The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
William Blake Kolb, St. Paul, MN (US);
Gary L Huelsman, St. Paul, MN (US);
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B01D / ; B01D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
203-1 ; 159906 ; 165913 ; 203100 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for separating components from a mixture includes a condensing surface located in a high vapor concentration region above the source of evaporated liquid. The evaporated liquid is condensed on the condensing surface. The condensed liquid is removed from the condensing surface while it remains liquid, using substantially capillary forces. A plurality of open grooves are formed on the condensing surface. The grooves channel the condensed liquid on the condensing surface away from the mixture. The grooves can be capillary grooves which satisfy the Concus-Finn Inequality.