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:
Jan. 25, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 09, 2006
Kenny Randolph Parker, Afton, TN (US);
Robert Lin, Kingsport, TN (US);
Raymond Isaac, Gray, TN (US);
Duane Alan Hall, Lexington, SC (US);
Kenny Randolph Parker, Afton, TN (US);
Robert Lin, Kingsport, TN (US);
Raymond Isaac, Gray, TN (US);
Duane Alan Hall, Lexington, SC (US);
Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus which reduces the fines in a liquid discharge stream and/or increases the dryness of a solids discharge stream while under a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid. There is provided a process for separating particles such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate from a liquid in a slurry comprising feeding a slurry comprising solid particles and a liquid into a separation zone maintained at a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid; contacting the slurry in the separation zone with a porous filter; and separating liquid from the particles, wherein the liquid flows through the filter into an outer annulus defined as a space between a wall of the separation device and the filter, said porous filter having a terminal point beyond which the separated liquid does not pass from the outer annulus back through the filter; accumulating no liquid in the outer annulus or accumulating liquid in the outer annulus at a level below the terminal point, and continuously discharging the separated liquid form the outer annulus through a liquid outlet; and decoupling the particles from the separation zone through an outlet at a low pressure below the vapor pressure of the liquid at the liquid temperature within the separation zone, while maintaining a pressure on the particles prior to decoupling at or above the vapor pressure of the liquid within the separation zone.