Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
sAPOUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2001/003810
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
A vapour recovery system (10) and method for volatile chemicals which enhances the efficiency and safety of the process of recovering the vapour is disclosed. The volatile substance is vaporized in a distillation unit (1) under the control of a computerised heating system. The resulting vapour is first directly condensed by bubbling the vapour directly into the liquid phase (14) of that volatile substance. Any vapour that remains after having passed through said liquid phase accumulates above the liquid phase (14) and is allowed to escape into a vapour management module (31). The vapour management module (31) facilitates efficient condensation of the vapour by allowing heat exchange from the vapour to a material (44) contained within said vapour management module (31). Upon cooling in the vapour management module (31), the vapour condenses, and can run back into the liquid phase (14) through which it had passed when in the vapour phase. The vapour management module (31) has an exhaust that is substantially free of the vapour

More Like This:
JPS55145585DISTILLED WATER PRODUCING APPARATUS
Inventors:
MOUNT DENNIS WILLIAM (CA)
Application Number:
PCT/CA2000/000807
Publication Date:
January 18, 2001
Filing Date:
July 07, 2000
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
MOUNT DENNIS WILLIAM (CA)
International Classes:
B01D1/00; B01D3/00; B01D5/00; B01D53/00; F28B1/02; F28B3/06; F28C3/12; (IPC1-7): B01D51/00; B01D1/00
Foreign References:
US5873980A1999-02-23
US5336376A1994-08-09
FR657685A1929-05-25
US5307638A1994-05-03
US4850117A1989-07-25
EP0336122A11989-10-11
GB603598A1948-06-18
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Keneford, Brooke L. (Ontario K1P 5Y7, CA)
Download PDF:
View/Download PDF      PDF Help
Claims:
CLAIMS THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE ARE CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A solvent vapour recovery system comprising: a distillation module comprising a distillation chamber for said solvent and heating means for heating said chamber to vaporize the solvent; a direct condensation module comprising a container for condensing the vapour and collecting the solvent in the liquid phase; conduit means for directing the vapour substantially without condensation from said distillation chamber to the direct condensation module, said conduit means sloping downwardly towards said distillation chamber to allow any condensate formed within said conduit to drain into said distillation chamber; a vapour management module for condensing vapour remaining uncondensed by said direct condensation module; and a vapour outlet located above the surface of said liquid in said direct condensation module, said vapour outlet communicating with said vapour management module to allow for passage of vapour from the direct condensation module to the vapour management module.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container holds a heat absorbing material through which said vapour is passed.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heat absorbing material comprises the vapour to be recovered in its liquid phase.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heat absorbing material is air.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heat absorbing material is an inert solid mass.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heat absorbing material comprises a combination of the vapour to be recovered in its liquid phase and an inert solid mass.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 or 6 wherein the conduit directs vapour beneath the surface of said liquid.
8. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 wherein the conduit directs vapour to the bottom of said container.
9. The apparatus of claim 3,6 or 7 wherein the vapour outlet is above the surface of said liquid.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 19 wherein the distillation chamber is located within an oil bath which is heated by said heating means.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the heating means comprises one or more heating elements located within said oil bath.
12. The apparatus of any one of claims 19 wherein the distillation chamber is heated by means of an infrared heater located within said chamber.
13. The apparatus of any one of claims 112 further comprising means for connecting said heating means to a power supply and a control means for controlling the power provided by said power supply to said heating means, said control means comprising a computer, temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of said distillation chamber and generating temperature reference signals which are provided as input signals to said computer and switching means for selectively providing power to said heating means from said power supply, said computer being programmed to apply control signals to said switching means to control the amount of power applied to said heating means in accordance with said input signals received from said temperature sensing means.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said computer is programmed with a set of parameters based on the input signals received from the temperature sensing means which, if exceeded, will activate said switching means to perform an ordered shutdown of said heating means by selectively activating said switching means to disconnect said heating means from said power supply.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the temperature sensing means comprises one or more platinum thermistor temperature probes.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 + wherein said heating means consists of at least one heating element.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said heating means consists of a direct heating means.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said heating means consists of an infrared heating lamp.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said switching means comprises one or more relays.
20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said heating means consists of a plurality of heating elements and said switching means comprises a plurality of relays respectively connecting said heating elements to said power supply.
21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said computer is programmed with a control law so that when a mixture of solvents including an aqueous component is to be distilled in said distillation chamber, said computer runs a distillation procedure wherein the heating means raises the solution to a temperature causing the solvent with the lowest boiling point to vaporize, the temperature is then maintained until the aforementioned solvent is substantially removed from the solution, at which time the temperature is raised again until the solvent with the next lowest boiling point begins to vaporize and the process is then repeated until all solvents have been distilled off.
22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein computer controls said switching means to vary the input to the heating means to balance the rate of vaporization of a solvent with the rate of condensation of the same solvent in a separate, but connected, container.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vapour management module comprises a container containing heat absorbing material and a conduit extending between said vapour outlet of said direct condensation module and a vent, said conduit passing through said heat absorbing material.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said vent is at a higher elevation than said vapour outlet of said direct condensation module.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24 wherein the heat absorbing material is a liquid.
26. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24 wherein the heat absorbing material is crystalline.
27. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24 wherein the heat absorbing material is water mixed with a salt to form a crystallized state.
28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vapour management module comprises a container containing solid heat absorbing material which is permeable to vapour and condensation through which said vapour passes from said direct condensation module to said vent.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the heat absorbing material is steel ball bearings.
30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the heat absorbing material is glass chips.
31. The apparatus of any one of claims 2830 wherein a support member is provided in said vapour outlet of said direct condensation module, said support member being permeable to vapour and condensation and impermeable to said heat absorbing material.
32. The apparatus of any one of claims 131 wherein the container of said direct condensation module is provided with a drainage means for draining liquid therefrom.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the drainage means comprises a tap.
34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the drainage means comprises an overflow pipe in said container.
35. A vapour management system comprising a container containing heat absorbing material, a vent, a vapour inlet and means for guiding vapour from said vapour inlet through said heat absorbing material to said vent.
36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vapour management module comprises a container containing heat absorbing material and a conduit extending between said vapour inlet and said vent, said conduit passing through said heat absorbing material.
37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said vapour management module comprises a container containing solid heat absorbing material which is permeable to vapour and condensation through which said vapour passes from said vapour inlet to said vent.
38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the heat absorbing material is steel ball bearings.
39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the heat absorbing material is glass chips.
40. The apparatus of any one of claims 3739 wherein a support member is provided in said vapour inlet, said support member being permeable to vapour and condensation and impermeable to said heat absorbing material.
Description:
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT Tinter mal Application No PCT/CA 00/00807 C. (Continuation) DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category ° Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. X US 4 850 117 A (VENKAT RAJOO ET AL) 35,37-40 25 July 1989 (1989-07-25) column 1, line 61-column 2, line 4; figure 1 X EP 0 336 122 A (LINDE AG) 35,37,40 11 October 1989 (1989-10-11) column 4, line 20-42; figure X GB 603 598 A (SOCIETE POUR LEXPLOITATION 35 DES PROCEDES AB-DER-HALDEN) 18 June 1948 (1948-06-18) page 1, line 69-95; figure 2 I,, rational application No. INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT PCT/CA 00/00807 Box I Observations where certain claims were found unsearchable (Continuation of item 1 of first sheet) This International Search Report has not been established in respect of certain claims under Article 17 (2) (a) for the following reasons : 1. Claim, Nos. : because they relate to subject matter not required to be searched by this Authority, namely: 2. Claims Nos.: because they relate to parts of the International Application that do not comply with the prescribed requirements to such an extent that no meaningful International Search can be carried out, specifically : 3. Claims Nos.: because they are dependent claims and are not drafted in accordance with the second and third sentences of Rule 6.4 (a). Box li Observations where unity of invention is lacking (Continuation of item 2 of first sheet) This International Searching Authority found multiple inventions in this international application, as follows: see additional sheet 1. As all required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this International Search Report covers all searchable claims. 2. as ail searchable claims could be searched without effort justifying an additional fee, this Authority did not invite payment of any additional fee. 3. As only some of the required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this International Search Report covers only those claims for which fees were paid, specifically claims Nos.: 4. No required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant. Consequently, this International Search Report is restricted to the invention first mentioned in the claims; it is covered by claims Nos.: Remark on Protest i The additional search fees were accompanied by the applicant's protest. u Fx-l No protest accompanied the payment of additional search fees. FURTHER INFORMATION CONTINUED FROM PCT/ISA/210 This International Searching Authority found multiple (groups of) inventions in this international application, as follows: 1. Claims: 1-34,36 Solvent vapour recovery system 2. Claims : 35,37-40 Vapour management system INTERNATIONAL SEARCH !------------------- Tinter, na Application No .ormation on patent family members PCT/CA 00/00807 Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member (s) date US 5873980 A 23-02-1999 NONE US 5336376 A 09-08-1994 DE 4214738 A 11-11-1993 CA 2095285 A 05-11-1993 DE 59301615 D 28-03-1996 EP 0568864 A 10-11-1993 JP 6007602 A 18-01-1994 FR 657685 A 06-06-1929 NONE US 5307638 A 03-05-1994 DE 4134293 C 11-02-1993 AT 164776 T 15-04-1998 DE 59209272 D 14-05-1998 EP 0537473 A 21-04-1993 ES 2115629 T 01-07-1998 JP 5200247 A 10-08-1993 ZA 9208004 A 25-06-1993 US 4850117 A 25-07-1989 NONE EP 0336122 A 11-10-1989 DE 3811167 A 19-10-1989 BR 8901469 A 14-11-1989 GB 603598 A NONE



 
Previous Patent: A FILTER BAG AND AN AIR FILTER DEVICE

Next Patent: POLY(1-TRIMETHYSILYL-1-PROPYNE) MEMBRANE REGENERATION PROCESS