Dry cleaning system with solvent recovery

Claim 2

A dry cleaning system comprising: (a) dry cleaning means for receiving soiled fabric, for washing soiled fabric in the presence of a liquid petroleum solvent, for withdrawing liquid petroleum solvent from the washed fabric, for passing heated air around and through the fabric for evaporating liquid petroleum solvent sorbed on the fabric, and for exhausting a gaseous mixture of heated air and petroleum solvent vapor through an exhaust outlet; and, (b) a petroleum solvent vapor recovery system including: (i) a condensing chamber in fluid receiving relation with the exhaust outlet providing a path of mixture movement thereinto, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet; (ii) means for spraying a condensing liquid into the path of mixture movement for condensing the petroleum solvent vapor; (iii) means in liquid receiving relation with the chamber liquid outlet for separating the condensing liquid from the condensed petroleum solvent, including: (a) a first separator of substantial capacity having a condensing liquid outlet and a solvent outlet; and (b) a second separator of smaller capacity than the first separator, the second separator being in communication with the first separator solvent outlet and having a solvent outlet and a condensing liquid outlet; (iv) means in condensing liquid receiving relation with the condensing liquid outlet for delivering condensing liquid to the spraying means; and, (v) means in liquid solvent receiving relation with the solvent outlet of the second separator for returning condensed petroleum solvent to the dry cleaning means for reuse in a subsequent fabric washing cycle.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the capacity of the first separator is at least an order of magnitude greater than the capacity of the second separator.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein the first and second separators are gravitational separators.

Claim 5

A dry cleaning system comprising: (a) dry cleaning means for receiving soiled fabric, for washing soiled fabric in the presence of a liquid petroleum solvent, for withdrawing liquid petroleum solvent from the washed fabric, for passing heated air around and through the fabric for evaporating liquid petroleum solvent sorbed on the fabric, and for exhausting a gaseous mixture of heated air and petroleum solvent vapor through an exhaust outlet; and, (b) a petroleum solvent vapor recovery system including: (i) a condensing chamber in fluid receiving relation with the exhaust outlet providing a path of mixture movement thereinto, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet; (ii) means for spraying a condensing liquid into the path of mixture movement for condensing the petroleum vapor solvent; (iii) means in liquid receiving relation with the chamber liquid outlet for separating the condensing liquid from the condensed petroleum solvent; (iv) means in condensing liquid receiving relation with the separating means for delivering condensing liquid to the spraying means; (v) means in liquid solvent receiving relation with the separating means for returning condensed petroleum solvent to the dry cleaning means for reuse in a subsequent fabric washing cycle; and, (vi) a vessel for receiving relatively hot condensing liquid after passage through the condensing chamber, and (vii) means for withdrawing heat from the hot condensing liquid including means for circulating a fluid, cooler than the condensing liquid, in heat exchanging relation with the condensing liquid, a heat consuming device and means for delivering the circulated fluid to the heat consuming device.

Claim 6

A dry cleaning system comprising: (a) dry cleaning means for receiving soiled fabric, for washing soiled fabric in the presence of a liquid petroleum solvent, for withdrawing liquid petroleum solvent from the washed fabric, for passing heated air around and through the fabric for evaporating liquid petroleum solvent sorbed on the fabric, and for exhausting a gaseous mixture of heated air and petroleum solvent vapor through an exhaust outlet; and, (b) a petroleum solvent vapor recovery system including: (i) a condensing chamber in fluid receiving relation with the exhaust outlet providing a path of mixture movement thereinto, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet; (ii) means for spraying a condensing liquid into the path of mixture movement for condensing the petroleum vapor solvent; (iii) means in liquid receiving relation with the chamber liquid outlet for separating the condensing liquid from the condensed petroleum solvent; (iv) means in condensing liquid receiving relation with the separating means for delivering condensing liquid to the spraying means; (v) means in liquid solvent receiving relation with the separating means for returning condensed petroleum solvent to the dry cleaning means for reuse in a subsequent fabric washing cycle; and, (vi) a vessel for receiving relatively hot condensing liquid after passage through the condensing chamber, and (vii) means for withdrawing heat from the hot condensing liquid including means for circulating a fluid, cooler than the condensing liquid, in heat exchanging relation with the condensing liquid, a heat consuming device and means for delivering the circulated fluid to the heat consuming device.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein the separating means includes a gravitational separator including a receptacle in liquid receiving relation with the chamber liquid outlet for segregating the liquid mixture into component layers, the separator receptacle being the vessel.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein the fluid circulating means includes a heat exchange tube in the vessel.

Claim 9

A dry cleaning system comprising: (a) dry cleaning means for receiving soiled fabric, for washing soiled fabric in the presence of a liquid petroleum solvent, for withdrawing liquid petroleum solvent from the washed fabric, for passing heated air around and through the fabric for evaporating liquid petroleum solvent sorbed on the fabric, and for exhausting a gaseous mixture of heated air and petroleum solvent vapor through an exhaust outlet; and, (b) a petroleum solvent vapor recovery system including: (i) a condensing chamber in fluid receiving relation with the exhaust outlet providing a path of mixture movement thereinto, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet; (ii) means for spraying a condensing liquid of higher specific gravity than the petroleum solvent into the path of mixture movement for condensing the petroleum solvent vapor; (iii) means in liquid receiving relation with the chamber liquid outlet for separating the condensing liquid from the condensed petroleum solvent including a gravitational separator having a condensing liquid outlet adjacent the bottom thereof and a liquid solvent outlet above the condensing liquid outlet ; (iv) means in condensing liquid receiving relation with the separating means for delivering condensing liquid to the spraying means including means for admitting make-up condensing liquid comprising a liquid level controlled valve responsive to the level of condensing liquid between the condensing liquid outlet and the liquid solvent outlet; and, (v) means in liquid solvent receiving relation with the separator for returning condensed petroleum solvent to the dry cleaning means for reuse in a subsequent fabric washing cycle.

Claim 10

A dry cleaning system comprising: (a) dry cleaning means for receiving soiled fabric, for washing soiled fabric in the presence of a liquid petroleum solvent, for withdrawing liquid petroleum solvent from the washed fabric, for passing heated air around and through the fabric for evaporating liquid petroleum solvent sorbed on the fabric, and for exhausting a gaseous mixture of heated air and petroleum solvent vapor through an exhaust outlet; and, (b) a petroleum solvent vapor recovery system including: (i) a condensing chamber in fluid receiving relation with the exhaust outlet providing a path of mixture movement thereinto, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet; (ii) means for spraying a condensing liquid of higher specific gravity than the petroleum solvent into the path of mixture movement for condensing the petroleum solvent vapor; (iii) means in liquid receiving relation with the chamber liquid outlet for separating the condensing liquid from the condensed petroleum solvent including a gravitational separator having a condensing liquid outlet adjacent the bottom thereof and a liquid solvent outlet above the condensing liquid outlet ; (iv) means in condensing liquid receiving relation with the separating means for delivering condensing liquid to the spraying means including means for admitting make-up condensing liquid comprising a liquid level controlled valve responsive to the level of condensing liquid between the condensing liquid outlet and the liquid solvent outlet; and, (v) means in liquid solvent receiving relation with the separator for returning condensed petroleum solvent to the dry cleaning means for reuse in a subsequent fabric washing cycle.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 wherein the condensing liquid delivering means includes a conduit exterior of the gravitational separator, and the condensing liquid make-up means comprises a condensing liquid make-up conduit having a condensing liquid level responsive valve therein and connected in liquid delivering relation to the conduit.

Claim 12

A dry cleaning process incorporating a solvent recovery technique, comprising: (a) steps for cleaning soiled fabrics with a petroleum solvent which is liquid at atmospheric temperature and pressure, including: (i) agitating the soiled fabrics and liquid petroleum solvent in a dry cleaning unit to transfer contaminants from the fabric to the solvent; then (ii) extracting the liquid petroleum solvent; then (iii) drying the fabrics including passing a gas having a low boiling point through and around the fabrics at a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the petroleum solvent remaining on the fabric and produce a gas-solvent vapor mixture; and, (b) steps for recovering solvent from the gas-solvent vapor mixture, including: (i) admitting the gas-solvent vapor mixture to a spray chamber; (ii) spraying a condensing liquid at a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent and above the boiling point of the gas into the gas-solvent vapor mixture for condensing the solvent vapors in the spray chamber, the temperature of the gas-solvent vapor mixture being greater than that of the condensing liquid for heating the condensing liquid; (iii) passing the resulting mixture of condensing liquid and liquid petroleum solvent into a separator; (iv) separating the liquid petroleum solvent liquid from the condensing liquid in the separator; (v) recycling the solvent liquid to the dry cleaning unit; (vi) passing fluid at a temperature below that of the condensing liquid in heat exchanging relationship with the condensing liquid at a location downstream of the spraying location and thereby heating the fluid; and, (vii) using the heated fluid.

Claim 13

A dry cleaning process incorporating a solvent recovery technique, comprising: (a) steps for cleaning soiled fabrics with a petroleum solvent which is liquid at atmospheric temperature and pressure, including: (i) agitating the soiled fabrics and liquid petroleum solvent in a dry cleaning unit to transfer contaminants from the fabric to the solvent; then (ii) extracting the liquid petroleum solvent; then (iii) drying the fabrics including passing a gas having a low boiling point through and around the fabrics at a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the petroleum solvent remaining on the fabric and produce a gas-solvent vapor mixture; and, (b) steps for recovering solvent from the gas-solvent vapor mixture, including: (i) admitting the gas-solvent vapor mixture to a spray chamber; (ii) spraying a condensing liquid at a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent and above the boiling point of the gas into the gas-solvent vapor mixture for condensing the solvent vapors in the spray chamber, the temperature of the gas-solvent vapor mixture being greater than that of the condensing liquid for heating the condensing liquid; (iii) passing the resulting mixture of condensing liquid and liquid petroleum solvent into a separator; (iv) separating the liquid petroleum solvent liquid from the condensing liquid in the separator; (v) recycling the solvent liquid to the dry cleaning unit; (vi) passing fluid at a temperature below that of the condensing liquid in heat exchanging relationship with the condensing liquid at a location downstream of the spraying location and thereby heating the fluid; and, (vii) using the heated fluid.

Claim 14

The process of claim 9 further comprising the step of removing lint from the gas-solvent vapor mixture prior to the gas-solvent vapor mixture's being admitted to the spray chamber.

Claim 15

The process of claim 9 further comprising the steps of utilizing the condensing liquid as a means for removing lint from the gas-solvent vapor mixture, and removing lint from the resulting mixture of condensing liquid and liquid petroleum solvent.

Claim 16

The process of claim 9 wherein the low boiling point gas is air and the process further comprises the step of venting air which has been separated from the gas-solvent vapor mixture to the atmosphere.

Claim 17

The process of claim 9 wherein the fluid is water.

Claim 18

A dry cleaning process incorporating a solvent recovery technique, comprising: (a) steps for cleaning soiled fabrics with a petroleum solvent of lower specific gravity than water which is liquid at atmospheric temperature and pressure, including: (i) agitating the soiled fabrics and liquid petroleum solvent in a dry cleaning unit to transfer contaminants from the fabric to the solvent; then (ii) extracting the liquid petroleum solvent; then (iii) drying the fabrics including passing a gas having a low boiling point through and around the fabrics at a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the petroleum solvent remaining on the fabric and produce a gas-solvent vapor mixture; and, (b) steps for recovering solvent from the gas-solvent vapor mixture, including: (i) admitting the gas-solvent vapor mixture to a spray chamber; (ii) spraying liquid water at a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent and above the boiling point of the gas into the gas-solvent mixture for condensing the solvent vapors in the spray chamber; (iii) passing the resulting mixture of water and liquid petroleum solvent into a separator; (iv) separating the liquid petroleum solvent liquid from the condensing liquid in the separator; (v) passing the solvent liquid mixture from the separator into a gravitational settling tank; (vi) further separating solvent liquid in the gravitational settling tank; (vii) temporarily storing the further separated solvent liquid in a storage tank; and, (viii) recycling the solvent liquid to the dry cleaning unit.

Claim 19

A dry cleaning process incorporating a solvent recovery technique, comprising: (a) steps for cleaning soiled fabrics with a petroleum solvent of lower specific gravity than water which is liquid at atmospheric temperature and pressure, including: (i) agitating the soiled fabrics and liquid petroleum solvent in a dry cleaning unit to transfer contaminants from the fabric to the solvent; then (ii) extracting the liquid petroleum solvent; then (iii) drying the fabrics including passing a gas having a low boiling point through and around the fabrics at a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the petroleum solvent remaining on the fabric and produce a gas-solvent vapor mixture; and, (b) steps for recovering solvent from the gas-solvent vapor mixture, including: (i) admitting the gas-solvent vapor mixture to a spray chamber; (ii) spraying liquid water at a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent and above the boiling point of the gas into the gas-solvent mixture for condensing the solvent vapors in the spray chamber; (iii) passing the resulting mixture of water and liquid petroleum solvent into a separator; (iv) separating the liquid petroleum solvent liquid from the condensing liquid in the separator; (v) passing the solvent liquid mixture from the separator into a gravitational settling tank; (vi) further separating solvent liquid in the gravitational settling tank; (vii) temporarily storing the further separated solvent liquid in a storage tank; and, (viii) recycling the solvent liquid to the dry cleaning unit.

Claim 22

The system of claim 15 wherein the separating means comprises: (a) a first gravitational separator having a first vessel of substantial capacity having a condensing liquid outlet in communication with the condensing chamber, and having a solvent outlet; and, (b) a second gravitational separator having a second vessel of smaller capacity than the first vessel, the second vessel being in communication with the solvent outlet of the first vessel.

Claim 23

A process for recovering petroleum solvent vapors discharged from a dry cleaning dryer in a heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor comprising the steps of: (a) admitting the heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor into a spray chamber; (b) spraying a relatively cool condensing liquid into the relatively heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor for condensing solvent vapors; (c) withdrawing the resulting relatively hot mixture of condensing liquid and liquid petroleum solvent into a vessel; (d) gravitational separating the liquid petroleum solvent from the condensing liquid; and, (e) withdrawing heat energy from liquid within the vessel for use in a heat consuming device.

Claim 24

A process for recovering petroleum solvent vapors discharged from a dry cleaning dryer in a heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor comprising the steps of: (a) admitting the heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor into a spray chamber; (b) spraying a relatively cool condensing liquid into the relatively heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor for condensing solvent vapors; (c) withdrawing the resulting relatively hot mixture of condensing liquid and liquid petroleum solvent into a vessel; (d) gravitational separating the liquid petroleum solvent from the condensing liquid; and, (e) withdrawing heat energy from liquid within the vessel for use in a heat consuming device.

Claim 25

The process of claim 17 further comprising the step of removing lint from the heated mixture of air and petroleum solvent vapor prior to this mixture's being admitted to the spray chamber.

Claim 26

The process of claim 18 further comprising the steps of utilizing the condensing liquid as a means of removing lint from the heated mixture for air and petroleum solvent vapor, and removing lint from the resulting mixture of condensing liquid and liquid petroleum solvent.