Combined Condensing Direct-Contact Exchange and Separations
AssigneeHall Labs LLC
InventorsLarry Baxter, Nathan Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods for separating a vapor from a gas are disclosed. A gas is passed through a direct-contact exchanger. The exchanger using a contact liquid to cool the gas. The gas comprises a vapor. A portion of the vapor is condensed as the gas passes through the direct-contact exchanger, producing a product liquid and a vapor-depleted gas. The product liquid is immiscible in the contact liquid. The product liquid is gravity settled from the contact liquid such that the contact liquid and the product liquid separate in the direct-contact exchanger.
Claims20
A method for separating a vapor from a gas comprising:
- passing a gas through a direct-contact exchanger, the direct-contact exchanger using a contact liquid to cool the gas, wherein the gas comprises a vapor;
- condensing a portion of the vapor as the gas passes through the direct-contact exchanger to produce a product liquid and a vapor-depleted gas, wherein the product liquid is immiscible in the contact liquid;
- and,
- gravity settling the product liquid from the contact liquid such that the contact liquid and the product liquid separate in the direct-contact exchanger.
A direct-contact exchanger, comprising:
- a cavity;
- a gas inlet coupled to the cavity, wherein a gas is passed through the gas inlet into the cavity, the gas comprising a vapor;
- a contact liquid inlet coupled to the cavity, wherein:
- a contact liquid passes through the contact liquid inlet into the cavity;
- the contact liquid exchanges heat with the gas in the cavity;
- the exchange of heat condenses at least a portion of the vapor in the gas to produce a product liquid and a vapor-depleted gas;
- the product liquid is immiscible in the contact liquid;
- and,
- the product liquid and the contact liquid gravity settle in the cavity such that the product liquid and the contact liquid separate.
The device of claim 17, wherein the product liquid outlet is situated at a bottom portion of the stilling well and the contact liquid outlet is situated above an interface of the contact liquid and the product liquid in the stilling well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.