US3947258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vapor stripping and recovery method and apparatus
Assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
•
Filing: 1972-05-25
•
Granted: 1976-03-30
•
Expires: 1992-05-25
Abstract
Abstract An air-vapor mixture, derived from a vaporous, volatile liquid, has vapors stripped and recovered therefrom, in accordance with the method and apparatus, by first stripping a multi-component vaporous, volatile liquid of at least some of its more volatile constituents and then contacting the air-vapor mixture with a stream of the stripped liquid. Leaning or stripping of the contacting liquid provides an unburdening of cooling means which, selectively, are subsequently deployed to effect vapor absorption condensation. Thus the method and apparatus offer economies in cooling equipment and overall greater efficiency in the liquid absorption. In one embodiment, a jet inductor is used to spray volatitle liquid into the mixture to partially strip the liquid of its more volatile fractions. An embodiment of a sub-combination apparatus comprises means for stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid of vapor, and either storing the vapor-stripped liquid for subsequent use, or continuously using liquid thus vapor-stripped, in vapor stripping and recovery apparatus. The sub-combination apparatus obviates the use of a jet inductor or like devices toward vapor-stripping the volatile liquid as an optional practice of the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Decker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:48
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D1/00; B01D1/28; B01D53/002; B01D53/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to the air, comprising the steps of: stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid of at least some of its vapors; and contacting the mixture with a stream of the stripped, volatile liquid, to cause the mixture to give up vapors to the stripped, volatile liquid; wherein said liquid stripping step comprises vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; said vaporizing step comprises boiling said liquid to cause vaporization of said portion; further including the step of condensing the vaporized portion; and wherein said condensing step comprises pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to the air, comprising the steps of: stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid of at least some of its vapors; and contacting the mixture with a stream of the stripped, volatile liquid, to cause the mixture to give up vapors to the stripped, volatile liquid; wherein said liquid stripping step comprises vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; said vaporizing step comprises boiling said liquid to cause vaporization of said portion; further including the step of condensing the vaporized portion; and wherein said condensing step comprises pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, according to claim 1, further including the steps of: cooling the mixture to cause vapors thereof to condense; and collecting the condensate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, according to claim 2, wherein the cooling step comprises: contacting the mixture with refrigerating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, according to claim 3, wherein the cooling and collecting steps comprise: contacting the mixture with a refrigerated absorbent to cause the vapors to be condensed and absorbed by the absorbent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method, according to claim 4, wherein said absorbent contacting step comprises: passing the mixture and the absorbent through each other and includes moving the mixture in a predetermined direction and moving the absorbent in a direction other than said predetermined direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, according to claim 4, wherein said absorbent contacting step comprises: passing the mixture and the absorbent through each other in counter-flow directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method, according to claim 4, wherein said absorbent contacting step comprises: moving the mixture through a shower of the absorbent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method, according to claim 2, wherein: said cooling step comprises cooling the stripped, volatile liquid prior to contacting the mixture therewith, and heat-exchanging the mixture with the cooled, stripped liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method, according to claim 2, wherein: said cooling and collecting steps comprise cooling the stripped, volatile liquid prior to contacting the mixture therewith, and then contacting the liquid to cause vapors of the mixture to condense and to be absorbed into and collected by the contacting, stripped liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method, according to claim 2, wherein the cooling step comprises refrigerating the vaporous, volatile liquid after stripping same of at least some of its vapor, and contacting the mixture with the refrigerated, stripped, volatile liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method, according to claim 10, wherein the refrigerating step comprises refrigerating the stripped, volatile liquid in a chiller into which a refrigerant is admitted to effect refrigeration; and further includes cooling the refrigerant prior to admittance thereof into the chiller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method, according to claim 2, wherein the cooling step comprises refrigerating a supply of the stripped, volatile liquid, and contacting the mixture with the refrigerated supply; said refrigerating step comprising refrigerating the supply of stripped, volatile liquid in a chiller into which a refrigerant is admitted to effect the refrigeration; and further includes heat exchanging a supply of fluid with the stripped, volatile liquid to cool the fluid; and cooling the refrigerant, prior to admittance thereof into the chiller, by heat exchanging the refrigerant with the heat-exchanged, cooled fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method, according to claim 12, wherein: the fluid comprises a vaporous, volatile liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method, according to claim 1, further including the step of: admixing air, from which vapor has been stripped and recovered, with the air-vapor mixture which is subsequently to have the vapors stripped and recovered therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, according to claim 14, wherein said air-vapor mixture and vapor-stripped air admixing step is performed prior to the contacting of the air-vapor mixture with the stream of stripped, volatile liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including means for cooling said mixture to effect condensation of the vapors thereof; wherein said liquid-vapors stripping means comprises means for generating a vapor spray of said volatile liquid, and means for admixing said air-vapor mixture with said spray of said volatile liquid, to strip said liquid spray of vapor and give up stripped vapor to said mixture to render the mixture more saturated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including means for cooling said mixture to effect condensation of the vapors thereof; wherein said liquid-vapors stripping means comprises means for generating a vapor spray of said volatile liquid, and means for admixing said air-vapor mixture with said spray of said volatile liquid, to strip said liquid spray of vapor and give up stripped vapor to said mixture to render the mixture more saturated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein: said cooling means comprises means for cooling the flowing liquid, prior to contact thereof with the mixture, including means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said liquid cooling means, and from said liquid cooling means to said contacting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein: said contacting means includes means for collecting vapor condensate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein: said cooling means comprises refrigerating means, and means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein: said admixing means further includes means for separating the vapor-receiving, more-saturated mixture from the stripped spray.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus, according to claim 20, wherein: said separating means includes means for separating said more-saturated mixture from said stripped spray before said more-saturated mixture is conducted to said cooling means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein: said cooling means comprises a supply of said volatile liquid, and means for refrigerating said supply; and said contacting means includes means for contacting said mixture with said refrigerated supply.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus, according to claim 22, wherein: said refrigerating means comprises a chiller having means for admitting a refrigerant medium thereinto to effect refrigeration; and further includes means for cooling said medium prior to admittance thereof into said chiller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including means for cooling said mixture to effect condensation of the vapors thereof; wherein said cooling means comprises refrigerating means, and means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means; and wherein said means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means comprises means for passing said mixture and a refrigerated absorbent through each other, and includes means for moving said mixture in a predetermined direction, and means for moving said absorbent in a direction other than said predetermined direction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including means for cooling said mixture to effect condensation of the vapors thereof; wherein said cooling means comprises refrigerating means, and means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means; and wherein said means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means comprises means for passing said mixture and a refrigerated absorbent through each other, and includes means for moving said mixture in a predetermined direction, and means for moving said absorbent in a direction other than said predetermined direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including means for cooling said mixture to effect condensation of the vapors thereof; wherein said cooling means comprises refrigerating means, and means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means; and wherein said means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means comprises means for passing said mixture and a refrigerated absorbent through each other in counter-flow directions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including means for cooling said mixture to effect condensation of the vapors thereof; wherein said cooling means comprises refrigerating means, and means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means; and wherein said means for effecting a contact of said air-vapor mixture with said refrigerating means comprises means for passing said mixture and a refrigerated absorbent through each other in counter-flow directions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including admittance means cooperative with said contacting means for admixing at least a portion of air, from which vapor has been stripped, with air-vapor mixture which is subsequently to have the vapors stripped therefrom.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; and further including admittance means cooperative with said contacting means for admixing at least a portion of air, from which vapor has been stripped, with air-vapor mixture which is subsequently to have the vapors stripped therefrom.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus, according to claim 26, wherein: said flow-producing means comprises a jet inductor; said conducting means comprises a first conduit through-connected with said inductor for admitting said mixture to said inductor; and said admixing, admittance means comprises a second conduit through-connected with said inductor for admitting said vapor-stripped air to said jet inductor.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to the air, comprising the steps of: stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid of at least some of its vapors; and contacting the mixture with a stream of the stripped, volatile liquid, to cause the mixture to give up vapors to the stripped, volatile liquid; wherein said liquid stripping step comprises vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; further including the step of condensing the vaporized portion of said liquid; and wherein said condensing step comprises pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to the air, comprising the steps of: stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid of at least some of its vapors; and contacting the mixture with a stream of the stripped, volatile liquid, to cause the mixture to give up vapors to the stripped, volatile liquid; wherein said liquid stripping step comprises vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; further including the step of condensing the vaporized portion of said liquid; and wherein said condensing step comprises pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; wherein said means for vapor-stripping said liquid comprises means for vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; further including means throughconnected with said vaporizing means for condensing said vaporized portion of said liquid; and wherein said condensing means comprises means for pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; wherein said means for vapor-stripping said liquid comprises means for vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; further including means throughconnected with said vaporizing means for condensing said vaporized portion of said liquid; and wherein said condensing means comprises means for pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; wherein said means for vapor-stripping said liquid comprises means for vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; and said vaporizing means comprises means for boiling said liquid to cause vaporization of said portion; further including means for condensing said vaporized portion of said liquid; and wherein said condensing means comprises means for pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for stripping and recovering vapors from an air-vapor mixture, generated by a vaporous, volatile liquid which is exposed to air, comprising: means for producing a flow of the vaporous, volatile liquid; means for stripping vapors from the flowing liquid; and means for contacting the mixture with the vapor-stripped liquid to cause vapors to be stripped from the mixture and become absorbed by the liquid, including means for conducting the liquid from said flow-producing means to said liquid-vapors stripping means; and means for conducting the vapor-stripped liquid from said liquid-vapors stripping means to said contacting means; wherein said means for vapor-stripping said liquid comprises means for vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid and extracting said vaporized portion; and said vaporizing means comprises means for boiling said liquid to cause vaporization of said portion; further including means for condensing said vaporized portion of said liquid; and wherein said condensing means comprises means for pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of vapor-stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid, comprising the steps of: vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid; and extracting said vaporized portion from a residual non-vaporized portion; wherein said vaporizing step comprises boiling said liquid to cause vaporization of said portion; futher including the step of condensing the vaporized portion; and wherein said condensing step comprises pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense; and further including the step of heat exchanging both said vaporized and said non-vaporized portions of said liquid with vaporous, volatile liquid which is to be stripped of vapors.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of vapor-stripping a vaporous, volatile liquid, comprising the steps of: vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid; and extracting said vaporized portion from a residual non-vaporized portion; wherein said vaporizing step comprises boiling said liquid to cause vaporization of said portion; futher including the step of condensing the vaporized portion; and wherein said condensing step comprises pressurizing said vaporized portion to cause said portion to condense; and further including the step of heat exchanging both said vaporized and said non-vaporized portions of said liquid with vaporous, volatile liquid which is to be stripped of vapors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2935375A
Cited
US2947379A
Cited
US3613333A
Cited
US3648436A
Cited
US3714790A
Cited
US3733838A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |