Adjustable vapor transfer pathway for entrochemical stage 1 devices

Abstract

A system for maintaining the depth of injected vapor in an entrochemical system is disclosed. The vapor transfer pathway terminates in the chamber containing high concentration solution underneath the surface of the solution. In one example the vapor transfer pathway is passively adjustable, using a flotation device to maintain the depth of its end. Another example uses an active, actuated system to maintain the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway. The energy for controlling the depth of vapor transfer pathway is minimized by passive methods and derives from the heat of mixing of the vapor and the high concentration solution.

Claims

1. An adjustable vapor transfer pathway in a stage 1 entrochemical device. The stage 1 entrochemical comprises a first chamber containing a relatively low concentration solution, a second chamber containing a relatively high concentration solution, and a vapor transfer pathway which together with the first chamber and the second chamber forms a hermetically sealed structure and which conveys vapor from the first chamber to the second chamber wherein i. the adjustable vapor transfer pathway is the vapor transfer pathway of the entrochemical device; ii. the end of the vapor transfer pathway in the second chamber through which at least the majority of the vapor being transferred from the first chamber containing a relatively low concentration solution to the second chamber containing the relatively high concentration solution is located below the surface of the high concentration solution; iii. and wherein the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway can be adjusted so as to maintain the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway in the high concentration solution in response to changes in the solution's volume and depth.

2. The adjustable vapor transfer pathway of claim 1 further comprising i. a first largely vertical member that is stationary with respect to the chamber containing the high concentration solution; ii. a second largely vertical member that is tightly fitted inside or outside of said first largely vertical member and is able to vertically slide freely; iii. one or more flotation members, operationally attached to the second largely vertical member which are buoyant in the high concentration solution; iv. wherein vapor travels through the first largely vertical member and the second largely vertical member, with a majority of the vapor exiting the vapor transfer pathway at the bottom of the second largely vertical member; v. and wherein the bouyancy of the flotation member or members enables them to maintain their depth relative to the top of the high concentration solution, effectively maintaining the depth of the end of the connected second largely vertical member in the high concentration solution.

3. The adjustable vapor transfer pathway of claim 1 further comprising i. a largely vertical member of the vapor transfer pathway that is stationary with respect to the second chamber of the entrochemical device and has one end completely contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device; ii. a second largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical system that is connected to the end of the largely vertical first member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device in a way that allows it to maintain a seal while relatively freely swiveling up and down; iii. a flotation device attached to the end of the second largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway which is not itself connected to the largely vertical member of the vapor transfer pathway; iv. wherein vapor travels through the first largely vertical member and the second largely horizontal member, with a majority of the vapor exiting the vapor transfer pathway at the end of the second largely horizontal member; v. and wherein the flotation device operatively attached to the largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway is arranged so that it maintains flotation in the high concentration solution in such a way that the end of the attached second largely horizontal member maintains its depth underneath the surface of the high concentration solution;

4. The adjustable vapor transfer pathway of claim 1 further comprising i. a largely vertical member of the vapor transfer pathway that is stationary with respect to the second chamber of the entrochemical device and has one end completely contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device; ii. a second largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical system that is connected to the end of the largely vertical first member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device in a way that allows it to maintain a seal while relatively freely swiveling up and down; iii. an actuator connected to the largely vertical first member of the vapor transfer pathway and to the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway, which can cause the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway to swivel around the connection point of the first and second members of the vapor transfer pathway; iv. a sensor which is capable of determining the depth of the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway under the surface of the high concentration solution; v. a computer connected to the sensor and to the actuator, capable of processing the sensor's signals and producing control signals for the actuator which drive the actuator; vi. wherein vapor travels through the first largely vertical member and the second largely horizontal member, with at least a majority of the vapor exiting the vapor transfer pathway at the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway; vii. wherein vapor exiting the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway exits underneath the surface of the high concentration solution; viii. and wherein the combined system of the sensor, actuator, and computer act in such a way that it maintains a relative depth of the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway under the surface of the high concentration solution.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an entrochemical stage one device employing a linear auto-adjusting injector.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates an entrochemical stage one device employing a ball-socket auto-adjusting injector.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates an entrochemical stage one device employing an actuated actively adjusting injector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.

[0019] In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

[0020] The detailed description is presented largely in terms of procedures, logic blocks, processing, and/or other symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble a novel water vapor injection system for stage 1 entrochemical systems. These process descriptions and representations are the means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

[0021] Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the Specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, separate or alternative embodiments are not necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments.

[0022] One objective of a first embodiment of the present invention is to enable the injection of the vapor transferred from the chamber containing the low concentration solution to the chamber containing the high concentration solution in an entrochemical stage one device at or near a desired depth under the surface of the high concentration solution.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention is focused on novel structures, components, and features that reduce the requisite energy to accomplish liquid degassification. The apparatus described herein may operate as a stand-alone degassification system that provides a low energy degassification solution.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the current invention, an entrochemical stage one device with an embedded. The entrochemical stage one device comprises a high pressure chamber (101) containing a relatively low concentration solution (113), a low pressure chamber (103) containing a relatively high concentration solution (112), and a vapor transfer pathway (102) connecting the high pressure chamber (101) and low pressure chamber (103) and extending into the high concentration solution (112). The vapor transfer pathway incorporates a movable member (105) capable of moving up and down while maintaining its orientation and connection to the immovable member of the vapor transfer pathway (102). It is further enhanced by a buoyant attachment (104) which is capable of floating at the surface of the high concentration solution (112). The movable member (105) attached to the buoyant attachment (104) moves up and down in response to vapor bubbling out of the vapor transfer pathway at its lowermost opening and also in response to changes in the overall level of the high concentration solution (112), maintaining its level at or near the top of the solution.

[0025] A second embodiment of the current invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. The entrochemical stage one device comprises a high pressure chamber (101) containing a quantity of relatively low concentration solution (113), a low pressure chamber (103) containing a quantity of relatively high concentration solution (112), and a vapor transfer pathway (102) connecting the high pressure chamber (101) to the low pressure chamber (103) and extending into the high concentration solution (112). The vapor transfer pathway further comprises a swiveling connector (107) which connects a stationary portion of the vapor transfer pathway to a movable portion of the vapor transfer pathway (114). The movable portion of the vapor transfer pathway is further connected at its unconnected end to a floatation device (104) which supports the weight of the movable portion of the vapor transfer pathway and floats at or near the surface of the high concentration solution. As the level of the liquid in the low pressure chamber (103) increases, the movable portion of the vapor transfer pathway is carried up by the floatation device (104), thereby maintaining the same approximate injection depth.

[0026] A third embodiment of the current invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. an automatically

[0027] While the invention has been described with respect to a single embodiment, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.