Multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condensation

A method for condensing a vapor using a multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, the method comprising:

• using the multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprising at least a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage, wherein each stage includes:
• (a) a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet;
• (b) a condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas inlet is positioned and configured to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath;
• and
• (c) a volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath,
• wherein the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage and of the third stage is in the form of a respective sieve plate, wherein the condensing bath in the first stage is at a temperature of 60° C. to 90° C., wherein the volume of carrier gas above the first-stage condensing bath isolates the first-stage condensing bath from the second-stage condensing bath, and wherein the volume of carrier gas above the second-stage condensing bath isolates the second-stage condensing bath from the third-stage condensing bath;
• flowing carrier gas at a temperature above 60° C. and up to 93° C. (i) into and through the carrier-gas inlet of the first stage, then (ii) into and through the condensing bath in the first stage, wherein the temperature of the carrier gas flowing into and through the condensing bath in the first stage is greater than the temperature of the condensing bath in the first stage, then (iii) into and through the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the first stage;
• then
• flowing the carrier gas directly from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the first stage (i) into and through the sieve plate of the second stage, then (ii) into and through the condensing bath in the second stage, wherein the temperature of the condensing bath in the second stage is at least 5° C. cooler than the temperature of the condensing bath in the first stage, then (iii) into and through the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the second stage;
• then
• flowing the carrier gas directly from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the second stage (i) into and through the sieve plate of the third stage, then (ii) into and through the condensing bath in the third stage, wherein the temperature of the condensing bath in the third stage is at least 5° C. cooler than the temperature of the condensing bath in the second stage, then (iii) into and through the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the third stage;
• injecting additional carrier gas through an intermediate-exchange inlet into the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in at least one of the first and second stages to control the heat and mass profile of the carrier gas flowing through the stages of the multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser and to thereby maintain the temperature differentials between the condensing baths in the first, second, and third stages;
• and
• establishing a natural and regular liquid circulation loop in each condensing bath that maintains a temperature difference of no greater than 1%, measured in Kelvin, from top-to-bottom of each bath.

A method for condensing a vapor using a multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, the method comprising:

• using the multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprising at least a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage, wherein each stage includes:
• (a) a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet;
• (b) a condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas inlet is positioned and configured to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath;
• and
• (c) a volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath, wherein the carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath,
• wherein the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage and of the third stage is in the form of a respective sieve plate, wherein the condensing bath in the first stage is at a temperature of 60° C. to 90° C., wherein the volume of carrier gas above the first-stage condensing bath isolates the first-stage condensing bath from the second-stage condensing bath, and wherein the volume of carrier gas above the second-stage condensing bath isolates the second-stage condensing bath from the third-stage condensing bath;
• flowing carrier gas at a temperature above 60° C. and up to 93° C. (i) into and through the carrier-gas inlet of the first stage, then (ii) into and through the condensing bath in the first stage, wherein the temperature of the carrier gas flowing into and through the condensing bath in the first stage is greater than the temperature of the condensing bath in the first stage, then (iii) into and through the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the first stage;
• then
• flowing the carrier gas directly from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the first stage (i) into and through the sieve plate of the second stage, then (ii) into and through the condensing bath in the second stage, wherein the temperature of the condensing bath in the second stage is at least 5° C. cooler than the temperature of the condensing bath in the first stage, then (iii) into and through the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the second stage;
• then
• flowing the carrier gas directly from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the second stage (i) into and through the sieve plate of the third stage, then (ii) into and through the condensing bath in the third stage, wherein the temperature of the condensing bath in the third stage is at least 5° C. cooler than the temperature of the condensing bath in the second stage, then (iii) into and through the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the third stage;
• injecting additional carrier gas through an intermediate-exchange inlet into the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in at least one of the first and second stages to control the heat and mass profile of the carrier gas flowing through the stages of the multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser and to thereby maintain the temperature differentials between the condensing baths in the first, second, and third stages;
• flowing the carrier gas through a humidifier defining a humidifier chamber in which the carrier gas is humidified before the carrier gas flows into the carrier-gas inlet of the first stage, wherein the humidifier includes an intermediate exchange outlet;
• flowing the additional carrier gas out of the humidifier chamber through the intermediate exchange outlet and then into the intermediate exchange inlet of the at least one of the first and second stages to control the heat and mass profile of carrier gas flowing through the stages of the multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser;
• and
• flowing the carrier gas from the volume of carrier gas above the condensing bath in the third stage back into the humidifier.