VERTICAL DESUBLIMATION APPARATUS FOR CRYSTALLINE IODINE PRODUCTION

• US 20200129881A1
• Filed: 10/24/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lia Neumann, Serguei Tikhonov
• Original Assignee: Lia Neumann, Serguei Tikhonov
• Inventors: TIKHONOV, Serguei, NEUMANN, Lia, ISHANGULYYEV, Yusub
• Granted Patent: US 10,918,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 7/02 Crystallisation directly from the vapour phase into single crystals C30B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 7/14 Iodine

Abstract

Vertical desublimation apparatus for crystalline iodine production, comprising: a gas intake, through which vapor can be fed into the apparatus, and a gas exhaust, through which residual air can be discharged; at least one downstream duct comprising a downstream duct inlet and a downstream duct outlet, wherein the intake is fluidically connected to the downstream duct inlet; at least one upstream duct comprising an upstream duct inlet and an upstream duct outlet, wherein the exhaust is fluidically connected to the upstream duct outlet; at least one downstream condenser pipe arranged adjacent to the downstream duct and at least one upstream condenser pipe arranged adjacent to the upstream duct, wherein a cooling medium can be fed through the condenser pipes; a collecting receptacle for collecting crystallized iodine and liquid water arranged at the bottom of the apparatus, fluidically connecting the downstream duct outlet and the upstream duct inlet, the collecting receptacle having a bottom outlet.

Claims

1. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) for crystalline iodine production, comprising:

a gas intake (2), through which water and iodine vapor can be fed into the apparatus (1), and a gas exhaust (3), through which in particular residual air can be discharged;

at least one downstream duct (4) comprising a downstream duct inlet (5) and a downstream duct outlet (6), wherein the intake (2) is fluidically connected to the downstream duct inlet (5);

at least one upstream duct (7) comprising an upstream duct inlet (8) and an upstream duct outlet (9), wherein the exhaust (3) is fluidically connected to the upstream duct outlet (9);

at least one downstream condenser pipe (10) arranged immediately adjacent to the downstream duct (4) and at least one upstream condenser pipe (11) arranged immediately adjacent to the upstream duct (7), wherein a cooling medium can be fed through the condenser pipes (10, 11);

a collecting receptacle (12) for collecting crystallized iodine and liquid water arranged at the bottom of the apparatus (1), fluidically connecting the downstream duct outlet (6) and the upstream duct inlet (8), the collecting receptacle (12) having a bottom outlet (13).

2. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ducts (4, 7) and/or the condenser pipes (10, 11) consist of sheet metal comprising titanium.

3. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the downstream and the upstream ducts (4, 7) and/or the outer surface of the condenser pipes (10, 11) is covered with a heat-resistant elastic material.

4. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein the heat-resistant material comprises a fluoroplastic fabric film capable of withstanding the temperature of up to +250°

C.

5. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein the heat resistant elastic material has a thickness of 100-300 μ

m.

6. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein cold air is passed through the condenser pipes (10, 11) and discharged into the atmosphere at the other end of the pipes (10, 11).

7. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one downstream duct (4) and the at least one downstream condenser pipe (10) define a downstream section (14) and the at least one upstream duct (7) and the at least one upstream condenser pipe (12) define an upstream section (15), the downstream section (14) and the upstream section (15) being connected at a distance from each other by means of titanium plates (16).

8. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the collecting receptacle (12) is a hopper, wherein the hopper comprises an opening is arranged below the downstream duct outlets (6) respectively the upstream duct inlets (8) and pointing to them.

9. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a vibrator (17), the vibrator (17) periodically removing crystalline iodine deposited on the inner surface of the downstream and upstream ducts (4, 7) and/or the outer surface of the condenser pipes (10, 11), the removed crystalline iodine being fed into the collecting receptacle (12).

10. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gas intake (2) comprises a fluoroplastic pipe which is connected to a top part of the apparatus (1), the pipe comprising separate fluid connections (18) for each of the at least one downstream duct inlet (5).

11. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the downstream section (14) comprises four downstream ducts (4) and three downstream condenser pipes (10).

12. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upstream section (15) comprises two upstream ducts (7) and one upstream condenser pipe (ii).

13. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, the apparatus (1) being suspended in a holding frame (19) which is resiliently mounted on the ground.

14. Vertical desublimation apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises fans (20) for blowing against the outer walls of the apparatus (1) in order to intensify the condensation process.

15. Method for producing crystallized iodine, comprising the steps:

feeding vapors of water and iodine from an evaporator to a desublimation apparatus (1) at a temperature of 114-184°

C., the iodine vapor having a partial pressure lower than the pressure of saturated iodine vapor in the triple point;

passing the vapors through a duct (4, 7) of the apparatus (1), thereby condensing the vapors;

removing crystalline iodine deposited on the inner surface of the duct (1).