An apparatus for use in water purification including a cylindrical vessel comprising, within the cylindrical vessel, a first set of hydrocyclones, at least one intermediate set of hydrocyclones, and a final set of hydrocyclones, the sets of hydrocyclones arranged in series. In one embodiment, the hydrocyclones within each set of hydrocyclones are arranged in a parallel configuration, wherein each set of hydrocyclones is defined by a divider which causes the hydrocyclones in each set to operate in parallel. In one embodiment each hydrocyclone has a tangential inlet disposed within an inlet chamber of the cylindrical vessel and in fluid communication with an inlet connected to the inlet chamber, an overflow disposed within an overflow chamber of the cylindrical vessel, and an underflow disposed within an underflow chamber of the cylindrical vessel. In one embodiment, the cylindrical vessel comprises a first set of hydrocyclones and a second, final set of hydrocyclones.

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 system and method removes thermal decomposition components from biphenyl and/or diphenyl oxide-based heat transfer fluids. Light, volatile decomposition components including benzene, water, hydrogen and phenol leave the system for vapor recovery, chemical adsorption or thermal decomposition. Dimerized and polymerized heavy components such as biphenyl phenyl ether, terphenyl and related isomers are concentrated and recovered. The system can be a continuous, semi-continuous or batch operation. Solar electric plants employing the system can use solar field fluids and heating to operate the system during generator operation hours. A wash system operating at or near atmospheric pressure concentrates heavy thermal decomposition components while allowing removal of light, volatile decomposition components for separation from the majority of the thermal fluid components. Temperature-controlled condensation of the majority of the thermal fluid components allows collection of the thermal fluid, while allowing light, volatile decomposition components to be removed prior to vent processing.

A system and method to reboil a process or feed water stream in a distillation system does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream is removed from a distillation column and comes into contact with a heating medium that is immiscible with and 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 stream is returned to the distillation column.

An impeller design is provided for use in evaporating water from an ambient water body. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of impeller blades. The blades have one or more profiles that correspond to certain profiles characterized by the National Advisory Committed for Aeronautics parameters known as NACA 4 parameters. One or more blade angles also may more specifically identify the blade profiles. The impeller blades also may be identified by a plurality of profiles on a given blade, preferably including a base profile and a tip profile. The impeller optionally but preferably is made of a fiberglass material. In preferred embodiments it constitutes an integrated unit, such as a unitary molded or cast unit. It may be coated by a suitable corrosion-resistant coating, for example, such as a clear coat or gel coat. Various features of the impeller hub also are disclosed. An impeller system also is disclosed. The system includes an impeller as described above and means for mitigating non-longitudinal flow in the air flow channel in which the impeller caused air movement. The means for mitigating non-longitudinal flow preferably includes a plurality of guide vanes disposed downstream of the impeller.

A system and method to 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 vaporized, any solids present in the process stream come out of the process stream and move into the heating medium. These solids 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 used in the pump around loop's heater in case of mechanical vapor recovery.

An evaporator is provided for evaporating water from an ambient water body. The evaporator includes a housing that in turn includes an air flow channel and an air flow exit. The evaporator also includes an air flow induction device, such as a fan or impeller, that facilitates the directing of an air flow stream through the air flow channel and out the air flow exit. A water injection device is in fluid communication with the air flow channel and is disposed to inject the water from the water body into the air flow stream at a water injection location within the air flow stream and proximate to the air flow exit. A water injection system for injecting water from an ambient water body into an air flow stream directed by an air flow channel of an evaporator also is disclosed, wherein the air flow channel is disposed about a longitudinal axis. The water injection system includes an elongated tubular member disposed parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis, a plurality of water injection nodes disposed at the tubular member and spaced from one another longitudinally, and a support for positioning the elongated tubular member within or proximate to the air flow channel so that the plurality of water injection nodes are positioned within the air flow stream.

This disclosure concerns a system and a method for removing dissolved solids from liquids. Specific implementations concern desalinating water. The system may comprise a blower, such as a thermal fan/compressor, configured to atomize a solid-bearing liquid to produce a hot, humid gas containing dissolved solids; a gas-solid separator configured to receive hot, humid gas containing entrained dissolved solids from the blower to separate the solids from the humid gas and to transmit the humid gas with solids removed through an exit port; a heater configured to heat the hot, humid gas received from the exit port of the gas-solid separator; and a condenser configured to receive heated humid gas from the heater and to condense solids-free liquid therefrom. The thermal fan/compressor may comprise a plurality of nozzles with outlets positioned adjacent atomization apertures across which a solid-bearing liquid flows and through which gas exiting the nozzles passes.

The invention relates to a process for concentrating diluted sulfuric acid (10) which may comprise at least one nitroaromatic compound and/or nitric acid as impurities, comprising: (a) feeding the diluted sulfuric acid (10) into a first stage (1) in which low boilers are removed by evaporation and/or stripping to obtain a first concentrated sulfuric acid (12); (b) optionally feeding the first concentrated sulfuric acid (12) into a second evaporation stage (2) to obtain a second concentrated sulfuric acid (14); (c) feeding the second concentrated sulfuric (14) acid into a third evaporation stage (3) if step (b) is carried out, or feeding the first concentrated sulfuric acid (12) into the third evaporation stage (3) if step (b) is not carried out, to obtain concentrated sulfuric acid (16) as product, wherein an oxidizing agent (17) and/or a precursor of an oxidizing agent is fed into the third evaporation stage (3).

The present invention provides a dry vaporizer and a method of vaporizing. The dry vaporizer comprises a body having a plurality of passages for accommodating a heating means each, at least two channels passing through the body wherein the channels are configured for passing a vaporized fluid, and a thermostat expansion valve configured to operate based on temperature of the body