Abstract: Energy and mass are transferred in a system utilizing a gaseous refrigerant which is mixed and sorbed (absorbed/adsorbed) with a liquid carrier selected from the group consisting of long chain alcohols, ethers, glycols, glycol ethers, sebecates, phthalates, aldehydes and ketones, and sorbate/liquid mixture then combined with a particulate solid capable of forming a solid/gas compound with the gaseous refrigerant. The process is carried out in a mass and heat exchange apparatus capable of collecting and transferring the energy created by the formation or dissociation of the solid/gas compound.

Abstract: A counter-current process for purifying chemicals using cyrstal purification. The unit process has a purification and recovery section which contain substantially identical stages. In operation, the unit process purifies the chemical by utilizing sequential recrystallizer. The size and purity of the crystals increases from the last recrystallizer in the recovery section through each subsequent stage to the last recrystallizer in the purification section.

Abstract: A process for abatement of warm melting point vapors from gas streams is provided. The warm melting point vapors are solidified by direct contact with a chilled liquid, and are subsequently removed from the chilled liquid using known separation techniques. The chilled liquid exhibits a vapor pressure at the contacting temperature which is sufficiently low to preclude unsafe levels of the chilled liquid vapor in the processed gas stream. The chilled liquid is cooled using indirect heat exchange with a cryogenic liquid and is recycled.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide, and subsequently re-evaporating the substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide to produce substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide from impure carbon dioxide gas which is produced during the fermentation step of a brewing process or has been used as an overgas in a brewing plant, the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide being for use in carbonating the brewed product or as an overgas in the brewing plant. The process comprises the steps of:(a) removing impure carbon dioxide gas from the brewing plant;(b) pressurizing the impure carbon dioxide gas.The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: Process for continuous crystallization of a liquid mixture in which the mixture is led through a cascade of cooling sections. The temperature in the first section is such that a part of the mixture crystallizes, the temperature in each succeeding section is lower than in the preceding section. The temperature in the last section is such that not the whole of the liquid mixture solidifies. The crystals kept suspended in the liquid are led through the cascade. In one section, not being the last one, the crystal and liquid flow is divided in two flows. One flow mainly formed by the crystals, the other by the liquid. A portion of the divided flow is recycled to the dividing section to keep the crystal volume fraction at a desired value.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for drying aqueous solids by evaporation using a fluidizing oil and a surfactant wherein the fluidizing oil and surfactant are recovered and recycled separately or together. The aqueous solids may, or may not, have a heavy, natural oil associated with them.

Abstract: An improved freeze concentration system of the type in which a slurry of crystals and mother liquor are formed in a crystallizer and fed to the concentrated end of a gradient column. The crystals grow in size in the column as they move to the dilute end of the column. The dilute slurry is transferred to a holding tank where the crystals grow further and then to a wash column. A slurry of larger crystals from the holding tank or the column outlet are fed back to the column inlet so that crystals in the concentrated slurry dissolve and reform on the large crystals of the fed back slurry. The units can be connected in a multistage, counter-current system.

Abstract: The invention is a method for making ice in a container the side walls of which are cooled to cool a solution of less than eutectic concentration to form ice crystals wherein the sides of the container are continuously mechanically scoured at a rate that prevents the formation of ice crystals on the wall of the container when the heat exchange relation of the solution with the side of the chamber is at least 4000 BTU's per square foot of container side.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a concentrated extract from an ice crystal-fluid solution by suction separation of the ice crystal solvent. A multiple compartment drum is rotatably mounted within a tank containing the solution, a filter medium covering the compartments. A vacuum source selectively creates a suction in the compartments to draw the solution through the filter medium, the ice crystals remaining on the filter medium and the fluid passing into the compartments. The ice crystals are scraped from the filter medium and the fluid is recycled for further processing.

Abstract: A method for separating a desired component from a solid mixture by repeated recrystallization in a single vertical crystallizer having a plurality of chambers partitioned by solid-liquid separation means, which comprises intermittently feeding a solid mixture to the top chamber and a solvent to the bottom chamber, dissolving the solid in each chamber in the solvent by heating after feeding of the solid mixture to the top chamber, transferring the resulting solution in each chamber to the adjacent lower chamber while taking out from the bottom chamber the solution from which the desired component is recovered as an end product, cooling the solution in each chamber to precipitate crystals, and transferring the resulting mother liquor in each chamber upwardly through the separation means not capable of passing the resulting crystals by the feeding of the solvent to the bottom chamber, while allowing excess mother liquor to overflow from the top of the crystallizer, the above procedures being repeated continuous

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a freeze exchanger having an aqueous liquid feed stream inlet and an aqueous liquid stream outlet; a closed loop refrigeration system for supplying a refrigerant to the freeze exchanger for indirectly cooling aqueous liquid fed thereto; an ice storage tank; a conduit for withdrawing aqueous liquid, or a mixture of ice and aqueous liquid, from the freeze exchanger outlet and delivering it to the ice storage tank; a conduit for removing cold aqueous liquid from the ice storage tank and feeding it to a heat exchanger to cool fluid used for cooling purposes; and a conduit for removing warm aqueous liquid from the heat exchanger and feeding it to the ice storage tank, or to the freeze exchanger, or partially to both.A method of cooling making use of the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns an improved process for separating one crystallize component from a liquid containing a plurality of components, which comprises passing a stream of said liquid successively through at least part of a series of zones of successively lower temperatures including the zone of lowest temperature, so as to induce the formation of crystals of said one component in each of said zones, passing the crystals formed in each of said zones in a direction countercurrent to the direction of the stream of liquid through at least part of said zones, including the zone of highest temperature, separating the crystals present in the zone of highest temperature from their mother liquor and recovering at least part of these crystals, separating the crystals in the zone of lowest temperature from their mother liquor and recovering that mother liquor, and recirculating part of said crystals present in one zone, from that zone to a zone of lower temperature.

Abstract: A system for extracting heat from low temperature water includes a source of water at a temperature between approximately 0.degree. C. and 10.degree. C. and a heat pump removing heat from the water and transporting it for transfer to an external heating circuit. The heat pump has a closed circuit containing a heat transport fluid, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water, acting as a heat source, is fed into a vacuum vessel and subjected to triple-point conditions thereby concomitantly forming water vapor and a water/ice crystal suspension. The evaporator is disposed in the vacuum vessel out of direct contact with the water/ice crystal suspension for absorbing heat from the evaporated water vapor.

Abstract: A system and method for concentrating aqueous beverages such as fruit juices, beer, wine, vinegar, tea, coffee, and the like in which a slurry of feed liquid and seed crystals is formed in a scraped surface heat exchanger of a first stage and supplied to a recrystallizer where larger crystals grow, the liquid in the recrystallizer being withdrawn with part recirculated to the heat exchanger of a succeeding stage. The slurry of larger crystals in the recrystallizer of the first stage is also withdrawn and the crystals separated in a wash column. The larger crystals grown in the second stage recrystallizer are supplied to the recrystallizer of the first stage where the seed crystals melt and reform on the larger crystals and the larger crystals from the third stage are similarly supplied to the recrystallizer of the second stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for and method of preparing a slurry for a purification apparatus such as a wash column. A slurry is produced in a crystallizer. The crystals are essentially removed from the concentrated mixture and transported to a more dilute solution. The crystals are caused to dwell in the dilute solution to permit the crystals to ripen and to grow in size significantly.The apparatus that performs the foregoing functions is a gradient column where the change from a concentrated slurry to a dilute slurry takes place. The output of the gradient column is coupled to a holding tank where the residence time of crystals in the dilute solution is prolonged to permit the crystals to ripen.

Abstract: The process involves the steps of:spraying droplets of an aqueous alcohol input solution through spray-bars into a heat transfer fluid contained within a refrigerated process vessel and allowing the droplets to fall through the heat transfer fluid so that some of the water separates out as ice in the droplets;collecting the droplets as a slurry of ice and concentrated solution at the bottom of the process vessel andsubsequently removing the ice to produce a concentrated output solution from the process.The process can be repeated in subsequent process stages up to a limiting concentration of 92% by weight of alcohol in the case of ethanol. The invention includes apparatus in which the process can be performed. Means by which the efficiency of the process may be optimized are also included.

Abstract: Freeze concentrating an aqueous liquid mixture by feeding an aqueous liquid mixture to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; feeding the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the lower internal space of a vessel containing said aqueous liquid mixture whereby the ice floats to the top interior of the vessel; removing ice from the top interior of the vessel, washing the ice with water and heating the washed ice to produce potable water; removing aqueous liquid mixture from the vessel and recycling it to the freeze exchanger; and repeating the method in a continuous operation.

Abstract: Continuous counter current multistage process for freeze concentration, iuding a step whereby the ice crystals in the first stage are separated from the mother liquor in a final separation step, the ice crystals being rejected and the mother liquor from the last stage recovered as a product, whereby in a stage of said process ice crystals are introduced, said ice crystals having a larger medium size than the crystals in said stage formed without said introduction of said ice crystals.

Abstract: A method for separating components of a substance, for example, a fatty acid ester such as palm oil, by dissolving the substance in a solvent. The resultant solution is circulated and cooled in a circuit with crystals being formed in the solution as the temperature is lowered. The crystals are continuously separated from the circulating solution during the crystal separation phase of the process. The crystals are then preferably washed and recovered. Preferably there is a second crystallization phase in the process. The invention includes the apparatus used to carry out the process and, particularly, novel fractionating columns and filter surfaces within said columns used in the preferred embodiments of the process.

Abstract: The invention is directed to freeze concentration of liquid mixtures including solutions by the direct contacting in at least two stages, of the mixture with a miscible refrigerant. After the contacting of the refrigerant with the liquid mixture, there is provided a first stage crop of substantially pure crystals of a mixture component which is separated from the mother liquor. The mother liquor is then further cooled and crystallized in further stages. Any crystals from said further stages are returned to the first or preceeding stage. This concentrates the second stage and further stage mother liquors.This process is applicable to the freeze concentration of juices, coffee or tea extracts and beers. It also may be utilized for the purification of brackish water. The purity of the first stage crystals is assured by controlled crystal growth. The successive stages provide for a complete concentration of the residual matter in the mother liquor.

Abstract: A two stage continuous process and apparatus for crystallization of a solute or solvent from a solution comprising, first, passing the solution through a precrystallization zone with simultaneous cooling and/or rapid evaporation of the solvent resulting in the formation of small crystal nuclei, second, mixing the suspension from the precrystallization zone in a recrystallization zone with a suspension containing crystals of a much greater size than the crystal nuclei formed in the precrystallization zone wherein the crystal nuclei dissolve in the solution of the recrystallization zone and recrystallize on the larger crystals, the recrystallization step being carried out substantially adiabatic, and selectively recirculating part of the solution from the crystallization zone substantially crystal free to the precrystallization zone.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and method of purifying contaminated water by means of a two-step freeze crystallization process. The method and apparatus overcomes the serious problem caused by the freezing of water on the screen of the wash column. The solution comprises means and method of reducing the temperature difference between the concentrate and the wash water in the wash column.

Abstract: Pulping liquor borne solids are concentrated within an aqueous solution by a successive plurality of freezing steps wherein a discrete quantity of the solution is crystallized in each step by freezing. The water crystals from each freezing step are subsequently separated from the remaining liquid solution by screening and applying axial pressure to the crystalline mass. Greater efficiencies may be obtained in some cases by mixing or reslurrying a pressed, crystalline mass and pressing a second time. Another auxiliary separation step comprises a quiescent thaw of the crystalline mass from the first two press steps to permit additional dissolved solids to be drained away from the purified water ice.