Distillation: apparatus – Apparatus – Systems
Patent
1990-11-28
1992-12-08
Bascomb, Jr., Wilbur
Distillation: apparatus
Apparatus
Systems
202186, 202202, 202205, 202266, 62268, 203 25, 203 26, 203 91, 203DIG8, 203DIG20, B01D 310
Patent
active
051695022
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to an installation for processing liquids and, more particularly to an installation which has at least one vaporizer used for the process liquid, a condenser arranged downstream from this vaporizer, and a vacuum pump. Additionally, a gas-ring compressor, positioned in the exhaust pipe between the vaporizer and the condenser, presses the vapors through the condenser. Also, the process liquid is used as the cooling liquid for the condenser where it is heated and then recycled to the vaporizer. In such an installation, the process liquid is vaporized under a vacuum, and the vapors, which are either in cloud form or exhaust steams, are carried by an exhaust pipe connected to the vaporizer through a condenser to a vacuum pump.
An installation for processing liquid having at least one vaporizer used for the process liquid, a condenser arranged downstream with respect to the liquid flow, and a vacuum pump is disclosed in "SIEMENS POWER ENGINEERING", Vol. 2, no. 9/10, Sep. 1980, pages 298 to 302. In that installation, the vapors are suctioned out of the evaporator boiler by a downstream vacuum pump and are cooled off in a condenser. Due to this configuration, the downstream vacuum pump can have a small structural size. However, the condenser requires a large amount of cooling water in order to cool the vapors from the evaporator boiler. Thus, most of the thermal energy previously supplied to the vaporizer is given off to the environment by transfer to the cooling water of the condenser.
Certain designs for improving the thermal efficiency of liquid processing installations, which include vapor compressors are known. However, these designs require completely re-installing the installations with specially dimensioned installation parts. Such special installation parts are known from the information pamphlet "Mechanical Vapor Compressors" by the VDI Energy Technology Company [VDI-Gesellschaft Energietechnik] of Jan. 1988.
The present invention is directed to the problem of remodeling liquid process installations and thereby considerably improving thermal efficiency, while continuing to use existing installation parts and minimizing installation complexity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves this problem by providing a gas-ring compressor arranged between the vaporizer and the condenser in the exhaust pipe. Further, the process liquid, which is now used as the cooling liquid in the condenser, is heated in the condenser and returned, heated, to the vaporizer. Because a gas-ring compressor works in an oil-free manner, there is no danger of contaminating the discharged vapors. Additionally, use of the gas-ring compressor enables the installation to economically obtain a higher pressure ratio resulting in more rigorous heating of the vapors. Use of the gas-ring compressor creates a greater heat differential at the condenser resulting in a greater amount of heat transferred to the process liquid, which is flowing through the condenser. Because the process liquid is returned to the vaporizer after accepting the transferred heat, the vaporizer requires considerably less additional thermal energy to vaporize the process liquid. In fact, the heat transferred to the process liquid by the condenser is even sufficient to keep the process in operation. This heat recycling further improves the economic efficiency of the installation. Because both the economic efficiency and operational reliability of the installation are considerably improved with the addition of a gas-ring compressor, remodeling smaller process installations, even those with capacities of under 500 kW, is advantageous.
In an installation constructed according to the present invention, the process liquid is expediently pumped through the condenser by means of a circulating pump. If the vacuum pump of the installation also has a heat exchanger, then the amount of heat recovered can be increased by also directing the process liquid, which already flows through the circulating pump, thr
REFERENCES:
patent: 3226306 (1965-12-01), Hausner
patent: 3236748 (1966-02-01), Pottharst
patent: 3392538 (1968-07-01), Mongodin
patent: 3450601 (1969-06-01), Brown
patent: 3956072 (1976-05-01), Huse
patent: 4484457 (1984-11-01), Mugele
patent: 4577465 (1986-03-01), Olsen et al.
patent: 4580720 (1986-04-01), Strop et al.
patent: 4710272 (1987-12-01), Passarelli et al.
Siemens Power Engineering, vol. 2, No. 9/10, Sep. 1980, pp. 298-302: Humid-Air Testing Unit for the Efficient Application of Liquid-Ring Vacuum Pumps in Humid Processes, A. Barany, G. Bohm, H. G. Reinhardt.
Informationsschrift "Mechanische Bruden-Kompressoren" der VDI-Gesellschaft Energietechnik, Jan. 1988.
Bascomb, Jr. Wilbur
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
LandOfFree
Installation for processing liquids does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Installation for processing liquids, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Installation for processing liquids will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-958831