Pressurized vapor cycle liquid distillation

• US 20070017192A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Jackson, James, Owens, Kingston, Demers, Jason, Leonard, Scott, Duggan, Timothy, Bednarek, David, McGill, David, Hoell, Joseph, Heinzman, Gustav, Coll, Andrew, Charles, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,366,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/405
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/221 Composite plate evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/28 with vapour compression
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/2887 The compressor is integrated in the evaporation apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/289 Compressor features (e.g. constructions, details, cooling, lubrication, driving systems)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/2893 Driving systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/01 with flat filtering elements B01D29/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/52 in parallel connection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/66 by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/96 in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters B01D29/09, B01D29/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/00 Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping evaporation in general, e.g. of liquids for gas phase reactions B01B1/005; gas chromatography B01D15/08; destructive distillation C10B; preparation of alcoholic beverages by distillation C12H6/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/42 Regulation; Control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/12 Devices for taking out of action one or more units of multi- unit filters, e.g. for regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/08 by impingement against baffle separators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0015 Plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/006 with evaporation or distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/048 Purification of waste water by evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/16 using waste heat from other processes
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/002 with rotating outer members
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/004 Details concerning the operating liquid, e.g. nature, separation, cooling, cleaning, control of the supply
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/008 Port members in the form of conical or cylindrical pieces situated in the centre of the impeller
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/86 : Detection
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/005 : the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Claims

1. An improved mist eliminator having a top, a bottom and a housing wherein liquid is removed from suspension in vapor to an inner surface of the housing, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of vanes disposed along a diverter cone, wherein the diverter cone is situated at the bottom of said mist eliminator and wherein the vanes are angled to create a rotating motion to the vapor in the housing;

a plurality of scales forming an angle α

at least about 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis Z of the housing, wherein the scales are situated to entrap liquid removed from suspension in vapor upon contact of the liquid with the scales, each scale in fluid communication with a gap between the scale and the inner surface of the housing of a dimension adapted to draw liquid through the gap to a collection area.

2. An improved mist eliminator having a top, a bottom and a housing wherein liquid is removed from suspension in vapor to an inner surface of the housing, the improvement comprising;

an input which imparts rotating motion to the vapor entering the housing of the mist eliminator;

a plurality of scales situated to entrap liquid removed from suspension in vapor upon contact of the liquid with the scales, each scale being disposed at an angle at least about 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis Z of the housing and having a protruding edge and a bottom edge, wherein the protruding edge forms a gap between the scale and the inner surface of the housing, each scale in fluid communication with the gap, and wherein the gap is of a dimension adapted to draw liquid through the gap to a collection area.

3-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method for eliminating entrained liquid from vapor comprising:

contacting the vapor with a mist eliminator having a plurality of vanes on a diverter cone within a housing situated to create a rotating motion to the vapor;

discharging rotating vapor from the plurality of vanes on the diverter cone;

entrapping the liquid from the discharged vapor on a plurality of scales within the housing, each scale forming an angle α

relative to a longitudinal axis Z of the housing;

propelling the liquid from the plurality of scales through a gap between each scale and the inner surface of the housing to a collection area.

7-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A liquid distillation system comprising:

an input for receiving untreated liquid;

a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

a vapor pump for compressing the vapor;

a condenser in communication with the vapor pump fro transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product; and

a mist eliminator having a diverter cone within a housing, the diverter cone having a plurality of vanes, wherein the housing has a plurality of scales for entrapping liquid and removing it from the vapor.

14. A liquid distillation system operating at a thermal steady-state after start-up, the system comprising:

an input for receiving untreated liquid;

a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

a vapor pump for compressing the vapor;

a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product; and

a motor for driving the vapor pump, wherein heat supplied to the vaporizer originates in the motor.

15. A liquid distillation system comprising:

an input for receiving untreated liquid;

a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

a liquid ring vapor pump for compressing the vapor;

a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product;

a shaft located inside a rotating housing for the system;

internal bearings.

16. A system according to claim 15, further comprising a motor can and motor stator located outside the pressure and fluid boundary for the system.

17. A system according to claim 15, further comprising a single shaft spanning from the motor to the pump.

18-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A level sensor for controlling fluid flow of a liquid in a liquid distillation system during distillation, the level sensor coupled with a variable flow valve controlled by fluid level in the system.

41-43. -43. (canceled)

44. A method of monitoring conductivity of a liquid during distillation, the method comprising:

measuring the conductivity of the liquid during distillation at a particular point in time to obtain a magnitude of the conductivity of the liquid at the particular point in time;

comparing the magnitude of the conductivity of the liquid at the particular point in time to a pre-determined target magnitude for the conductivity.

45-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A method of controlling fluid in a vapor pump of a liquid distillation system, the method comprising:

driving a fluid management system pump with vapor from the distillation system;

controlling pressure within the vapor pump with at least one valve;

adding liquid to the vapor pump with the fluid management system pump as needed.

50-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A fluid distribution manifold coupled to a liquid distillation system, the manifold comprising means for regulating flow of fluid with the system;

means for eliminating liquid entrained in a vapor with the system; and

means for controlling pressure within the system.

55. A liquid distillation system comprising:

an input for receiving untreated liquid;

a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

a head chamber for collecting vapor from the vaporizer;

a vapor pump for compressing the vapor, the vapor pump comprising;

an internal drive shaft; and

an impeller within a rotatable housing;

fixed housing for the rotatable housing; and

a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product.

56-79. -79. (canceled)

80. A liquid distillation system comprising:

an input for receiving untreated liquid;

a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor;

a head chamber for collecting vapor from the vaporizer;

a vapor pump for compressing the vapor, the vapor pump comprising;

an internal drive shaft;

an impeller within a rotatable housing;

fixed housing for the rotatable housing; and

a siphon pump to pump liquid into the vapor pump from a sump; and

a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming compressed vapor into a distilled liquid product.

81. (canceled)

82. A method of distilling a liquid according to claim 81, further comprising using a pod pump for any one of:

regulating the internal pressure of the condenser;

maintaining a super-atmospheric pressure;

maintaining a liquid level in the head chamber sufficient to permit purification of liquid;

regulating a blowdown stream from the head chamber;

priming the system before start-up;

adjusting a source feed rate of untreated liquid if total dissolved material is above a prescribed level;

pumping untreated liquid into the vaporizer;

venting air on an outlet side of the pump; and

re-priming the pump when the evaporator is pressurized.

83-98. -98. (canceled)