The Boeing Company

Resources Conservation Company

John E Andrew

Howard R Herrigel

George R Jones

James C Nowak

Mark K Tose

Robert Whalen

The present invention is a method for using water to remove amine from an oil-amine component. The oil-amine component is typically produced in prior art processes using an amine having an inverse critical solution temperature with water to break emulsions and sludges. The steps of the present invention include adding water to the oil-amine component in an amount sufficient to form a water-amine azeotrope with substantially all the amine in the oil-amine component followed by heating to remove the azeotrope. The method of the present invention may be used to remove amine from an oil-amine component even where the amine is present in an amount as low as 10% or less by weight.

Method for removing amine from oil

A heat exchange apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned modular panel units, positioned adjacent to one another in a closed housing. Each panel unit comprises a perimeter frame and a plurality of vertical spacing elements. Two sheets of thin film plastic are placed on opposite sides of each panel unit and define with the spacing units vertical passageways within the panel unit. An evaporating liquid heat exchange medium, such as brine, is directed into the upper ends of the passageways against the inside surfaces of the sheets to form a falling liquid film. A gaseous condensing heat exchange medium, such as steam, is directed into the areas between adjacent panels to cause condensation in the form of water on the outside surface of the thin film sheets.

Condenser/evaporator heat exchanger and method of using the same

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Renton, WA, United States of America

John E Andrew