Patent Description:
Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) or also called Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) is an evaporation method by which a blower, compressor or jet ejector is used to compress, and as a result of the compression, increase the pressure, density and temperature of the vapor produced.

As a result, the vapor can serve as the heating medium for its "mother" liquid or solution being concentrated. Without the compression, the vapor would be at the same temperature as its "mother" liquid/solution, and no heat transfer could take place.

Below some patent documents within the technical field will be briefly discussed.

In the <CIT> system is described using a mechanical vapor recompression evaporator (MVR) to receive a liquid fraction from a centrifuge and evaporating the liquid fraction by mechanical vapor recompression to produce ammonia-laden water vapor and a concentrated nutrient slurry. The system comprises a dryer for drying the nutrient slurry to a selected moisture content to be available as an ingredient in compounded fertilizer; and an ammonia stripping tower assembly to receive ammonia-laden water vapor from the MVR and from it to precipitate ammonium sulphate salt and condense water as separate products.

In the <CIT> system and a method is described for liquid treatment by mechanical vapor recompression comprising a fixed fluid-tight evaporator housing. The housing comprises an inlet for feeding liquid to be evaporated into the housing and an outlet from the housing for liquid concentrated by evaporation and an outlet from the housing for discharging vapor boiled off from the liquid by evaporation. The housing comprises a plurality of heating elements within the housing mounted on a common horizontal axis, each of said heating elements having an outer surface for contact with said liquid to be evaporated within the housing and having an internal passage for heating medium and an element inlet and an element outlet for the heating medium. Another known system is disclosed in <CIT>.

Although the known systems work well, there is a need of improvements regarding utilization of energy from a MVR in an efficient manner.

Thus, the general object of the present disclosure is to achieve the use of a process system comprising a mechanical vapor compression (MVC/MVR) subsystem, which process system has conditions for an improved utilization of energy produced by the MVR-subsystem. Further, an object of the present disclosure is to achieve an improved method for operating a process system comprising a MVC/MVR-subsystem, which process system can be operated in an efficient manner regarding the use of energy produced by the MVC/MVR-subsystem.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by the present disclosure according to the independent claims.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a process system comprising a mechanical vapor compression (MVC/MVR) subsystem arranged to receive a liquid and arranged to produce compressed vapor from the liquid and to heat the liquid being received. The process system comprises a process subsystem connected to the MVC/MVR-subsystem and arranged to receive a portion of the compressed vapor and arranged to use the portion of the compressed vapor during operation of the process subsystem.

The MVC/MVR-subsystem is configured to receive a liquid to be used in the MVC/MVR-subsystem to produce compressed vapor. Thus, the MVC/MVR-subsystem is arranged to mainly operate with a liquid as an input to the MVC/MVR-subsystem.

In the application, with the process subsystem is meant a subsystem arranged to use or to process the received compressed vapor in order to achieve that the process subsystem is constructed for.

Because the process system comprises the process subsystem connected to the MVC/MVR-subsystem, which process subsystem is arranged to receive a portion of the compressed vapor, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used in the process subsystem for the purpose of the process subsystem. Thus, depending on what is the aim/purpose of the process subsystem, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used to achieve the aim/purpose of the process subsystem.

As a result, a portion of energy produced by the MVC/MVR-subsystem can be used in the process subsystem by means of the portion of the compressed provided to the process subsystem. Thus, an improved process system is achieved comparing to the known systems, which process system has conditions for an improved use of energy produced by the MVC/MVR-subsystem. Therefore, the above mentioned object is achieved.

The process subsystem is a production subsystem configured to produce a product, wherein the portion of the compressed vapor is used to product the product. Thus, the aim/purpose of the process system is in this case for the production of a product, such as manufacturing of a product where compressed vapor are needed during manufacturing of the product.

The production subsystem is an industrial production subsystem and the product is an industrial product. Thus, the production subsystem can be, for example, a subsystem in a paper industry process, a food industry process or a steel industry process.

Alternatively, the process subsystem is a service subsystem configured to perform a service using the portion of the compressed vapor in a cleaning procedure. Thus, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used, for example, to clean a façade of a building, for cleaning cloths or for sterilization purposes in hospitals or in laboratories.

Alternatively, the process subsystem is a work generating subsystem. Thus, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used to generate work by the work generating subsystem.

Consequently, the work generating subsystem can be a machine arranged to use compressed vapor to generate work.

As an example, the work generating subsystem is a transport subsystem configured for freight- and/or public-transport. The transport subsystem can be a steam locomotive.

The MVC/MVR-subsystem is arranged as a closed loop vapor MVC/MVR-subsystem. Thus, vapor can be used in an efficient manner.

Optionally, the MVC/MVR-subsystem is a MVC/MVR liquid purification subsystem.

Thus, an improved process system is provided having conditions for producing pure liquid by means of the MVC/MVR-subsystem and for using the portion of the compressed vapor during operation of the process subsystem.

Optionally, the MVC/MVR liquid purification subsystem is a MVC/MVR water desalination subsystem.

Optionally, the liquid is water and the heated liquid is heated cleaned water. Thus, a yet improved process system is provided having conditions for producing pure fresh water by means of the MVC/MVR-subsystem and for using the portion of the compressed vapor during operation of the process subsystem.

According to a further aspect the present disclosure relates to a method for operating a process system comprising a mechanical vapor compression subsystem arranged to receive a liquid and arranged to produce compressed vapor from the liquid and to heat the liquid being received. The method comprises:.

Because the process subsystem is connected to the MVC/MVR-subsystem, and because the method comprises the step of providing the portion of the compressed vapor to the process subsystem, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used in the process subsystem for the aim/purpose of process subsystem. Thus, depending on what is the aim/purpose of the process subsystem, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used to achieve the aim/purpose of the process subsystem.

Thus, the process subsystem can utilize a portion of energy produced by the MVC/MVR-subsystem by using the portion of the compressed vapor produced in the MVC/MVR-subsystem in the process subsystem.

Consequently, an improved method for operating a process system is provided and therefore, the above mentioned object is achieved.

The process subsystem is a production subsystem configured to produce an industrial product, wherein the method comprises to produce the product by the production subsystem. Thus, the aim/purpose of the process subsystem is in this case the use for production of a product, where compressed vapor are needed during manufacturing of the product.

Alternatively, the process subsystem is a service subsystem configured to perform a service using the portion of the compressed vapor, wherein the method comprises to provide a service by the service subsystem in a cleaning procedure. Thus, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used, for example, to clean a façade of a building, for cleaning cloths or for sterilization purposes in hospitals or in laboratories.

Alternatively, the process subsystem is a work generating subsystem, wherein the method comprises to provide work by the work generating subsystem. Thus, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used to generate work in the work generating subsystem. Consequently, the work generating subsystem can be a machine arranged to use compressed vapor to generate work.

<FIG> shows a schematic illustration of a process system according to an embodiment.

A process system with a MVC/MVR-subsystem will now be described in details with references to the appended figures. Throughout the figures the same, or similar, items have the same reference signs. Moreover, the items and the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

With reference to <FIG>, a process system <NUM> comprising a mechanical vapor compression (MVC) or also called mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) subsystem <NUM> is illustrated according to some embodiments.

The MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> is a common knowledge in the art and is therefore not described herein in details.

The process system <NUM> comprises a mechanical vapor compression (MVC/MVR) subsystem <NUM>. arranged to receive a liquid and arranged to produce compressed vapor from the liquid and to heat the liquid being received. The liquid is supplied to the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> through a liquid supply line <NUM>. The compressed vapor are transported through a compressed vapor line <NUM>. The heated liquid is transported through a heated liquid line <NUM>.

The liquid may be water or the liquid may be any other liquid or mixture of liquids and/or other materials e.g. solids, polymers, fatty alcohols, oils, additives, soluble or insoluble particles and molecular systems including ionic fluids. The heated liquid may then be a heated cleaned water. Thus, the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> may be a MVC/MVR liquid purification subsystem, particularly a MVC/MVR water desalination subsystem.

According to the embodiments illustrated in <FIG>, the process system <NUM> comprises a process subsystem <NUM> connected to the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> by means a compressed vapor portion line <NUM> illustrated with a line. Thus, the process subsystem <NUM> can utilize a portion of energy produced by the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> by using directly a portion of the compressed vapor. Thus, the process subsystem <NUM> can be directly connected to the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> by means of the compressed vapor portion line <NUM> supplying the portion of the compressed vapor to the process subsystem <NUM>.

Consequently, a portion of energy produced by the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM> can be used by direct connection of the process subsystem <NUM> to the MVC/MVR-subsystem <NUM>.

The process subsystem <NUM> may be a production subsystem configured to produce a product, wherein the portion of the compressed vapor can be used to product the product. Thus, the aim/purpose of the process subsystem <NUM> can be production of a product, such as manufacturing of a product where compressed vapor are needed during manufacturing of the product. The aim/purpose of the process subsystem <NUM> can also be preparation of a substance. Further, the product may be an industrial product. Thus, the production subsystem <NUM> can be, for example, a subsystem in a paper industry process, a food industry process or a steel industry process where compressed vapor is needed for the mentioned processes. In the case of preparation of a substance, the production subsystem can be, for example, a subsystem in a petroleum industry process where compressed vapor is needed during processing of oil.

According to some embodiments, the process subsystem <NUM> is a service subsystem configured to perform a service using the portion of the compressed vapor such as a cleaning procedure. Thus, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used, for example, to clean a façade of a building, for cleaning cloths or for sterilization purposes in hospitals or in laboratories. The compressed vapor can then be supplied through suitable conduits and nozzles of the process subsystem <NUM>.

According to some further embodiments, the process subsystem <NUM> is a work generating subsystem. Thus, the portion of the compressed vapor can be used to generate work by the work generation subsystem. Consequently, the work generating subsystem can be a machine arranged to use compressed vapor to generate work. The work generating subsystem may be a transport subsystem configured for freight- and/or public-transport, such as a steam locomotive.

Claim 1:
Use of a process system (<NUM>) comprising:
- a mechanical vapor compression (MVC/MVR) subsystem (<NUM>) and
- a process subsystem (<NUM>) connected to said MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>),
wherein the MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>)is arranged to receive a liquid supplied to an evaporator of the MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>) through a liquid supply line (<NUM>) and is arranged to produce compressed vapor from said liquid and to heat the liquid being received, wherein the MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>) is arranged as a closed loop vapor MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>) comprising a compressed vapor line (<NUM>) and being arranged to reuse the produced compressed vapor being produced in a compressor of the MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>) and being provided back through the compressed vapor line (<NUM>) to evaporate the liquid and to condense to form a condensed liquid being transported through a heated liquid line (<NUM>),
characterized in that the process subsystem (<NUM>) is connected to said MVC/MVR-subsystem (<NUM>) and is arranged to receive a portion of said compressed vapor provided to the process subsystem (<NUM>) through a compressed vapor portion line (<NUM>) connected to the compressed vapor line (<NUM>), wherein the portion of the compressed vapor is used in the process subsystem (<NUM>) during operation of the process subsystem (<NUM>) to produce an industrial product or to perform a cleaning procedure or to generate work such as propulsion in freight- and/or public-transport.