Abstract:
Apparatus for and method of feeding a solute into a stream of solvent at an accurately predetermined and variable rate. A solute such as an acid for treating water to prevent scale formation is disposed in a container in solid form. The interior of the container communicates with a supply of heated and deaerated distilland via a conduit blocked by a predetermined variable area microporous membrane. The heated and deaerated distilland is circulated in contact with one side of the membrane and diffuses therethrough whereby the solute dissolves therein to form a concentrated aqueous acid solution. The concentrated acid solution is permitted to diffuse back through the membrane and mix with the distilland to control the pH thereof. The solute concentration within the acid solution in the container is maintained generally constant and means are provided for indicating a change in solute concentration.
Abstract:
A multi-stage still is disclosed having particular utility in the desalination of water. The still comprises an array of alternating vapor impermeable and vapor permeable stacked membranes in laminar relation. Thus, each permeable membrane is sandwiched between a pair of impermeable membranes which form discrete channels on opposite sides of the permeable membrane for conducting distilland and distillate flow. The impermeable membranes are corrugated with their respective corrugations alternately canted in opposite directions with respect to the direction of fluid flow to prevent nesting of the impermeable membranes. Such opposite canting of the corrugations of alternate impermeable membranes functions to preserve the general direction of fluid flow.
Abstract:
An electrolytic heater especially adapted to deaerate water by a process in which water is heated to form steam and is counterflowed against the rising steam to strip air from the water. The heater includes an open container divided by a perforated wall into upper and lower chambers and electrodes located in the lower chamber. Water is introduced into the upper chamber, passes through the openings in the wall to the lower chamber where it is heated electrolytically to form steam and from which deaerated water is withdrawn. Steam and water are required to flow in opposite directions through the same openings in the dividing wall so that the flow of each is an inverse function of the other and a balance will be reached automatically limiting the liquid level in the lower chamber and the rate of steam generation resulting from current flow between electrodes.
Abstract:
A distillation system incorporating a multiple stage still comprising microporous membranes in which heated and deaerated feed liquid is utilized, in part, as distilland, and in part, as a heating liquid for transferring heat to the distilland within the still to generate a thermal gradient and effect heat transfer required to produce distillate from the distilland. The feed liquid employed for heating is returned to a deaerator heater where it is combined with additional feed liquid to replace the distillate and effluent distilland liquid. Heat is transferred from the effluent and distillate to the additional feed liquid prior to introduction thereof into the deaerator heater.
Abstract:
A liquid transfer system is disclosed, particularly applicable to the desalination of water, in which a solution, e.g., saline water, is formed into fine droplets having a specified curvature and associated vapor pressure dispersed in a carrier fluid immiscible with the solvent to form a disperse system which is then brought into intimate association with a body of solvent of lower solute concentration and having a smaller curvature and lower associated vapor pressure creating an unstable condition in which solvent transfers as vapor from the droplets of the disperse system to the body of solvent. Examples are given in which the disperse system is an aerosol, i.e., carrier fluid is a gas, or an emulsion, i.e., carrier fluid is a liquid.
Abstract:
A still comprising a distillation unit formed by arranging microporous membranes and corrugated, impermeable films in alternating stacked relation together with adhesive sealing elements located between adjacent membranes and films and a spacer located between two stacks of membranes and films, to form channels for liquids. The assembly of membranes, films, sealing elements and spacer is subjected to heat and pressure to bond the sealing elements to the membranes, films and spacer, and holes are drilled through the unit to form conduits for feeding liquids to and from selected channels between adjacent membranes and films. The unit is then located together with sealing elements between the walls of two complimentary housing sections which are sealed to one another to form a housing enclosing the unit and subjected to heat and pressure to bond the unit to the walls of the housing to form additional liquid channels. The corners of the distillation unit are sealed to the corners of the housing to form chambers for receiving and distributing feed, heating, and coolant liquids. All of the components are designed to be fabricated or formed of polymeric sheet materials and connections for the flow of liquids are made to the conduits within the still (housing) by way of nipples secured to the housing and/or liquid conduits pressed into liquid-tight engagement with the housing. One surface of each membrane is corrugated to prevent blockage of the channels for feed liquid and the walls of the housing as well as the spacer are corrugated to provide channels for heating and coolant liquids.
Abstract:
A still comprising a distillation unit formed by arranging microporous membranes and corrugated, impermeable films in alternating stacked relation together with adhesive sealing elements located between adjacent membranes and films and a spacer located between two stacks of membranes and films, to form channels for liquids. The assembly of membranes, films, sealing elements and spacer is subjected to heat and pressure to bond the sealing elements to the membranes, films and spacer, and holes are drilled through the unit to form conduits for feeding liquids to and from selected channels between adjacent membranes and films. The unit is then located together with sealing elements between the walls of two complimentary housing sections which are sealed to one another to form a housing enclosing the unit and subjected to heat and pressure to bond the unit to the walls of the housing to form additional liquid channels. The corners of the distillation unit are sealed to the corners of the housing to form chambers for receiving and distributing feed, heating, and coolant liquids. All of the components are designed to be fabricated or formed of polymeric sheet materials and connections for the flow of liquids are made to the conduits within the still (housing) by way of nipples secured to the housing and/or liquid conduits pressed into liquid-tight engagement with the housing. One surface of each member is corrugated to prevent blockage of the channels for feed liquid and the walls of the housing as well as the spacer are corrugated to provide channels for heating and coolant liquids.
Abstract:
APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE CONCENTRATION OF A LESS VOLATILE LIQUID FRACTION IN A MIXTURE OF THE LIQUID AND A MORE VOLATILE LIQUID, AND PARTICULARLY FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF HEAVY WATER IN A MIXTURE NCLUDING ORDINARY WATER. THE APPARATUS COMPRISES A MULTIPLICITY OF MICROPOROUS MEMBRANES SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERMEABLE TO THE LIQUIDS OF THE MIXTURE AND PERMEABLE TO THE VAPORS OF THE LIQUIDS, SANDWICHED TOGETHER TO FORM A COLUMN BETWEEN MEANS LOCATED AT THE ENDS OF THE COLUMN FOR CREATING A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE COLUMN. THE MIXTURE IS INTRODUCED INTO A MEDIAL SECTION OF THE COLUMN AND CIRCULATED TOWARD THE HOTTER END THEREOF AS THIN FILMS BETWEEN ADJACENT MEMBRANES TO CAUSE FLOW OF THE LESS VOLATILE (HIGHER BOILING POINT) FRACTION TOWARD THE HOTTER END OF THE COLUMN AND FLOW OF THE MORE VOLATILE (LOWER BOILING POINT) FRACTION TOWARD THE COLDER END RESULTING IN STRIPPING OR DEPLETION OF THE LOWER BOILING POINT FRACTION IN THE COLDER PORTION OF THE COLUMN AND CONCENTRATION OR ENRICHMENT IN THE HOTTER PORTION OF THE COLUMN.