Patent ID: 6286321
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A condenser cold trap unit for recovering as primary and secondary condensate fractions solvents contained in an effluent drawn from products being dried in a chamber maintained under a condition of vacuum by a vacuum pump, said condenser cold trap comprising,an outer containment housing,an inner containment housing within the outer containment housing, the outer containment housing having an interior space at least a part of which provides a primary condensate collection well, the said inner containment housing having an interior space proving a secondary condensate collection well, the outer containment housing interior space being sealed against any inflow thereto of ambient atmospheric air and against any inflow/outflow communication between said outer containment housing interior space and said inner containment housing interior space,means for introducing effluent flow outletting the chamber into the outer containment housing interior space for condensing solvent from the effluent therein as a primary condensate fraction collecting in the primary condensate collection well,means for communicating the interior space of said outer containment housing with an inlet of the vacuum pump so that effluent in said outer containment housing interior space containing any uncondensed solvent can pass to said vacuum pump,means for introducing exhaust effluent outletting the vacuum pump into the interior space of said inner containment housing for condensing solvent therein as a secondary condensate fraction collecting in the secondary condensate well,means for venting the interior space of said inner containment housing to pass solvents free effluent gas to ambient atmosphere, andmeans for introducing a refrigerating agent into the interior space of said outer containment housing in a closed flow course therein to maintain said inner containment housing interior space at a solvents condensing temperature condition, said refrigerant flow course including a winding course part passing proximal said inner containment housing thereby to cool said inner containment housing sufficiently to maintain a solvents condensing temperature in the interior space of said inner containment housing.