Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage. The apparatus for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage includes a water chilling unit, a hydrate-based cold storage tank, an airflow disturbance device, a water layer positioning system, a spraying system, a suction filtration system, a heat exchange system, and a system monitoring device. The water chilling unit provides a secondary refrigerant at a low temperature. The secondary refrigerant flows through an evaporator coil in the hydrate-based cold storage tank for heat exchange. The airflow disturbance device induces hydrate nucleation. The water layer positioning system positions a contact surface between a water layer and a hydrate former after hydrate decomposition to facilitate drawing and separation of the treated upper water layer. The spraying system and the suction filtration system enhance the solid-liquid separation efficiency to improve the removal rate of pollutants.

Abstract: A tumble trimmer system having a tumbler barrel with a perforated axle adapted for introducing a freezing agent such as liquid carbon dioxide or other liquefied gas adapted to flash freeze the plant material when infused into the mesh tumbler barrel, the mesh tumbler barrel adapted with mesh netting or screening for trimming and/or separating plant material enclosed therein, and with an open funnel or chute positioned below the tumbler barrel adapted to catch and direct trimmed and/or separated plant material exiting the tumbler barrel into a bin or container positioned under the funnel or chute, wherein the perforated axle comprises a plurality of perforations positioned around a circumference of and along an entire length of the axle.

Abstract: The system includes a first heat exchanger in which the refrigerant is injected directly into the content of the first liquid circuit through at least one nozzle to simultaneously capture latent heat from the content as purified frozen liquid pieces are formed. It also includes a second heat exchanger in which the refrigerant transfers the latent heat captured from the content of the first liquid circuit to a content of the second liquid circuit, thereby raising the content of the second liquid circuit in temperature. The proposed concept provides designers with opportunities to create highly efficient systems and methods where the latent heat extracted for the purification is immediately employed to a useful purpose.

Abstract: A refrigeration system that includes at least one semi-closed air-refrigerated chamber and an air-cycle refrigeration loop for drawing air from the refrigerated chamber(s), cools the air, and returns the now-cooled air to the refrigerated chamber(s). The refrigeration loop includes various compression, expansion and heat transfer stages for cooling the air drawn from the refrigerated chamber(s). The air within the refrigerated chamber and air infiltrating into the refrigerated chamber(s) will typically contain moisture. A positive-pressure cyclone separator located between a final expansion stage and the refrigerated chamber(s) removes snow created in the final expansion stage due to moisture in the air drawn from the refrigerated chamber(s).

Abstract: The invention is a method with equipments for conducting the solid-liquid-vapor multiple phase transformation steps of processes such as vacuum freezing, wet distillative freezing, vacuum crystallization and primary refrigerant eutectic freezing. All these processes require simultaneous vaporization and crystallization. The invented method for conducting this common step consists of (1) distributing the solution over a rotating surface area to form liquid films (2) subjecting the liquid films to simultaneous vaporization and crystallization (3) removing the crystals from the surfaces and (4) transporting the crystals to the next processing zone. The surfaces can be rotating screws with intermeshing flights or a sets of disks on rotating shafts. The screws are partially submerged in the solution. Elements of the screws are wetted when they are rotated into the pool.

Abstract: A plant for treatment of sediment of natural and waste waters comprises a crystallizer (1), a melter (2), a condensing heat exchanger (4), a compression refrigerating unit (3) communicating with the crystallizer (1) and the melter (2) which is in communication with the sediment dehydration apparatus (5). The evaporator (8) of a crystallizer (1) has two cylinders (9). The plant comprises a refrigerant feed unit (13) and a refrigerant discharge unit (15), a planetary gear drive, a sediment application unit (17) and a sediment removal unit (19). The crystallizer (1) has a recirculation station (6). The sediment application unit (17) is made in the form of pour-on nozzles (18). Installed between the cylinders (9), at an angle to their walls with a clearance (.delta..sub.1, .delta..sub.2) are screens (12). The sediment removal unit (19) has at least two cutting tools (20) with flexible pick-ups.

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 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: Improved apparatus for operating a continuous process for the freeze concentration of aqueous solutions, such as fruit juices, wine, beer, coffee extract and the like.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for operating a continuous process for the freeze concentration of aqueous solutions, such as fruit juices, wine, beer, coffee extract and the like.

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.