U.S. patent application number 15/478893 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for continuous solid filtration for solid-liquid separations.
The applicant listed for this patent is Larry Baxter, Nathan Davis. Invention is credited to Larry Baxter, Nathan Davis.
Application Number | 20180283782 15/478893 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63672512 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180283782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baxter; Larry ; et
al. |
October 4, 2018 |
Continuous Solid Filtration for Solid-Liquid Separations
Abstract
A method for clarifying a process fluid is disclosed. The
process fluid is provided to a transport device. The process fluid
comprises a process liquid that entrains a first solid of a first
average particle size. A second solid of a second average particle
size is provided to the transport device. The second average
particle size is larger than the first average particle size. The
process fluid passes through the second solid. The first solid
adsorbs to, deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by the second
solid, producing a first solid-depleted process fluid and a first
solid-loaded second solid. The first solid-loaded second solid is
removed from the transport device continuously. The second solid is
reconstituted from a portion of the first solid-loaded second
solid. The second solid is recycled to the transport device. In
this manner, the process fluid is clarified.
Inventors: |
Baxter; Larry; (Orem,
UT) ; Davis; Nathan; (Bountiful, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Baxter; Larry
Davis; Nathan |
Orem
Bountiful |
UT
UT |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63672512 |
Appl. No.: |
15/478893 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 17/0202
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25J 3/08 20060101
F25J003/08 |
Goverment Interests
[0001] This invention was made with government support under
DE-FE0028697 awarded by The Department of Energy. The government
has certain rights in the invention.
Claims
1. A method for clarifying a process fluid comprising: providing
the process fluid to a transport device, wherein the process fluid
comprises a process liquid and a first solid of a first average
particle size, the first solid entrained in the process liquid;
providing a second solid of a second average particle size to the
transport device, wherein the second average particle size is
larger than the first average particle size; passing the process
fluid through the second solid, wherein the first solid adsorbs to,
deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by the second solid,
producing a first solid-depleted process fluid and a first
solid-loaded second solid; removing the first solid-loaded second
solid from the transport device continuously; reconstituting the
second solid from a portion of the first solid-loaded second solid;
and, recycling the second solid to the transport device; whereby
the process fluid is clarified.
2. The method of claim 1, providing the first solid and the second
solid comprising the same compound.
3. The method of claim 2, reconstituting the first solid-loaded
second solid from the transport device continuously by a sizing
process comprising crushing, grinding, screening, extruding,
stamping, shaping, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 3, providing the first solid and the second
solid comprising carbon dioxide.
5. The method of claim 4, providing the process fluid comprising
any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a
temperature at which the carbon dioxide solidifies.
6. The method of claim 5, providing the process fluid comprising
water, brine, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide,
other cryogenic liquids, other hydrocarbons, and combinations
thereof.
7. The method of claim 6, providing the process fluid comprising
1,1,3-trimethylcyclopentane, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene,
1-butene, 1-methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane, 1-pentene,
2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene,
2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 2-methylpentane,
3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-pentene,
3-methylpentane, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene,
4-methylcyclopentene, 4-methyl-trans-2-pentene,
bromochlorodifluoromethane, bromodifluoromethane,
bromotrifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, cis 2-hexene,
cis-1,3-pentadiene, cis-2-hexene, cis-2-pentene,
dichlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethyl ether, trifluoromethyl
ether, dimethyl ether, ethyl fluoride, ethyl mercaptan,
hexafluoropropylene, isobutane, isobutene, isobutyl mercaptan,
isopentane, isoprene, methyl isopropyl ether, methylcyclohexane,
methylcyclopentane, methylcyclopropane, n,n-diethylmethylamine,
octafluoropropane, pentafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether, propane,
sec-butyl mercaptan, trans-2-pentene, trifluoromethyl
trifluorovinyl ether, vinyl chloride, bromotrifluoromethane,
chlorodifluoromethane, dimethyl silane, ketene, methyl silane,
perchloryl fluoride, propylene, vinyl fluoride, or combinations
thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, providing the first solid comprising
particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics,
soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen
condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to
vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities
common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 8, providing the first solid comprising
frozen condensable gases or frozen absorbed gases comprising carbon
dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrocarbons, or
combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 1, providing the second solid comprising
particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics,
soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen
condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to
vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities
common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 10, providing the first solid comprising
frozen condensable gases or frozen absorbed gases comprising carbon
dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrocarbons, or
combinations thereof.
12. The method of claim 1, providing the transport device
comprising a conveyor belt, bucket elevator, circulating
fluidized-bed, hail tower, screw conveyor, leach tank, flow
channel, tube, porous filter, screen filter, or channel.
13. The method of claim 1, providing the transport device
comprising a porous lower section wherein the porous lower section
allows passage of the process liquid out of the transport device
but prevents passage of the first solid.
14. The method of claim 13, providing the transport device a
surface material inhibiting adsorption of gases, preventing
deposition of solids, or a combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 1, providing the process fluid comprising
any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a
temperature at which the first solid solidifies.
16. The method of claim 1, providing the process fluid further
comprising a third solid of a third average particle size, the
third average particle size being smaller than the second average
particle size.
17. The method of claim 16, providing the third solid comprising
particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics,
soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen
condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to
vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities
common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 17, passing the process fluid through the
second solid, the third solid absorbing to, depositing on, fusing
with, or becoming trapped by the second solid.
19. The method of claim 1, providing the second solid comprising a
material that melts at a temperature above a melting temperature of
the first solid.
20. The method of claim 19, reconstituting the second solid by
compressing the first solids-loaded second solids to force the
process liquid retained on the first solids-loaded second solids
out, warming the first-solids loaded second solids to melt the
first solids to form a product liquid, and separating the second
solids from the product liquid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to solid/liquid separation.
More particularly, we are interested in removing solids from
liquids continuously.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Removing solids from liquids is a unit operation common to
almost all heavy industries. Whether the process requires the
removal of biomass and dirt from water, solid carbon dioxide from a
cryogenic liquid, or dust from oil, solid/liquid separation is a
constant. Filter presses, thickeners, clarifiers, and other devices
all separate solids. A common technique for removing fine solids is
sedimentation filtration. The filtering media is exclusively sand
or similar granular bulk materials.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,186, to Van Unen, teaches a device for
continuous filtration of liquids. A liquid with dirt to remove is
fed through one wall of a vertical sedimentation filter using bulk
material as a filter media, and is removed from the opposite wall
of the sedimentation filter. The bulk material, now with dirt
entrained on it, is suctioned into a separations device which
recycles the bulk material into the chamber and discharges the
dirt. The present disclosure differs from this disclosure in that
the chamber is required to be rectangular, inlets and outlet are
required to be in the walls, a portion of the liquid being filtered
is used to remove the bulk material and dirt during the suction
step, and the entire process is limited to ambient conditions. This
disclosure is pertinent and may benefit from the methods disclosed
herein and is hereby incorporated for reference in its entirety for
all that it teaches.
[0005] U.S. patent Ser. No. 13/409,856, to Self, et al., teaches
various methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other
atmospheric pollutants. Gravity separation of carbonates or
bicarbonates is conducted gravity separation, mechanical
separation, and thermal evaporation. Optionally, flocculation and
other methods of crystal growth are utilized. The present
disclosure differs from this disclosure in that no sedimentation
filtration or similar utilized. Further, there is no process to
separate the larger carbonates and bicarbonates from their
flocculants or similar, to reuse them for further separation. This
disclosure is pertinent and may benefit from the methods disclosed
herein and is hereby incorporated for reference in its entirety for
all that it teaches.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,807, to Meng, et al., teaches a water
filtration device and method for removing heavy metals and organic
compounds from water. An iron filter is provided for precipitating
the heavy metals and a sand filter for removing the heavy metals
and organic compounds. The iron filter is vibrated or otherwise
agitated to cause the precipitates to be removed from the iron. The
present disclosure differs from this disclosure in that two stages
of filtration are required, the sand filter is not continually
recycled for reuse, and vibration is required. This disclosure is
pertinent and may benefit from the methods disclosed herein and is
hereby incorporated for reference in its entirety for all that it
teaches.
[0007] In Microfiltration (Martin, J. F. et al. 1991. J. Air Waste
Manage. Assoc. 41:1653-1657) and adsorption and magnetic filtration
(Chen, W. Y. et al. 1991. Res. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.
63:958-964), an adsorption and magnetic filtration process is
disclosed. Heavy metals are adsorbed onto fine magnetic particles
coated with ferrihydrite. The magnetic particles are then collected
using a magnetic filter. Finally, the magnetic particles are
regenerated by metal desorption and then reused. The present
disclosure differs from this disclosure in that magnetic filtration
and metal desorption are required in order to accomplish the
filtration and recycling. This disclosure is pertinent and may
benefit from the methods disclosed herein and is hereby
incorporated for reference in its entirety for all that it
teaches.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 7,247,245, to Proulx, et al., teaches a
filtration cartridge and process for filtering a slurry. A filter
cartridge is used for filtering solids from a slurry. The present
disclosure differs from this disclosure in that the filter
cartridge has to be replaced when full. This disclosure is
pertinent and may benefit from the methods disclosed herein and is
hereby incorporated for reference in its entirety for all that it
teaches.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,159, to Engel, et al., teaches a method
for separating a liquid from a slurry in the presence of a gas. The
slurry is degasified and then separated through a cross-flow
filter. The present disclosure differs from this disclosure in that
a cross-flow filter is required. This disclosure is pertinent and
may benefit from the methods disclosed herein and is hereby
incorporated for reference in its entirety for all that it
teaches.
SUMMARY
[0010] A method for clarifying a process fluid is disclosed. The
process fluid is provided to a transport device. The process fluid
comprises a process liquid that entrains a first solid of a first
average particle size. A second solid of a second average particle
size is provided to the transport device. The second average
particle size is larger than the first average particle size. The
process fluid passes through the second solid. The first solid
adsorbs to, deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by the second
solid, producing a first solid-depleted process fluid and a first
solid-loaded second solid. The first solid-loaded second solid is
removed from the transport device continuously. The second solid is
reconstituted from a portion of the first solid-loaded second
solid. The second solid is recycled to the transport device. In
this manner, the process fluid is clarified.
[0011] The first solid and the second solid may comprise the same
compound. The second solid may be reconstituted from the first
solid-loaded second solid by a sizing process comprising crushing,
grinding, screening, extruding, stamping, shaping, or a combination
thereof.
[0012] The first solid may comprise a frozen condensable or
absorbed gas or gases and the second solid may comprise a frozen
condensable or absorbed gas or gases. The frozen condensable or
absorbed gas may comprise carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide,
hydrogen cyanide, or combinations thereof. The frozen condensable
or absorbed gas or gases derive from vitiated flows, producer
gases, or other industrial flows, wherein the vitiated flows are
produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, oil, and other common
fuels. The first solid may further comprise particulates, mercury,
other heavy metals, condensed organics, soot, inorganic ash
components, other impurities common to the vitiated flows, the
producer gases, or the other industrial flows, or combinations
thereof
[0013] The transport device may comprise a conveyor belt, bucket
elevator, circulating fluidized-bed, hail tower, screw conveyor,
leach tank, flow channel, tube, porous filter, screen filter, or
channel.
[0014] The process liquid may comprise any compound or mixture of
compounds with a freezing point above a temperature at which the
first solid solidifies.
[0015] The process fluid may further comprise a third solid of a
third average particle size, the third average particle size being
smaller than the second average particle size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In order that the advantages of the invention will be
readily understood, a more particular description of the invention
briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding
that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the
invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its
scope, the invention will be described and explained with
additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIGS. 1A-B show an isometric view and a side view of a
conveyor belt for clarifying a process fluid.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a leach tank for
clarifying a process fluid.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a cutaway isometric side view of a screw
conveyor for clarifying a process fluid.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a cutaway isometric side view of a screw
conveyor for clarifying a process fluid.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a bucket elevator for clarifying a process
fluid.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows buckets for use in the bucket elevator of FIG.
5.
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a lift pipe system for clarifying a process
fluid.
[0024] FIG. 8 shows a method for clarifying a process fluid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] It will be readily understood that the components of the
present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the
Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of
different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed
description of the embodiments of the invention, as represented in
the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention,
as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of
presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the
invention.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1A-B, an isometric view and a side view
of a conveyor belt for clarifying a process fluid are shown at 100
and 101, respectively, as per one embodiment of the present
invention. Second solids 106 are provided to porous conveyor belt
102 and are conveyed through process fluid stream 108. Process
fluid stream 108 comprises a process liquid and first solids.
Process fluid stream 108, provided by sprayers 104, is sprayed onto
porous conveyor belt 102. Process fluid stream 108 passes through
second solids 106. The first solids adsorb to, deposit on, fuse
with, or are trapped by second solid 106. This produces a first
solid-depleted process fluid that passes through conveyor belt 102
and first solid-loaded second solid 110, that is removed
continuously from porous conveyor belt 102. A portion of first
solid-loaded second solid 110 is processed to reconstitute second
solid 102, which is recycled to porous conveyor belt 102. The first
solid is of a first average particle size and the second solid is
of a second average particle size. The first average particle size
is smaller than the second average particle size. The entire
process is conducted in a continuous manner.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of a leach tank
for clarifying a process fluid is shown at 200, as per one
embodiment of the present invention. Second solid carbon dioxide
214 is provided through solid inlet 204 to leach tank 202. Process
fluid 212, comprising a process liquid and a first solid carbon
dioxide, is provided to leach tank 202 through process inlet 206.
Process fluid 212 passes through solid bed 218, causing the first
solid carbon dioxide to adsorb to, deposit on, fuse with, and
become trapped by second solid carbon dioxide 214, producing first
solid-loaded second solids and first solid-depleted process fluid
216. Solid bed 218 consists of second solids 214 and the first
solid-loaded second solids. First solid-loaded second solids are
removed through 220 with a portion of first solid-depleted process
fluid 216 as product stream 220. Product stream 220 is separated
through a solid-liquid separator, resulting in a first portion of a
clarified process fluid being removed from the first solid-loaded
second solids. A portion of the first solid-loaded second solids
are sized by a comminution process comprising crushing, grinding,
and screening to reconstitute second solid carbon dioxide 214 for
recycling to leach tank 202. First solid-depleted process fluid 216
overflows into weir 210 and is drained from leach tank 202 as a
second portion of the clarified process fluid. The first solid
carbon dioxide is of a first average particle size and second solid
carbon dioxide 214 is of a second average particle size. The first
average particle size is smaller than the second average particle
size. The entire process is conducted in a continuous manner. In
some embodiments, leach tank 202 has a mixing apparatus to stir
solid bed 218. In some embodiments, the solid-liquid separator for
product stream 220 comprises a filter press, screw press, rollers,
mangle, or combinations thereof.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, a cutaway isometric side view of a
screw conveyor for clarifying a process fluid is shown at 300, as
per one embodiment of the present invention. Screw conveyor 302
comprises process inlet 306, solid inlet 304, and product outlet
308. Second solids 312 are provided to screw conveyor 302 through
solid inlet 304. Process fluid 314, comprising a process liquid and
first solid 316, is provided to screw conveyor 302 through process
inlet 306. Screw 310 advances process fluid 314 and second solids
312 through screw conveyor 302. First solids 316 adsorbs to,
deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by second solid 312,
producing a first solid-depleted process fluid and first
solid-loaded second solid 318. First solid-loaded second solid 318
is removed with the first solid-depleted process fluid as product
stream 320. Product stream 320 is separated through a solid-liquid
separator, resulting in a first portion of a clarified process
fluid being removed from first solid-loaded second solids 318. A
portion of first solid-loaded second solid 318 is processed to
reconstitute second solids 312, which is recycled to screw conveyor
302. First solids 316 is of a first average particle size and
second solids 312 is of a second average particle size. The first
average particle size is smaller than the second average particle
size. The entire process is conducted in a continuous manner. In
some embodiments, the solid-liquid separator for product stream 320
comprises a filter press, screw press, rollers, mangle, or
combinations thereof.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, a cutaway isometric side view of a
screw conveyor for clarifying a process fluid is shown at 400, as
per one embodiment of the present invention. Screw conveyor 402
comprises process inlet 406, solid inlet 404, product outlet 408,
and filter 422. Second solids 412 are provided to screw conveyor
402 through solid inlet 404. Process fluid 414, comprising a
process liquid and first solid 416, is provided to screw conveyor
402 through process inlet 406. Screw 410 advances process fluid 414
and second solids 412 through screw conveyor 402. First solids 416
adsorbs to, deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by second solid
412, producing first solid-depleted process fluid 424 and first
solid-loaded second solid 418. First solid-depleted process fluid
424 is removed through filter 422. First solid-loaded second solid
418 is removed as product stream 420. A portion of product stream
420 is processed to reconstitute second solids 412, which is
recycled to screw conveyor 402. First solids 416 is of a first
average particle size and second solids 412 is of a second average
particle size. The first average particle size is smaller than the
second average particle size. The entire process is conducted in a
continuous manner.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, a bucket elevator for clarifying a
process fluid is shown at 500, as per one embodiment of the present
invention. Bucket elevator 502 comprises buckets 504, inlet bin
506, and outlet chute 506. Second solids 510 is provided to inlet
bin 506 and is picked up by buckets 504. Buckets 504 ascend with
second solids 510 and are sprayed by nozzles 508 with process fluid
512. Process fluid 512 comprises a process liquid and a first
solid. The first solids adsorb to, deposit on, fuse with, or are
trapped by second solid 510, producing a first solids-depleted
process fluid and first solid-loaded second solid 514. Buckets 504
and inlet bin 506 comprise holes through which the first
solid-depleted process fluid drains. First solid-loaded second
solid 514 is dumped by buckets 504 into outlet chute 506 and is
removed. The first solids are of a first average particle size and
second solids 510 are of a second average particle size. The first
average particle size is smaller than the second average particle
size. The entire process is conducted in a continuous manner.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 6, buckets for use in bucket elevator 502,
as per FIG. 5, are shown at 600, as per one embodiment of the
present invention. Buckets 602 have holes 604 that are smaller than
the second average particle size. In some embodiments, holes 604
are smaller than the first average particle size.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 7, a lift pipe system for clarifying a
process fluid is shown at 700, as per one embodiment of the present
invention. Lift pipe system 702 comprises lift pipe 706,
solid-liquid mix chamber 718, liquid inlet 710, solids injection
pipe 704, solids hopper 708, solid-liquid separator 712, liquid
outlet 714, and solids outlet 716. Second solids 720 are provided
to solids hopper 708 and pass into solid-liquid mix chamber 718 via
solids injection pipe 704. Process fluid 722 is provided to
solid-liquid mix chamber 718 through liquid inlet 710. Process
fluid 722 comprises a process liquid and a first solid. Process
fluid 722 mixes with second solids 720 and passes through lift pipe
706 as mix stream 724. The first solids adsorb to, deposit on, fuse
with, or are trapped by second solids 720 in lift pipe 706,
producing first solid-depleted process fluid 728 and first
solid-loaded second solid 726, which are separated in solid-liquid
separator 712. First solid-depleted process fluid 728 is removed
through liquid outlet 714. First solid-loaded second solid 726 is
removed through solids outlet 716 and a portion is processed to
produce second solids 720. The first solids are of a first average
particle size and second solids 720 are of a second average
particle size. The first average particle size is smaller than the
second average particle size. The entire process is conducted in a
continuous manner.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 8, a method for clarifying a process fluid
is shown at 800, as per one embodiment of the present invention. A
process fluid is passed through a transport device containing a
second solid 801. The resulting first solid-loaded second solid is
removed from the transport device 802. The resulting first
solid-depleted process fluid is removed from the transport device
803. The second solid is reconstituted from the first solid-loaded
second solid 804. The second solid is recycled to the transport
device 805.
[0034] In some embodiments, the first solid comprises a frozen
condensable or absorbed gas or gases and the second solid comprises
a frozen condensable or absorbed gas or gases. Frozen condensable
and absorbed gases includes frozen condensable and absorbed vapors.
In some embodiments, the frozen condensable gas, the frozen
condensable or absorbed gas or gases comprise carbon dioxide,
nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide,
hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, or combinations thereof. In
some embodiments, the frozen condensable or absorbed gas or gases,
derive from vitiated flows, producer gases, or other industrial
flows, wherein the vitiated flows are produced from coal, biomass,
natural gas, oil, and other common fuels. In some embodiments, the
first solid further comprises particulates, mercury, other heavy
metals, condensed organics, soot, inorganic ash components,
biomass, salts, water ice, frozen condensable gases, other
impurities common to the vitiated flows, the producer gases, or the
other industrial flows, or combinations thereof.
[0035] In some embodiments, the transport device comprises a
conveyor belt, bucket elevator, circulating fluidized-bed, hail
tower, screw conveyor, leach tank, flow channel, tube, porous
filter, screen filter, or channel. In some embodiments, the
transport device comprises a porous lower section allowing passage
of the process liquid out of the transport device but preventing
passage of the first solid. In some embodiments, the transport
device comprises a surface material inhibiting adsorption of gases,
preventing deposition of solids, or a combination thereof.
[0036] In some embodiments, the process liquid comprises any
compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a
temperature at which the first solid solidifies. In some
embodiments, the process fluid further comprises a third solid of a
third average particle size, the third average particle size being
smaller than the second average particle size. The third solid
comprises particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed
organics, soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water
ice, frozen condensable or absorbed gases, other impurities common
to the vitiated flows, the producer gases, or the other industrial
flows, or combinations thereof.
[0037] In some embodiments, the process liquid comprises water,
brine, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide, other
cryogenic liquids, other hydrocarbons, and combinations thereof. In
some embodiments, the cryogenic liquid comprises
1,1,3-trimethylcyclopentane, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene,
1-butene, 1-methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane, 1-pentene,
2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene,
2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 2-methylpentane,
3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-pentene,
3-methylpentane, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene,
4-methylcyclopentene, 4-methyl-trans-2-pentene,
bromochlorodifluoromethane, bromodifluoromethane,
bromotrifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, cis 2-hexene,
cis-1,3-pentadiene, cis-2-hexene, cis-2-pentene,
dichlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethyl ether, trifluoromethyl
ether, dimethyl ether, ethyl fluoride, ethyl mercaptan,
hexafluoropropylene, isobutane, isobutene, isobutyl mercaptan,
isopentane, isoprene, methyl isopropyl ether, methylcyclohexane,
methylcyclopentane, methylcyclopropane, n,n-diethylmethylamine,
octafluoropropane, pentafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether, propane,
sec-butyl mercaptan, trans-2-pentene, trifluoromethyl
trifluorovinyl ether, vinyl chloride, bromotrifluoromethane,
chlorodifluoromethane, dimethyl silane, ketene, methyl silane,
perchloryl fluoride, propylene, vinyl fluoride, or combinations
thereof.
[0038] In some embodiments, the second solid comprises a material
that melts at a temperature above a melting temperature of the
first solid. The second solid may be reconstituted in these
embodiments by compressing the first solids-loaded second solids to
force the process liquid retained on the first solids-loaded second
solids out, warming the first-solids loaded second solids to melt
the first solids to form a product liquid, and separating the
second solids from the product liquid.
* * * * *