CONTROLLED-GRADIENT, ACCELERATED VAPOR-RECOMPRESSION APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

An accelerated vapor recompression apparatus 10 converts incoming flow 35a to a concentrate 35c by developing a concentration profile 146 within a tank 30 holding a liquid 23 containing dissolved solids. The resulting curve 160 of saturation temperature of the stratified liquid 23 (such as a brine 23 or other material 23) moves away from the curve 162 corresponding to fully mixed conditions. The shift 174, 180 in saturation temperature results in increased boiling without increased energy from a heater 70 or compressor 50. A method 90, 200 of control of the system provides interventions 203, 204, 205, 206 at different levels 92, 94, 96, 98 of control, ranging from mass flows 35 to work of a compressor 50, heat from a heater 70, and a predictive processing 215 of feedback 217 for controlling commands 216 algorithmically.

主权项

1. A method of removing a contaminant from a carrier, the method comprising:
selecting a liquid operating as a carrier; selecting a contaminant found in the carrier to be a targeted contaminant; providing a circuit comprising a vapor re-compression cycle having a first region containing nucleate boiling; introducing into the circuit the carrier containing the contaminant; establishing in the first region a concentration gradient of the contaminant; controlling the first region by manipulation of the concentration gradient; and returning a condensate comprising the carrier containing less than a pre-determined concentration of the contaminant.