Abstract:
A process is described for recovering alkali-chloride and alkali-sulfate salts from a salt solution. The salt solution comprises alkali metal, chloride and sulfate ions and is directed to a hydrous salt crystallization unit (28) which crystallizes hydrated sulfate salts that comprise sulfate and at least one alkali metal. A purged solution from the hydrous salt crystallization unit (28) is directed to a chloride salt crystallization unit (38) while the hydrated sulfate salt crystals are melted to form an aqueous sulfate solution which is directed to a sulfate crystallization unit (32). Anhydrous sulfate salts are crystallized from the aqueous sulfate solution to form sulfate salt crystals comprising sulfate and at least one alkali metal. In the chloride salt crystallization unit (38), chloride salt is crystallized to form chloride salt crystals. At least a portion of the purges from the sulfate and chloride salt crystallization units (32, 38) is directed to the hydrous salt crystallization unit (28).
Abstract:
An evaporation system employs a thermocompressor to recover heat associated with a distillate produced by an evaporator and to use the recovered heat to preheat evaporator feedwater. In one example, the thermocompressor produces a thermocompressor discharge that is directed into the deaerator, contacting and preheating the evaporator feedwater passing therethrough. In another example, the thermocompressor discharge is directed through a barometric condenser which contacts evaporator feedwater therein and condenses and in the process preheats the evaporator feedwater.