APPARATUS FOR CRYSTALLISING SOLIDS

摘要

A method and apparatus for the crystallization of solids from liquids includes a vessel (8) having an elongate vertical spray chamber (10) which overlies and is in flow communication with a collection basin (22) for collecting slurry from the spray chamber. The collection basin has a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the spray chamber and preferably includes a side wall (24) which extends upwardly beyond the lower end (18) of the spray chamber (10) to define an opening between the wall of the basin and the spray chamber which communicates with the atmosphere. A blower (14) is located in the top of the spray chamber to draw air at substantially ambient atmospheric conditions through the opening between upper end of the basin and lower end of the spray chamber and upwardly through the chamber (10). The slurry solution which is to be concentrated and crystallized is sprayed into the chamber and directly contacts the air flowing through the chamber thereby resulting in evaporation and concentration of the sprayed slurry and and crystallization of solids therefrom. The slurry collected in the collection basin is recirculated and returned as a spray at the upper end of the chamber. If desired, the recirculated slurry may be heated prior to being returned as a spray at the upper end of the chamber and the heating may be achieved in a heat exchanger (36) so as to utilize waste heat in its operation; this may also be employed to condense the otherwise wasted vapour from a series of vacuum evaporators and further concentrate the product.