Patent DE2509178A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3961904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crystallization apparatus
Assignee: Honeywell UOP LLC
•
Filing: 1975-03-24
•
Granted: 1976-06-08
•
Expires: 1995-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A crystallization vessel is provided which includes an elutriation column having an outlet at an upper end thereof and an inlet at a lower end thereof which inlet is in communication with a body of slurry contained therein. Flow regulating means associated with the elutriation column outlet enables the flow velocity within the column to be regulated for controlling the size of crystal particles removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. A movable baffle in the column is also provided for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of the column and thereby independently regulating the quantity of slurry removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. In this manner, both the size and quantity of crystal particles removed from the slurry body are independently regulated, thereby providing product crystals of improved size uniformity.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Bennett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:39
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D9/00; B01D9/0018; B01D9/0022; B01D9/0031; B01D9/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An improved crystallization apparatus, comprising a vessel adapted to contain a body of slurry which includes crystal particles and liquid, first means for maintaining supersaturation conditions in the slurry body to induce crystallization therein, second means in said crystallization apparatus for circulating said slurry in a predetermined flow path in said vessel and for maintaining said crystal particles in suspension, third means for selectively removing a stream of slurry liquid and crystal particles which are below a predetermined size only from said slurry body and fourth means for selectively regulating the volume of slurry liquid and crystal particles in said stream independently of the size of the crystal particles in said stream, said third means including an elutriation column and flow regulating means operatively associated therewith, said elutriation column having an inlet adjacent its lower end communicating with said body of slurry adjacent the periphery of said predetermined flow path and an outlet located at least a substantial height above said inlet, said flow regulating means being operatively associated with said outlet for withdrawing slurry from said elutriation column at a rate which can be selectively controlled to establish a desired flow velocity in said elutriation column for suspending and removing from said slurry body crystal particles which are below a predetermined size only, said fourth means including means for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An improved crystallization apparatus, comprising a vessel adapted to contain a body of slurry which includes crystal particles and liquid, first means for maintaining supersaturation conditions in the slurry body to induce crystallization therein, second means in said crystallization apparatus for circulating said slurry in a predetermined flow path in said vessel and for maintaining said crystal particles in suspension, third means for selectively removing a stream of slurry liquid and crystal particles which are below a predetermined size only from said slurry body and fourth means for selectively regulating the volume of slurry liquid and crystal particles in said stream independently of the size of the crystal particles in said stream, said third means including an elutriation column and flow regulating means operatively associated therewith, said elutriation column having an inlet adjacent its lower end communicating with said body of slurry adjacent the periphery of said predetermined flow path and an outlet located at least a substantial height above said inlet, said flow regulating means being operatively associated with said outlet for withdrawing slurry from said elutriation column at a rate which can be selectively controlled to establish a desired flow velocity in said elutriation column for suspending and removing from said slurry body crystal particles which are below a predetermined size only, said fourth means including means for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fourth means comprises a movable baffle located in said elutriation column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 2 wherein said movable baffle is hydraulically actuated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 2 wherein fastener means interconnects said movable baffle with said apparatus to selectively secure said movable baffle to any one of a plurality of locations in said elutriation column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elutriation column is defined by inner and outer walls of generally planar longitudinal cross-section and of generally concentric arcuate transverse cross-section, one of said walls comprising said movable baffle and being movable along a direction of travel which is radially disposed with respect to the common center axis of said walls for selectively regulating the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vessel has a mid-section defined by a generally cylindrical shell and an interior cylindrical wall coaxially disposed with respect to said cylindrical shell, said movable baffle comprising a curvate wall member having a generally planar longitudinal cross section and a generally concentric arcuate transverse cross-section with respect to the common center axis of said interior cylindrical wall, said baffle being selectively movable between said generally cylindrical shell and interior cylindrical wall along a direction of travel which is radially disposed with respect to the vertical center axis of said vessel mid-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elutriation column is defined by inner and outer coaxially disposed walls in fixed relationship to each other between which opposed partition members are radially disposed, one of said opposed partition members comprising said movable baffle and being selectively circumferentially movable toward and away from the other of said opposed partition members for selectively regulating the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vessel has a mid-section defined by a generally cylindrical shell and an interior cylindrical wall coaxially disposed with respect to said cylindrical shell, a pair of opposed partition members radially disposed between said interior wall and cylindrical shell defining said elutriation column, one of said opposed partition members comprising said movable baffle, said one partition member being selectively circumferentially movable toward and away from the other of said opposed partition members for selectively regulating the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved crystallization apparatus, comprising a vessel adapted to contain a body of slurry which includes crystal particles and liquid, means for maintaining supersaturation conditions in the slurry body to induce crystallization therein, means in said crystallization apparatus for circulating said slurry in a predetermined flow path in said vessel and for maintaining said crystal particles in suspension, elutriation column means in said apparatus having a substantially uniform cross-section for at least a substantial portion of its height and having an inlet communicating with said body of slurry adjacent the periphery of said predetermined flow path whereby slurry will be received in said elutriation column means from a relatively quiescent zone with respect to said predetermined flow path, means associated with said elutriation column means for withdrawing slurry therefrom at a rate which can be selectively controlled to establish a flow velocity in said elutriation column means which will suspend and remove from said slurry body only crystal particles below a predetermined size, means for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column means whereby both the size and quantity of crystal particles removed from said slurry body can be independently varied to provide product crystals of improved size uniformity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved crystallization apparatus, comprising a vessel adapted to contain a body of slurry which includes crystal particles and liquid, means for maintaining supersaturation conditions in the slurry body to induce crystallization therein, means in said crystallization apparatus for circulating said slurry in a predetermined flow path in said vessel and for maintaining said crystal particles in suspension, elutriation column means in said apparatus having a substantially uniform cross-section for at least a substantial portion of its height and having an inlet communicating with said body of slurry adjacent the periphery of said predetermined flow path whereby slurry will be received in said elutriation column means from a relatively quiescent zone with respect to said predetermined flow path, means associated with said elutriation column means for withdrawing slurry therefrom at a rate which can be selectively controlled to establish a flow velocity in said elutriation column means which will suspend and remove from said slurry body only crystal particles below a predetermined size, means for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column means whereby both the size and quantity of crystal particles removed from said slurry body can be independently varied to provide product crystals of improved size uniformity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for varying the cross-sectional area of said elutriation column means comprises a movable baffle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 10 wherein said elutriation column means includes a channel defined by inner and outer walls of generally planar longitudinal cross-section and of generally concentric arcuate transverse cross-section, one of said walls comprising said movable baffle and being movable along a direction of travel which is radially disposed with respect to the common center axis of said walls for selectively regulating the cross-sectional area of said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 10 wherein said elutriation column means includes a channel defined by inner and outer coaxially disposed walls in fixed relationship to each other between which opposed partition members are radially disposed, one of said opposed partition members comprising said movable baffle and being selectively circumferentially movable toward and away from the other of said opposed partition members for selectively regulating the cross-sectional area of said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
188 words
An improved crystallization apparatus, comprising a vessel adapted to contain a body of slurry which includes crystal particles and liquid, means in said vessel for maintaining a supersaturation zone in said slurry body to induce crystallization therein, means in said vessel for circulating a substantial portion of said slurry body in a predetermined flow path through said supersaturation zone and for maintaining said crystal particles in suspension in said liquid, elutriation column means which includes a channel having a substantially uniform cross-section for at least a substantial portion of its height and a lower end which is in open communication with said substantial portion of said slurry body adjacent the predetermined flow path for withdrawing a stream of liquid and crystal particles below a predetermined size only from said slurry body, means for selectively controlling the velocity of slurry in said elutriation column means, means for independently controlling the volume of liquid and crystal particles in said stream, means associated with said stream for solubilizing the crystal particles in said stream, and means for returning said stream to said vessel after the crystal particles therein have been solubilized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
188 words
An improved crystallization apparatus, comprising a vessel adapted to contain a body of slurry which includes crystal particles and liquid, means in said vessel for maintaining a supersaturation zone in said slurry body to induce crystallization therein, means in said vessel for circulating a substantial portion of said slurry body in a predetermined flow path through said supersaturation zone and for maintaining said crystal particles in suspension in said liquid, elutriation column means which includes a channel having a substantially uniform cross-section for at least a substantial portion of its height and a lower end which is in open communication with said substantial portion of said slurry body adjacent the predetermined flow path for withdrawing a stream of liquid and crystal particles below a predetermined size only from said slurry body, means for selectively controlling the velocity of slurry in said elutriation column means, means for independently controlling the volume of liquid and crystal particles in said stream, means associated with said stream for solubilizing the crystal particles in said stream, and means for returning said stream to said vessel after the crystal particles therein have been solubilized.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for independently controlling the volume of liquid and crystal particles in said stream comprises a movable baffle located in the channel of said elutriation column means whereby the cross-sectional area of said channel can be selectively regulated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 14 wherein said channel of elutriation column means is defined by inner and outer walls of generally planar longitudinal cross-section and of generally concentric arcuate transverse cross-section, one of said walls comprising said movable baffle and being movable along a direction of travel which is radially disposed with respect to the common center axis of said walls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
The improved crystallization apparatus of claim 14 wherein said channel of elutriation column means is defined by inner and outer coaxially disposed walls in fixed relationship to each other between which opposed partition members are radially disposed, one of said opposed partition means comprising said movable baffle and being selectively circumferentially movable toward and away from the other of said opposed partition members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1191108A
Cited
US1945281A
Cited
US2387818A
Cited
US2827366A
Cited
US3137544A
Cited
US3071447A
Cited
US3292999A
Cited
US3600139A
Cited
US3600138A
Cited
US3873275A
Cited
US3883311A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |