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.

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.

In a separation instrument configured to separate a gaseous substance from a solution contained in a container, the separation instrument includes: a first end; a second end; and a side surface provided between the first end and the second end, wherein a plurality of gas introduction grooves configured to swirl a gas and introduce the gas into the container are formed on the side surface between the first end and the second end, and a discharge hole configured to discharge the gaseous substance separated from the solution together with the gas is formed between a center portion of the second end and a center portion of the first end.

In a separation instrument configured to separate a gaseous substance from a solution contained in a container, the separation instrument includes: a first end; a second end; and a side surface provided between the first end and the second end, wherein a plurality of gas introduction grooves configured to swirl a gas and introduce the gas into the container are formed on the side surface between the first end and the second end, and a discharge hole configured to discharge the gaseous substance separated from the solution together with the gas is formed between a center portion of the second end and a center portion of the first end.

A method of concentrating a process fluid, including a carrier fluid, including: (a) maintaining a process fluid at a predetermined temperature value/range; (b) evaporating the carrier fluid from the process fluid to produce a concentrated process fluid; (c) monitoring at least one process variable of steps (a) or (b) to detect fouling formed in either step (a) or (b); and (d) initiating a cleaning protocol if the process variable deviates from a predetermined value/range to reduce the fouling formed.

A method of concentrating a process fluid, including a carrier fluid, including: (a) maintaining a process fluid at a predetermined temperature value/range; (b) evaporating the carrier fluid from the process fluid to produce a concentrated process fluid; (c) monitoring at least one process variable of steps (a) or (b) to detect fouling formed in either step (a) or (b); and (d) initiating a cleaning protocol if the process variable deviates from a predetermined value/range to reduce the fouling formed.

The invention relates to a process for purifying an ionic liquid comprising dialkylimidazolium ions by means of stripping, wherein water vapour is used at a particular temperature. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the decomposition of the ionic liquid is minimized during the procedure of the process.

An apparatus and process are provided for concentrating oil and gas production brine. The apparatus comprises a brine feed system, a hot air generation system, a concentrated brine collection and recirculation system, and an evaporation tower. The evaporation tower includes a brine inlet coupled to the brine feed system, a hot air inlet coupled to the hot air generation system and positioned below the brine inlet, a steam discharge, a concentrated brine outlet, a plurality of distillation trays, and a concentrated brine reservoir in the lower portion of the tower. The evaporation tower also has a distributor at the brine inlet adapted to distribute brine onto the trays and may have a plurality of spray nozzles disposed above the hot air inlet to distribute a spray of recirculated concentrated brine. Water evaporates from the brine and the entering hot air temperature is modulated by evaporation.

An apparatus and process are provided for concentrating oil and gas production brine. The apparatus comprises a brine feed system, a hot air generation system, a concentrated brine collection and recirculation system, and an evaporation tower. The evaporation tower includes a brine inlet coupled to the brine feed system, a hot air inlet coupled to the hot air generation system and positioned below the brine inlet, a steam discharge, a concentrated brine outlet, a plurality of distillation trays, and a concentrated brine reservoir in the lower portion of the tower. The evaporation tower also has a distributor at the brine inlet adapted to distribute brine onto the trays and may have a plurality of spray nozzles disposed above the hot air inlet to distribute a spray of recirculated concentrated brine. Water evaporates from the brine and the entering hot air temperature is modulated by evaporation.

A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.