Methods and Apparatus Utilizing Vacuum for Breaking Organic Cell Walls

Moisture collector comprising, in combination:

• a collection tank;
• a heat exchanger inside of the collection tank, with the collection tank including a tank inlet receiving a flow stream including vaporized moisture and including a tank outlet, with the heat exchanger located intermediate the tank inlet and the tank outlet;
• a condensation accumulator;
• an inlet valve in communication with the collection tank and the condensation accumulator;
• and an outlet valve in communication with the condensation accumulator and the source of moisture, with the inlet valve being normally open and closed when the outlet valve is open, with the outlet valve being normally closed.

Method comprising:

• flowing a vapor stream past a heat exchanger inside a collection tank to condense moisture inside the collection tank;
• passing the moisture inside the collection tank through an inlet valve into a condensation accumulator;
• and
• closing the inlet valve and opening an outlet valve when the moisture in the condensation accumulator reaches a high level and closing the outlet valve and opening the inlet valve when the moisture in the condensation accumulator reaches a low level.

Method comprising:

• actuating a vacuum pump to draw a vapor stream past a heat exchanger inside a collection tank to condense moisture inside the collection tank;
• draining the condensed moisture from inside the collection tank;
• supplying fluid to a feed tank;
• flowing the fluid from the feed tank to a chiller;
• cooling the fluid in the chiller;
• flowing the chilled fluid from the chiller to the vacuum pump, with the chilled fluid inside the vacuum pump acting as a seal fluid, with the chilled fluid blended with the vapor stream inside the vacuum pump;
• flowing the blended chilled fluid and the vapor stream from the vacuum pump back to the feed tank;
• and
• flowing the chilled fluid from the chiller into the heat exchanger, with the flowing fluid flowing out of the exchanger.

Heat recapture device comprising, in combination:

• a collection tank;
• a heat exchanger inside of the collection tank, with the collection tank including a tank inlet receiving a flow stream including vaporized moisture and including a tank outlet, with the heat exchanger located intermediate the tank inlet and the tank outlet, with condensed moisture being drainable from inside the collection tank;
• a vacuum pump in vacuum communication with the tank outlet;
• a feed tank holding fluid;
• and a chiller in fluid communication with the feed tank, with the chiller in fluid communication with the vacuum pump, with the fluid being chilled in the chiller and acting as a seal fluid inside the vacuum pump, with the vacuum pump in fluid communication with the feed tank to return the chilled fluid and vapor from the collection tank to the feed tube, with the chiller in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, with the heat exchanger and the outlet valve in fluid communication with the source of moisture.