Systems and methods for receiving the output of a direct steam injector
AssigneeEmpirical Innovations, Inc.
InventorNicholas A. Roth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum source, and a mixture flow path adapted to be connected to receive the output of a direct steam injector. The vacuum source is operatively connected to a vacuum port of the vacuum chamber, while a product outlet port from the vacuum chamber is adapted to be connected to an arrangement for removing treated product from the vacuum chamber. The mixture flow path includes a flow path segment outside of the vacuum chamber volume and a flow path segment within the vacuum chamber volume. At least some of a surface defining the flow path segment within the vacuum chamber is in substantial thermal communication with one or more cooling structures.
Claims13
A method of receiving an output of a direct steam injector, the method including:
- (a) receiving a heated mixture stream from a direct steam injector, the heated mixture stream including a product to be treated which has been mixed with steam;
- (b) directing the heated mixture stream through a hold conduit to a location within a vacuum chamber volume, the hold conduit including a hold conduit portion located inside the vacuum chamber volume;
- (c) as the heated mixture stream is directed through the hold conduit, removing heat from the heated mixture stream through a hold conduit cooling structure positioned along at least part of the hold conduit portion located inside the vacuum chamber;
- (d) releasing the heated mixture stream into the vacuum chamber volume;
- (e) maintaining a reduced pressure on the heated mixture which has been released into the vacuum chamber volume, the reduced pressure being sufficient to vaporize liquid water within the vacuum chamber volume;
- and
- (f) removing from the vacuum chamber volume both water vapor and a cooled product, the cooled product comprising material other than water vapor collected from the heated mixture stream in the vacuum chamber volume.
A method of receiving an output of a direct steam injector, the method including:
- (a) receiving a heated mixture stream from a direct steam injector, the heated mixture stream including a product to be treated which has been mixed with steam;
- (b) directing the heated mixture stream to a location within a vacuum chamber volume through a hold conduit which comprises an external flow path segment located outside of the vacuum chamber volume;
- (c) directing the heated mixture stream along an internal flow path segment defined in part by a surface of a dispersal wall included in an arrangement of vacuum chamber of walls which define the vacuum chamber volume;
- (d) as the heated mixture stream is directed along the surface of the dispersal wall, removing heat from the heated mixture stream through a dispersal wall cooling structure positioned along at least part of the dispersal wall;
- (e) maintaining a reduced pressure on the heated mixture directed along the surface of the dispersal wall, the reduced pressure being sufficient to vaporize liquid water within the vacuum chamber volume;
- and
- (f) removing from the vacuum chamber volume both water vapor and a cooled product, the cooled product comprising material other than water vapor collected from the heated mixture stream in the vacuum chamber volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.