An apparatus (10) for dewatering fluids includes a dewatering chamber (12) through which the fluid for dewatering, especially by a gas that dries the fluid, can flow via an inlet (30) from a fluid reservoir (80) to a fluid input (16) of the dewatering chamber (12) and an outlet (32) from a fluid output (20) of the dewatering chamber (12) to the fluid reservoir (80). A common line (34) is assigned alternately to the inlet (30) and the outlet (32). A fluid pump (36) is disposed within the common line (34). A control valve (40) connects the common line (34) to the fluid reservoir (80) in a first position and to the fluid output (20) of the dewatering chamber (12) in a second position. A flow divider (82) disposed at the opposite end of the common line (34) from the control valve (40) divides the fluid stream coming from the fluid pump (36) into a first substream (t1) that leads to the fluid input (16) of the dewatering chamber (12) and a second substream (t2) that leads to the fluid reservoir (80).

A system and method to partially vaporize a process or feed water stream does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream comes into contact with a heating medium that is less volatile than the process stream. To keep the pool hot, the heating medium can be recirculated through a heater of a pump-around loop or a heater can be placed in the liquid pool. As the process stream is partially vaporized, any solids present in the process stream together with the unvaporized process or feed water stream move into the heating medium. These solids and unvaporized liquids may be further removed from the heating medium in the pool or in the pump-around loop. The vaporized process stream can be further condensed. Any heat recovered can be used to pre-heat the process stream or in the pump-around loop's heater in case of mechanical vapor recovery.

A solar distillation apparatus configured to produce a distillate from a source liquid mixture, including a base member defining at least one flow path, a transparent cover panel spaced apart from the base member to define a volume therebetween; and an intermediate panel positioned between the base member and the transparent cover panel to divide the volume into an evaporation chamber and a condensation chamber, wherein the evaporation chamber communicates with the condensation chamber, the flow path of the base member is configured to carry the source liquid mixture in a first direction in the evaporation chamber to increase evaporation of a liquid from the source liquid mixture, and the evaporated liquid is configured to flow from the evaporation chamber in a second and opposite direction into the condensation chamber where the evaporated liquid condenses into the distillate.

A system and a method for separating water and salt by sequential evaporation of multiple groups of heat collecting devices. The system comprises heat collectors, a light-gathering heat collector, a heating chamber, an evaporation chamber, a condenser, a buffer chamber and a vacuum pump; a saline water stock solution is rapidly heated by multiple series-connected-multiple groups of parallel solar heat collecting devices and series-connected light-gathering heat collectors with decreasing water levels, and the water levels control water inlet and the temperature controls water outlet; several groups are started up in turn to perform micro-negative pressure evaporation, while other groups provide phase change heat energy, and the buffer chamber collects concentrated saline water; natural convection heat exchange occurs between the saline water stock solution and a vapor manifold, vapor heat energy is recovered and condensed fresh water is produced.

There is disclosed a desalinization apparatus, and methods related to desalinization. In an embodiment, a desalinization apparatus includes at least one port for receiving airflow therethrough, at least one port for receiving salt water therethrough, at least one output for providing outflow of pure water vapor, and at least one output for proving outflow of a mixture of water, salt and air; and a plurality of chambers for evaporating the salt water into the airflow, at least one of the chambers forming a plurality of ports arranged in a plurality of rows. In an embodiment, a method includes providing airflow to a desalinization apparatus; providing salt water to the desalinization apparatus; forming a vortex in the airflow to evaporate water vapor from the salt water; and providing the water vapor in the airflow to a condenser so as to obtain pure water.

A system, for recycling production salt water from an oil well, may include a salt water inlet valve configured to receive salt water; a separation tank configured to receive the salt water from the salt water inlet valve; a burner tube located within the separation tank that is configured to pass hot gas through the separation tank and boil the salt water; a steam exhaust configured to release steam produced by the separation tank; and a salt valve configured to release salt produced by the separation tank.

A skid-mounted system, for recycling production salt water from an oil well, may include a skid housing; a separation tank enclosed within the skid housing; a control system enclosed within the skid housing; a salt water port configured to be connected to a supply of salt water and transfer the salt water to the separation tank; a fuel port configured to be connected to a fuel supply and provide fuel to a burner attached to the separation tank; an exhaust stack that is connected to the separation tank and that is configured to exhaust hot gas produced by the burner to an environment; and a steam stack that is connected to the separation tank and that is configured to release steam produced by the separation tank.

A method of manufacturing packing includes: determining types of a gas and a liquid which are brought into gas-liquid contact and a main plate to be used; calculating a relationship between a contact angle and a liquid film length ratio; determining the arrangement (intervals) of a rib; determining rib conditions; calculating the minimum value of the flow direction length of the rib satisfying the contact angle and a strength requirement; confirming whether or not a liquid film length is greater than the minimum value; and determining the flow direction length of the rib within a range from the minimum value to the liquid film length.

A system is disclosed for drying a material to liberate a substance such as a liquid having a vapor pressure from solids and/or dissolved substances in the material. The system includes a plenum chamber and a blower providing a stream of air to the plenum chamber. An outlet communicates with the plenum chamber and a velocity accelerator is disposed downstream of the outlet. The velocity accelerator is arranged to receive air from the outlet of the plenum chamber into a progressively narrowing interior passageway terminating at a downstream choke point orifice. The choke point orifice discharges into a larger diameter discharge region. A throttle body is disposed in the discharge region and is selectively movable toward and away from the choke point orifice to decrease or increase the volume of the discharge region. A passageway is formed through the throttle body for receiving flashed material from the discharge region and conveying the material in a downstream direction. Also disclosed is a system for drying materials contained within a processing vessel wherein flash generators with vacuum throttles are used to maintain drying conditions within the vessel and to remove liberated substance from the processing vessel.

A system includes an evaporator having sensors and selectable operational parameters and a controller configured to receive data and determine operational configuration for the evaporator. Selectable parameters relate to system heating, liquid flow rate, air flow rate, and environmental data.