US3835658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freeze crystallization of saline water with a direct contact refrigerant
Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
•
Filing: 1973-01-31
•
Granted: 1974-09-17
•
Expires: 1993-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the desalination of saline water by freezing in which a mixture of ice and concentrated saline water is formed by cooling the saline water by heat exchange with an evaporating liquid refrigerant, the ice is separated from the concentrated saline water and melted, and at least a portion of the evaporated refrigerant is reliquified by heat exchange with an aqueous solution which is itself cooled by heat exchange with liquid methane or liquid natural gas.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:34
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; B; B01; B01D; B01D9/00; B01D9/0004; B01D9/0009; B01D9/0059; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/22; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/08; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises sodium chloride.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises calcium chloride hexahydrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises an aqueous organic solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for the desalination of saline water by freezing, the apparatus comprising a crystalliser in which a mixture of ice and concentrated saline water is formed by cooling the saline water by heat exchange with an evaporating liquid refrigerant, a wash column in which the ice is separated from the concentrated saline water, a melter in which the separated ice is melted, a condenser for reliquefying a portion of the evaporated refrigerant by heat exchange with an aqueous solution, and a heat exchanger for cooling the aqueous solution with liquid methane or liquid natural gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the separated ice is melted by contact with vapors of said liquid refrigerant evaporated while cooling said saline water, a portion of said vapors being condensed to a liquid during melting of said ice, and wherein the remaining, uncondensed, portion of said vapors is reliquefied by heat exchange with said aqueous solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for conveying evaporated vapors of said liquid refrigerant to said melter for melting said separated ice by contact between said ice and said vapors whereby a portion of said vapors condenses, and means for conveying the remaining, uncondensed, portion of said vapors from said melter to said condenser for reliquefying same by heat exchange with said aqueous solution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3477241A
Cited
US2997856A
Cited
AU217766A
Cited
US3478531A
Cited
US3486848A
Cited
US3528256A
Cited
US3605426A
Cited
US3675436A
Cited
US3677405A
Cited
US3714791A
Cited
US3724229A
Cited
US3803860A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |