Methods and systems for heating and manipulating fluids

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for heating and manipulating a fluid to heat the fluid, evaporate water from the fluid, concentrate the fluid, separate the fluid into fractions; and/or pasteurize the fluid, comprising a closed-loop heating subsystem coupled to a primary fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, and one or more fluid manipulation subsystems also coupled to the primary fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This continuing application is based on, claims priority to and benefit of the following applications, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes:[0002]1) U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 510,485, filed on Jul. 22, 2011(pending) and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 484,210, filed on May 9, 2011(pending); 2) U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 13 / 069,363, filed on Mar. 22, 2011(pending); U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12 / 638,984 filed on Dec. 10, 2009 (pending), which is a continuing application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12 / 615,331 filed on Nov. 10, 2009 (abandoned); a continuing application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11 / 934,645 filed on Nov. 2, 2007 (abandoned); a continuing application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11 / 764,270 filed on Jun. 18, 2007 (abandoned); a continuing application of U.S. Non-Provisional applic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The present disclosure is directed to improved systems and methods for heating and manipulating a fluid.

[0015]As a brief summary of one aspect of the inventions disclosed herein, and without limitation, a method for evaporating water is disclosed, comprising providing a closed-loop heating subsystem comprising a hydrocarbon-fueled heater, a fluid pump, a fluid reservoir and a first path through a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, all configured to heat a first fluid to less than an atmospheric boiling point of the first fluid; providing an evaporation subsystem comprising a flash tank, a second path through the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger and a condensing heat exchanger; pumping a second fluid through the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger; transferring heat from the first fluid to the second fluid in the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger; flashing the second fluid into its liquid and vapor phases in the flash tank to evaporate at least a portion of water from the second fluid; drawing the second fluid vapor from the flash tank into the condensing heat exchanger to condense the vapor to liquid by transferring heat from the vapor; and utilizing at least a portion of the heat removed by condensing the vapor to evaporate additional water from the second fluid liquid.

[0016]As a brief summary of another aspect of the inventions disclosed herein, and without limitation, a method for evaporating water is provided, comprising providing a closed-loop heating subsystem comprising a hydrocarbon-fueled heater, a fluid pump, a fluid reservoir and a first path through a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, all configured to heat a first fluid to less than an atmospheric boiling point of the first fluid; providing an evaporation subsystem comprising a flash tank operating at less than atmospheric pressure, a second path through the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger and a condensing heat exchanger; pumping a second fluid through the fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger; transferring heat from the first fluid to the second fluid in the flui

Problems solved by technology

Power dissipates as heat in the water causing the

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