Devices, Systems and Methods for Producing Liquids from Desublimating Solids

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for melting solids are disclosed. A vessel includes a solids inlet, a plunger, one or more fluid jets, and a fluid outlet. Solids are passed through the solids inlet into the vessel. The plunger is positioned adjacent to the solids inlet to provide a variable gap between the plunger and the solids inlet. The variable gap provides a restriction producing a back pressure at the solids inlet. Hot fluid is injected into the vessel by fluid jets. The one or more fluid jets enter the vessel and end adjacent to the variable gap. The hot fluid melts at least a portion of the solids.

1 . A vessel comprising:
 a solids inlet for passing solids into the vessel;   a plunger, the plunger being positioned adjacent to the solids inlet to provide a variable gap between the plunger and the solids inlet, wherein the variable gap provides a restriction, the restriction producing a back pressure at the solids inlet;   one or more fluid jets for injecting a hot fluid into the vessel, the one or more fluid jets entering the vessel and ending adjacent to the variable gap; and   a fluid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the solids inlet directs the solids into the variable gap, wherein the one or more fluid jets direct the hot fluid into the variable gap, and wherein the hot fluid melts at least a first portion of the solids. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein at least a second portion of the solids are a same compound as the hot fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the solids comprise water, hydrocarbons, ammonia, solid acid gases, or a combination thereof, and wherein solid acid gases comprise solid forms of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the hot fluid comprises water, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid acid gases, cryogenic liquids, or a combination thereof, and wherein liquid acid gases comprise liquid forms of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the solids inlet is fed the solids by a screw press. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the solids inlet is fed the solids by a pump. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid jets comprise stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, ceramics, plastics, polymers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid jets pass through the plunger. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         11 . A method for melting solids comprising:
 passing solids through a solids inlet into a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises the solids inlet, a plunger, one or more fluid jets, and a fluid outlet;   positioning the plunger adjacent to the solids inlet to provide a variable gap between the plunger and the solids inlet, wherein the variable gap provides a restriction producing a back pressure;   injecting hot fluid through the one or more fluid jets, wherein the one or more fluid jets enter the vessel and end adjacent to the variable gap; and,   melting at least a first portion of the solids.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a second portion of the solids are a same compound as the hot fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solids comprise water, hydrocarbons, ammonia, solid acid gases, or a combination thereof, and wherein solid acid gases comprise solid forms of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hot fluid comprises water, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid acid gases, cryogenic liquids, or a combination thereof, and wherein liquid acid gases comprise liquid forms of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving the solids from a screw press. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving the solids from a pump. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more fluid jets pass through the plunger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plunger comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning the plunger comprises moving the plunger with a piston and wherein the one or more fluid jets move with the plunger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving the one or more fluid jets, varying a distance between the one or more fluid jets and the variable gap.