Crystallization apparatus including a swirling film evaporator and a cyclone separator

Claim 1

APPARATUSS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF SOLUBLE SALTS FROM SOLUTIONS CONTAINING THEM WHICH COMPRISES, (A) A SWIRLING FILM EVAPORATOR HAVING, (1) A HOLLOW ELONGATED CYLINDER, (2) AN INLET POSITIONED ADJACENT THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER WITH ITS AXIS EXTENDING TANGENTIALLY TO THE INNER SURFACE OF THE CYLINDER, (3) MEANS FOR DELIVERING SOLUTION TO BE CONCENTRATED TO SAID INLET AT A SUFFICIENT RATE TO CAUSE THE SOLUTION TO SWIRL AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE CYLINDER THROUGHOUT THE SOLUTION''S FALL THROUGH THE CYLINDER, (4) A TOP CLOSURE FOR THE CYLINDER PROVIDING A VAPOR OUTLET, AND (5) MEANS CONNECTED TO THE VAPOR OUTLET FOR WITHDRAWING VAPORIZED LIQUID FROM THE EVAPORATOR, AND (6) A BOTTOM CLOSURE FOR THE CYLINDER PROVIDING A BOTTOM OUTLET FROM THE CYLINDER, (B) A CYCLONE SEPARATOR FOR LIQUIDS HAVING (1) AN INLET CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OUTLET OF THE EVAPORATOR, (2) AN OUTLET ADACENT ITS BOTTOM FOR DISCHARGING SLURRY, (3) AN OUTLET ADJACENT ITS TOP CONNECTED TO THE MEANS FOR DELIVERING TO THE EVAPORATOR SOLUTION TO BE CONCENTRATED, AND (C) A HEATER POSITIONED IN ADVANCE OF AND CONNECTED TO SAID EVAPORATOR INLET FOR HEATING SOLUTION BEFORE IT ENTERS THE EVAPORATOR.