Continuous Solid Filtration for Solid-Liquid Separations

Abstract

A method for clarifying a process fluid is disclosed. The process fluid is provided to a transport device. The process fluid comprises a process liquid that entrains a first solid of a first average particle size. A second solid of a second average particle size is provided to the transport device. The second average particle size is larger than the first average particle size. The process fluid passes through the second solid. The first solid adsorbs to, deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by the second solid, producing a first solid-depleted process fluid and a first solid-loaded second solid. The first solid-loaded second solid is removed from the transport device continuously. The second solid is reconstituted from a portion of the first solid-loaded second solid. The second solid is recycled to the transport device. In this manner, the process fluid is clarified.

1 . A method for clarifying a process fluid comprising:
 providing the process fluid to a transport device, wherein the process fluid comprises a process liquid and a first solid of a first average particle size, the first solid entrained in the process liquid;   providing a second solid of a second average particle size to the transport device, wherein the second average particle size is larger than the first average particle size;   passing the process fluid through the second solid, wherein the first solid adsorbs to, deposits on, fuses with, or is trapped by the second solid, producing a first solid-depleted process fluid and a first solid-loaded second solid;   removing the first solid-loaded second solid from the transport device continuously;   reconstituting the second solid from a portion of the first solid-loaded second solid; and,   recycling the second solid to the transport device;   
       whereby the process fluid is clarified. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the first solid and the second solid comprising the same compound. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , reconstituting the first solid-loaded second solid from the transport device continuously by a sizing process comprising crushing, grinding, screening, extruding, stamping, shaping, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , providing the first solid and the second solid comprising carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , providing the process fluid comprising any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a temperature at which the carbon dioxide solidifies. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , providing the process fluid comprising water, brine, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide, other cryogenic liquids, other hydrocarbons, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , providing the process fluid comprising 1,1,3-trimethylcyclopentane, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1-butene, 1-methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane, 1-pentene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene, 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methylpentane, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methylcyclopentene, 4-methyl-trans-2-pentene, bromochlorodifluoromethane, bromodifluoromethane, bromotrifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, cis 2-hexene, cis-1,3-pentadiene, cis-2-hexene, cis-2-pentene, dichlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethyl ether, trifluoromethyl ether, dimethyl ether, ethyl fluoride, ethyl mercaptan, hexafluoropropylene, isobutane, isobutene, isobutyl mercaptan, isopentane, isoprene, methyl isopropyl ether, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, methylcyclopropane, n,n-diethylmethylamine, octafluoropropane, pentafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether, propane, sec-butyl mercaptan, trans- 2 -pentene, trifluoromethyl trifluorovinyl ether, vinyl chloride, bromotrifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, dimethyl silane, ketene, methyl silane, perchloryl fluoride, propylene, vinyl fluoride, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the first solid comprising particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics, soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , providing the first solid comprising frozen condensable gases or frozen absorbed gases comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrocarbons, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the second solid comprising particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics, soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , providing the first solid comprising frozen condensable gases or frozen absorbed gases comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrocarbons, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the transport device comprising a conveyor belt, bucket elevator, circulating fluidized-bed, hail tower, screw conveyor, leach tank, flow channel, tube, porous filter, screen filter, or channel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the transport device comprising a porous lower section wherein the porous lower section allows passage of the process liquid out of the transport device but prevents passage of the first solid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , providing the transport device a surface material inhibiting adsorption of gases, preventing deposition of solids, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the process fluid comprising any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a temperature at which the first solid solidifies. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the process fluid further comprising a third solid of a third average particle size, the third average particle size being smaller than the second average particle size. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , providing the third solid comprising particulates, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics, soot, inorganic ash components, biomass, salts, water ice, frozen condensable gases, frozen absorbed gases, impurities common to vitiated flows, impurities common to producer gases, impurities common to other industrial flows, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , passing the process fluid through the second solid, the third solid absorbing to, depositing on, fusing with, or becoming trapped by the second solid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , providing the second solid comprising a material that melts at a temperature above a melting temperature of the first solid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , reconstituting the second solid by compressing the first solids-loaded second solids to force the process liquid retained on the first solids-loaded second solids out, warming the first-solids loaded second solids to melt the first solids to form a product liquid, and separating the second solids from the product liquid.