Abstract Ammonia is recovered and liquefied from a mixture of ammonia and air emitted from an ammonia treatment chamber used in processing of textiles. The processing of textiles is regarded herein as the ''''prime'''' system. In the recovery system, subordinated to the prime system, cooling and compression are followed by condensing then purging. Noncondensibles are oxidized in an furnace and liquid ammonia is returned for reuse to the treatment chamber of the prime system. Controlling delivery of the mixture from the treatment chamber based on pressure therein accommodates maintainance of a minimal negative pressure in the treatment chamber. The furnace is used also to dispose of the ammonia and air mixture during startup and shutdown of the prime system. The furnace also may be used to oxidize ammonia from the treatment chamber so that the treatment chamber can function in its normal manner even in the event the recovery system is out of service. When feed to the recovery system is interrupted, a recycled stream is brought into play to load falsely the compressor so that shutdown thereof is avoided.
The process of claim 1 and controlling the compression by the delivery of the mixture from the chamber for desuperheating; sensing interruption of delivery of the mixture from the chamber; on said interruption recycling the mixture for desuperheating to sustain the compressing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A subservient system for recovering and liquefying ammonia discharged as waste from a master system without interfering with the master system, with the ammonia discharged from the master system in a mixture which includes ammonia as well as air, the mixture having as its source a chamber wherein textiles are treated with liquid ammonia and which chamber is maintained at a minimal negative pressure; the system comprising in combination: sensor means for sensing the pressure in the chamber; regulator means for regulating delivery of the mixture from the chamber responsive to the pressure in the chamber; compressor means for compressing and cooler means for cooling the mixture, said means comprising collectively: a desuperheater connected to receive the mixture from the chamber and to bubble it upward through liquid ammonia, a compressor having a first stage which is connected to receive the mixture from the desuperheater and arranged for pressurizing the mixture, an intercooler connected to receive the mixture from the first stage and to bubble it upward through liquid ammonia, the compressor having a second stage which is connected to receive the mixture from the intercooler and arranged for further pressurizing the mixture; a condenser connected to receive the mixture from the compressor and cooler means and passing the mixture in noncontact heat-exchange relationship with water to separate liquid ammonia from the mixture leaving an ammonia-lean gas; means for withdrawing the liquid ammonia from the condenser; a purger connected to receive the ammonia-lean gas from the condenser and passing it in noncontact heat-exchange relationship with liquid ammonia to separate additional liquid ammonia from the ammonia-lean gas leaving noncondensibles; means for withdrawing the additional liquid from the purger; means for withdrawing the noncondensibles from the purger; furnace means for burning the noncondensibles withdrawn from the purger; means operatively connecting the chamber to the furnace means for burning the mixture as an alternative to the foregoing whereby the master system can operate even if the subservient system becomes inoperable and whereby the mixture can be burned if its ammonia content is low enough to present an explosion hazard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 3 and control means for controlling the compressor operation responsive to delivery of the mixture to the desuperheater; interruption sensor means for sensing interruption of delivery of the mixture to the desuperheater; recycle means responsive to the interruption sensor means for recycling the mixture from the compressor to the desuperheater to sustain the compressor operation.