Timothy R Stout

US Patent:

7476298, Jan 13, 2009

Filed:

Feb 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/504330

Inventors:

Timothy R. Stout - Placerville CA, US

International Classification:

B01D 1/26
B01D 3/04
B01D 1/22

US Classification:

202174, 159 171, 159 271, 159 282, 159 286, 159DIG 8, 159DIG 42, 202155, 202197, 202237

Abstract:

A structure for a multiple-effect still includes a horizontal shell encompassing a plurality of effects and a series of vertical compound baffles fastened to the horizontal shell and dividing it into a series of pressure-tight chambers. Each chamber along with its associated apparatus constitutes an effect. Each compound baffle comprises a fixed baffle and a removable baffle. A heat exchanger is fastened to the removable baffle and includes an evaporation surface, a condensation surface, and a pressure chamber isolated from the pressure-tight chamber in which it is located. A port in the compound baffle allows evaporate to pass between the pressure chamber and the pressure-tight chamber of an adjacent effect. The shell is provided with a removable top plate to provide access to the heat exchanger and allow removal of the heat exchanger and removable baffle.

US Patent:

50486004, Sep 17, 1991

Filed:

Oct 10, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/598013

Inventors:

Timothy R. Stout - Placerville CA
Floyd T. Wright - Fremont CA

Assignee:

T & G Technologies, Inc. - Cameron Park CA

International Classification:

F28B 100
F28F 1304

US Classification:

165110

Abstract:

A vapor is condensed onto a condensor whose upper portion promotes film-wise condensation and whose lower portion promotes drop-wise condensation. One embodiment of this invention uses a plastic condensing tube which has a metal condensor pipe inserted into the tube in its upper end. Grooves and aperatures in the wall of the pipe encourage the flow of condensate between the pipe and plastic tube to facilitate heat conduction between the two. Heat conduction between the plastic tube and metal pipe is facilitated by a liquid such as heat-sink grease. An alternate embodiment features a plastic-only heat condensor whose upper portion is treated to make it condense the vapor as a film and whose lower portion is untreated so as to condense the vapor as drops.

US Patent:

54239524, Jun 13, 1995

Filed:

Jul 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/918569

Inventors:

Timothy R. Stout - Cameron Park CA

Assignee:

T & G Technologies, Inc. - Lodi CA

International Classification:

B01D 126

US Classification:

202174

Abstract:

A concatenable module for a multiple-effect still has a chamber encompassed by four walls and two baffles, where one baffle is shared with the preceeding effect and the other the subsequent effect. Heat exchanger tubes mount into an accumulator which is sealed to a baffle, an aperature in the baffle at the accumulator allows vapors and fluids to flow between modules. A distribution plug seals the top end of a heat exchanger tube while carrying distilland through internal channels until it reaches a ring channel which carries distilland in evenly around the plug. A gap below the ring channel between the plug and tube allow distilland to flow evenly on the tube as it leaves the plug.

US Patent:

50629271, Nov 5, 1991

Filed:

Jan 5, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/461246

Inventors:

Timothy R. Stout - Placerville CA

Assignee:

T and G Technologies, Inc. - Placerville CA

International Classification:

B01D 122
B01D 328
B01D 6100

US Classification:

203 89

Abstract:

The method of preparing and operating a heat-exchanging membrane of plastic material as the evaporating and condensing surfaces in a still includes treating the evaporating surface to be wettable by the distilland, and includes selectively washing the condensing surface which is unwettable by the by the distilland in order to promote efficient accumulation of condensed droplets and efficient heat transfer through the membrane to the evaporation surface. Washing liquids of either similar or disimilar chemical composition relative to the condensed vapor are recycled to the upper region of the condensing surface to facilitate washing of the surface by the downward movement of accumulated droplets of condensed vapor.