US3898134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from dilute, aqueous, solids containing solutions or dispersions
Assignee: AMERICAN BIOTHERM COMPANY LLC
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Filing: 1973-10-15
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1993-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and essentially dry solids from dilute aqueous solids. A dilute stream of aqueous solids is concentrated by heat evaporation and the evaporated water is condensed and recovered. The concentrated aqueous solids are mixed with relatively non-volatile fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. The steam formed in the dehydration step is used to supply heat for the concentration step. The solids are separated from the fluidizing oil and recovered in an essentially dry state while the fluidizing oil is recycled. If desired, a light, relatively volatile oil may be mixed with the dilute aqueous solids to prevent scaling and fouling in the concentration evaporator. The instant invention is thus characterized in that at least a portion of the heat energy of the steam formed by evaporation in the dehydration step is recovered as useful heat within the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Greenfield
- 👤 Robert E Casparian
- 👤 Anthony J Bonanno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:56
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/02; C02F1/04; C02F1/048; B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D1/26; C02F11/00; C02F11/002; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING CLEAN WATER FROM DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLIDS BY EVAPORATION WHILE AVOIDING CORROSION AND SCALING AND FOULING IN THE EVAPORATING APPRATUS SAID PROCESS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF (1) ADDING A LIGHT RELATIVELY VOLATILE OIL TO SAID DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLIDS (2) CONCENTRATING SAID OIL AND AQUEOUS SOLIDS MIXTURE BY HEAT IN AN EVAPORATOR WHEREIN SAID MIXTURE COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE EVAPORATING SURFACE THEREOF TO YIELD (I) WATER VAPOR AND ANY DISTILLABLE COMPONENTS OF SAID OIL AND (II) CONCENTRATED AQUEOUS SOLIDS CONTAINING THE REMAINDER OF SAID OIL (3) CONDENSING SAID WATER VAPOR AND DISTILLED OIL COMPOENTS (4) SEPARATING LIQUID WATER RESULTING FROM SAID CONDENSING STEP FROM THE DISTILLED AND RECONDENSED OIL COMPONENTS IN THE LIQUID MIXTURE THEREOF (5) ADMIXING SAID CONCENTRATED AQUEOUS SOLIDS CONTAINING SAID RESIDUAL RELATIVELY VOLATILE OIL WITH RELATIVELY NON-VOLATILE FLUIDIZING OIL TO OBTAIN A MIXTURE WHICH WILL REMAIN FLUID AND PUMPABLE AFTER THE
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING CLEAN WATER FROM DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLIDS BY EVAPORATION WHILE AVOIDING CORROSION AND SCALING AND FOULING IN THE EVAPORATING APPRATUS SAID PROCESS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF (1) ADDING A LIGHT RELATIVELY VOLATILE OIL TO SAID DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLIDS (2) CONCENTRATING SAID OIL AND AQUEOUS SOLIDS MIXTURE BY HEAT IN AN EVAPORATOR WHEREIN SAID MIXTURE COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE EVAPORATING SURFACE THEREOF TO YIELD (I) WATER VAPOR AND ANY DISTILLABLE COMPONENTS OF SAID OIL AND (II) CONCENTRATED AQUEOUS SOLIDS CONTAINING THE REMAINDER OF SAID OIL (3) CONDENSING SAID WATER VAPOR AND DISTILLED OIL COMPOENTS (4) SEPARATING LIQUID WATER RESULTING FROM SAID CONDENSING STEP FROM THE DISTILLED AND RECONDENSED OIL COMPONENTS IN THE LIQUID MIXTURE THEREOF (5) ADMIXING SAID CONCENTRATED AQUEOUS SOLIDS CONTAINING SAID RESIDUAL RELATIVELY VOLATILE OIL WITH RELATIVELY NON-VOLATILE FLUIDIZING OIL TO OBTAIN A MIXTURE WHICH WILL REMAIN FLUID AND PUMPABLE AFTER THE
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 wherein concentration step (2) is carried out at temperatures in the range of from about 70*F to about 250*F and dehydration step (6) is carried out at temperatures in the range of from about 160*F to about 400*F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 2 which further comprises the step of separating said anhydrous solids in oil slurry to give a dry and substantially oil-free solids product and an oil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 3 which further comprises the step of utilizing at least part of the oil resulting from the separation of said anhydrous solids in oil slurry as at least part of the fluidizing oil admixed in step (5) with said concentrated aqueous solids containing residual oil from step (2).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
295 words
An apparatus for recovering clean water and essentially dry solids from dilute aqueous solids, said apparatus comprising (1) a tank adapted to receive a stream of said dilute aqueous solids and provided with a stirring or agitating mechanism for mixing the dilute aqueous solids, (2) a first evaporator, (3) a conduit extending from said tank to said first evaporator wherethrough may flow a stream of dilute aqueous solids from said tank into the evaporating region of said first evaporator, (4) a condenser, (5) a conduit extending from said first evaporator to said condenser through which may flow steam formed as a result of heating of said dilute aqueous solids, (6) a fluidizing tank provided with a stirring or mixing mechanism, (7) a conduit extending from said first evaporatoR to said fluidizing tank wherethrough may flow a stream of concentrated aqueous solids from said first evaporator to said fluidizing tank, (8) an oil reservoir, (9) a conduit extending from said oil reservoir to said fluidizing tank wherethrough may flow a stream of relatively non-volatile fluidizing oil from said oil reservoir to said fluidizing tank to become mixed with the concentrated aqueous solids therein, (10) a second evaporator, (11) a conduit extending from said fluidizing tank to said second evaporator wherethrough may flow a mixed stream of concentrated aqueous solids and relatively non-volatile fluidizing oil from said fluidizing tank into the evaporating region of said second evaporator, (12) means for supplying evaporative heat to said second evaporator, and (13) a conduit extending from said second evaporator to said first evaporator through which may flow steam formed as a result of heating the mixture of concentrated aqueous solids and fluidizing oil in the second evaporator from said second evaporator to said first evaporator for supplying evaporative heat thereto.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
295 words
An apparatus for recovering clean water and essentially dry solids from dilute aqueous solids, said apparatus comprising (1) a tank adapted to receive a stream of said dilute aqueous solids and provided with a stirring or agitating mechanism for mixing the dilute aqueous solids, (2) a first evaporator, (3) a conduit extending from said tank to said first evaporator wherethrough may flow a stream of dilute aqueous solids from said tank into the evaporating region of said first evaporator, (4) a condenser, (5) a conduit extending from said first evaporator to said condenser through which may flow steam formed as a result of heating of said dilute aqueous solids, (6) a fluidizing tank provided with a stirring or mixing mechanism, (7) a conduit extending from said first evaporatoR to said fluidizing tank wherethrough may flow a stream of concentrated aqueous solids from said first evaporator to said fluidizing tank, (8) an oil reservoir, (9) a conduit extending from said oil reservoir to said fluidizing tank wherethrough may flow a stream of relatively non-volatile fluidizing oil from said oil reservoir to said fluidizing tank to become mixed with the concentrated aqueous solids therein, (10) a second evaporator, (11) a conduit extending from said fluidizing tank to said second evaporator wherethrough may flow a mixed stream of concentrated aqueous solids and relatively non-volatile fluidizing oil from said fluidizing tank into the evaporating region of said second evaporator, (12) means for supplying evaporative heat to said second evaporator, and (13) a conduit extending from said second evaporator to said first evaporator through which may flow steam formed as a result of heating the mixture of concentrated aqueous solids and fluidizing oil in the second evaporator from said second evaporator to said first evaporator for supplying evaporative heat thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first evaporator and said second evaporator are both multi-stage evaporators and each is adapted to have fluid material to be heated and evaporated in it and vaporous material to effect that heating and evaporating flow through it countercurrently.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises a pressing apparatus adapted to effect a separation of said mixture of concentrated aqueous solids and oil into its components of substantially oil-free solids and an oil following dehydration of said mixture in said second evaporator, and a conduit extending from said second evaporator to said pressing apparatus through which a dehydrated mixture of solids and oil may flow from said second evaporator to said pressing apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 which further comprises a conduit extending from said pressing apparatus of said oil reservoir through which oil separated from said dehydrated mixture of solids and oil may flow from said pressing apparatus to said oil reservoir.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |