Patent US4371623A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4371623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar still
Assignee: DURKIN WILLIAM N
•
Filing: 1981-02-09
•
Granted: 1983-02-01
•
Expires: 2001-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for preparation and distillation of low-alcohol-content, fermentation products into high-alcohol-content, fuel-grade product using solar energy to carry out the fermentation and distillation. The apparatus includes a solar collector with reflectors, fermenting tanks, a distillation column, and temperature controls. The working fluid for the solar collector is isolated from the fluid being distilled.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Brandt Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:25
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/02; B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/001; C12M31/00; C12M31/02; C12M31/04; C12M43/00; C12M43/02; F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/74; F24S70/00; F24S70/20; F24S70/25; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/50; Y02P20/59; Y10; Y10S; Y10S126/00; Y10S126/907; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/01; Y10S203/11; Y10S203/14; Y10S203/17; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A solar still for producing alcohol, comprised of: (a) at least one fermenting tank adapted to produce a beer by fermentation, (b) a heat exchanger, (c) a solar collector adapted to absorb energy from the sun and use that energy to heat a working fluid, (d) a working fluid conveying system adapted to circulate the working fluid through the solar collector and through the heat exchanger, (e) a distillation unit comprising: (1) a stripping fractioning column, (2) a rectification fractioning column, and (3) a transfer conduit operatively connecting the top of the stripping column to the bottom of the rectification column, (f) transferring means adapted to convey the beer from the fermenting tank to the heat exchanger, wherein energy from the working fluid is transferred to the beer, the beer and the working fluid flowing in separate conduits so that the beer and working fluid never mix, and (g) means for conveying the beer from the heat exchanger to the top of the stripping column where the beer is divided into an alcohol rich vapor phase stream which passes through the transfer conduit to the rectification column where it moves up the rectification column and an alcohol weak stream which flows downwardly through the stripping column, whereby beer in the vapor phase from the alcohol weak stream moves up the stripping column, through the transfer conduit to the bottom of the rectification column and up the rectification column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A solar still for producing alcohol, comprised of: (a) at least one fermenting tank adapted to produce a beer by fermentation, (b) a heat exchanger, (c) a solar collector adapted to absorb energy from the sun and use that energy to heat a working fluid, (d) a working fluid conveying system adapted to circulate the working fluid through the solar collector and through the heat exchanger, (e) a distillation unit comprising: (1) a stripping fractioning column, (2) a rectification fractioning column, and (3) a transfer conduit operatively connecting the top of the stripping column to the bottom of the rectification column, (f) transferring means adapted to convey the beer from the fermenting tank to the heat exchanger, wherein energy from the working fluid is transferred to the beer, the beer and the working fluid flowing in separate conduits so that the beer and working fluid never mix, and (g) means for conveying the beer from the heat exchanger to the top of the stripping column where the beer is divided into an alcohol rich vapor phase stream which passes through the transfer conduit to the rectification column where it moves up the rectification column and an alcohol weak stream which flows downwardly through the stripping column, whereby beer in the vapor phase from the alcohol weak stream moves up the stripping column, through the transfer conduit to the bottom of the rectification column and up the rectification column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein at least three fermenting tanks are provided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein means are provided for conveying the alcohol rich stream from the top of the recitification column and a heat recovery device is provided to transfer heat from the alcohol rich stream leaving the rectification column, to the beer entering the stripping column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein the solar collector includes a planar absorber having conduits through which the working fluid flows, the absorber having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a sunny side, wherein a reflective panel is attached to at least one of either the upper or lower edge and angled with respect to the plane of the absorber to cause solar radiation striking the reflective panels to be reflected to the absorber, the intersection of the plane of the reflective panel and of the absorber being substantially horizontal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the collector on which the sun shines is covered with a paint comprised of a clear carrier in which has been mixed a dispersion of fine particles of cupric oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein the solar collector is formed of a cylindrical reflector having a parabolic directrix, and an absorbing pipe along the focal line of the reflector, and extending substantially beyond the axial end of the reflector, the reflector being positioned with the focal line horizontal and parallel to the apparent daily path of the sun.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein the working fluid conveying system is adapted to selectively provide heat to the fermenting tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A still as recited in claim 7, wherein a fermenting tank temperature controller is provided to maintain the temperature within the fermenting tank by regulating the flow of working fluid to the fermenting tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein the working fluid conveying system is provided with a thermal dump adapted to selectively exhaust energy from the working fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A still as recited in claim 9, wherein a solar collector temperature controller is connected between the solar collector and the thermal dump and adapted to cause the thermal dump to exhaust energy from the working fluid when the temperature of the solar collector reaches a specific value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A still as recited in claim 1, wherein a column controller is provided to regulate the flow of beer into the distillation unit in response to the temperature of the alcohol rich stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US102633A
Cited
US1104948A
Cited
US1302363A
Cited
US1548824A
Cited
US2080167A
Cited
US2141330A
Cited
US2247830A
Cited
US2490659A
Cited
US2868645A
Cited
US2975107A
Cited
US3201328A
Cited
US3394054A
Cited
US3810777A
Cited
US3926738A
Cited
US4003069A
Cited
US4011190A
Cited
DE2558767A1
Cited
US4019495A
Cited
DE2656490A1
Cited
US4191166A
Cited
JPS5592843A
Cited
US4244352A
Cited
US4261329A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-31 | 1986-08-02 | 1987-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-31 | 1990-08-02 | 1991-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-31 | 1994-08-02 | 1995-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |