Alliedsignal Inc.

Allied Corporation

Allied Chemical Corporation

Harry F Osterman

Francis J Figiel

George C Nylen

Joel E Rodgers

Burton Rand

Michael J Ruckriegel

Algar Saulic

A solvent control arrangement for stripping liquid solvent from parts being degreased/defluxed in a degreaser or defluxer by intimate contact with liquid solvent or a vapor phase thereof is disclosed. The solvent control arrangement comprises a tank or box having an open end extending downwardly into the vapor zone in an exit area of the degreaser/defluxer to define a flash drying chamber above and in communication with the vapor zone. The solvent covered parts are directed into the flash drying chamber from the vapor zone where heat is applied to heat the air in the flash drying chamber to a temperature above the solvent boiling point to thereby evaporate liquid solvent on the parts. The parts are then returned from the chamber into the vapor zone where they ultimately exit the degreaser/defluxer from the exit end. Optionally, condensing coils may be disposed in the chamber at the vapor line to condense solvent in the chamber and prevent the solvent vapor zone from encroaching within the chamber. The amount of solvent within the chamber may be further controlled through an outlet duct arrangement directing solvent laden air from the chamber through dehumidifying coils, molecular sieves, carbon absorption filters or like solvent stripping mechanisms.

Flash drying treatment of solvent from workpieces

A volatile solvent conservation modular unit and method for effecting solvent conservation is provided. The cooling coil modular unit is arranged to be disposed in the freeboard zone of a cleaning or degreasing apparatus that uses a volatile solvent. The freeboard zone chiller positioned above the vapor zone and the primary condenser to recover solvent from the relatively less dense solvent/air mixture escaping above the primary condenser and is formed so as to be disposed along one side of the degreaser vessel rather than on all four sides to minimize the obstruction of access into the vapor zone. This one-sided single freeboard chiller positioned on but one side produces a vapor suppression blanket that is effective and is readily retrofitted on existing apparatus without the need for dismantling of the existing unit.

Apparatus and method for reducing solvent losses

A novel apparatus is provided for removing with a treating fluid surface films that are hydrophilic in nature and comprise a less dense liquid component. The hydrophilic film is removed from non-absorbing surfaces such as metal, glass and plastics and may contain dissolved solids. The hydrophilic film is substantially immiscible in the more dense cleansing liquid. In a particular embodiment the more dense liquid is a cleansing fluid and the less dense hydrophilic component is present as a contaminant. The apparatus includes a tank (12), a separator chamber (14) and a holding chamber (16). The less dense liquid is removed from the upper part of the separator chamber 14. The configuration of separator chamber (14) effects rapid separation of overflow liquid into an upper layer of the less dense liquid and a lower layer of the more dense liquid. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a second separator chamber (89) and a second holding chamber (90) are included.

Apparatus for removal of surface films from non-absorbent articles

A novel apparatus and process is provided for removing with a treating fluid surface films that are hydrophilic in nature and comprises a less dense liquid component. The hydrophilic film is removed from non absorbing surfaces such as metal glass and plastics and may contain dissolved solids. The hydrophilic film is substantially immiscible in the more dense cleansing liquid. In a particular embodiment the more dense liquid is a cleansing fluid and the less dense hydrophilic component being present as a contaminant. The apparatus includes a tank (12), a separator chamber (14) and a holding chamber (16). The less dense liquid is removed from the upper part of the separator chamber 14. The configuration of separator chamber (14) effects rapid separation of overflow liquid into an upper layer of the less dense liquid and a lower layer of the more dense liquid. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a second separator chamber (89) and a second holding chamber (90) are included.

Process for removal of surface films from non-absorbent articles

A process for vaporizing a working liquid and condensing the vapors thereof is provided wherein the heat of compression is used in vaporizing the liquid. In the process, the working liquid is compressed to a high pressure thereby adding heat of compression thereto. This heat of compression is transferred from the working liquid to a still as a result of which the liquid is vaporized and contains sensible heat. The fluid containing this sensible heat is passed to an evaporator and substantially all sensible heat over that used to boil-up said liquid is removed by heat transfer contact between the fluid containing the sensible heat through use of an auxiliary condensing coil, so that thermal balance is maintained.

Energy efficient process for vaporizing a liquid and condensing the

The present invention provides a novel apparatus and process for generating a vapor spray from a volatile fluid. In the invention, the volatile fluid is heated to a temperature just below its boiling point prior to being discharged from heat exchanger (18, 46). In one embodiment of the apparatus, heat exchanger (46) contains a diffusion plate (48) to ensure that the volatile fluid is at the selected temperature when discharged from the heat exchanger. In this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a pressure-responsive valve (40) and a bypass line (42) so that a selected pressure is maintained downstream from pump (34). The novel process of the present invention includes the step of heating the volatile fluid within heat exchanger (18, 46) to a selected temperature just below its boiling point prior to discharge from the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the process further includes the step of impinging the volatile fluid stream as it enters heat exchanger (46) onto diffusion plate (48) so that it is ensured that the volatile fluid is at the selected temperature upon discharge. In this embodiment, passing of the fluid drawn from reservoir (32) is accompanied by modulating the flow of the drawn fluid through bypass line (42) connecting pump (34) and reservoir (32), whereby a selected pressure is maintained downstream from pump (34).

Vapor sprayer and process for providing a volatile fluid as a vapor spray

The present invention provides a novel apparatus and process for vaporizing a liquid and condensing the vapors thereof. The apparatus and process utilize heat of compression for vaporizing the liquid. The apparatus includes a still (10), a closed refrigeration system (12), an auxiliary condensing coil (24) separate from refrigeration system (12), and a valve (28) for controlling heat extraction by auxiliary coil (24). In a particularly useful embodiment, the apparatus further includes a trough (41) for collecting the condensed vapors. The trough is located within still (10). Auxiliary coil (24) extracts from the vapors, heat in excess of that necessary to maintain thermal balance in the apparatus. The novel process of the present invention includes the steps of compressing a gaseous working fluid to a high pressure and adding heat of compression thereto; transferring heat including the heat of compression from the working fluid to a liquid in still (10), as a result of which the liquid is vaporized and the resulting working fluid contains sensible heat; passing the resulting working fluid to evaporator coil (18) whereby the working fluid entering evaporator coil (18) contains the sensible heat; and removing from the vapors resulting from vaporization of the liquid, heat in excess of that necessary to maintain thermal balance in the apparatus (12). The excess heat is removed by auxiliary condensing coil (24), which is separate from the refrigeration system.

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Westfield, NJ, United States of America

Harry F Osterman