APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LIQUID PURIFICATION

摘要

Apparatus, methods, and systems for separating a fluid mixture are provided which employ gas-handling equipment operable to introduce a gas into the liquid mixture prior to being dispersed within the apparatus, vacuum conditions, and internal condensing. The liquid mixture is dispersed within the separation apparatus as micro-sized droplets. A more volatile portion of the liquid mixture is vaporized when exposed to the vacuum conditions and separates from the non-vaporized liquid portion. The vaporized portion is directed to a condensing structure within the apparatus, which condenses the vaporized portion into a liquid product.

主权项

1. A method for recovering a liquid product from a liquid mixture, said method comprising:
introducing a gas into a stream of said liquid mixture so as to cause at least a portion of said gas to become dissolved within the liquid mixture thereby forming a gas-containing liquid mixture; directing the gas-containing liquid mixture stream into a separation apparatus operating under vacuum conditions, said separation apparatus comprising an outer housing, a fluid-collection trough located within said housing and defining at least in part a vaporization zone and a channel into which liquid may be collected, and a condensing structure located within said housing; transporting the gas-containing liquid mixture along at least a portion of the length of said vaporization zone through one or more liquid mixture supply conduits; dispersing said gas-containing liquid mixture within the vaporization zone as a plurality of droplets, causing at least a portion of said droplets to vaporize thereby forming a vapor product, contacting the vapor product with said condensing structure to condense at least a portion of said vapor product thereby forming the liquid product; recovering any portion of the plurality of droplets not vaporized in said trough; and recovering the liquid product from said separation apparatus.