Patent Application
20200384404
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention generally relates to a system for removing impurities from an industrial vapor stream. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus and a method for purifying a vapor stream using vacuum aspiration and liquid spray technologies.
Many industrial waste streams comprise components in a vapor phase. Often, the vapor stream comprises entrained liquid and/or solid components. Traditionally, vapor treatment devices (“scrubbers”) have been employed to remove undesired gaseous, liquid, and/or solid components from a waste vapor stream (i.e., “stack”). In various embodiments, these scrubbers may utilize filtration, temperature, vibration and/or liquid contact to effectuate purification of the vapor stream
Examples of vapor scrubbers may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,985,010 to Berkhuijsen; U.S. Pat. No. 2,215,707 to Matanovich et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,000 to Kinney; U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,597 to Stewart; U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,634 to Alliger; U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,043 to Mai et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,897,313 to Jahchinedu, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. While these and other vapor scrubbing systems may be useful, it is desired to provide an improved vapor scrubbing system.
Embodiments of an emission recovery system of the present invention generally include an inverted, substantially U-shaped tubular head, and a substantially straight tubular body internally equipped with one or more fans and a plurality of liquid spray nozzles. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of an emission recovery system of the present invention are also provided.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The exemplary embodiments are best understood by referring to the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. In the following description of embodiments, orientation indicators such as “top,” “bottom,” “up,’ “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” etc. are used for illustration purposes only; the invention, however, is not so limited, and other possible orientations are contemplated.
Referring first to
In one embodiment, a second end 12 of head 2 is connected to body 4 so as to provide vapor flow there between, via a head 2 outflow opening (not visible in
In one embodiment, body 4 comprises a single tubular component, but may comprise a plurality of members which can be cooperative arranged to provide body 4. In one embodiment, body 4 comprises an outflow opening 20 proximate a second end 22 thereof. In one embodiment, body 4 comprises a substantially consistent internal and/or external diameter along the length thereof, wherein an internal diameter 17 of body 4 second end 22 is substantially equal to internal diameter 16 of body 4 first end 18. In other embodiments (not shown), body 4 may comprise other dimensional configurations.
In one embodiment, head 2 and/or body 4 may comprise a metal material, such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, carbon steel, or aluminum. In various embodiments, head 2 and/or body 4 may comprise a natural or synthetic polymeric material, graphite material, or other useful material as would be understood by one skilled in the art. In one embodiment, head 2 and/or body 4 may be internally coated with corrosion resistant and/or desired coating material(s), as would be understood by one skilled in the art.
In one embodiment, body 4 is equipped with a liquid provision system 24. In one embodiment, liquid provision system 24 comprises tubing configured and adapted to transport a liquid (not shown) to emission recovery system 100. In one embodiment, liquid provision system 24 is connectable to, and fluidly communicative with, a liquid source (not shown). In one embodiment, at least a portion of liquid provision system 24 is disposed proximate a lower section 26 of body 4.
Referring now to
As further shown in
In one embodiment, as depicted in
In one embodiment (not shown), a fan 30 may comprise a “bladeless” fan, such disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,052,379, 8,308,445 and 8,454,322 to Gammack, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,348,629, 8,403,650, 8,469,658, 8,764,412, 8,784,049, 9,249,810, 10,006,657 and 10,221,860 to Gammack et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,816,531 and 10,145,388 to Simmonds et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,391,449 and 8,348,629 to Fitton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,745,981 to Dos Rios et al., and/or Japanese Patent Application Publication JPS56167897(A) by Okabe et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In one such embodiment, the central (circular) portion (also referred to as the annular “nozzle”) of the fan 30 is disposed circumferentially proximate, or at least partially within, an interior wall 35 of body 4 (and/or an interior wall 36 of head 2), as would be understood by one skilled in the art. Further, in various embodiments, additional components of the “bladeless” fan 30, including, but not limited to, air inlet apertures, may be contained at least partially within emission recovery system 100, including, but not limited to, interior walls 35 and/or 36 (which may comprise hollow portions having internal cavities, compartments, or the like which are in fluid communication with fan 30), and/or at least portions of such additional components may be disposed at least partially exterior to emission recovery system 100.
Still referring to
In one embodiment, one or more nozzles 38 are oriented at least somewhat upward (i.e., toward first end 18 of body 4). In one embodiment, one or more nozzles 38 are disposed upward at an angle of about 80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of body 4. In one embodiment, nozzles 38 may comprise a metal material, such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, carbon steel, or aluminum. In various embodiments, nozzles 38 may comprise a natural or synthetic polymeric material, graphite material, or other useful material as would be understood by one skilled in the art. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of nozzles 38 may comprise the same internal or external dimensions, spray angle, and/or material of construction, or may vary in one or more of these characteristics.
Generally, an emission recovery system 100 may be utilized to treat process off gases, i.e., waste vapor streams from industrial processes, although the invention is not so limited and may be employed in conjunction with any gaseous stream. In one embodiment, an emission recovery system 100 head 2 is positioned such that inflow opening 6 is disposed proximate or in attached fluid connection to a process off gas source (not shown). In one embodiment, the head 2 is so positioned and then the body 4 is attached to the head 2 in the configuration depicted in the embodiments of
In one embodiment, once the emission recovery system 100 is provided as described above, liquid (not shown) from a liquid source (not shown) is provided to liquid provision system 24 such that the liquid flows there through and liquid is expelled from one or more of the nozzles 38. In this fashion, the liquid is sprayed within body 4 inward from the nozzles 38. After or concurrently with commencement of liquid spray via nozzles 38, at least one of the one or more fans 30 is actuated. Actuation of the fan(s) 30 creates a downward (toward the second end 22 of body 4) air flow, which creates an internal negative pressure (vacuum) with respect to at least head 2, and causes aspiration of the process off gas into head 2 through inflow opening 6.
In one embodiment, the process off gas is aspirated into head 2 through inflow opening and a solids exclusion component 28 serves to prevent large entrained solid particles or objects from moving onward through head 2. In this aspect, solids exclusion component 28 functions to “knock down” such solids. As the process off gas is aspirated further into emission recovery system, it flows past the fan(s) 30 and downward through body 4, where it comes into contact with the liquid being sprayed through nozzles 38.
In various embodiments, the liquid utilized by liquid provision system may comprise aqueous and/or non-aqueous liquid(s). In one embodiment, the liquid is water. In other embodiments, the liquid comprises an aqueous solution or mixture. In various embodiments the liquid comprises a pH acidic or pH basic material. In various embodiments the liquid comprises a material comprising organic solvents and/or reagents. In one embodiment, a liquid provision system 24 may comprise fluidly segregated sections and/or piping whereby different liquids may be provided to nozzles 38; e.g., a first liquid can be sprayed from one set of nozzles 38 and another liquid can be sprayed from another set of nozzles 38.
Once the off gas has come into contact with the liquid sprayed from nozzles 38, the liquid waste stream (not shown) (comprising whatever materials from the off gas that have been solvated, dissolved, entrained, etc. by the liquid) and the residual gas exists emission recovery system 100 via body 4 outflow opening 20. Upon exiting the emission recovery system 100, the liquid waste stream may be collected or otherwise handled as would be understood by one skilled in the art.
An exemplary method of utilizing an embodiment of an emission recovery system 100 of the present invention comprises:
An Emission Recovery System Provision Step, comprising providing an emission recovery system, such as emission recovery system 100, proximate a source of gas to be treated, wherein an inflow opening of the emission recovery system, such as inflow opening 6, is positioned such that gas from the source can flow into the inflow opening;
An Emission Recovery System Setup Step, comprising fluidly connecting a source of liquid to a liquid provision system of the emission recovery system, such as liquid provision system 24, and connecting a power source to one or more fans of the emission recovery system, such as a fan 30;
An Emission Recovery System Operation Step; comprising actuating the fan(s) and flowing liquid through the liquid provision system to a plurality of nozzles, such as a nozzle 38, to effectuate spraying of the liquid within the emission recovery system, wherein gas from the source is aspirated into the emission recovery system, and liquid waste and treated gas exits the emission recovery system through an outflow opening thereof, such as outflow opening 20.
The foregoing method is merely exemplary, and additional embodiments of a method of utilizing an emission recovery system of the present invention consistent with the teachings herein may be employed. In addition, in other embodiments, one or more of these steps may be performed concurrently, combined, repeated, re-ordered, or deleted, and/or additional steps may be added.
The foregoing description of the invention illustrates exemplary embodiments thereof. Various changes may be made in the details of the illustrated construction and process within the scope of the appended claims by one skilled in the art without departing from the teachings of the invention. Disclosure of existing patents, publications, and/or known art incorporated herein by reference is to the extent required to provide details and understanding of the disclosure herein set forth. The present invention should only be limited by the claims and their equivalents.
