatiles.

Abstract: Distillate produced by the condensing stage of an evaporation installation is conducted to a reservoir to be preheated to its boiling point in preparation for a further degassing step. The required rise in temperature of the distillate in the reservoir is effected by the heat of condensation of a portion of the steam directed via a main pipe from the evaporating stage of the installation to the condensing stage. The required contacting of such steam portion with the reservoir is effected by diverting, to the reservoir, a portion of the steam in the main pipe via a diaphragm or another blocking member interposed in the main pipe and a branch pipe that communicates with the main pipe upstream of the diaphragm member and extends to the reservoir. A conventional overflow pipe disposed at a predetermined height in the reservoir is effective to conduct the heated distillate to the subsequent degassing stage.

Abstract: By the use of a degassing chamber within distillation apparatus dissolved volatile material is expelled and water of enhanced purity is produced. The chamber is designed such that the distillate is forced to flow along a shallow, horizontal path kept hot enough to boil it, before exiting from the distillation unit.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the purification of a liquid contaminated with radioactive substances, wherein the liquid is infed to an evaporator in or with which there is connected a column having a multiplicity of superposed plates or floors. The vapor generated in the evaporator is guided through a washing or scrubbing liquid uniformly distributed at the floors and flowing in crosswise counterflow with regard to the vapor. The washing liquid at the floors is deflected a number of times in such a manner that the washing liquid itself and together with the droplets entrained by the vapor is uniformly admixed and the washing liquid subjected to a constant intake of the radioactive substance.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering residual oil from solids previously substantially dehydrated by a process wherein a slurry of water-wet solids in oil is subjected to a heat evaporation step to substantially remove the water. The oil is then largely expressed from the solids after which the solids still containing some oil as residual oil are extracted with a relatively low viscosity and relatively volatile water-immiscible light oil. The light oil-laden solids are then brought into direct contact with steam whereby the presence of the steam effectively reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Excess externally supplied steam and light oil vapor are used to supply heat to the overall process.