Liquid purifying and vacuum distillation process

• US 5,441,606 A
• Filed: 07/14/1992
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FSR Patented Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: FSR Patented Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Schlesinger, Barry, Rapp, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Bascomb, Jr., Wilbur
• Application Number:
  US07/913,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 202/205, 202/160, 202/206, 202/266, 202/176, 202/202, 203/91, 203/2, 203/21, 203/DIG. 8, 203/11, 203/DIG. 17, 203/39
• US Class Current: 203/39
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/0017 Use of electrical or wave energy B01D1/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/0035 Solar energy for treatment of water C02F1/14
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/0058 Use of waste energy from other processes or sources, e.g. combustion gas for water treatment C02F1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/305 Demister (vapour-liquid separation)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/00 Degasification of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/007 Energy recuperation; Heat pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/103 by using a barometric column
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/106 with the use of a pump for creating vacuum and for removing the distillate
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/009 Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/04 by distillation or evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 203/18 Control

Abstract

This invention involves a distillation process for operating a distillation purifying system. The system includes a section which creates a vacuum pressure that is transmitted throughout the system, a distillation/purification zone in which fluids to be distilled/purified are treated, and a collection zone in which the distilled/purified liquids are transferred. The distillation purifying process and system are effective for certain liquids, solutions, and the like and can be used for water treatment, petroleum processes, and bodily fluid treatment.

Claims

1. A method for distilling and purifying a fluid comprised of:

bringing the fluid to be distilled and purified into a vacuum pressured distillation and purifying system;

subjecting said fluid to heat and vacuum pressure by means of heating means and vacuum means to cause said fluid to separate into vapor and non vaporized matter;

removing said non vaporized matter from said distillation and purifying system;

passing said vapor over heat exchange coils to cause said vapor to condense into distillate;

collecting said distillate through a trap into a collection means;

such that when said trap fills with said distillate, the vacuum requirement of said system diminishes, said vacuum means generating a vacuum pressure that is controlled such that the latent heat of vaporization point under vacuum pressure corresponds to a temperature greater than the temperature of said distillate in said trap so that said distillate in said trap remains in a condensed state and does not vaporize, said vacuum being effectively applied only to said distillate in said trap once said trap is filled with said fluid, activating said heating means only after the vacuum level in said system corresponds to a latent heat of vaporization point which represents a set relationship with respect to the temperature of the fluid to be distilled and purified.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of placing said distillation and purifying system to enable hydraulic recovery to reduce pumping and power consumption and constructing said system for heat recovery and reuse.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said vacuum means is comprised of:

at least two atmospherically closed towers;

a vented tank connected to said towers;

a pump connected between said vented tank and said towers; and

valves associated with said towers whereby said vacuum pressure in said subjecting step is created by pumping, by means of said pump, oil from said tank to one of said at least two towers until a certain level is reached in one of said two towers;

further pumping by means of said pump oil into the second of said two towers while the oil in said one of said towers drains back into said tank to form said vacuum pressure in said one tower;

transmitting said vacuum pressure through one of said valves to said system, said towers continually filling and draining in alternating fashion to create the vacuum pressure for said system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said oil is one of polyalpholefin or synthetic oil and is at ambient temperature in said tank and in said towers.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said oil fills each tower to a level corresponding to one atmosphere of pressure before being drained from said towers.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of degassing said fluid by use of said vacuum means before causing said fluid to be vaporized in said subjecting step.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein (1) said distillation and purifying system has a bottom, said trap being connected to said bottom so that vapor condensed into distillate in said distillation and purifying system is facilitated by gravity to flow into said trap;

(2) said distillation and purifying system is located at such a height that assisted by gravity said fluid is able to enter said distillation and purifying system and drain as distillate from said distillation and purifying system; and

(3) the vacuum pressure is selected to correspond to the vaporization point of the fluid to be distilled.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein in said distillation and purifying system there is an area where said fluid is vaporized and the non vaporized materials separated therefrom, said area being located at a height such that said nonvaporized materials drain by gravitational force and weight.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of venting and draining of distillate and nonvaporized materials, wherein the vacuum level is maintained to correspond to a temperature for vaporization of fluid under vacuum that is warmer than incoming fluid to be distilled and wherein all venting and draining of distillate and nonvaporized materials is accomplished in a fashion so as not to diminish the vacuum levels inside the device.

6. A method for distilling and purifying a fluid comprised of:

bringing the fluid to be distilled and purified into a vacuum pressured distillation and purifying system;

subjecting said fluid to heat and vacuum pressure by means of heating means and vacuum means to cause said fluid to separate into vapor and non vaporized matter;

removing said non vaporized matter from said distillation and purifying system;

passing said vapor over heat exchange coils to cause said vapor to condense into distillate;

collecting said distillate through a trap into a collection means, said collection means being comprised of at least two closed tanks with valves directly connecting said tanks to said trap and said vacuum means and also directly connecting said tanks to atmosphere and to a collection conduit open to atmosphere, wherein said distillate from said trap flows toward said at least two closed tanks to be alternately collected and drained from each tank in a piston arrangement so that a continual flow of distillate from said trap into said collection means occurs, whereby when one tank if full the valve to said trap closes and the valve to atmosphere opens to enable the draining of said tank until said tank is drained, then said valve to atmosphere closes and said valve to said vacuum opens until said tank is pressurized at which time said valve to said vacuum closes and said valve to said trap opens to again enable said tank to fill with distillate wherein when said trap fills with said distillate, the vacuum requirement of said system diminishes, said vacuum means generating a vacuum pressure that is controlled such that the latent heat of vaporization point under vacuum pressure corresponds to a temperature greater than the temperature of said distillate in said trap so that said distillate in said trap remains in a condensed state and does not vaporize, said vacuum being effectively applied only to said distillate in said trap once said trap is filled with said fluid.

8. A method for distilling and purifying a fluid comprised of:

bringing the fluid to be distilled and purified into a vacuum pressured distillation and purifying system;

subjecting said fluid to heat and vacuum pressure by means of heating means and vacuum means to cause said fluid to separate into vapor and non vaporized matter;

removing said non vaporized matter from said distillation and purifying system;

passing said vapor over heat exchange coils to cause said vapor to condense into distillate;

collecting said distillate through a trap into a collection means; and

collecting said non vaporized matter from the base of said distillation and purifying system, wherein said non vaporized matter is collected in a closed and insulated tank, said insulated tank comprising valves and being connected through said valves to (1) an area in said distillation and purifying system where said fluid is vaporized, (2) the atmosphere, and (3) said vacuum pressure from said vacuum means, whereby when the concentration in said area where said fluid is vaporized is at a certain level, said valve to said area where said fluid is vaporized is opened to allow said non vaporized materials to drain into said tank, and upon completion of said draining, said valve to said area where said fluid is vaporized closes and said valve to the atmosphere opens so that said non vaporized materials are drained from said tank, wherein when said tank is drained said valve to the atmosphere is closed, said valve to said vacuum means is opened to return said tank to vacuum pressure at which time said valve to said vacuum means is closed and said tank is again ready to receive non vaporized materials, such that when said trap fills with said distillate, the vacuum requirement of said system diminishes, said vacuum means generating a vacuum pressure that is controlled such that the latent heat of vaporization point under vacuum pressure corresponds to a temperature greater than the temperature of said distillate in said trap so that said distillate in said trap remains in a condensed state and does not vaporize, said vacuum being effectively applied only to said distillate in said trap once said trap is filled with said fluid.

12. A method for distilling and purifying a fluid comprised of:

bringing the fluid to be distilled and purified into a vacuum pressured distillation and purifying system;

subjecting said fluid to heat and vacuum pressure by means of heating means and vacuum means to cause said fluid to separate into vapor and non vaporized matter;

removing said non vaporized matter from said distillation and purifying system;

passing said vapor over heat exchange coils to cause said vapor to condense into distillate;

collecting said distillate through a trap into a collection means;

such that when said trap fills with said distillate, the vacuum requirement of said system diminishes, said vacuum means generating a vacuum pressure that is controlled such that the latent heat of vaporization point under vacuum pressure corresponds to a temperature greater than the temperature of said distillate in said trap so that said distillate in said trap remains in a condensed state and does not vaporize, said vacuum pressure being effectively applied only to said distillate in said trap once said trap is filled with said distillate, said trap acting as a pressure head as it fills with said distillate thereby reducing the effective vacuum requirement of said system, said vacuum means acting merely on the surface area of said distillate in said trap while the vacuum level initially established in said distillation and purifying system where said fluid is vaporized and condensed fluctuates to create a pressure differential between where said vacuum is generated and the inside of a vaporizing and condensing area, said pressure differential facilitating the flow of said distillate through said trap and reducing the overall demand for vacuum from said vacuum means.