US4314455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freeze concentration apparatus and process
Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
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Filing: 1980-06-16
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Granted: 1982-02-09
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Expires: 2000-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A freeze concentration apparatus comprising a cold concentrator tank; a conduit to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the cold concentrator tank; a conduit to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; a conduit to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; a conduit to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; a conduit to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; a spray system to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water a washer to collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; a conduit to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer; and an unloader to remove the washed ice from the washer.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald E. Engdahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:23
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23L; A23L2/00; A23L2/02; A23L2/08; A23L2/12; B; B01; B01D; B01D9/00; B01D9/02; B01D9/04; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/22; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/08; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A freeze concentration apparatus comprising: a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; a conduit means to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the cold concentrator tank; means to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; means to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank to separate an ice slurry in the cold concentrator tank upper portion on top of liquid mixture; conduit means to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; means to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; means to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water and to collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; conduit means to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer; and means to remove the washed ice from the washer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A freeze concentration apparatus comprising: a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; a conduit means to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the cold concentrator tank; means to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; means to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank to separate an ice slurry in the cold concentrator tank upper portion on top of liquid mixture; conduit means to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; means to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; means to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water and to collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; conduit means to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer; and means to remove the washed ice from the washer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A freeze concentration apparatus according to claim 1 in which: the conduit means to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer includes means to deliver it to the cold concentrator tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A freeze concentration apparatus according to claim 1 including: a washed ice melter; means to deliver the washed ice, removed from the washer, to the melter; and means to withdraw water from the melter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
204 words
A freeze concentration apparatus comprising: a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; a conduit means to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the cold concentrator tank; means to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; means to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank to separate an ice slurry in the cold concentrator tank upper portion on top of liquid mixture; conduit means to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; means to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; means to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water and collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; conduit means to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer and deliver it to the cold concentrator tank; a washed ice melter; means to remove the washed ice from the washer and deliver it to the melter; and means to withdraw cold water from the melter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
204 words
A freeze concentration apparatus comprising: a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; a conduit means to deliver an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to the cold concentrator tank; means to feed the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; means to feed the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank to separate an ice slurry in the cold concentrator tank upper portion on top of liquid mixture; conduit means to withdraw liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; means to withdraw an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and deliver it to an ice slurry washer; means to wash the ice slurry in the washer with water and collect washed ice and an aqueous mixture; conduit means to remove the aqueous mixture from the washer and deliver it to the cold concentrator tank; a washed ice melter; means to remove the washed ice from the washer and deliver it to the melter; and means to withdraw cold water from the melter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A freeze concentration apparatus according to claim 4 comprising: a heat exchanger; conduit means to feed the aqueous liquid mixture feed stream through the heat exchanger and then to the cold concentrator tank; conduit means to feed concentrated liquid mixture, from the cold concentrator tank, through the heat exchanger countercurrent to flow therethrough of the feed stream; and conduit means to feed cold water from the melter through the heat exchanger countercurrent to flow therethrough of the feed stream.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of freeze concentrating an aqueous liquid mixture comprising: feeding an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; feeding the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; feeding the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; withdrawing liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; withdrawing an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and delivering it to an ice slurry washer; washing the ice slurry in the washer with water and collecting washed ice and an aqueous mixture; removing the aqueous mixture from the washer; and removing the washed ice from the washer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of freeze concentrating an aqueous liquid mixture comprising: feeding an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; feeding the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; feeding the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; withdrawing liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; withdrawing an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and delivering it to an ice slurry washer; washing the ice slurry in the washer with water and collecting washed ice and an aqueous mixture; removing the aqueous mixture from the washer; and removing the washed ice from the washer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6 including: removing the aqueous mixture from the washer and delivering it to the cold concentrator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 6 including: delivering the washed ice, removed from the washer, to an ice melter; and withdrawing water from the melter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
161 words
A method comprising: delivering an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; feeding the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; feeding the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; withdrawing liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; withdrawing an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and delivering it to an ice slurry washer; washing the ice slurry in the ice slurry washer with water and collecting washed ice and an aqueous mixture; removing the aqueous mixture from the ice slurry washer and delivering it to the cold concentrator tank; removing the washed ice from the washer and delivering it to the melter; and withdrawing cold water from the melter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
161 words
A method comprising: delivering an aqueous liquid mixture feed stream to a cold concentrator tank having upper and lower portions; feeding the liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion to a freeze exchanger for indirect cooling by heat exchange to a cold fluid to form ice crystals in the liquid mixture; feeding the liquid mixture containing ice crystals from the freeze exchanger to the cold concentrator tank; withdrawing liquid mixture from the cold concentrator tank lower portion concentrated by the freezing of water therefrom; withdrawing an ice slurry from the cold concentrator tank upper portion and delivering it to an ice slurry washer; washing the ice slurry in the ice slurry washer with water and collecting washed ice and an aqueous mixture; removing the aqueous mixture from the ice slurry washer and delivering it to the cold concentrator tank; removing the washed ice from the washer and delivering it to the melter; and withdrawing cold water from the melter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 9 including: feeding the aqueous liquid mixture feed stream through a heat exchanger and then to the cold concentrator tank; feeding concentrated liquid mixture, from the cold concentrator tank, through the heat exchanger countercurrent to flow therethrough of the feed stream; and feeding cold water from the melter through the heat exchanger countercurrent to flow therethrough of the feed stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-02-08 | 1985-08-10 | 1986-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-02-08 | 1989-08-10 | 1990-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-02-08 | 1993-08-10 | 1994-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |