Solvent recovery and reclamation system
AssigneeBaxter International Inc.
InventorDavid C. H. Grant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for processing a product with a solvent containing volatile constituents, the system including a pressure chamber for receiving the product, a vacuum pump for evacuating the chamber, a solvent recirculating system for admitting the solvent at a predetermined pressure into the chamber, the solvent recirculating system including a heater for maintaining the temperature of the chamber at the saturation temperature of the solvent, gas liquid separator for separating the gas and liquid components of the solvent discharged from the chamber, a first closed loop system connected to the separator to return the gas constituent to the chamber and a second closed loop system connected to the separator to return the liquid component to the chamber.
Claims17
A method for controlling atmospheric emission of volatile constituents from a solvent composition used in processing items by contact with a solvent composition having a low boiling point comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning the items in a chamber capable of maintaining pressure of vacuum and a selected temperature,
- (b) evacuating the chamber to the atmosphere to reduce ambient air contamination,
- (c) pressurizing the solvent composition to or above the saturation pressure of the solvent composition,
- (d) admitting the pressurized solvent composition into the chamber, and
- (e) opening the chamber to allow the solvent composition to flow into a gas/liquid separator,
- (f) recirculating the gas component from the separator back to the chamber through a first closed loop system, and
- (g) recirculating the solvent composition back to the chamber through a second closed loop system.
A process for cleaning and relubricating a mechanical device comprising the steps of placing the device in a chamber,
- evacuating the chamber to a predetermined vacuum, discharging the contents of the chamber to the atmosphere,
- pressurizing the solvent to or above saturation pressure,
- admitting the pressurized solvent into the chamber,
- draining the solvent from the chamber to a gas/ liquid separator,
- circulating a solvent/lubricant solution from a receiver through the chamber and back to the receiver,
- heating the chamber and circulating dehumidified gas to evaporate the solvent whereby the lubricant is left in the mechanical device,
- evacuating the chamber and discharging the contents of the chamber to the gas/liquid separator.
A method for dry cleaning clothes comprising the steps of:
- placing the clothes to be treated in a rotary tube mounted in a chamber,
- evacuating the chamber to a predetermined vacuum, discharging the contents of the chamber to atmosphere,
- admitting solvent at a predetermined temperature into the chamber,
- rotating the tub as the solvent enters the chamber,
- recirculating the solvent to the chamber as the tub is rotated,
- draining the solvent to a gas/liquid separator,
- rotating the tub at a high speed to centrifugally remove the solvent liquid from the clothes,
- admitting warm dehumidified air into the chamber to evaporate the remaining liquid solvent,
- evacuating the chamber, discharging the contents of the chamber to the gas/liquid separator.
A system for processing a product with a solvent containing volatile constituents, said system comprising,
- a housing having a chamber for receiving the product,
- means for evacuating said chamber,
- means for admitting a solvent at a predetermined pressure into said chamber,
- means for maintaining the temperature of said chamber at the saturation temperature of the solvent,
- separator means connected to said chamber for separating the gas and liquid components of the solvent discharged from said chamber,
- a first closed loop system connected to the separator to return the gas constituent to the chamber, and
- a second closed loop system connected to the separator to return the liquid component to the chamber.
The system according to claim 6 including a means in said first closed loop for condensing said gas component and returning the resulting liquid component to said separator means.
A double closed loop recycling system for processing various products with a solvent composition having volatile constituents, said system comprising:
- a housing having a chamber for supporting the product to be processed,
- a gas/liquid separator connected to the chamber for separating the solvent components discharged from the chamber,
- a first closed loop system for recycling the solvent vapor component back to the chamber, and
- a second closed system for recycling the solvent liquid component back to the chamber,
- said second system including means for controlling the pressure and temperature of the solvent/liquid component to maintain the solvent in liquid form.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.