Method and apparatus for removing water soluble wastes or salts from an aqueous solution

Claim 1

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising: reservoir means for containing a supply of said solution, a readily disposable, porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain at a predetermined rate through said solution whereby said curtain is saturated with said solution, said means for drawing the curtain comprising a pair of spaced apart reels, one of said reels being disposed in said reservoir means, said curtain being wound about said reels, means for effecting the drive of one of said reels for drawing said curtain through the aqueous salt solution, and means for directing an evaporating medium over said curtain as it emerges from said solution to effect the evaporation of the moisture content thereof to result in the residue salt crystals remaining enmeshed in the curtain, said directing means comprising a duct defining a passageway, said duct having at least one return bend, said screen being drawn transversely across said return bend, and means for forcing said evaporating medium through said passageway and through said curtain being drawn transversely across said return bend.

Claim 2

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising: reservoir means for containing a supply of said solution, a readily disposable, porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain at a predetermined rate through said solution whereby said curtain is saturated with said solution, said means for drawing the curtain comprising a pair of spaced apart reels, one of said reels being disposed in said reservoir means, said curtain being wound about said reels, means for effecting the drive of one of said reels for drawing said curtain through the aqueous salt solution, and means for directing an evaporating medium over said curtain as it emerges from said solution to effect the evaporation of the moisture content thereof to result in the residue salt crystals remaining enmeshed in the curtain, said directing means comprising a duct defining a passageway, said duct having at least one return bend, said screen being drawn transversely across said return bend, and means for forcing said evaporating medium through said passageway and through said curtain being drawn transversely across said return bend.

Claim 3

A system for removing water soluble salts out of an aqueous salt solution comprising: duct means defining an endless closed passageway through which an evaporating medium is circulated, a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of aqueous salt solution disposed adjacent said passageway means, a porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said salt solution supply and thereafter across said passageway means, circulating means for effecting the circulation of said evaporating medium through said curtain to evaporate the moisture therefrom, a refrigeration means, said refrigeration means including a condensator disposed upstreamwise of said curtain, and an evaporator disposed downstreamwise of said curtain, and a compressor operatively connected to said condensor and evaporator, and including an auxilliary condensor disposed in parallel to said first mentioned condensor.

Claim 4

A system for removing water soluble salts out of an aqueous salt solution comprising: duct means defining an endless closed passageway through which an evaporating medium is circulated, a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of aqueous salt solution disposed adjacent said passageway means, a porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said salt solution supply and thereafter across said passageway means, circulating means for effecting the circulation of said evaporating medium through said curtain to evaporate the moisture therefrom, a refrigeration means, said refrigeration means including a condensator disposed upstreamwise of said curtain, and an evaporator disposed downstreamwise of said curtain, and a compressor operatively connected to said condensor and evaporator, and including an auxilliary condensor disposed in parallel to said first mentioned condensor.

Claim 5

A system for removing water soluble salts out of an aqueous salt solution comprising: duct means defining an endless closed passageway through which an evaporating medium is circulated, a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of aqueous salt solution disposed adjacent said passageway means, a porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said salt solution supply and thereafter across said passageway means, circulating means for effecting the circulation of said evaporating medium through said curtain to evaporate the moisture therefrom, a refrigeration means, sAid refrigeration means including a condensator disposed upstreamwise of said curtain, and an evaporator disposed downstreamwise of said curtain, and a compressor operatively connected to said condensor and evaporator, wherein said passageway means includes an endless duct having a series of return bend portions to define a zig-zag passage for the flow of evaporating medium therethrough, and said curtain being drawn across each leg of said zig-zag passageway.

Claim 6

A system for removing water soluble salts out of an aqueous salt solution comprising: duct means defining an endless closed passageway through which an evaporating medium is circulated, a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of aqueous salt solution disposed adjacent said passageway means, a porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said salt solution supply and thereafter across said passageway means, circulating means for effecting the circulation of said evaporating medium through said curtain to evaporate the moisture therefrom, a refrigeration means, sAid refrigeration means including a condensator disposed upstreamwise of said curtain, and an evaporator disposed downstreamwise of said curtain, and a compressor operatively connected to said condensor and evaporator, wherein said passageway means includes an endless duct having a series of return bend portions to define a zig-zag passage for the flow of evaporating medium therethrough, and said curtain being drawn across each leg of said zig-zag passageway.

Claim 7

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution and comprising: a closed loop defining a passageway having a plurality of return bends disposed at one end of said loop, a reservoir disposed adjacent said closed loop adapted to contain a supply of said aqueous salt solution, a readily disposable porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said reservoir and across the return bends, said drawing means comprising a take-up reel disposed adjacent one end portion of said passageway, a supply reel spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent an opposite end portion of said passageway, and an immersion reel disposed in said reservoir, said curtain being threaded about said reels, and a motor means connected in driving relationship to said take-up reel, means for circulating air through said closed loop, and a refrigeration means operatively associated with said passageway for effecting the heat removal and supply to the circulating air so as to maintain the heat balance of the system for optimum efficiency, said refrigerating means including a compressor remotely disposed from said passageway, a condensor operatively connected to said compressor, said condensor being disposed in said passageway upstreamwise of said curtain for supplying heat to said circulating air by direct heat transfer, and an evaporator operatively connected to said compressor disposed in said passageway downstreamwise of said curtain for abstracting heat from said circulating air by direct heat transfer and thereby effecting the condensation of the moisture contained in said air, and including a second condensor connected in parallel to said first mentioned condensor, said second condensor being disposed exteriorly of said passageway, and said second condensor dissipating the unbalance heat of said system.

Claim 8

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution and comprising: a closed loop defining a passageway having a plurality of return bends disposed at one end of said loop, a reservoir disposed adjacent said closed loop adapted to contain a supply of said aqueous salt solution, a readily disposable porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said reservoir and across the return bends, said drawing means comprising a take-up reel disposed adjacent one end portion of said passageway, a supply reel spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent an opposite end portion of said passageway, and an immersion reel disposed in said reservoir, said curtain being threaded about said reels, and a motor means connected in driving relationship to said take-up reel, means for circulating air through said closed loop, and a refrigeration means operatively associated with said passageway for effecting the heat removal and supply to the circulating air so as to maintain the heat balance of the system for optimum efficiency, said refrigerating means including a compressor remotely disposed from said passageway, a condensor operatively connected to said compressor, said condensor being disposed in said passageway upstreamwise of said curtain for supplying heat to said circulating air by direct heat transfer, and an evaporator operatively connected to said compressor disposed in said passageway downstreamwise of said curtain for abstracting heat from said circulating air by direct heat transfer and thereby effecting the condensation of the moisture contained in said air, and including a second condensor connected in parallel to said first mentioned condensor, said second condensor being disposed exteriorly of said passageway, and said second condensor dissipating the unbalance heat of said system.

Claim 9

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising: reservoir means for containing a supply of said solution. a readily disposable, porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain at a predetermined rate through said solution whereby said curtain is saturated with said solution, and means for directing an evaporating medium over said curtain as it emerges from said solution to effect the evaporation of the moisture content thereof to result in the residue salt crystals remaining enmeshed in the curtain, said directing means comprises a duct defining a passageway, said duct including at least one return bend, and said screen being drawn transversely across said return bend, and means for forcing said evaporating medium through said passageway.

Claim 10

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising: reservoir means for containing a supply of said solution. a readily disposable, porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain at a predetermined rate through said solution whereby said curtain is saturated with said solution, and means for directing an evaporating medium over said curtain as it emerges from said solution to effect the evaporation of the moisture content thereof to result in the residue salt crystals remaining enmeshed in the curtain, said directing means comprises a duct defining a passageway, said duct including at least one return bend, and said screen being drawn transversely across said return bend, and means for forcing said evaporating medium through said passageway.

Claim 13

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising: a duct defining passageway in which a gaseous evaporating medium is circulated, a reservoir means disposed adjacent to said passageway, said reservoir being adapted to contain a supply of an aqueous solution containing a water soluble salt, a readily disposable porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through the aqueous solution to saturate said curtain with said solution and across said passageway, means for directing the gaseous evaporating medium through said passageway and through the saturated curtain being drawn transversely of said passageway for evaporating the moisture out of said saturated curtain, a refrigerating means having a condensing stage and an evaporating stage, said condensing stage being disposed in said passageway on the upstream side of said curtain, and said evaporating stage being disposed in said passageway on the downstream side of said curtain whereby said evaporating means is directed through said passageway in direct heat transfer relationship with said condensing stage and evaporating stage of said refrigerating means.

Claim 14

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising: a duct defining passageway in which a gaseous evaporating medium is circulated, a reservoir means disposed adjacent to said passageway, said reservoir being adapted to contain a supply of an aqueous solution containing a water soluble salt, a readily disposable porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through the aqueous solution to saturate said curtain with said solution and across said passageway, means for directing the gaseous evaporating medium through said passageway and through the saturated curtain being drawn transversely of said passageway for evaporating the moisture out of said saturated curtain, a refrigerating means having a condensing stage and an evaporating stage, said condensing stage being disposed in said passageway on the upstream side of said curtain, and said evaporating stage being disposed in said passageway on the downstream side of said curtain whereby said evaporating means is directed through said passageway in direct heat transfer relationship with said condensing stage and evaporating stage of said refrigerating means.

Claim 18

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution and comprising: a closed loop defining a passageway having a plurality of return bends disposed at one end of said loop, a reservoir disposed adjacent said closed loop adapted to contain a supply of said aqueous salt solution, a readily disposable porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said reservoir and across the return bends, said drawing means comprising a take-up reel disposed adjacent one end portion of said passageway, a supply reel spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent an opposite end portion of said passageway, and an immersion reel disposed in said reservoir, said curtain being wound about said take-up reel, as said curtain is drawn through said reservoir, and a motor means connected in driving relationship to said take-up reel, means for circulating air through said closed loop, and a refrigeration means operatively associated with said passageway for effecting the supply and removal of heat by direct heat transfer with the circulating air so as to maintain the heat balance of the system for optimum efficiency.

Claim 19

A system for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution and comprising: a closed loop defining a passageway having a plurality of return bends disposed at one end of said loop, a reservoir disposed adjacent said closed loop adapted to contain a supply of said aqueous salt solution, a readily disposable porous curtain, means for drawing said curtain through said reservoir and across the return bends, said drawing means comprising a take-up reel disposed adjacent one end portion of said passageway, a supply reel spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent an opposite end portion of said passageway, and an immersion reel disposed in said reservoir, said curtain being wound about said take-up reel, as said curtain is drawn through said reservoir, and a motor means connected in driving relationship to said take-up reel, means for circulating air through said closed loop, and a refrigeration means operatively associated with said passageway for effecting the supply and removal of heat by direct heat transfer with the circulating air so as to maintain the heat balance of the system for optimum efficiency.

Claim 21

A method for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising the steps of: maintaining a supply of said aqueous salt solution, drawing a readily disposable porous curtain through said solution, effecting a drying of the wetted portion of said curtain by blowing air therethrough to effect an evaporation of the moisture content whereby the salt crystals remain enmeshed in said curtain, utilizing a refrigeration system for maintaining the heat balance on said salt removal system by disposing the heat producing condensing phase of said refrigeration system on the upstream side of the curtain to heat the drying air and the evaporator heat absorbing phase of said refrigeration system on the downstream side of the curtain, dissipating the unbalanced heat of the salt removal system by utilizing a second condensing phase, and disposing of said salt encrusted curtain.

Claim 22

A method for removing water soluble salts from an aqueous salt solution comprising the steps of: maintaining a supply of said aqueous salt solution, drawing a readily disposable porous curtain through said solution, effecting a drying of the wetted portion of said curtain by blowing air therethrough to effect an evaporation of the moisture content whereby the salt crystals remain enmeshed in said curtain, utilizing a refrigeration system for maintaining the heat balance on said salt removal system by disposing the heat producing condensing phase of said refrigeration system on the upstream side of the curtain to heat the drying air and the evaporator heat absorbing phase of said refrigeration system on the downstream side of the curtain, dissipating the unbalanced heat of the salt removal system by utilizing a second condensing phase, and disposing of said salt encrusted curtain.