# US 9,039,811 B2 · Apparatus and methods for separating volatiles from particulates

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,039,811 B2
- Document ID: US9039811B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/578,283
- Filed: 2010-11-22
- Published: 2012-12-13
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-02-24
- Assignees: Univation Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ronald S. Eisinger; Bruce S. Holden; Timothy Charles Frank
- Inventors: Ronald S. Eisinger; Bruce S. Holden; Timothy Charles Frank
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039811B2

## CPC

- B01J 8/005: {Separating solid material from the gas/liquid stream (separation processes per se B01D)}
- B01D 17/0205: {by gas bubbles or moving solids}
- B01D 19/001: {by bubbling steam through the liquid (B01D19/0042, B01D19/0047 and B01D19/0052 take precedence)}
- B01D 45/12: by centrifugal forces (centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C)
- C08F 6/005: {from solid polymers}
- F26B 3/16: in a counter-flow of the gas or vapour
- F26B 17/14: the materials moving through a counter-current of gas
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27)

## Abstract

Apparatus and methods for separating volatiles from particulates are provided. The apparatus includes a separator having an internal volume and a fluid discharge outlet, a particulate discharge outlet, a particulate inlet, and a fluid inlet disposed on the separator and in fluid communication with the internal volume. The particulate inlet is disposed toward a first end of the separator and the fluid inlet is disposed toward a second end of the separator. The fluid inlet includes one or more openings disposed through a sidewall of the separator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for separating volatiles from particulates, comprising:
a separator having an internal volume, wherein the separator further comprises a separation section having a cylindrical inner wall disposed toward the first end of the separator and a particulate discharge section having a frustoconical inner wall disposed toward the second end of the separator, wherein the frustoconical inner wall has an angle ranging from about 50° to about 80° with respect to a base of the frustoconical inner wall;
a fluid discharge outlet, a particulate discharge outlet, a particulate inlet, and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, wherein the particulate inlet is disposed toward a first end of the separator, and wherein the fluid inlet is disposed toward a second end of the separator, and wherein the fluid inlet comprises one opening disposed through a sidewall of the separator; and
a fluid introduction cone disposed within the internal volume and located toward the second end of the separator, wherein a base of the fluid introduction cone is oriented toward the second end of the separator, wherein the fluid introduction cone is supported by one or more support members extending from an internal wall of the fluid introduction cone to a sidewall of the particulate discharge section of the separator such that an annulus is formed between the base of the fluid introduction cone and the separator that is free of any structures, and wherein a conduit fluidly connects the fluid inlet with an internal volume of the fluid introduction cone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cylindrical inner wall and the frustoconical inner wall is coated with a low-friction coating.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frustoconical inner wall has an angle ranging from about 60° to about 75° with respect to a base of the frustoconical inner wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet further comprises a particulate-restricting device disposed within or about the opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the internal volume is substantially free of any gas-conducting structures between the opening and a top of a particulate bed disposed therein.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a separation section and a second section, wherein the fluid introduction cone is disposed within a portion of the separation section and a portion of the second section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a separation section and a second section, wherein the fluid introduction cone is disposed within the second section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method for separating volatiles from particulates using the apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
introducing particulates containing volatiles to the internal volume of the separator through the particulate inlet; and
introducing a purge gas to the internal volume through the fluid inlet, wherein the purge gas counter-currently contacts the particulates to produce a volatiles-rich purge gas and particulates having a reduced concentration of volatiles;
recovering the volatiles-rich purge gas from the fluid discharge outlet; and
recovering the particulates from the particulate discharge outlet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein introducing the purge gas through the fluid inlet further comprises flowing the purge gas through a nozzle disposed within the internal volume and coupled to the opening such that a distal end of the conduit is directed toward the first end of the separator.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein introducing the purge gas through the fluid inlet further comprises flowing the purge gas through one fluid distribution conduit perpendicularly disposed within the internal volume relative to a longitudinal axis of the separator, wherein the purge gas flows into the internal volume through one opening disposed through a sidewall of the fluid distribution conduit, and wherein the opening is directed toward the first end of the separator.