Spraying Of Distilland Into Vaporization Zone Patents (Class 203/90)
  • Patent number: 6294056
    Abstract: In a method for distilling (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic ester, the method has the step of uniformly distributing a supply liquid in a distillation tower over an entirety of a horizontal cross sectional area in the distillation tower. A distillation apparatus for distilling (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic ester in a distillation tower has a supply element for supplying the supply liquid into the distillation tower. The supply element is formed with at least two supply ports through which the liquid is supplied into the distillation tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Matsumoto, Kazukiyo Arakawa, Osamu Dodo, Hiroo Iwato, Mamoru Takamura
  • Publication number: 20010011631
    Abstract: An array of sonic hydraulic nozzles for injecting a mixture of water with dissolved or suspended particulate into a chamber to form a continuous spray of spherical droplets. Low pressure areas form in the wakes of the droplets which promotes a phase change and evaporation upon being submerged in heat vortices created along the edges of the sonic shock waves. All dissolved and/or suspended solid particles in the mixture precipitate from the spray upon the vaporization of the water. Shortly thereafter, the particle-free vapor re-condenses into a dense water mist of substantially pure water, while releasing the excess heat captured in the evaporation vortices. The water mist then is absorbed by nucleating screens located above the nozzles. The screens concentrate the dense mist into water streams through a channel running out of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: Manuel G. Lumbreras
  • Patent number: 6045660
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in the rectification of liquid mixtures (separation of liquid mixtures into their constituents) and other processes requiring equilibration of liquid and gaseous phases in which mechanical energy is used to create and repeatedly regenerate free flying liquid structures that facilitate the intimate interaction and equilibration of said phases beyond standard practice and thereby allow smaller, more compact, more efficient, and more accessible apparatus and make practical lower operating temperatures and the use of inert carrier gases and otherwise increase the engineering options available to designers of rectification equipment and other equipment requiring liquid/vapor equilibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventors: Kern Savage, Richard C. Wingerson, William Lee Woodie, John L. Wyatt, deceased, by Diana Jacobs, legal representative, by Melody Balport, legal representative, by Mark Wyatt, legal representative
  • Patent number: 6027607
    Abstract: A process for extracting salt from brine contained in at least one open evaporation basin. At least part of the brine is heated in a heating unit located outside the evaporation basis and returned to the evaporation basin. The heating unit is driven by waste heat from a recooling industrial plant. According to this process, climatic values and the degree of recooling are measured and evaluated in a control unit. At least part of the heated brine and some non-heated brine are sprayed by a spraying device of the evaporation basin. The amount of sprayed brine is regulated by the control unit depending on the measured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Krebs & Co. AG
    Inventor: Vicente Gracia Corniel
  • Patent number: 5993608
    Abstract: A process for recovering processing liquids such as gas-treating liquids wherein a feed mixture containing the processing liquid and components or impurities that are more volatile and less volatile than the processing liquid is initially heated in a first heating zone to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least one of the more volatile components and a portion of the processing liquid, the temperature being maintained below the decomposition temperature of the processing liquid to produce a vapor stream containing the less volatile component and the vaporized portion of the processing liquid and a residuum containing the processing liquid, a reduced concentration of the more volatile components and the less volatile components, the vapor stream being separated from the residuum in a first separation zone, a portion of the residuum being passed through a second heating zone at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the processing liquid to produce a first heated recycle stream, the heated
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Canadian Chemical Reclaiming Ltd.
    Inventors: Raymond G. Abry, Todd S. Beasley, Stephen W. Carlson, Stephen G. Kresoyak
  • Patent number: 5980694
    Abstract: An installation for cleaning oil-polluted water, in particular at oil and gas production plants, is provided with a distillation column having a polluted water feed and at least one contact packing above which the outlet of the polluted water feed is located, a vapor discharge, a clean water outlet and a measuring device for the analysis of the water from the clean water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: EMSYS Separation Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus P. Apeldoorn, Jachebus W. Bos, Johannes J. Dozy, Johannes J. Elling, Leonardus C. Gordijn, Pieter Ottens, Wayne S. Penny, Cornelis Spel, Aatje J. Spel-van der Linde, Tom M. Vader, Theodorus J. De Wit
  • Patent number: 5928469
    Abstract: Materials which are not themselves storage-stable at room temperature are made suitable for storage by mixing them with a carrier substance and spray drying the resulting mixture so as to form particles containing both the material and the carrier substance in which the carrier substance is in an amorphous, i.e. glassy or rubbery, state. Formation of such a composition greatly enhances stability. The material stored may be a biological material such as an enzyme, the components of a chemical reaction such as reagents for carrying out an assay, or even viable biological cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Inhale Therapeutic Systems
    Inventors: Felix Franks, Ross Henry Hatley, Sheila Frances Mathias
  • Patent number: 5902457
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a liquid spray from two jets of fluid which issue from a pair of opposing nozzles and interact, wherein the fluid is supplied to the nozzles under fully turbulent conditions such that random variations in the momentum of the fluid as it leaves the nozzles occur which results in random variations in the orientation of the resultant spray of liquid drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: AEA Technology PLC
    Inventors: Lionel Houston Ford, John William Stairmand
  • Patent number: 5849982
    Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separating at least one substituted unsaturated aromatic from a pyrolysis gasoline mixture, containing said aromatic and at least one close-boiling aromatic or non-aromatic hydrocarbon, employing a two part extractive solvent, the first part selected from propylene carbonate, sulfolane (tetramethylene sulfone), methyl carbitol, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone and mixtures thereof, and the second portion consisting of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: HFM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Fu-Ming Lee, Joseph C. Gentry, Randi Wright Wytcherley
  • Patent number: 5817729
    Abstract: A process for removing contaminating solvents from solutions containing solid solutes comprising contacting a co-solvent that forms an azeotrope with the contaminating solvent forming a mixture thereby and spray drying the contaminating solvent co-solvent mixture in the presence of the co-solvent at a temperature equal to or above the temperature where the azeotrope distills whereby the contaminating solvent has been azeotropically distilled away from the solute. The process is particularly useful for polymeric solutes, especially silicones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Wengrovius, Richard W. Green, Clayton B. Quinn
  • Patent number: 5738762
    Abstract: An improved process for separating oil and water from an emulsion containing toxic light ends by flashing the heated and pressurized emulsion, condensing and separating the vaporized water and light ends, recovering the light ends, and recycling the condensed water. The resulting liquid water product has a reduced content of toxic light ends, such as benzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Ernest O. Ohsol
  • Patent number: 5695614
    Abstract: A method for processing waste liquids, having high solids content. The process includes the steps of spraying and evaporating the waste liquid together with a dry gas in a counterflow of dry gas within a spray tower, collecting the solids of the waste water in a lower section of the spray tower, discharging the moist gas from an upper section of the spray tower, and bringing the moist gas in heat exchange with an evaporator of a refrigerating means to condensed the liquid from the evaporator. The cooled dry gas is directed in heat exchange with the condenser of said refrigerating means and heated to be returned in a closed loop to repeat the cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Winter Umwelttechinik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Hording, Claus Hellmann
  • Patent number: 5676802
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for treating waste water containing volatile and corrosive substances by steam-stripping to remove the volatile and corrosive substances from the waste water. The apparatus has a liquid pooling zone installed at a part over the waste water supplying part of a stripper tower and liquid distributor at the top of the tower, and pipe arrangement is prepared to recycle liquid drawn from the liquid pooling zone to the liquid distributor. In the pipe arrangement, a cooler for the recycling liquid is installed. Serious corrosion can be avoided utilizing this apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: JGC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Satoh, Naohiko Kagawa, Sei Tange, Shun-ichi Ohya
  • Patent number: 5624534
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping volatiles from a feed stream and concentrating the volatiles in the overhead vapors forming a condensate product and simultaneously producing a low percent volatiles outlet stream as a concentrate product. The volatiles separator and concentrator, ("VSC"), unit has many applications in the reduction and the concentration of voiatiles in the beverage, fuel, and industrial alcohol industries, as well as in chemical applications for removing or stripping volatiles from heat sensitive feed substrates which require low temperatures and a short residence time to prevent degradation of the product. For heat sensitive applications, the VSC unit utilizes a short feed stream preheat contact time in combination with turbulent high velocity flow to separate and concentrate volatile and nonvolatile components at temperatures below 100.degree. F. utilizing flash vaporization for volatiles separation with reboil capability to adjust volatiles concentration in the residue and product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventors: Armand R. Boucher, Philip N. Hambrick
  • Patent number: 5615492
    Abstract: A process for drying water-containing materials in a closed-circuit system using a vertical drying tower having inlets located at a lower portion of the tower, the inlets circulating superheated steam in countercurrent to the water-containing materials descending through the vertical drying tower thereby drying the water-containing materials, the improvement being:(a) providing an auxiliary fluid having a temperature below that of the superheated steam entering into the vertical drying tower;(b) providing a double jacket having a permeable inner wall wherein the double jacket surrounds the lower portion of the vertical drying tower below the inlets; and(c) introducing the auxiliary fluid through the permeable inner wall of the double jacket and into the vertical drying tower in a tangential or radial direction relative to the permeable inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Wilfried Raehse, Gunter Effey, Wilhelm Beck
  • Patent number: 5601688
    Abstract: The horizontal distance traveled by droplets of starting solution sprayed into a gaseous medium above a catch basin, where the gaseous medium has a horizontal velocity component is controlled by controlling the size of the droplets as a function of the horizontal velocity component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Gad Assaf, Joseph Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5578173
    Abstract: A method of removing dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) from a vapor stream. The vapor stream includes dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), methylhydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET), glycols and methanol. A distillation column is held under an elevated pressure of 100 to 500 kPag and at a temperature of at least 85.degree. C. It has (i) a plurality of distillation trays; (ii) methanol liquid sprays between the trays; (iii) a main spray zone below the trays and (iv) a liquid pool of methanol in the bottom of the column. The vapor stream is directed into the distillation column, above the liquid pool and below the main spray zone, thereby forming a stream of liquid and vapor. The stream of liquid is directed away from the distillation column walls and into the liquid pool at the bottom of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Walter E. Toot, Jr., Brian L. Simpson, Bruce R. Debruin, Andrius A. Naujokas, William J. Gamble
  • Patent number: 5509996
    Abstract: A method for evaporating a starting solution to produce an end solution by spraying the starting solution into a gaseous medium under the conditions that the heat content of the starting solution in contact with the gaseous medium is smaller than the heat content of the gaseous medium; the duration of contact is such that most of the evaporation of solution takes place under conditions of constant enthalpy; and the vapor pressure of the gaseous medium is less than the vapor pressure of the liquid/gas interface of the end solution including the step of spraying the starting solution supplied by delivering devices using a pump through spray heads, each spray head includes a member having a plurality of holes the radii of which are not less than 0.025 mm and the distance between them is at least 0.3 mm for producing a shower of starting solution droplets of substantially constant radius substantially independent of spray head operating pressure. An apparatus for evaporating a starting solution is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Geophysical Engineering Company
    Inventor: Gad Assaf
  • Patent number: 5458739
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping volatiles from a feed stream and concentrating the volatiles in the overhead vapors forming a condensate product and simultaneously producing a low percent volatiles outlet stream as a concentrate product. The volatiles separator and concentrator, ("VSC"), unit has many applications in the reduction and the concentration of volatiles in the beverage, fuel, and industrial alcohol industries, as well as in chemical applications for removing or stripping volatiles from heat sensitive feed substrates which require low temperatures and a short residence time to prevent degradation of the product.The preferred embodiment of the VSC unit utilizes a short feed stream preheat contact time in combination with turbulent high velocity flow at temperatures below 100.degree. F. to provide flash aporization for volatiles separation with reboil capability to adjust volatiles concentration in the residue and product. The application of high vacuum in the range of 27" to 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Vendome Copper & Brass Works
    Inventors: Armand R. Boucher, Philip N. Hambrick
  • Patent number: 5421962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to water treatment using solar energy.The desalination plant includes an evaporator-desalter communicating with an intake system for water to be desalinated and a vapour and condensate discharge system. The evaporator is essentially at least a portion of a water pool wherein the density of water is higher than that of the water being desalinated, and mounted above the water pool are atomizers and branch pipes of the vapour and condensate discharge system. The atomizers and the branch pipes are provided with a collapsible roof. The surface of the water pool of the evaporator is covered with a film having floating elements shaped as balls.The invention can be used for water desalination in droughty and waterless coastal areas nearby the seas and oceans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Mikhail E. Shvarts, Alexei M. Shvarts
  • Patent number: 5395483
    Abstract: A distillation apparatus by flashing and boiling of solution and condensing the resulting steam having a central rotating partitioned brine conduit with coupling to a two-disk centrifugal distributor and a wiping blade system in a chamber having at least one conically shaped wall heated by a condensing steam in a spirally formed conduit, and a surrounding annular spiral condenser. The vertical stacking of such conically shaped evaporators and annular spiral condensers with brine inflow and outflow through a central rotating partitioned tubular conduit make up the desalination tower. The solution flowing through the central tubular conduit to the centrifugal distributor is pressurized by the centrifugal force before flashing through spray nozzles. The flowing liquid film formed on the heated conical surface boils with further enhancement from thinning action due to a rotating wiping pivoting blade system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Osamah M. Al-Hawaj
  • Patent number: 5389209
    Abstract: A process for making a light color maple syrup from a water-containing sap. In a first step, the sap is boiled under normal pressure to evaporate part of the water contained therein in the form of steam, to form the maple syrup and to develop caramelized and sweet characteristics and give flavor and a tinted color to this maple syrup. In a second step, the sap is heated at a temperature lower than the boiling temperature of the sap and atomized through an air circulating column to evaporate another part of the water contained therein. This second step which can be carried out before the first one, permits to concentrate the sap, to increase its sugar content and to avoid further caramelization thereof. The sap which is so obtained with an increased sugar content, may be recycled as long as necessary until a desired sugar concentration corresponding to a predetermined Brix number is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Yvon A. Paquette
  • Patent number: 5360511
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for spray drying a mixture of a liquid containing dissolved solids and a high temperature gas containing molten solids employs a gas flow retarding auxiliary chamber upstream of a spray drying main chamber for retarding the rate of flow of gas into the main chamber. The slowed rate of gas flow serves to reduce generation of eddy currents and to distribute the gas flow more uniformly in the main chamber. The apparatus also employs a bi-level atomizing spray nozzle arrangement in the spray drying main chamber for injecting an atomized liquid spray into the gas flow and thereby disrupting the gas flow at both the inlet of and midway through the main chamber. Such disruptions of gas flow provides a more thorough mixing of the gas and sprayed atomized liquid and distributes the gas flow more uniformly across the main chamber and thereby distributes the evaporation and drying of solids from the mixture more uniformly throughout the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Aptus, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Bayliss, Karl D. Libsch, Charles H. Washburn
  • Patent number: 5264078
    Abstract: An apparatus for spray drying a mixture of a liquid containing dissolved solids and a high temperature gas containing molten solids employs a gas flow retarding auxiliary chamber upstream of a spray drying main chamber for retarding the rate of flow of gas into the main chamber. The slowed rate of gas flow serves to reduce generation of eddy currents and to distribute the gas flow more uniformly in the main chamber. The apparatus also employs a bi-level atomizing spray nozzle arrangement in the spray drying main chamber for injecting an atomized liquid spray into the gas flow and thereby disrupting the gas flow at both the inlet of and midway through the main chamber. Such disruptions of gas flow provides a more thorough mixing of the gas and sprayed atomized liquid and distributes the gas flow more uniformly across the main chamber and thereby distributes the evaporation and drying of solids from the mixture more uniformly throughout the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Aptus Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Bayliss, Karl D. Libsch, Charles H. Washburn
  • Patent number: 5259931
    Abstract: A system for removing volatile constituents (e.g., hydrocarbons) from a liquid (e.g., water) containing the same by which there is a continuous countercurrent contact between the liquid and a forced air flow. Water collected in a reservoir is continuously pumped to the top of a stripping tower where it is dispersed downwardly over packing material. A blower forces air upwardly in the tower so as to remove the volatile constituents that exit the tower with the exit air. Since the water flow is continuous, multiple passes occur through the tower to enhance separation efficiency. Water from the base of the tower returns to the reservoir via overflow from a standpipe. A lower liquid level sensor in the reservoir initiates operation of the water pump to the tower, and an upper liquid level sensor initiates operations of another pump for pressure discharge from the base of the tower to an exterior site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventor: James R. Fox
  • Patent number: 5244645
    Abstract: This invention is a process for removing NH.sub.3 from a NH.sub.3 -containing liquid stream. The process contains the following steps: (a) passing a NH.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Humbert H. Chu
  • Patent number: 5232550
    Abstract: A vacuum drying method and wherein a feed liquid is sprayed into a solvent vapor before being introduced into a vacuum chamber for vacuum evaporation, whereby a powder having spherical particles is produced. Moreover, the amount of solvent remaining in the powder obtained is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Ohkawara Kakohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Itoh Takashi, Ohkawara Masaaki
  • Patent number: 5227018
    Abstract: A gas distributor and heating device for a spray dryer which includes a feed liquid atomizer in a drying chamber, a gas distributor for supplying a uniform flow of gas, a guide duct for conveying the flow of gas from the gas distributor and to an outlet providing a flow of processing or drying gas to contact liquid droplets dispersed by the atomizer. A gas heater is located in the device between the gas distributor and the guide duct outlet to heat the gas just prior to its introduction into the spray chamber. This provides a high temperature drying gas close to the atomizer and avoids problems encountered in attempting to transfer a gas that has been heated at a location remote from the spray chamber. A guide duct in the form of an annular guide duct provides an annular flow of heated gas concentric with the atomizer. A gas burner extends circumferentially around the interior of the guide duct and is disposed to emit the gases of combustion in the direction of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Niro A/S
    Inventors: Klaus Bro, Ove Hansen, Christian Schwartzbach
  • Patent number: 5227017
    Abstract: A nozzle unit having a pressure nozzle for spraying feed liquid and a cylindrical outer tube disposed around the pressure nozzle for high-speed gas blowing. The tip of the nozzle unit is of converging construction. When the feed liquid water is sprayed at low pressure in the nozzle unit, the feed liquid is atomized to fine droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Ohkawara Kakohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tanaka, Akira Kodera
  • Patent number: 5207928
    Abstract: A method of saltwater desalination and fresh water recovery comprises spraying a mixture of saltwater droplets substantially in the range of 7 to 30 microns in diameter and compressed air with a mass flow ratio of about one part compressed air to 10 parts saltwater droplets, without heating the droplets, into a chamber at a velocity of at least 200 meters per second to progressively vaporize the saltwater droplets for effectuating precipitation of dissolved impurities and salts from the vaporizing saltwater droplets and accumulation of a fresh water droplet suspension within the chamber and evacuating the accumulated fresh water droplet suspension out of the chamber at a rate controlled by a blower to maintain the fresh water droplets in suspension and washing fresh water droplets from the evacuated freshwater droplets suspension and collecting the fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Eric J. Lerner
  • Patent number: 5171455
    Abstract: Small quantities of one or more liquids having a low boiling point dispersed with a large quantity of one or more immiscible liquids having a higher boiling point are separated in a rapid and efficient manner. A non-reactive gas (nitrogen, helium, air, or combinations thereof) 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 or preheated liquid-liquid mixture to be separated, and the liquid-gas blend is mixed, heated and distributed by an improved heat exchanger having thermal conductive gas tubing, metal wools and fins) and 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 with at least a heat pump means to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below the pool liquid's own boiling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: International Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence K. Wang, Roland E. Weber, John J. Pavlovich
  • Patent number: 5139612
    Abstract: Liquids containing solid materials in soluble or suspended form are atomized in a chamber while admitting a drying gas. Partially dried particles settle to the bottom of the chamber and are collected on a perforated conveyor belt where they are subject to a final drying in order to obtain a homogeneous porous layer while drawing drying gas through the layer. The generation of a whirling movement in the lower part of the chamber immediately over the part of the conveyor belt where the particles settle ensures an even distribution of the particles while forming a layer of a constant thickness on the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Damrow Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mogens Andersen, Leo S. Christensson, Otto Hulshof
  • Patent number: 5135611
    Abstract: A combined spray dryer and gas filter vessel in which a solution containing sulphuric acid and solids, and a hot drying gas, are introduced vertically through the top of the vessel into a spray zone. Solids are removed at a single point at the bottom of the vessel. Filters located above the spray zone clean gas leaving the vessel, and the cleaned gas exits at the top of the vessel. The compact design reduces insulation requirements while avoiding condensation which would create corrosion and yet it provides good separation of solids from gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: Gordon M. Cameron
  • Patent number: 5096543
    Abstract: The waste heat from a steam turbine is condensed and used to desalinate sea water at the same time. The waste steam from a turbine is fed to a condenser through which cold sea water passes. As the cold sea water condenses the waste steam, it is warmed. It is then introduced into a first chamber which includes a number of spray heads disposed over fill (packing) that acts as an evaporator. Any water not evaporated is collected in a sump at the bottom of the first chamber, and the evaporated vapor is passed upwardly under the influence of a fan and ultimately to a second chamber. The second chamber may either be stacked above the first chamber, or in side-by-side relationship with it. A condenser, such as a number of dimpled metal plates, or plastic membranes defining a closed loop, or another set of spray heads and fill, are provided in the second chamber. Air typically recirculates from the bottom of the second chamber back into the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Kamyr, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl L. Elmore
  • Patent number: 5092960
    Abstract: Distillers syrup or similar liquid solutions or suspensions of organic solids and oil and water is dried to obtain granular solids with improved syrup content by continuously spraying the syrup or liquid onto the upper surface of a previous bed of granular solids while passing air through the previous bed to dry the syrup from the bottom of the bed upwardly. The upper surface layer of the previous bed is maintained at near saturation temperature of the air entering the bottom of the bed due to the cooling effect of evaporation. The syrup or liquid is continuously mixed into the upper surface layer of the granular solids to significantly increase the dried syrup or liquid content. The bottom layer of the graular solids is continuously cut and continuously removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Robert E. Brown
  • Patent number: 5062927
    Abstract: The method of preparing and operating a heat-exchanging membrane of plastic material as the evaporating and condensing surfaces in a still includes treating the evaporating surface to be wettable by the distilland, and includes selectively washing the condensing surface which is unwettable by the by the distilland in order to promote efficient accumulation of condensed droplets and efficient heat transfer through the membrane to the evaporation surface. Washing liquids of either similar or disimilar chemical composition relative to the condensed vapor are recycled to the upper region of the condensing surface to facilitate washing of the surface by the downward movement of accumulated droplets of condensed vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: T and G Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Stout
  • Patent number: 5032222
    Abstract: A spray drier (1) for the preparation of powders, agglomerates or the like, by the drying of pumpable products, has at an inlet (6) of its exhaust discharge line or lines (7) for the drying gas used in its drying chamber (3), a wind sifter (9) with a rotating bucket wheel (10). The flow generated by the rotating bucket wheel (10) of the wind sifter (9) acts against the exhaust suction flow. The discharge of fine materials is directed into the exhaust line (7) and the coarse material discharge (8) takes place in the drying chamber (3). Consequently, excellent desired separation of the coarse material component from the fine material component can be obtained within the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Alain Millioud
  • Patent number: 5015332
    Abstract: A spray drying chamber with a head section and a heat-resistant porous membrane, the porous membrane being detachable and the head section being displaceable vertically, whereby microdrops are sprayed into a spray drying chamber together with hot air, and whereby the microdrops are dried momentarily and a fine powder is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Ohkawara Kakohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Iwaya, Hitoshi Masumura, Hiroki Takahashi, Masaaki Ohkawara, Katsumi Kobayashi, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 5006204
    Abstract: An apparatus including an evaporator, a pre-crystallizer, a spray dryer and a fluid bed for drying whey and a rotating disc having a cone-shaped upper surface is provided for receiving partially dried whey from the spray dryer and delivering the whey to the fluid bed while permitting crystallization of the whey as it rests on the surface of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: A/S Niro Atomizer
    Inventor: Jens P. Jensen
  • Patent number: 4971660
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distilling, especially vacuum refining and deodorizing edible oils and fats utilizing sheets of oil driven downwardly in a distiller with a vacuum source at its top. A nozzle includes pressure equalization chambers, cantilever adjustment screws, and a central drag sheet to produce longer lasting and more uniform thin oil sheets to be driven in the distiller. A continuous process deaerates, dehydrates, degums, bleaches, refines, removes tocopherol, deodorizes, and strips peroxides and hydroperoxides from raw oil in a series of isothermal stages utilizing driven sheet distillers. No stripping steam is used except in the stage which strips peroxides and hydro peroxides. The method produces valuable, pure products such as tocopherol and fractionated fatty acids. It is especially efficient in heat exchange and low in waste and pollution producing products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Inventor: Jacob B. Rivers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4963226
    Abstract: A method is provided for spray-drying, large volumes of a detergent slurry in a spray-drying tower which includes spraying at least a portion of the slurry, cocurrently with air having a specified temperature and velocity range, through uniformly spaced atomizing nozzles into a cylindrically shaped drying zone. Any remaining balance of the slurry is sprayed countercurrently into the drying zone at higher levels in the spray tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Harry R. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 4959127
    Abstract: A system for desalinating saltwater. The system includes a platform container and a plastic dome covering through which solar ray heat passes to distall the saltwater fed therein and thereby separate therefrom distilled fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Inventor: Claus G. Michna
  • Patent number: 4953694
    Abstract: A distilling apparatus includes an evaporation section which heats raw water and causes the generation of vapor from said raw water, and a hydrophobic porous film through which the thus generated vapor is filtered. Because vapor separated from the raw water is supplied to one surface of the hydrophobic porous film, the proportion of the vapor relative to the fluid supplied to that surface of the film can be increased, thereby enabling the efficient filtering of a large amount of vapor through the film. In addition, because the temperature of condensed water obtained by cooling the vapor can be kept in the vicinity of the boiling point thereof, any gases and volatile substances contained in the raw water are prevented from dissolving in the distilled water, thereby enabling the production of extremely pure distilled water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuatsu Hayashi, Sankichi Takahashi, Katsuya Ebara, Hideaki Kurokawa, Akira Yamada, Yasuo Koseki, Harumi Matsuzaki, Hiroaki Yoda
  • Patent number: 4938846
    Abstract: A process for the removal of water from a lower alkanesulfonic acid-water mixture by causing the mixture to run down the internal walls of two vertical evaporator columns operated in series, is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Atochem, North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry D. Comstock, Karen M. Keys
  • Patent number: 4906338
    Abstract: A method for removing the volatile constituents from gasoline and volatile organic chemicals from contaminated potable water when a fluid including gasoline-water mixture and when contaminated potable water is introduced into a vertical tower includes the steps of flowing the gasoline-water fluid and the water downward in a tower over and in contact with media trays stacked in courses in the tower. The media trays, either circular or square, fit closely within the tower inner wall, such trays are aluminum or molded plastic frames one inch by one inch angles one-eighth inch thick, with a plurality of one and one-half inch wide slats one-quarter of an inch thick on the top of the frame; the slats being spaced apart not less than one-half inch nor more than three-quarters of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Inventor: Walter W. DeLoach
  • Patent number: 4882009
    Abstract: A brine concentrator utilizing two separate concentrating devices in combination wherein a first concentrating device comprises a plurality of serpentine pipes interposed within a concentrator tank containing a dilute brine solution and a second concentrating device, including a venturi, is attached to the upper end of the concentrator tank and connected to receive exhaust gases from an exterior source. The brine solution which has been concentrated by the first concentrating device exit the tank through an output opening and is introduced into the venturi via a plurality of nozzles where it is mixed with the exhaust gases.A venting stack is also attached to the upper end of the tank for venting the exhaust gases emitted from the venturi and pre-heating dilute brine solution, which is introduced into the tank through the venting stack. As the solution travels down the stack and into the tank, it comes into contact with the exhaust gases exiting the tank from the venturi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Four Nines, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Santoleri, Richard D. Ross
  • Patent number: 4879004
    Abstract: In order to dissolve oil or PCB which exists in the electrical insulation of parts to be cleaned, a solvent is evaporated during a heating phase by an evaporator located with the parts in an autoclave. The solvent vapor condenses on the parts and penetrates into the electrical insulation to form an oil or PCB-solvent mixture. In the heating phase, a plurality of intermediate pressure reductions are carried out in the autoclave, and during each intermediate pressure reduction the solvent is simultaneously distilled out of the oil or PCB-solvent mixture, directly from the autoclave. That is, during each of the pressure reductions, the solvent supply is discontinued and the mixture circulated through a circulating line. Following the completion of each intermediate pressure reduction, the pure oil or PCB present in a condensate vessel is pumped out by an intermediately located feed pump through a connecting line and into a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Micafil AG
    Inventors: Gustav Oesch, Paul Gmeiner, Urs Hofer
  • Patent number: 4790904
    Abstract: An atmospheric evaporator for reducing the water content of various chemical solutions, more particularly useful in the electroplating industry, wherein the evaporator includes a solution-secure molded tank in which a removable blower sleeve is mounted having a blower inlet duct and support strut members formed at the opposite end thereof to support a multiplicity of finned evaporator members over which the solution is sprayed. When a large-volume, low RPM blower is mounted to the inlet duct, a straight-line downdraft of both air and solution is created, allowing the air and evaporated water to exhaust through an up-facing outlet duct, thus defining a substantially "U" shaped duct arrangement from the inlet side to the exhaust side of the tank with the heavy chemical particles returning to the process tank from the bottom of the evaporator tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: William Yates
  • Patent number: 4776948
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for fractionating a hot vaporous hydrocarbon feed from a fluid catalytic cracking reactor wherein the hot vaporous feed is introduced into a fractionator zone near one end thereof and liquid is removed from a liquid collection zone and cooled in a heat extraction zone. A first portion of the cooled liquid is returned to a location between the liquid collection zone and the point of introduction of the vaporous feed and sprayed directly on hot condensed liquid flowing downwardly over an inclined baffle plate to quickly quench the liquid below the temperature at which polymerization of the constituents of the liquid can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Williams, Phillips & Umphlett
    Inventor: Frank W. Skraba
  • Patent number: 4767498
    Abstract: Photographic waste solution is treated by a method which comprises contacting the waste solution with air, in an especially designed treatment vessel, at a solution temperature of from about 120.degree. F. to about 140.degree. F. The air thus becomes supersaturated with the liquid in the waste, and the waste solution is thus concentrated to form a waste slurry which is transferred out into a waste storage vessel. The supersaturated air which is virtually free from waste is discharged to the atmosphere. The method is carried out in an especially constructed apparatus comprising a uniquely designed treatment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Kreisler