US 2006/0112738 A1 · Divided pressure vessel apparatus for carbon dioxide based systems and methods of using same

Abstract

A method of utilizing a divided pressure vessel in a processing system employing a carbon dioxide based solvent includes transferring a first carbon dioxide based treating solution from a first liquid chamber in a divided pressure vessel having a plurality of liquid chambers to a processing vessel, returning the first treating solution from the processing vessel to the divided pressure vessel, transferring a second carbon dioxide based treating solution having a composition different from the first treating solution from a second liquid chamber in the divided pressure vessel to a processing vessel, and returning the second treating solution from the processing vessel to the divided pressure vessel. A divided pressure vessel may allow multiple solvent baths each having a different chemical composition to be stored and/or processed in a single pressure vessel while maintaining the different chemical compositions of the multiple solvent baths. Thus, such divided pressure vessels may provide the improved operational efficiency of a carbon dioxide based system having multiple solvent baths while decreasing the capital costs that may be associated with such systems.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A dry cleaning system employing a carbon dioxide based solvent, said system comprising:

a divided working tank configured to store a plurality of liquid carbon dioxide based treating solutions having different compositions, said divided working tank including:
an exterior wall defining an interior volume, said exterior wall capable of withstanding an internal pressure of at least about 500 psig;
and
a first dividing member extending from an interior surface of the exterior wall and defining a first and a second liquid chamber in the divided pressure vessel, wherein the first and the second liquid chambers share a common vapor space;
a first carbon dioxide based dry-cleaning solution consisting essentially of liquid carbon dioxide positioned in the first liquid chamber;
and
a wash tank configured to contact a dry-cleanable article to be cleaned with one or more of the plurality of treating solutions, the wash tank in fluid communication with the divided working tank.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Divided pressure vessel apparatus for carbon dioxide based systems and methods of using same

Life of this patent

Divided pressure vessel apparatus for carbon dioxide based systems and methods of using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18