Glycol regenerator using controller gas stripping under vacuum

Claim 2

Apparatus for the reconcentration of a relatively cool liquid absorbent that is rich with solute acquired in the process of drying a stream of gas comprising: a. reboiler means into which the rich absorbent stream is introduced and including means to heat said absorbent to a temperature below its point of disintegration; b. means to remove from the reboiler water vapor and gas which is released from the absorbent; c. a flash chamber separated from said reboiler including: means to apply vacuum at the top end thereof, means to introduce dry hot gas into said chamber near the base thereof, means to introduce the hot lean absorbent into said chamber, and means to remove the reconcentrated absorbent from the bottom of said flash chamber, said relatively cool water-rich absorbent being heated by indirect heat exchange with hot reconcentrated absorbent and said vacuum being generated by the flow of the preheated water-rich absorbent stream thru a venturi eductor prior to passing into said reboiler, the throat of said venturi being connected to the vapor space of said flash chamber.

Claim 3

The system as in claim 1 including means to condense the condensible vapors evolved from said flash chamber by indirect and direct heat exchange with the pre-heated water-rich glycol stream before entering said eductor.

Claim 4

In a method of reconcentrating liquid desiccant used in a fluid dehydration contactor including: partially reconcentrating said desIccant utilizing an indirect source of heat in a reboiler; controllably trapping and removing a separate stream of said partially reconcentrated desiccant from said reboiler; conveying said stream to a flash chamber via a conduit which is in heat exchange with the desiccant adjacent the source of said heat in said reboiler; inducing a vacuum in said flash chamber to further reconcentrate and desiccant stream; and removing said further concentrated desiccant stream from said flash chamber for use in said dehydration contactor, the improvement comprising: introducing into the bottom of said flash chamber a flow of hot dry gas so as to be in countercurrent contact with said desiccant therein.

Claim 5

In a method of reconcentrating liquid desiccant used in a fluid dehydration contactor including: partially reconcentrating said desIccant utilizing an indirect source of heat in a reboiler; controllably trapping and removing a separate stream of said partially reconcentrated desiccant from said reboiler; conveying said stream to a flash chamber via a conduit which is in heat exchange with the desiccant adjacent the source of said heat in said reboiler; inducing a vacuum in said flash chamber to further reconcentrate and desiccant stream; and removing said further concentrated desiccant stream from said flash chamber for use in said dehydration contactor, the improvement comprising: introducing into the bottom of said flash chamber a flow of hot dry gas so as to be in countercurrent contact with said desiccant therein.

Claim 6

The system as in claim 3 in which said dry gas is flue gas.

Claim 7

The system as in claim 3 in which said dry gas is air.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for reconcentrating liquid desiccant used in a fluid dehydration contactor, such as glycol, comprising in combination: a reboiler to create partially reconcentrated desiccant and including an indirect source of heat; a float operated valve to trap and remove a portion of said partially reconcentrated desiccant and to maintain a substantially constant level of desiccant within said reboiler; a flash separation chamber separated from said reboiler; conduit means to convey said portion of said partially reconcentrated desiccant from the outlet of said float operated valve thence back into said reboiler adjacent the source of heat for indirect heat exchange with the remaining partially reconcentrated desiccant therein, thence to said flash chamber to make a higher reconcentrated desiccant; means to induce a vacuum in said flash chamber; and means to flow said higher reconcentration desiccant from said flash chamber to, eventually, said gas dehydration contacting tower, the improvement comprising: means to introduce into said flash chamber a flow of hot dry gas into countercurrent contact with said desiccant therein.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for reconcentrating liquid desiccant used in a fluid dehydration contactor, such as glycol, comprising in combination: a reboiler to create partially reconcentrated desiccant and including an indirect source of heat; a float operated valve to trap and remove a portion of said partially reconcentrated desiccant and to maintain a substantially constant level of desiccant within said reboiler; a flash separation chamber separated from said reboiler; conduit means to convey said portion of said partially reconcentrated desiccant from the outlet of said float operated valve thence back into said reboiler adjacent the source of heat for indirect heat exchange with the remaining partially reconcentrated desiccant therein, thence to said flash chamber to make a higher reconcentrated desiccant; means to induce a vacuum in said flash chamber; and means to flow said higher reconcentration desiccant from said flash chamber to, eventually, said gas dehydration contacting tower, the improvement comprising: means to introduce into said flash chamber a flow of hot dry gas into countercurrent contact with said desiccant therein.