An energy system comprising a mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) subsystem is disclosed. The MVR-subsystem is arranged to receive a liquid and is arranged to produce compressed vapor from the liquid and to heat the liquid being received. The energy system comprises a heat subsystem connected to the MVR-subsystem, which heat subsystem is arranged to use a branched portion of the compressed vapor and/or at least a portion of the liquid being heated to produce energy. A method for producing energy is also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a distillation system for separating a mixed material existing in feedstock into a high volatile component and a low volatile component using difference of boiling point, the system comprising: an evaporation-separator which evaporates the high volatile component to discharge the high volatile component as an overhead vapor; a first compressor which receives the discharged overhead vapor and adiabatically compresses the received discharged overhead vapor; an evaporator which receives the adiabatically compressed overhead vapor, exchanges heat between water supplied from a water supply source and the compressed overhead vapor and evaporates the water into water vapor; and a second compressor which receives the evaporated water vapor and compresses the received evaporated water vapor. Accordingly, provided herein is a distillation system and distillating method thereof, capable of compressing the overhead vapor before the overhead vapor is introduced into the evaporator, and then increasing the amount of saturated water vapor in the method of generating the saturated water vapor using the condensed latent heat of the compressed overhead vapor, thereby reducing distillation cost.

The system for drying lignite according to the present disclosure includes a mill configured to crush the lignite; a dryer configured to receive crushed lignite from the mill, to dry the lignite by heat-exchange with steam and to discharge dried lignite; a condensing-precipitating evaporator in fluid communication with the dryer so as to receive vapor which is evaporated when the lignite is dried, and which is discharged from the dryer. The evaporator is configured to condense the vapor discharged from the dryer by heat-exchange with water. The coal dust contained in the vapor is precipitated into a condensed aqueous solution when the vapor is being condensed, and the condensed aqueous solution is discharged. The system includes a Mechanical Vapor Re-Compression (MVR) configured to receive steam generated from the condensing-precipitating evaporator, to compress the steam into superheated steam, and to supply the compressed superheated steam to the dryer.

Significant energy saving can be achieved for a distillation column even when the distillation column has a large column temperature difference. Provided is a distillation column including a first and second columns, wherein the first column includes a part of a rectifying section or a part of a stripping section; the second column includes, if the first column includes a part of the rectifying section, the rest of the rectifying section and the whole of the stripping section, or the second column includes, if the first column includes a part of the stripping section, the rest of the stripping section and the whole of the rectifying section; and the second column constitutes a mechanical-heat-pump distillation column.

Systems and processes for heat recovery associated with the separation of hydrocarbon components. Two compressors are used to compress a portion of an overhead vapor stream from a fractionation column. A pressure of the liquid portion of the compressed overhead is reduced and used to recover heat from an overhead of another separation zone having a fractionation column. Once the heat has been recovered the stream is recompressed. The recovered heat may be removed from the recompressed stream in a reboiler of another fractionation column. The fractionation columns may comprise a deethanizer stripper, propane-propylene splitter, and a depropanizer column.

An ammonia removal system can remove ammonia from liquid, and can include an ammonia removal portion having liquid flow surfaces for flowing the liquid downward with gravity, and for receiving vapor moving upwardly past and over the downward flowing liquid for absorbing and removing ammonia from the liquid. An evaporator can be positioned below the ammonia removal portion for receiving the downward flowing liquid now with reduced ammonia from the ammonia removal portion. One portion of the liquid with reduced ammonia can evaporate and produce the vapor for moving upwardly into the ammonia removal portion for removing the ammonia. Another portion of the liquid with reduced ammonia can be drained for removal or use. A compressor can be in communication with the ammonia removal portion for compressing the vapor after exiting the ammonia removal portion. A condenser can be in communication with the compressor for receiving compressed vapor from the compressor for condensing into liquid condensate. A recirculating conduit can connect the condenser to the ammonia removal portion for recirculating at least a portion of the liquid condensate to the ammonia removal portion for reprocessing and flowing again over the liquid flow surfaces.

A vapor compression distillation urine processor assembly including a pump, a first phase separating apparatus, a compressor, and a second phase separating apparatus. Further detailed is a method of processing urine using a vapor compression distillation urine processor assembly.

Disclosed is a process for use with flue gas having a moisture content M. The flue gas is introduced to strong brine adapted to exothermically absorb moisture. Simultaneously, heat is withdrawn. This produces heat, water-enriched brine and a gas having a moisture concentration less than M. The strong brine can be recovered by distillation from enriched brine to produce water. The brine temperature throughout absorption can remain within 2 F. of a temperature T in the range 220 F.-300 F. The heat withdrawal can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of a working fluid. The terminus of the heat flow can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of the working fluid. The working fluid can: as liquid, flow only by gravity, convection or wicking; and, as gas, flow only by diffusion or convection. The heat flow can drive a boiler producing steam. M can be greater than 15 wt. % water.

Processes and systems are provided to compress vapors produced in distillation and recover the heat of condensation through mechanical vapor compression and to derive mechanical and electrical energy from a combined heat and power system, while maintaining the plant's original ability to operate. The plant's existing distillation system, steam generation, and electrical demand determine the design basis for the retrofit system that is targeted at an optimized combination of energy usage, energy cost, and environmental impact. Mechanical vapor compression minimizes the total energy usage. Combined heat and power provides a means of converting energy between fuel, electricity, and thermal energy in a manner that best complements plant requirements and energy economics and minimizes inefficiencies and energy losses.

Processes and systems are provided to compress vapors produced in distillation and recover the heat of condensation through mechanical vapor compression and to derive mechanical and electrical energy from a combined heat and power system, while maintaining the plant's original ability to operate. The plant's existing distillation system, steam generation, and electrical demand determine the design basis for the retrofit system that is targeted at an optimized combination of energy usage, energy cost, and environmental impact. Mechanical vapor compression minimizes the total energy usage. Combined heat and power provides a means of converting energy between fuel, electricity, and thermal energy in a manner that best complements plant requirements and energy economics and minimizes inefficiencies and energy losses.