US 12,405,055 B2
Component separations
Larry Baxter, Orem, UT (US); and Stephanie Burt, Provo, UT (US)
Assigned to Sustainable Energy Solutions, Inc., Orem, UT (US)
Filed by Sustainable Energy Solutions, Inc., Provo, UT (US)
Filed on Apr. 3, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/374,737.
Prior Publication US 2020/0318900 A1, Oct. 8, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25J 3/06 (2006.01); B01D 1/28 (2006.01); B01D 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25J 3/0615 (2013.01) [B01D 1/28 (2013.01); B01D 5/006 (2013.01); F25J 2205/10 (2013.01); F25J 2205/20 (2013.01); F25J 2220/66 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for separating components in a system comprising the steps of:
cooling a process stream, comprising a first component and a second component, to above a temperature at which the second component forms a solid so that a cooled process liquid stream that is purely liquid is formed, said cooling performed by warming a first liquid product stream in a first indirect-contact heat exchanger to form a warmed first liquid product stream and a secondary product liquid stream to form a warmed secondary product liquid stream and diluting the process stream using a recirculating stream in a mixer that is downstream from the first indirect-contact heat exchanger with respect to the process stream;
expanding the cooled process liquid stream in a single vessel such that the pressure of the cooled process liquid stream is decreased sufficiently to cause the first component and a first portion of the second component to flash and vaporize to form a process vapor stream in the single vessel and absorb energy from a second portion of the second component during the phase change of the first component and the first portion of the second component so that the second portion of the second component forms a solid to form a solid product stream in the single vessel;
passing the process vapor stream out of the single vessel;
passing the solid product stream out of the single vessel;
compressing the process vapor stream across a compressor and a heat exchanger to form a primary product liquid stream;
splitting the primary product liquid stream exiting the compressor into the first liquid product stream and the recirculating stream, where the recirculating stream includes a portion of the first component;
directing the warmed first liquid product stream from the first indirect-contact heat exchanger out of the system;
melting the solid product stream across a second indirect-contact heat exchanger to form the secondary product liquid stream;
directing the warmed secondary product liquid stream out of the system.