Method and apparatus for feeding a distillable material into a distillation zone and controlling flow of nonvaporized liquid along walls of said zone

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FLASH DISTILLING A DISTILLABLE LIQUID MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED DISTILLATION VESSEL; SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY AND TANGENTIALLY DISPOSED FEED MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF ONE END OF SAID DISTILATION VESSEL; NON-VAPORIZED RESIDUE OUTLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF THE VESSEL LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FEED INLET END OF SAID DISTILLATION VESSEL; DISTILLATE OUTLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF THE VESSEL LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE VESSEL ON THE END OPPOSITE THE FEED INLET END OF SAID DISTILLATION VESSEL; A TANGENTIAL LIQUID FLOW ARRESTING ELEMENT ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE WALL OF SAID DISTILLATION ZONE PERIPHERALLY REMOVED FROM THE TANGENTIAL FEED INLET OPENING, SAID ARRESTING ELEMENT EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE TOWARD, BUT SPACED FROM THE OPPOSITE WALL OF SAID VESSEL; AND A CENTRALLY APERTURED LIQUID IMPERVIOUS FLOW ARRESTING MEANS DISPOSED IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE WALL OF SAID DISTILLATION ZONE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO INTERRUPT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF TANGENTIAL FLOW OF INTRODUCED DISTILLABLE MATERIAL THEREON THEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY RETAINING SAID LIQUID IN SAID ONE OF SAID VESSEL WITHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY OBSTRUCTING OR ALTERING THE FLOW OF VAPORS PASSING THERETHROUGH.