US 12,172,102 B2
Apparatus and method for concentrating a fluid
Christopher Thomson, Surrey Hills (AU); Stephen Fahry, Carlton North (AU); Georgios Mihos, Preston (AU); and Paul Pallaghy, Ivanhoe (AU)
Assigned to Pivotal Enterprises Pty Ltd, Brunswick (AU)
Appl. No. 17/926,336
Filed by Pivotal Enterprises Pty Ltd, Brunswick (AU)
PCT Filed May 18, 2021, PCT No. PCT/AU2021/050462
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/232093, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020901609 (AU), filed on May 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0191276 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B01D 1/30 (2006.01); B01D 1/00 (2006.01); B01D 1/14 (2006.01); B01D 1/16 (2006.01); C02F 1/04 (2023.01); C02F 1/12 (2023.01); C13B 25/06 (2011.01)
CPC B01D 1/30 (2013.01) [B01D 1/0082 (2013.01); B01D 1/14 (2013.01); B01D 1/16 (2013.01); C02F 1/042 (2013.01); C02F 1/048 (2013.01); C02F 1/12 (2013.01); C13B 25/06 (2013.01); C02F 2303/14 (2013.01); C02F 2303/22 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of concentrating a process fluid, including a carrier fluid, including:
(a) maintaining the process fluid at a predetermined temperature value/range;
(b) evaporating the carrier fluid from the process fluid in an evaporator to produce a concentrated process fluid and an effluent mass transfer medium;
(c) monitoring at least one process variable of steps (a) or (b) to detect fouling formed in either step (a) or (b);
(d) initiating a cleaning protocol if the process variable deviates from a predetermined value/range to reduce the fouling formed; and
(e) directing part of the effluent mass transfer medium into a drift chamber having a plurality of run-off outlets, the drift chamber located downstream of the evaporator to remove entrained process fluid from the mass transfer medium prior to returning the mass transfer medium to the evaporator.