US 11,897,822 B2
Reciprocating freeze concentration for urine-based fertilizer production
Abraham Noe-Hays, Putney, VT (US); and Nancy G. Love, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/093,123.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/932,104, filed on Nov. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0139385 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. C05C 3/00 (2006.01); B01D 9/00 (2006.01); C01C 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC C05C 3/00 (2013.01) [B01D 9/0013 (2013.01); C01C 1/10 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
4. A system for generating a concentrated product from a feedstock, the system comprising:
a reciprocating concentration system comprising:
first and second chambers to which the feedstock is alternately provided and from which the concentrated product is alternately removed; and
a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the first and second chambers, the heat transfer system being configured to reversibly transfer heat between the first and second chambers such that the first chamber alternates between melting a frozen portion of the feedstock in the second chamber and having a frozen portion of the feedstock in the first chamber melted by the feedstock in the second chamber; and
a heat dump system in thermal communication with the reciprocating concentration system, the heat dump system being configured to remove heat from the reciprocating concentration system;
wherein the heat transfer system comprises a heat pump.
 
9. A system for generating a concentrated product from a feedstock, the system comprising:
a reciprocating concentration system comprising:
first and second chambers to which the feedstock is alternately provided and from which the concentrated product is alternately removed; and
a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the first and second chambers, the heat transfer system being configured to reversibly transfer heat between the first and second chambers such that the first chamber alternates between melting a frozen portion of the feedstock in the second chamber and having a frozen portion of the feedstock in the first chamber melted by the feedstock in the second chamber;
a heat dump system in thermal communication with the reciprocating concentration system, the heat dump system being configured to remove heat from the reciprocating concentration system; and
insulation disposed between a heat sink of the heat dump system and the reciprocating concentration system.
 
10. A system for generating a concentrated product from a feedstock, the system comprising:
a reciprocating concentration system comprising:
first and second chambers to which the feedstock is alternately provided and from which the concentrated product is alternately removed; and
a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the first and second chambers, the heat transfer system being configured to reversibly transfer heat between the first and second chambers such that the first chamber alternates between melting a frozen portion of the feedstock in the second chamber and having a frozen portion of the feedstock in the first chamber melted by the feedstock in the second chamber; and
a heat dump system in thermal communication with the reciprocating concentration system, the heat dump system being configured to remove heat from the reciprocating concentration system;
wherein the heat transfer system comprises:
first and second thermally conductive blocks adjacent to the first and second chambers, respectively; and
a Peltier cell disposed between the first and second thermally conductive blocks.
 
11. A system for generating a concentrated product from a feedstock, the system comprising:
a reciprocating concentration system comprising:
first and second chambers to which the feedstock is alternately provided and from which the concentrated product is alternately removed; and
a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the first and second chambers, the heat transfer system being configured to reversibly transfer heat between the first and second chambers such that the first chamber alternates between melting a frozen portion of the feedstock in the second chamber and having a frozen portion of the feedstock in the first chamber melted by the feedstock in the second chamber; and
a heat dump system in thermal communication with the reciprocating concentration system, the heat dump system being configured to remove heat from the reciprocating concentration system;
wherein the first and second chambers are disposed in an inclined orientation.
 
12. A system for generating a concentrated product from a feedstock, the system comprising:
a reciprocating concentration system comprising:
first and second chambers to which the feedstock is alternately provided and from which the concentrated product is alternately removed; and
a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the first and second chambers, the heat transfer system being configured to reversibly transfer heat between the first and second chambers such that the first chamber alternates between melting a frozen portion of the feedstock in the second chamber and having a frozen portion of the feedstock in the first chamber melted by the feedstock in the second chamber; and
a heat dump system in thermal communication with the reciprocating concentration system, the heat dump system being configured to remove heat from the reciprocating concentration system;
wherein:
the reciprocating concentration system further comprises a third chamber to which the feedstock is provided and from which the concentrated product is removed; and
the heat transfer system in thermal communication with the third chamber such that the feedstock in the third chamber melts and freezes out of phase relative to both the first and second chambers.