US4046534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for recovering fresh water from brine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-26
•
Granted: 1977-09-06
•
Expires: 1993-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for recovering fresh water from brine which includes introducing brine, which has been inoculated with a predetermined number of ice nuclei and is at about its freezing temperature, into an elongated crystal growth zone which is supplied with refrigerant along the brine flow path at a graduated rate such that more refrigerant is supplied toward the outlet of the crystal growth zone than near the inlet. Ice crystals are separated from the resulting brine-ice slurry, and the ice crystals are washed with fresh water before being melted to recover fresh water.
Inventors
- 👤 James B. Maguire, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:10
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A process for recovering fresh water from brine comprising: A. cooling brine to about the freezing temperature, B. maintaining two, batch nucleus-forming zones, C. inoculating the brine with a predetermined number of nuclei of ice crystals, alternately from said two nucleus-forming zones, D. passing the inoculated brine through an elongated crystal growth zone from an inlet at one end thereof to an outlet at the other end thereof, E. supplying refrigerant to the crystal growth zone along substantially the entire path of flow of inoculated brine through the crystal growth zone at a rate such that the brine temperature in the crystal growth zone is from about 0.2° to about 3.0° F. lower than the equilibrium freezing point of the brine at that point in the flow path, whereby crystal growth is effected substantially without the formation of nuclei, F. passing the resultant brine-ice mixture from the outlet of the crystal growth zone to a separation zone wherein ice crystals are separated from brine, G. washing the separated ice crystals with fresh water, and H. recovering fresh water from the ice crystals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A process for recovering fresh water from brine comprising: A. cooling brine to about the freezing temperature, B. maintaining two, batch nucleus-forming zones, C. inoculating the brine with a predetermined number of nuclei of ice crystals, alternately from said two nucleus-forming zones, D. passing the inoculated brine through an elongated crystal growth zone from an inlet at one end thereof to an outlet at the other end thereof, E. supplying refrigerant to the crystal growth zone along substantially the entire path of flow of inoculated brine through the crystal growth zone at a rate such that the brine temperature in the crystal growth zone is from about 0.2° to about 3.0° F. lower than the equilibrium freezing point of the brine at that point in the flow path, whereby crystal growth is effected substantially without the formation of nuclei, F. passing the resultant brine-ice mixture from the outlet of the crystal growth zone to a separation zone wherein ice crystals are separated from brine, G. washing the separated ice crystals with fresh water, and H. recovering fresh water from the ice crystals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein cooling of brine is effected by heat exchange with brine separated from the ice crystals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant is a liquid that is vaporizable at brine freezing temperature and which is not soluble in brine, which is injected into the brine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the refrigerant is a mixture of butene and isobutane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said refrigerant is injected into the brine in the crystal growth zone at a graduated rate along the flow path of the brine with greater quantities being injected toward the outlet of the crystal growth zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the brine temperature is maintained about 0.4° F. below the freezing point of ice in said brine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ice crystals are washed in the upper portion of the separation zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ice crystals are washed with a portion of the fresh water recovered from the process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the separation zone is horizontally expanded and washing of ice crystals is effected in the horizontally expanded portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2986012A
Cited
US3137554A
Cited
US3049889A
Cited
US3167401A
Cited
US3250081A
Cited
US3285022A
Cited
US3283522A
Cited
US3662562A
Cited
US3525230A
Cited
US3803860A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-05 | 1981-03-07 | 1981-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-05 | 1985-03-07 | 1985-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-05 | 1989-03-07 | 1989-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |