Patent GB-1471647-A (GB)
Title: Device and process for cooling liquids containing solids by flash evaporation
IPC: B04C5/26
Filed: 1974-09-18
Abstract: 1471647 Cyclone separators; centrifugal flash evaporating BAYER AG and ERDOLCHEMIE GmbH 18 Sept 1974 [8 Dec 1973] 40637/74 Headings BIB and B2P In a process for cooling by flash evaporation a liquid containing solids, the evaporation and subsequent separation of solids-containing liquid and vapour is carried out in separate areas in such a manner that a sudden reduction in pressure to below the vapour pressure of the liquid to be cooled causes sudden evaporation of part of the liquid, and the remaining solids-containing liquid and vapour thus obtained are separated thereafter by centrifugal force. The process is carried out in a cyclone comprising a separating chamber consisting of a first cylindrical chamber 2 connected by a sloping surface 3 to a second cylindrical chamber 4 of smaller diameter than the chamber 2. An inlet chamber 13 is tangentially connected to the chamber 2 and has a greater crosssectional area than a feed pipe 14 opening into it. The chamber 2 has a cylindrical or conical vapour outlet 7 around which are fitted a rim 10 and a collar 11. The vapour leaving the outlet 7 passes through a rotational energy-recovery device 8 before discharging through a pipe 9. A wear resistant lining e.g. of cast basalt, is shown at 12. A conical shield 6 is provided above a liquid outlet 5 which may be axial or tangential. The inlet chamber 13 before opening into the chamber 2 at 1 becomes continuously reduced in width and continuously increased in height. A part 15 of the inner side wall of the chamber 13 may be bent towards the outer side wall in the region of the opening 1. The side walls of the chamber 13 may be flat or curved and in the latter case the outer side wall has a greater radius of curvature than the inner one. The inner side wall may be extended into the chamber 2 to form a deflecting plate parallel to the outer side wall. In operation, as the solids-containing liquid is delivered through the pipe 14 into the chamber 13 flash-evaporation takes place. The resulting mixture of liquid, solids and vapour then enters the chamber 2 where due to the whirling created by the tangential opening 1 the liquid is separated out as a ring onto the chamber wall and flows down the sloping surface 3 into the chamber 4. Droplets of liquid in the vapour and the solids are separated out by centrifugal force and strike against the walls of the chambers where they are absorbed by the liquid. Any liquid creeping along the top cover of the chamber 2 towards the vapour outlet 7 is returned by the rim 10 and the collar 11 into the rotating vapour stream and spun out by centrifugal force against the walls. Renewed whirling of already deposited liquid over the outlet 5 is prevented by the shield 6. Solids and liquid are discharged through the outlet 5 and substantially clean and dry vapour through the outlet 7. The solids may be in the form of insoluble compounds suspended in the liquid before cooling or they may be precipitated from a solution which becomes supersaturated upon cooling. Cooling by flash evaporation may take place in a number of cyclones connected in series, the vapour from each cyclone being directed to a heat exchanger to obtain pure condensate, Fig. 4 (not shown). Applications and examples of the process as well as relative dimensions of the apparatus are given.