Patent · US Expired

Process and devices for operation of an apparatus which functions by using a flow of a liquid film

US4874559A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 1989
Grant dateOct 17, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 19, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC01G27/04
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for maintaining a very thin film in an exchanger involving a flowing liquid film. The process wherein the liquid films are fed by gravity from a liquid source is characterised in that: each film is fed at the permanent flow (kd.sub.1) corresponding to the feed flow rate (d.sub.1) of the source; then for a short period of time the flow rate is increased to a transient value (kd.sub.2) for establishing a continuous film over the whole of the corresponding flow surface; then operation returns to the flow rate (kd.sub.1) for the film in question, the short periods of feeding the different films at their transient flow rates (kd.sub.2) being displaced in respect of time. The apparatus according to the invention comprises at the top of each flow tube a movable sleeve, lifting movement or rotary movement of which opens a supplementary communication between the liquid source and the tube, permitting the film flow rate to assume the transient value (kd.sub.2). The process is applied in particular to the process for separation of tetrachlorides of Zr and Hf.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.