US4834874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Removal of liquid from a liquid-solids mixture
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
•
Filing: 1988-06-27
•
Granted: 1989-05-30
•
Expires: 2008-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided wherein liquid is removed from a liquid-solids mixture by employing both filtration and low pressures to achieve vaporization of liquid. The mixture is introduced to a vessel in which the mixture is filtered so that a substantial portion of the liquid is withdrawn from the vessel. The vessel is then depressurized to an extent necessary to vaporize a substantial portion of the remaining liquid. Such vapor is withdrawn from the vessel. During vaporization, the contents of the vessel are agitated and heated.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Anthoney
- 👤 Richard K. Young
- 👤 Brian H. Limoges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:38
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D36/00; B01D36/001; B01D35/00; B01D35/18; B01D35/185; F; F26; F26B; F26B7/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/16; Y10S159/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for removing liquid from a liquid-solids mixture comprising: a vessel having an interior and an upper end and a lower end; means for introducing the liquid-solids mixture to said vessel; a first filtration means, including at least one filter positioned within the lower end of said vessel, for filtering the mixture so as to withdraw only liquid from said vessel after having passed through said at least one filter; depressurizing means, which includes a first conduit line, for depressurizing the interior of said vessel by withdrawing gases from said vessel through said first conduit line, so that liquid in said vessel is vaporized to produce a vapor; means for heating the interior of said vessel; means for agitating any contents contained by said vessel; vapor withdrawing means, which includes a second conduit line, for withdrawing said vapor from said vessel through said second conduit line; and means for withdrawing solids from said vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for removing liquid from a liquid-solids mixture comprising: a vessel having an interior and an upper end and a lower end; means for introducing the liquid-solids mixture to said vessel; a first filtration means, including at least one filter positioned within the lower end of said vessel, for filtering the mixture so as to withdraw only liquid from said vessel after having passed through said at least one filter; depressurizing means, which includes a first conduit line, for depressurizing the interior of said vessel by withdrawing gases from said vessel through said first conduit line, so that liquid in said vessel is vaporized to produce a vapor; means for heating the interior of said vessel; means for agitating any contents contained by said vessel; vapor withdrawing means, which includes a second conduit line, for withdrawing said vapor from said vessel through said second conduit line; and means for withdrawing solids from said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for supplying a gas to said vessel to pressurize the interior of said vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one filter of said first filtration means is a cartridge filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said vessel has an exterior surface, and wherein said heating means comprises at least one heating blanket surrounding and contacting the exterior surface of said vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said vessel has a longitudinal axis and wherein said agitating means comprises: a shaft disposed generally along the longitudinal axis of said vessel; at least one impellor which radially extends from said shaft; and means for rotating the shaft about a rotational axis which corresponds to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 further comprising a second filtration means associated with said vapor withdrawing means and positioned near the upper end of said vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a means for providing a continuous flow of a gas through the interior of said vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for withdrawing vapor from said vessel withdraws the vapor through the upper end of said vessel, and wherein said means for providing a continuous flow of gas provides a generally upward flow of gas from the lower end of said vessel to the upper end of said vessel so as to exit the vessel through said upper end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US29605A
Cited
US2871108A
Cited
US3078144A
Cited
US3865894A
Cited
US3515199A
Cited
US4082606A
Cited
USRE29605E
Cited
US3953413A
Cited
US4046684A
Cited
US4048067A
Cited
US4045293A
Cited
US4066417A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-29 | 1992-11-28 | 1993-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-29 | 1996-11-28 | 1997-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-29 | 2000-11-28 | 2001-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |