Engine collant recycling apparatus and process
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for recycling engine coolant comprising:
- concentrate container means for retaining engine coolant to be recycled, said concentrate container means having an inlet and an outlet;
permeate container means for retaining recovered engine coolant, said permeate container means having an inlet;
flow path means for defining a fluid flow path extending from said concentrate outlet to said permeate inlet and said concentrate container inlet;
circulation means for circulating fluid along said flow path;
filtration means interposed in said flow path for filtering particulate matter from said coolant to form a filtered coolant solution;
pressurizing means for pressurizing said filtered coolant solution to form a feed stream;
separator means comprising a semi-permeable membrane interposed in said flow path for separating glycols from said feed stream filtered coolant solution by a reverse osmosis process to form a first stream of glycol and water permeate solution and a second stream of separated concentrate coolant solution;
conduit means for directing said permeate solution to said permeate inlet; and
return means for returning said separated concentrate coolant solution to said concentrate inlet.
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Abstract
An apparatus and a process for recycling used engine coolant employs a reverse osmosis process for separating ethylene glycol from a concentrate coolant solution. The engine coolant concentrate is pre-filtered through a series of filters and pressurized prior to being passed through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane separates the feed stream into a permeate solution of ethylene glycol and water and concentrate solution. The concentrate solution is returned to a concentrate tank for continuous circulation through the apparatus. A heat exchanger maintains the temperature of the concentrate solution below a pre-established threshold.
28 Citations
33 Claims
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1. Apparatus for recycling engine coolant comprising:
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concentrate container means for retaining engine coolant to be recycled, said concentrate container means having an inlet and an outlet; permeate container means for retaining recovered engine coolant, said permeate container means having an inlet; flow path means for defining a fluid flow path extending from said concentrate outlet to said permeate inlet and said concentrate container inlet; circulation means for circulating fluid along said flow path; filtration means interposed in said flow path for filtering particulate matter from said coolant to form a filtered coolant solution; pressurizing means for pressurizing said filtered coolant solution to form a feed stream; separator means comprising a semi-permeable membrane interposed in said flow path for separating glycols from said feed stream filtered coolant solution by a reverse osmosis process to form a first stream of glycol and water permeate solution and a second stream of separated concentrate coolant solution; conduit means for directing said permeate solution to said permeate inlet; and return means for returning said separated concentrate coolant solution to said concentrate inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for recycling engine coolant comprising:
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concentrate container means for retaining engine coolant to be recycled; permeate container means for retaining recovered engine coolant; flow path means for defining a fluid flow path extending from said concentrate container means to said permeate container means; circulation means for circulating coolant along said flow path; pressurizing means for pressurizing said coolant to form a feed stream; separator means comprising a semi-permeable membrane interposed in said flow path for separating glycol and water from said feed stream solution by a reverse osmosis process to form a first stream of glycol and water permeate solution and a second stream of separated concentrate coolant solution; conduit means for directing said permeate solution to said permeate container means; and return means for returning said separated concentrate coolant solution for recirculation in said feed stream. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A process for recycling engine coolant comprising:
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continuously circulating engine coolant along a flow path; filtering particulate matter from the coolant in said flow path; pressurizing the coolant to form a feed stream; passing said feed stream along a semi-permeable membrane to separate glycol and water from said feed stream by reverse osmosis to form a first stream of glycol and water permeate solution and a second stream of separated concentrated solution; and returning said separated concentrate coolant to said flow path. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification