US3867112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reconcentrating solute-rich liquid absorbent
Assignee: Black Sivalls and Bryson Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-26
•
Granted: 1975-02-18
•
Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to methods and systems for continuously reconcentrating a stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent. The rich liquid absorbent is heated to vaporize a portion of the solute contained therein and the resulting stream of partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent is intimately contacted with a stream of stripping gas so that additional solute is vaporized and the liquid absorbent is further reconcentrated. At least a portion of the solute contained in the mixture of stripping gas and vaporized solute formed is removed and the resulting stream of relatively solute free stripping gas is recycled into intimate contact with the partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph D Honerkamp
- 👤 Paul M Tournoux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:45
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1418; B01D53/1425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A METHOD OF RECONCENTRATING A STREAM OF SOLUTE-RICH LIQUID ADSORBENT WHICH COMPRISES: A. HEATING THE STREAM OF RICH LIQUID ABSORBENT TO VAPORIZE A PORTION OF THE SOLUTE CONTAINED THEREIN; B. SEPARATING THE VAPORIZED SOLUTE FROM THE LIQUID ABSORBENT; C. INTIMATELY CONTACTING THE RESULTANT STREAM OF PARTIALLY RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT WITH A STREAM OF STRIPPING GAS SO THAT ADDITIONAL SOLUTE IS VAPORIZED AND STRIPPED THEREFROM TO FURTHER RECONCENTRATE THE LIQUID ABSORBENT; D. SEPARATING THE RESULTING MIXTURE OF STRIPPING GAS AND VAPORIZED SOLUTE FROM THE RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT; E. WITHDRAWING THE RESULTING STREAM OF RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT; F. INTIMATELY CONTACTING SAID MIXTURE OF STRIPPING GAS AND SOLUTE WITH A STREAM OF LEAN LIQUID ABSORBENT SO THAT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SOLUTE IS REMOVED THEREFROM; G. SEPARATING THE RESULTING RICH LIQUID ABSORBENT FROM SAID STREAM OF STRIPPING GAS AND SOLUTE; AND H. RECYCLING SAID STREAM OF STRIPPING GAS AND SOLUTE INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE PARTIALLY RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT OF STEP (C).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A METHOD OF RECONCENTRATING A STREAM OF SOLUTE-RICH LIQUID ADSORBENT WHICH COMPRISES: A. HEATING THE STREAM OF RICH LIQUID ABSORBENT TO VAPORIZE A PORTION OF THE SOLUTE CONTAINED THEREIN; B. SEPARATING THE VAPORIZED SOLUTE FROM THE LIQUID ABSORBENT; C. INTIMATELY CONTACTING THE RESULTANT STREAM OF PARTIALLY RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT WITH A STREAM OF STRIPPING GAS SO THAT ADDITIONAL SOLUTE IS VAPORIZED AND STRIPPED THEREFROM TO FURTHER RECONCENTRATE THE LIQUID ABSORBENT; D. SEPARATING THE RESULTING MIXTURE OF STRIPPING GAS AND VAPORIZED SOLUTE FROM THE RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT; E. WITHDRAWING THE RESULTING STREAM OF RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT; F. INTIMATELY CONTACTING SAID MIXTURE OF STRIPPING GAS AND SOLUTE WITH A STREAM OF LEAN LIQUID ABSORBENT SO THAT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SOLUTE IS REMOVED THEREFROM; G. SEPARATING THE RESULTING RICH LIQUID ABSORBENT FROM SAID STREAM OF STRIPPING GAS AND SOLUTE; AND H. RECYCLING SAID STREAM OF STRIPPING GAS AND SOLUTE INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE PARTIALLY RECONCENTRATED LIQUID ABSORBENT OF STEP (C).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the stream of lean liquid absorbent utilized for contacting the mixture of stripping gas and solute is a portion of the withdrawn stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent of step (e).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 which is further characterized to include the step of combining the rich liquid absorbent formed as a result of the initimate contact between said mixture of stripping gas and solute and said stream of lean liquid absorbent with the stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent prior to heating said stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent in accordance with step (a).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 which is further characterized to include the step of passing said stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent in heat exchange relationship with said withdrawn stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent prior to heating said stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent in accordance with step (a).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent is a stream of an aqueous glycol solution.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of reconcentrating a stream of water-rich liquid absorbent which comprises: a. heating said stream of rich liquid absorbent to vaporize a portion of the water contained therein; b. separating said vaporized water from said liquid absorbent; c. intimately contacting the resulting stream of partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent with a stream of relatively dry stripping gas so that additional water is vaporized and stripped therefrom to further reconcentrate said liquid absorbent; d. separating the resulting mixture of stripping gas and water from said stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent; e. withdrawing said stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent; f. cooling said mixture of stripping gas and water; g. intimately contacting said cooled mixture of stripping gas and water with a stream of lean liquid absorbent so that at least a portion of the water is removed therefrom; h. separating the resulting rich liquid absorbent from the resulting stream of relatively dry stripping gas; and i. recycling said stream of relatively dry stripping gas into intimate contact with the partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent of step (c).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of reconcentrating a stream of water-rich liquid absorbent which comprises: a. heating said stream of rich liquid absorbent to vaporize a portion of the water contained therein; b. separating said vaporized water from said liquid absorbent; c. intimately contacting the resulting stream of partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent with a stream of relatively dry stripping gas so that additional water is vaporized and stripped therefrom to further reconcentrate said liquid absorbent; d. separating the resulting mixture of stripping gas and water from said stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent; e. withdrawing said stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent; f. cooling said mixture of stripping gas and water; g. intimately contacting said cooled mixture of stripping gas and water with a stream of lean liquid absorbent so that at least a portion of the water is removed therefrom; h. separating the resulting rich liquid absorbent from the resulting stream of relatively dry stripping gas; and i. recycling said stream of relatively dry stripping gas into intimate contact with the partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent of step (c).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the stream of lean liquid absorbent utilized to contact the cooled mixture of stripping gas and water is a portion of the withdrawn stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent of step (e).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 6 which is further characterized to include the step of combining the rich liquid absorbent formed as a result of the intimate contact between said mixture of stripping gas and water and said stream of lean liquid absorbent with the stream of water-rich liquid absorbent prior to heating said stream of water-rich liquid absorbent in accordance with step (a).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8 which is further characterized to include the step of passing said stream of water-rich liquid absorbent in heat exchange relationship with said withdrawn stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent prior of heAting said stream of water-rich liquid absorbent in accordance with step (a).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the liquid absorbent is triethylene glycol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the stripping gas is natural gas.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
291 words
A system for reconcentrating a stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent comprising: a heated reboiler to vaporize a portion of said solute and partially reconcentrate the liquid absorbent, said reboiler having a rich liquid absorbent inlet connection, a stripping gas and solute vapor outlet connection and a liquid absorbent outlet connection; a stripping gas column for intimately contacting partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent with stripping gas to vaporize a portion of the solute contained therein and further reconcentrate the liquid absorbent, said stripping gas column including a liquid absorbent inlet connected to the liquid absorbent outlet connection of said reboiler, a stripping gas inlet connection and a reconcentrated liquid absorbent outlet connection; contactor means for bringing about intimate contact between a stream of stripping gas and solute and a stream of lean liquid absorbent, said contactor means including a stripping gas and solute vapor inlet connection, a lean liquid absorbent inlet and a stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent outlet connection; conduit means connected between the stripping gas and solute vapor outlet connection of said reboiler and the stripping gas and contactor means; separator means for bringing about the separation of a stream of stripping gas from a stream of rich liquid absorbent, said separator means having a stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent inlet connection, a stripping gas outlet connection and a rich liquid absorbent outlet connection; conduit means connected between the stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent outlet of said contactor means and the stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent inlet of said separator means; and conduit means connected between the stripping gas outlet connection of said separator means and the stripping gas inlet connection of said stripping gas column for recycling stream of stripping gas to said stripping gas column.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
291 words
A system for reconcentrating a stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent comprising: a heated reboiler to vaporize a portion of said solute and partially reconcentrate the liquid absorbent, said reboiler having a rich liquid absorbent inlet connection, a stripping gas and solute vapor outlet connection and a liquid absorbent outlet connection; a stripping gas column for intimately contacting partially reconcentrated liquid absorbent with stripping gas to vaporize a portion of the solute contained therein and further reconcentrate the liquid absorbent, said stripping gas column including a liquid absorbent inlet connected to the liquid absorbent outlet connection of said reboiler, a stripping gas inlet connection and a reconcentrated liquid absorbent outlet connection; contactor means for bringing about intimate contact between a stream of stripping gas and solute and a stream of lean liquid absorbent, said contactor means including a stripping gas and solute vapor inlet connection, a lean liquid absorbent inlet and a stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent outlet connection; conduit means connected between the stripping gas and solute vapor outlet connection of said reboiler and the stripping gas and contactor means; separator means for bringing about the separation of a stream of stripping gas from a stream of rich liquid absorbent, said separator means having a stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent inlet connection, a stripping gas outlet connection and a rich liquid absorbent outlet connection; conduit means connected between the stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent outlet of said contactor means and the stripping gas and rich liquid absorbent inlet of said separator means; and conduit means connected between the stripping gas outlet connection of said separator means and the stripping gas inlet connection of said stripping gas column for recycling stream of stripping gas to said stripping gas column.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the contactor means is a pump powered by the pressure energy of said stream of lean liquid absorbent which simultaneously pumps said stream of stripping gas and solute while bringing about intimate contact thereof with said stream of liquid absorbent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 12 which is further characterized to include conduit means connected between the rich liquid absorbent outlet connection of said separator means and the rich liquid absorbent inlet connection of said heated reboiler.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 14 which is further characterized to include: a reconcentrated liquid absorbent accumulator having an inlet connection and an outlet connection; and connection means between the reconcentrated liquid absorbent outlet connection of said stripping gas column and said accumulator inlet connection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 15 which is further characterized to include: a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between reconcentrated liquid absorbent in said accumulator and the stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent, said heat exchanger being disposed within said accumulator and having an inlet connection for receiving the stream of solute-rich liquid absorbent to be reconcentrated and an outlet connection; and conduit means connected between said heat exchanger outlet connection and said heated reboiler solute-rich liquid absorbent inlet connection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 16 which is further characterized to include: means for pumping the stream of reconcentrated liquid absorbent; and conduit means connected between the outlet connection of said accumulator and said pumping means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 17 which is further characterized to include conduit means connected between the discharge of said pumping meAns and the lean liquid absorbent inlet connection of said contactor means.
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) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |