초록 ▼

A freeze crystallization concentration system is disclosed for separating a liquid feed stream into a more purified liquid and a concentrate in which only a single pass through a freeze-crystallizer and ice separator is required. The crystallizer, which converts the initial feed stream into a slurry

A freeze crystallization concentration system is disclosed for separating a liquid feed stream into a more purified liquid and a concentrate in which only a single pass through a freeze-crystallizer and ice separator is required. The crystallizer, which converts the initial feed stream into a slurry of ice and concentrate, includes a scraped surface heat exchanger that produces, pumps and removes an ice slurry and uses a secondary cooling system to ensure that the crystallizer will operate in any required position and is not sensitive to motion. The separator includes a rotating drum which separates the ice crystals from the surrounding concentrate by the use of centrifugal force and without the use of screens or filters. An auger, rotating at a different speed than the drum, may be located at the center of the drum for removing the ice crystals. A second drum, attached to the first drum, removes the concentrate with a stationary pivot tube under pressure created by the centrifugal force, without the concentrate being exposed to air. The ice crystals can then be conducted to the wash column to be separated from the remaining concentrate, grown and melted into pure water. The concentrate exiting the separator can be either removed from the system or a small amount can be diverted back to the crystallizer to be mixed with the feed stream from the wash column if a higher concentration is required.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for separating a slurry of ice crystals and liquid concentrate without filtration comprising: a rotatable drum having a longitudinal axis, an inlet for receiving a slurry of ice crystals and liquid concentrate, a first outlet for conducting liquid concentrate away from the drum, and a s

An apparatus for separating a slurry of ice crystals and liquid concentrate without filtration comprising: a rotatable drum having a longitudinal axis, an inlet for receiving a slurry of ice crystals and liquid concentrate, a first outlet for conducting liquid concentrate away from the drum, and a second outlet for conducting ice crystals and any residual liquid concentrate away from the drum; a scraper disposed inside and separate from the drum for conducting the ice crystals and any residual liquid concentrate to the second outlet; and a drive mechanism for rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis wherein the centrifugal action produced upon rotation of the drum forces the liquid concentrate through the first outlet.