US3885399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for and method of purifying contaminated water
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-27
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1993-03-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to an apparatus and method of purifying contaminated water by means of a two-step freeze crystallization process. The method and apparatus overcomes the serious problem caused by the freezing of water on the screen of the wash column. The solution comprises means and method of reducing the temperature difference between the concentrate and the wash water in the wash column.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:07
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/22; B; B01; B01D; B01D9/00; B01D9/0004; B01D9/0009; B01D9/004; B01D9/0045; B01D9/0059; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated water by freeze crystallization comprising: a. a first stage including a first freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating contaminated water and producing a first concentrate; b. a second freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating said first concentrate and producing pure ice crystals and a second concentrate in the second wash column, said second freezer-crystallizer being coupled to said first wash column to receive first concentrate, and to said second wash column to receive second concentrate, said second wash column being coupled to said first wash column for receiving and utilizing said first concentrate to wash said ice crystals in said second wash column to form a mixture of first concentrate and ice crystals; and c. means for returning at least a portion of said mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate from said second wash column to said first stage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated water by freeze crystallization comprising: a. a first stage including a first freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating contaminated water and producing a first concentrate; b. a second freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating said first concentrate and producing pure ice crystals and a second concentrate in the second wash column, said second freezer-crystallizer being coupled to said first wash column to receive first concentrate, and to said second wash column to receive second concentrate, said second wash column being coupled to said first wash column for receiving and utilizing said first concentrate to wash said ice crystals in said second wash column to form a mixture of first concentrate and ice crystals; and c. means for returning at least a portion of said mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate from said second wash column to said first stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 including means wherein said mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate are returned to the first freezer-crystallizer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 including means wherein said mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate are returned to the first wash column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 including means wherein a portion of said first concentrate washes said ice crysTals and mixes with said second concentrate in said second wash column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 including means wherein the level of second concentrate in said second wash column is adjusted to maintain a substantially constant temperature across the screen in the second wash column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 which includes means for separating solids from said second concentrate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated water by freeze crystallization comprising: a. a first stage including a first freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating contaminated water and producing a first concentrate; b. a second freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating said first concentrate and producing pure ice crystals and second concentrate in the second wash column, said subassembly including means coupling said second freezer-crystallizer to said first wash column to receive said first concentrate, means coupling said second freezer-crystallizer to said second wash column to receive said second concentrate, means for coupling said second wash column to said first wash column for receiving and utilizing said first concentrate for washing said ice crystals to form a mixture of first concentrate and ice crystals, and means for coupling a slurry of said second concentrate and ice crystals to the input of said second wash column; and c. means for piping the mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate to said first stage.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated water by freeze crystallization comprising: a. a first stage including a first freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating contaminated water and producing a first concentrate; b. a second freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating said first concentrate and producing pure ice crystals and second concentrate in the second wash column, said subassembly including means coupling said second freezer-crystallizer to said first wash column to receive said first concentrate, means coupling said second freezer-crystallizer to said second wash column to receive said second concentrate, means for coupling said second wash column to said first wash column for receiving and utilizing said first concentrate for washing said ice crystals to form a mixture of first concentrate and ice crystals, and means for coupling a slurry of said second concentrate and ice crystals to the input of said second wash column; and c. means for piping the mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate to said first stage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 including means wherein the mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate are returned to the first freezer-crystallizer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 including means wherein the mixture of ice crystals and first concentrate are returned to the first wash column.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated water by freeze-crystallization as defined in claim 7 which includes in addition means for removing suspended solids from said slurry.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated solvent by freeze crystallization comprising: a. a first freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating contaminated solvent and producing a first concentrate; b. a second stage including a second freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating said first concentrate and producing pure solvent crystals and a second concentrate in the second wash column, said second freezer-crystallizer being coupled to said first wash column to receive said first concentrate, and to said second wash column to receive second concentrate, said second wash column being coupled to said first wash column for receiving and utilizing said first concentrate to wash said solvent crystals to form a mixture thereof; and c. means for returning at least a portion of said mixture of solvent crystals and first concentrate to said first stage.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for purifying contaminated solvent by freeze crystallization comprising: a. a first freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating contaminated solvent and producing a first concentrate; b. a second stage including a second freezer-crystallizer and wash column subassembly for treating said first concentrate and producing pure solvent crystals and a second concentrate in the second wash column, said second freezer-crystallizer being coupled to said first wash column to receive said first concentrate, and to said second wash column to receive second concentrate, said second wash column being coupled to said first wash column for receiving and utilizing said first concentrate to wash said solvent crystals to form a mixture thereof; and c. means for returning at least a portion of said mixture of solvent crystals and first concentrate to said first stage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including means wherein the mixture of solvent crystals and first concentrate are returned to the first freezer-crystallizer. Avco Corporation 02 Cincinnati OH
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including means wherein the mixture of solvent crystals and first concentrate are returned to the first wash column.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |