Method and apparatus for physical and chemical separation and reaction
AssigneeSepradyne Corporation
InventorsRandy Aulbaugh, Gregory G. Hawk
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for separating volatile from nonvolatile substances, separation of volatile substances, one from the other, and for performing various chemical reactions. In particular, an apparatus which performs these functions utilizing a combination of above ambient temperatures and above one inch of mercury vacuum within a rotating vessel. The apparatus uses a conventional rotary vacuum seal. The apparatus, however, operates well above the maximum operating temperature of the conventional rotary vacuum seal by isolating and cooling the conventional rotary vacuum seal.
Claims25
A method of separating one or more substances from a material disposed within a retort, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying heat to the material thus making an internal temperature within the retort greater than ambient temperature;
- rotating the retort to distribute the heat substantially uniformly throughout the material;
- and
- applying a vacuum of between about 2.25 mmHg and 735 mmHg to the retort to reduce a boiling point of the one or more substances such that the one or more substances volitilize thus separating the one or more substances from the material.
A method of separating at least one substance as an off gas from a material disposed in a retort comprising the steps of:
- supplying heat to the retort and the material such that the heat increases a temperature of the material sufficiently to vaporize the at least one substance;
- rotating the retort such that the heat is dispersed within the retort and the material;
- applying a vacuum of between about 2.25 mmHg and 735 mmHg to the retort, the vacuum thereby decreasing the boiling point of the at least one substance, thus volitalizing the at least one substance into the off-gas;
- and
- transferring the off gas out of the retort to an off-gas treatment system.
A method of separating at least one substance from a material, the method comprising the steps of:
- disposing the material in a retort;
- applying heat to the material such that the heat increases a temperature of the material sufficiently to vaporize the at least one substance;
- rotating the retort to decrease contact of the at least one substance with non-vaporized substances within the retort;
- and
- applying a vacuum of between 2.25 mmHg and 735 mmHg to the retort to facilitate exhausting the at least one substance out of the retort.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.