US3678696A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fractional solidification process with heat reuse by the application of pressure
Assignee: SING WANG CHENG
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Filing: 1968-03-11
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1988-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A fractional solidification process for separating relatively pure water from an aqueous solution, separating a solution into its components and purifying an impure substance by the so-called progressive freezing operation in which a feed solution is circulated through a conduit and is cooled through the conducting surface of the conduit. The improvement comprises of the followings: 1. Heat reuse is achieved by taking advantage of the change of melting point of a substance due to the application of pressure. 2. A unified freezer-melter which contains two sets of conduits, A-conduits and B-conduits, is used. A-conduits and B-conduits are in heat exchange relation through a metallic conductor and each set of these conduits are used alternately as a freezer and a melter. For separation of water, a high pressure is applied during the melting operation, and for the separation of other substances, a high pressure is applied during the freezing operation to create the temperature difference for heat transfer which is required in the heat reuse.
Inventors
- 👤 Chen Yen Cheng
- 👤 Sing-Wang Cheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:26
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D9/00; B01D9/0004; B01D9/0013; B01D9/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
HEAT REUSE IS ACHIEVED BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANGE OF MELTING POINT OF A SUBSTANCE DUE TO THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
HEAT REUSE IS ACHIEVED BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANGE OF MELTING POINT OF A SUBSTANCE DUE TO THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A UNIFIED FREEZER-MELTER WHICH CONTAINS TWO SETS OF CONDUITS, A-CONDUITS AND B-CONDUITS, IS USED. A-CONDUITS AND B-CONDUITS ARE IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION THROUGH A METALLIC CONDUCTOR AND EACH SET OF THESE CONDUITS ARE USED ALTERNATELY AS A FREEZER AND A MELTER. FOR SEPARATION OF WATER, A HIGH PRESSURE IS APPLIED DURING THE MELTING OPERATION, AND FOR THE SEPARATION OF OTHER SUBSTANCES, A HIGH PRESSURE IS APPLIED DURING THE FREEZING OPERATION TO CREATE THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE FOR HEAT TRANSFER WHICH IS REQUIRED IN THE HEAT REUSE.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
A UNIFIED FREEZER-MELTER WHICH CONTAINS TWO SETS OF CONDUITS, A-CONDUITS AND B-CONDUITS, IS USED. A-CONDUITS AND B-CONDUITS ARE IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION THROUGH A METALLIC CONDUCTOR AND EACH SET OF THESE CONDUITS ARE USED ALTERNATELY AS A FREEZER AND A MELTER. FOR SEPARATION OF WATER, A HIGH PRESSURE IS APPLIED DURING THE MELTING OPERATION, AND FOR THE SEPARATION OF OTHER SUBSTANCES, A HIGH PRESSURE IS APPLIED DURING THE FREEZING OPERATION TO CREATE THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE FOR HEAT TRANSFER WHICH IS REQUIRED IN THE HEAT REUSE.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
A process for effecting a freeze-melt separation of a mixture, comprising a freezing step for at least partially freezing a solid phase from the mixture by removal of heat energy therefrom, and a melting step for melting the solid phase so formed by the addition of heat energy thereto, characterized in that the solid phase is maintained substantially in situ during the freezing and melting steps, the freezing and melting steps are conducted simultaneously and at respective pressures which are sufficiently different so that the temperature prevailing in the melting step is lower than the temperature prevailing in the freezing step, and the mixture and said solid phAse are maintained in indirect heat exchange relationship during the freezing and melting steps, thereby to utilize at least a part of the heat liberated in the freezing step for supplying at least a part of the heat needed in the melting step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
A process for effecting a freeze-melt separation of a mixture, comprising a freezing step for at least partially freezing a solid phase from the mixture by removal of heat energy therefrom, and a melting step for melting the solid phase so formed by the addition of heat energy thereto, characterized in that the solid phase is maintained substantially in situ during the freezing and melting steps, the freezing and melting steps are conducted simultaneously and at respective pressures which are sufficiently different so that the temperature prevailing in the melting step is lower than the temperature prevailing in the freezing step, and the mixture and said solid phAse are maintained in indirect heat exchange relationship during the freezing and melting steps, thereby to utilize at least a part of the heat liberated in the freezing step for supplying at least a part of the heat needed in the melting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as defined in claim 2 wherein said mixture is an aqueous mixture and said melting step is conducted under a pressure substantially greater than the pressure under which the freezing step is conducted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as defined in claim 2 wherein said mixture is a non-aqueous mixture and said freezing step is conducted under a pressure substantially greater than the pressure under which the melting step is conducted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process as defined in claim 2 wherein the mixture is maintained in turbulent flow during the freezing step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cyclic process for effecting a freeze-melt separation of fluid mixture comprising the steps of a. At least partially freezing the mixture by removal of heat energy therefrom to form frozen solids and a mother liquor while simultaneously melting previously formed frozen solids; b. separating said frozen solids from said mother liquor; c. maintaining said separated frozen solids in indirect heat exchange relation with additional mixture while maintaining said separated frozen solids and said mixture under relative pressures such that the prevailing melting temperature of said frozen solids is less than the prevailing freezing temperature of the mixture, thereby to utilize at least a part of the heat liberated in the freezing step for supplying at least a part of the heat needed to melt said frozen solids so as to form simultaneously therewith additional frozen solids and mother liquor from the mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cyclic process for effecting a freeze-melt separation of fluid mixture comprising the steps of a. At least partially freezing the mixture by removal of heat energy therefrom to form frozen solids and a mother liquor while simultaneously melting previously formed frozen solids; b. separating said frozen solids from said mother liquor; c. maintaining said separated frozen solids in indirect heat exchange relation with additional mixture while maintaining said separated frozen solids and said mixture under relative pressures such that the prevailing melting temperature of said frozen solids is less than the prevailing freezing temperature of the mixture, thereby to utilize at least a part of the heat liberated in the freezing step for supplying at least a part of the heat needed to melt said frozen solids so as to form simultaneously therewith additional frozen solids and mother liquor from the mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as defined in claim 6 wherein said frozen solids are maintained in situ during the freezing and melting thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as defined in claim 7 wherein said frozen solids are washed by a portion of previously melted frozen solid material prior to the melting thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as defined in claim 7 wherein said frozen solids are maintained under a pressure greater than the pressure on the mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as defined in claim 7 wherein said frozen solids are maintained under a pressure lower than the pressure on the mixture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |