Abstract:
A method and apparatus for exposing particles to a fluid including the steps of adding fluid and particles to a container having impeller means therein, generating a current with the impeller so as to subject the particles to centrifugal and convective forces resulting in the formation of a well-defined and localized fluidized bed of particles, and maintaining the existence of the current through the fluidized bed so that the particles are thereby exposed to the fluid. The fluidized bed is located in a region removed from the impeller when the particles are more dense than the fluid, and the fluidized bed is located in a region near the impeller when the particles are less dense than the fluid. A method of exposing a first fluid to a second fluid, the second fluid being either a gas or a liquid immiscible in the first fluid is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of adding the first and second fluids to a container having impeller means therein, generating with the impeller a current in the first fluid which subjects the second fluid to centrifugal and convective forces resulting in the formation of a well defined and localized bed of a dispersed phase of the second fluid remaining in a region near the impeller, and maintaining the existence of the current through the region so that the dispersed phase in the fluidized bed is exposed to the first fluid.
Abstract:
Process for separating fine particles (fines) from a slurry of such fine particles in a liquid by a combination of centrifugal or other separative force and axial or longitudinal flow imparted to the slurry producing secondary flows of the slurry, and apparatus for utilization of the process, including a conduit (11) having a helical or curved portion (12) through which the slurry passes, rotating means (14) for spinning the helical portion, pumping means (15) for imparting an axial flow to the slurry, and control means (16) for controlling to obtain alternate direction of the axial flow towards the opposite ends of the helical portion.
Abstract:
Liquid level in a vessel of cryogenic liquid or solid-liquid slurry is determined and indicated by sensing, in an immersed tubular probe, a probe-evoked vapor gas pressure counter balancing the hydrostatic head to the probe tip, and displaying an output on an appropriate meter scale or by a digital readout device in level height or other vessel-content terms, and, if desired, activating a low level alarm; the probe as a heat pipe conducting heat, from a source external of the liquid, to the probe bore as far as the tip to volatilize liquid entering the probe tip from which as a sensing gas the gas phase may slowly bubble; a differential pressure sensing device being connected to the probe and to the vessel gas space for a closed vessel.The probe comprises a small-diameter copper sensing tube with bottom tip open to the liquid and top end connected to the pressure sensing device; and a sensing-tube-surrounding stainless steel tube as (at least at temperature of use) an insulating vacuum jacket, with certain structural expedients to accommodate differences in average thermal coefficients of linear expansion of the metals, to maintain the tubes generally coaxially spaced from contact under conditions, and to reduce heat transfer therebetween. Probe variations are given for use in the common method whereby liquid at the point of measurement will have a vapor pressure exceeding the static head.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for separating or fractionating particles of differing sedimentation rates in a fluid. For fractionation, the mixture is introduced into a tube and subjected to a cyclic sequence of alternating axial flows, with optional waiting periods of zero flow. The velocities and time periods of the individual flows in the cycle are adjusted so that particles of greater and lesser sedimentation rates tend to be driven in opposite directions. At the end of each cycle there is a step of resuspension of sedimented particles without axial dispersion and independent of axial flows.
Abstract:
A process for separating acid gases such as CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, and SO.sub.2, other sulfur-containing molecules such as COS, and other relatively high boiling point impurities from lower boiling point components of a gas stream comprises: dehydrating the gas stream and contacting it, at an elevated pressure and at substantially the dew point temperature of carbon dioxide therein, with a liquid carbon dioxide refrigerant-absorbent to absorb such impurities other than CO.sub.2, and separating the liquid carbon dioxide and absorbed impurities; condensing CO.sub.2, and separating the liquid carbon dioxide and absorbed impurities; and condensing CO.sub.2 from the residual gas stream at such pressure, preferably by indirect heat exchange. A crystallization process is also disclosed for separating the liquid carbon dioxide and absorbed impurities. The residual gas stream obtained following indirect heat exchange may be processed further by contact with a second refrigerant-absorbent which preferably comprises a liquid-solid slurry. Further, a crystallization process is disclosed for separating a crystallizable material and an excluded material which is at least partially excluded from the solid phase of the crystallizable material obtained upon freezing a liquid mixture of the materials. The solid phase is formed and melted at spaced locations in a liquid mixture of the materials and, within the liquid mixture, internal solid and liquid flows are maintained in opposite directions to effect separation of the materials. The solid phase is formed by evaporative cooling of the liquid mixture and melted by direct contact with a condensing vapor phase of the materials, each of these operations being performed substantially at the prevailing triple point locus conditions in the respective locations in the liquid mixture.
Abstract:
A process for separating acid gases such as CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, and SO.sub.2, other sulfur-containing molecules such as COS, and other relatively high boiling point impurities from lower boiling point components of a gas stream comprises: dehydrating the gas stream and contacting it, at an elevated pressure and at substantially the dew point temperature of carbon dioxide therein, with a liquid carbon dioxide refrigerant-absorbent to absorb such impurities other than CO.sub.2, and separating the liquid carbon dioxide and absorbed impurities; condensing CO.sub.2, and separating the liquid carbon dioxide and absorbed impurities; condensing CO.sub.2 from the residual gas stream at such pressure, preferably by indirect heat exchange; contacting the residual gas stream at such pressure with a second refrigerant-absorbent below the triple point temperature of carbon dioxide, and separating additional carbon dioxide therewith. The second refrigerant-absorbent is preferably a liquid-solid slurry comprising an organic liquid vehicle and carbon dioxide in the solid phase to provide in situ refrigeration by melting of the solid phase. The final, residual gas stream is heat exchanged to recover its refrigeration potential. Further, a crystallization process is disclosed for separating a crystallizable material and an excluded material which is at least partially excluded from the solid phase of the crystallizable material obtained upon freezing a liquid mixture of the materials. The solid phase is formed and melted at spaced locations in a liquid mixture of the materials and, within the liquid mixture, internal solid and liquid flows are maintained in opposite directions to effect separation of the materials. The solid phase is formed by evaporative cooling of the liquid mixture and melted by direct contact with a condensing vapor phase of the materials, each of these operations being performed substantially at the prevailing triple point locus conditions in the respective locations in the liquid mixture.
Abstract:
An improved crystallization process is disclosed for separating a crystallizable material and an excluded material which is at least partially excluded from the solid phase of the crystallizable material obtained upon freezing a liquid phase of the materials. The solid phase is more dense than the liquid phase, and it is separated therefrom by relative movement with the formation of a packed bed of solid phase. The packed bed is continuously formed adjacent its lower end and passed from the liquid phase into a countercurrent flow of backwash liquid. The packed bed extends through the level of the backwash liquid to provide a drained bed of solid phase adjacent its upper end which is melted by a condensing vapor.
Abstract:
A crystallization process is disclosed for separating a crystallizable material and an excluded material which is at least partially excluded from the solid phase obtained upon freezing a liquid mixture of the materials. The solid phase is formed and melted at spaced locations in a liquid mixture of the materials and, within the liquid mixture, internal solid and liquid flows are maintained in opposite directions to effect separation of the materials. The solid phase is formed by evaporative cooling of the liquid mixture and melted by direct contact with a condensing vapor phase of the materials, each of these operations being performed substantially at the prevailing triple point locus conditions in the respective locations in the liquid mixture.