Systems including a condensing apparatus such as a bubble column condenser

Abstract

Condensing apparatuses and their use in various heat and mass exchange systems are generally described. The condensing apparatuses, such as bubble column condensers, may employ a heat exchanger positioned external to the condensing vessel to remove heat from a bubble column condenser outlet stream to produce a heat exchanger outlet stream. In certain cases, the condensing apparatus may also include a cooling device positioned external to the vessel configured and positioned to remove heat from the heat exchanger outlet stream to produce a cooling device outlet stream. The condensing apparatus may be configured to include various internal features, such as a vapor distribution region and/or a plurality of liquid flow control weirs and/or chambers within the apparatus having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5. A condensing apparatus may be coupled with a humidifier to form part of a desalination system, in certain cases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 268 . (canceled) 
     
     
         269 . A bubble column condenser, comprising:
 a first stage comprising a first stage inlet in fluid communication with a source of a gas comprising a condensable fluid in a vapor phase, and a first stage outlet;   wherein:
 the first stage contains a liquid layer comprising an amount of the condensable fluid, and 
 the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within the first stage to the length of the condenser is about 1.0 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
   
     
     
         270 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , further comprising a second stage comprising a second stage inlet in fluid communication with the first stage outlet; wherein the first stage and the second stage each contain a liquid layer comprising an amount of the condensable fluid; and wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within each stage to the length of the condenser is about 1.0 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         271 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within at least one stage to the length of the condenser is about 0.8 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         272 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within at least one stage to the length of the condenser is about 0.6 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         273 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within at least one stage to the length of the condenser is about 0.4 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         274 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within at least one stage to the length of the condenser is about 0.2 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         275 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within at least one stage to the length of the condenser is about 0.1 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         276 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the ratio of the height of the liquid layer within at least one stage to the length of the condenser is about 0.05 or lower during substantially continuous operation. 
     
     
         277 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein each stage comprises a bubble generator comprising a sparger plate comprising a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         278 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 277 , wherein the plurality of holes have a diameter in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 50 mm. 
     
     
         279 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the stages are arranged vertically within the bubble condenser. 
     
     
         280 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the gas further comprises a non-condensable gas. 
     
     
         281 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the gas further comprises air. 
     
     
         282 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the condensable fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         283 . The bubble column condenser of  claim 269 , wherein the bubble column condenser is configured to flow a liquid stream in a first direction and a gas stream in a second, opposing direction. 
     
     
         284 . A bubble column condenser, comprising:
 a first stage comprising a first stage inlet in fluid communication with a source of a gas comprising a condensable fluid in a vapor phase, and a first stage outlet;   wherein the first stage contains a liquid layer comprising an amount of the condensable fluid, the liquid layer having a height of less than about 0.1 m during substantially continuous operation.   
     
     
         285 . A condenser apparatus, comprising:
 a vessel comprising a liquid inlet for receiving a stream of a liquid comprising a condensable fluid in liquid phase, a liquid outlet, and at least one chamber in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet;   a vapor inlet arranged in fluid communication with the at least one chamber and with a source of a vapor mixture comprising the condensable fluid in vapor phase and/or a non-condensable gas; and   a vapor outlet arranged in fluid communication with the at least one chamber,   wherein the at least one chamber comprises a surface comprising a plurality of perforations through which vapor can travel, and a first weir and a second weir, each positioned along a bottom surface of the at least one chamber and each having a height that is less than the height of the at least one chamber, the first weir and second weir arranged such that a stream of the condensable fluid in liquid phase flows across the at least one chamber from the first weir to the second weir, and   wherein the condenser apparatus is configured to remove at least a portion of the condensable fluid from the vapor mixture to produce a condenser outlet stream comprising the condensable fluid in liquid phase.