Ammonia Still Separation for Oil and Water Contamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial refrigeration systems using anhydrous ammonia face efficiency reduction and equipment degradation due to contamination from water and lubricating oil, leading to increased energy consumption and equipment wear, as well as the need to purge waste fluids which result in ammonia wastage.

Innovation Solution

An ammonia still apparatus and method for purifying ammonia from contaminated refrigeration fluid, involving the transfer, separation, return, and removal of contaminants, utilizing a heat exchanger to boil off anhydrous ammonia and separate it from waste oil and water, with a programmable logic controller (PLC) for automated operation and waste management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If waste fluid is purged from the refrigeration system, then contaminants are removed, but ammonia is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigeration system efficiencyVSAvoidammonia loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ammonia still extracts and separates ammonia from contaminated refrigerant fluid through heating and phase change. The contaminated fluid is heated to boil off ammonia, which then condenses and is collected separately from the waste contaminants, allowing selective removal of the useful substance while retaining it in the system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers ammonia that would otherwise be discarded with waste fluid. By heating the contaminated refrigerant, ammonia vaporizes and is condensed into a separate collection tank, while the non-volatile contaminants remain in the still and are drained separately, thus recovering the valuable ammonia for reuse

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If lubricating oil accumulates in the refrigeration system, then heat transfer efficiency decreases, but system complexity increases if purification equipment is added

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidpurification system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ammonia still performs multiple functions within a single integrated system: it separates ammonia from water-contaminated refrigerant, removes lubricating oil through phase-based separation, prevents microbiological growth by maintaining anhydrous conditions, and recycles purified ammonia back to the refrigeration system. This multi-functionality avoids the need for multiple separate purification equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses phase transitions to separate contaminants from refrigerant. By heating the contaminated fluid, ammonia vaporizes while water and oil remain liquid. The ammonia vapor is then condensed back to liquid in a separate location, achieving automatic separation based on volatility differences without complex mechanical separation devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Reliability

If water accumulates in the refrigeration system, then ammonia forms ammonium hydroxide reducing efficiency, but continuous monitoring and purging increase energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigeration efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ammonia still operates automatically using the refrigeration system's own resources. It uses available heat sources to vaporize ammonia from contaminated refrigerant, and the condensed ammonia returns to the system. The system self-regulates through automatic level sensing and heating control, eliminating the need for external energy-intensive monitoring and purging operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively recycles ammonia, enhancing refrigeration system efficiency, reducing energy costs, and extending equipment lifespan by minimizing waste fluid disposal and preventing microbiological growth, while allowing for automated operation and flexible parameter adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing a heat exchanger to boil off anhydrous ammonia and separate it from waste oil and water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBoiling: Boiling

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a heat exchanger to boil off anhydrous ammonia

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS8863538B2Ammonia recycling still for a refrigeration system and method therefor

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 WAGNER MEINERT LLC

AI summary

A method of treating a contaminated refrigeration fluid including the steps of transferring, separating, returning, moving and removing. The transferring step includes the transferring of a portion of the contaminated refrigeration fluid from a refrigeration system to a first tank. The separating step includes the separating of refrigerant from the portion of the contaminated refrigeration fluid resulting in the refrigerant and a refrigerant depleted portion. The returning step includes the returning of the refrigerant to the refrigeration system. The moving step includes the moving of the refrigerant depleted portion to a second tank. The removing step includes the removing of oil from the refrigerant depleted portion.