US4617093A — Method and apparatus for separating components of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 168 words

A method of continuously separating components of a mixture, comprising the steps of: continuously introducing said mixture into a cylinder structure having migration means capable of moving components in condensed phase independently of gravity; producing a temperature differential in said cylinder structure forming a zone of higher temperature, a zone of lower temperature and an adiabatic zone between said zones of higher and lower temperature; inducing by said temperature differential a countercurrent movement of said components within said cylinder structure, at least one component in vapor phase moving toward said zone of lower temperature, and at least one other component in condensed phase moving along said migration means toward said zone of higher temperature; establishing a steady state of operation wherein said mixture is continuously introduced into said cylinder structure at said adiabatic zone and each of said components collects in concentrated form at respective zones of higher and lower temperature; and continuously removing said components from said cylinder structure at said zones of higher and lower temperature.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 168 words

A method of continuously separating components of a mixture, comprising the steps of: continuously introducing said mixture into a cylinder structure having migration means capable of moving components in condensed phase independently of gravity; producing a temperature differential in said cylinder structure forming a zone of higher temperature, a zone of lower temperature and an adiabatic zone between said zones of higher and lower temperature; inducing by said temperature differential a countercurrent movement of said components within said cylinder structure, at least one component in vapor phase moving toward said zone of lower temperature, and at least one other component in condensed phase moving along said migration means toward said zone of higher temperature; establishing a steady state of operation wherein said mixture is continuously introduced into said cylinder structure at said adiabatic zone and each of said components collects in concentrated form at respective zones of higher and lower temperature; and continuously removing said components from said cylinder structure at said zones of higher and lower temperature.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 192 words

A method of distillation for continuously separating a more volatile component from a less volatile component of a mixture, comprising the steps of: continuously introducing said mixture into a heat pipe structure having capillary means capable of inducing a capillary flow of components in condensed phase independently of gravity; producing a temperature differential in said heat pipe structure forming a zone of higher temperature, a zone of lower temperature and an adiabatic zone between said zones of higher and lower temperature; inducing by said temperature differential a countercurrent movement of said components within said heat pipe structure, said more volatile component in vapor phase moving toward said zone of lower temperature, and said less volatile component in condensed phase moving along said capillary means toward said zone of higher temperature; establishing a steady state of operation wherein said mixture is continuously introduced into said heat pipe structure at said adiabatic zone, and wherein said more volatile component collects in concentrated form at said zone of lower temperature, and said less volatile component collects in concentrated form at said zone of higher temperature; and continuously removing said components from said heat pipe structure.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 192 words

A method of distillation for continuously separating a more volatile component from a less volatile component of a mixture, comprising the steps of: continuously introducing said mixture into a heat pipe structure having capillary means capable of inducing a capillary flow of components in condensed phase independently of gravity; producing a temperature differential in said heat pipe structure forming a zone of higher temperature, a zone of lower temperature and an adiabatic zone between said zones of higher and lower temperature; inducing by said temperature differential a countercurrent movement of said components within said heat pipe structure, said more volatile component in vapor phase moving toward said zone of lower temperature, and said less volatile component in condensed phase moving along said capillary means toward said zone of higher temperature; establishing a steady state of operation wherein said mixture is continuously introduced into said heat pipe structure at said adiabatic zone, and wherein said more volatile component collects in concentrated form at said zone of lower temperature, and said less volatile component collects in concentrated form at said zone of higher temperature; and continuously removing said components from said heat pipe structure.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of continuously separating a more sorbable component from a less sorbable component of a mixture, comprising the steps of: continuously introducing said mixture into a sorbent column structure having diffusion means capable of moving components in adsorbed phase by diffusion independently of gravity; producing a temperature differential in said sorbent column structure forming a zone of higher temperature, a zone of lower temperature and an adiabatic zone between said zones of higher and lower temperature; inducing by said temperature differential a countercurrent movement of said components within said sorbent column structure, said less sorbable component in vapor phase moving toward said zone of lower temperature, and said more sorbable component in adsorbed phase moving along said diffusion means toward said zone of higher temperature; establishing a steady state of operation wherein said mixture is continuously introduced into said sorbent column structure at said adiabatic zone, and wherein said less sorbable component collects in concentrated form at said zone of lower temperature and said more sorbable component collects in concentrated form at said zone of higher temperature; and continuously removing said components from said sorbent column structure.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of continuously separating a more sorbable component from a less sorbable component of a mixture, comprising the steps of: continuously introducing said mixture into a sorbent column structure having diffusion means capable of moving components in adsorbed phase by diffusion independently of gravity; producing a temperature differential in said sorbent column structure forming a zone of higher temperature, a zone of lower temperature and an adiabatic zone between said zones of higher and lower temperature; inducing by said temperature differential a countercurrent movement of said components within said sorbent column structure, said less sorbable component in vapor phase moving toward said zone of lower temperature, and said more sorbable component in adsorbed phase moving along said diffusion means toward said zone of higher temperature; establishing a steady state of operation wherein said mixture is continuously introduced into said sorbent column structure at said adiabatic zone, and wherein said less sorbable component collects in concentrated form at said zone of lower temperature and said more sorbable component collects in concentrated form at said zone of higher temperature; and continuously removing said components from said sorbent column structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 174 words

Distillation apparatus for continuously separating one component of a mixture from another component comprising: a heat pipe structure; means for continuously introducing said mixture into said heat pipe structure; means disposed within said heat pipe structure capable of inducing a capillary flow of liquid therealong independently of gravity; means for heating one zone of said heat pipe structure; means mounted exteriorly of said heat pipe structure for cooling another zone of said heat pipe structure; one of said components being vaporized at said heated zone of said heat pipe structure and migrating in vapor form toward said cooler zone of said heat pipe structure; the other of said components being condensed at said cooler zone of said heat pipe structure and migrating in liquid form along said means for inducing capillary flow toward said heated zone of said heat pipe structure; and means for continuously removing said one component from said heated zone of said heat pipe structure, and for continuously removing said other component from said cooler zone of said heat pipe structure.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 174 words

Distillation apparatus for continuously separating one component of a mixture from another component comprising: a heat pipe structure; means for continuously introducing said mixture into said heat pipe structure; means disposed within said heat pipe structure capable of inducing a capillary flow of liquid therealong independently of gravity; means for heating one zone of said heat pipe structure; means mounted exteriorly of said heat pipe structure for cooling another zone of said heat pipe structure; one of said components being vaporized at said heated zone of said heat pipe structure and migrating in vapor form toward said cooler zone of said heat pipe structure; the other of said components being condensed at said cooler zone of said heat pipe structure and migrating in liquid form along said means for inducing capillary flow toward said heated zone of said heat pipe structure; and means for continuously removing said one component from said heated zone of said heat pipe structure, and for continuously removing said other component from said cooler zone of said heat pipe structure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The distillation apparatus of claim 4 in which said heat pipe structure is a cylinder formed with at least two spaced outlets, and at least one inlet to receive said mixture.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 87 words

The distillation apparatus of claim 4 in which said heat pipe structure comprises a group of cylinders, each of said cylinders including a first outlet for one of said components, a second outlet for the other of said components and an individual inlet to receive said mixture, said first outlets of said cylinders being connected to a common outlet line for removal of said one component and said second outlets of said cylinders being connected to a separate, common outlet line for removal of said other component.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 99 words

The distillation apparatus of claim 4 in which said heat pipe structure comprises a group of cylinders, each of said cylinders including a first outlet for one of said components and a second outlet for the other of said components, said cylinders being arranged so that said first outlet of one cylinder connects to an adjacent cylinder and said second outlet of said adjacent cylinder connects to said one cylinder, whereby said one component migrates in vapor form through adjacent cylinders in one direction and said other component migrates in liquid form through adjacent cylinders in the opposite direction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 66 words

The distillation apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for heating one zone of said heat pipe structure forms an evaporator section of said heat pipe structure, and said means for cooling another zone of said heat pipe structure forms a condenser section of said heat pipe structure, said zone of said heat pipe structure between said heated and cooled zones forming an adiabatic section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The distillation apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for heating one zone of said heat pipe structure is a dark colored surface solar heat absorbing medium.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The distillation apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for inducing capillary flow of a liquid is a wick structure disposed along the inner wall of said heat pipe structure.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 174 words

Apparatus for continuously separating a more sorbable component of a mixture from a less sorbable component thereof comprising: a sorbent column structure; means for continuously introducing said mixture into said sorbent column structure; adsorption means disposed within said sorbent column structure capable of adsorbing said components and moving said components therealong in adsorbed phase by surface diffusion independently of gravity; means for heating one zone of said sorbent column structure; means mounted exteriorly of said sorbent column structure for cooling another zone of said sorbent column structure; said more sorbable component being adsorbed by said adsorption means and migrating therealong by surface diffusion in adsorbed phase toward said heated zone of said sorbent column structure; said less sorbable component being desorbed at said heated zone and migrating in vapor phase toward said cooled zone of said sorbent column structure; and means for continuously removing said more sorbable component from said heated zone of said sorbent column structure, and for continuously removing said less sorbable component from said cooled zone of said sorbent column structure.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 174 words

Apparatus for continuously separating a more sorbable component of a mixture from a less sorbable component thereof comprising: a sorbent column structure; means for continuously introducing said mixture into said sorbent column structure; adsorption means disposed within said sorbent column structure capable of adsorbing said components and moving said components therealong in adsorbed phase by surface diffusion independently of gravity; means for heating one zone of said sorbent column structure; means mounted exteriorly of said sorbent column structure for cooling another zone of said sorbent column structure; said more sorbable component being adsorbed by said adsorption means and migrating therealong by surface diffusion in adsorbed phase toward said heated zone of said sorbent column structure; said less sorbable component being desorbed at said heated zone and migrating in vapor phase toward said cooled zone of said sorbent column structure; and means for continuously removing said more sorbable component from said heated zone of said sorbent column structure, and for continuously removing said less sorbable component from said cooled zone of said sorbent column structure.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 in which said adsorption means is a section of material chosen from the group of silica gel, activated charcoal, microporous glass, molecular sieves, alumina, zeolite, compressed graphite and microporous metal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 in which said sorbent column structure is a cylinder.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 in which said adsorption means is disposed along the inner wall of said sorbent column structure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-10-13	1990-04-14	1990-10-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-10-13	1994-04-14	1994-10-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-10-13	1998-04-14	1998-10-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for separating components of a mixture

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