Systems and methods for removing organic compounds from water used to generate steam

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12545602-B2
Application number	US-202318134942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2023
Priority date	Oct 15, 2019
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A system for producing steam includes a source of superheated water with superheated water output; a membrane filtration system in fluid communication with the superheated water output and including a membrane filter with a permeate side and an opposing retentate side. The membrane filter includes a separation membrane constructed to reject organic molecules. The system may be used for removing organic compounds, such as anti-corrosion agents or contaminants, from superheated water to produce steam. A method for producing steam includes directing a cross-flow of heated pressurized water including a first concentration of an organic compound across a membrane filter. The membrane filter includes a separation membrane constructed to reject the organic compound; and one or more support layers adjacent the separation membrane. A steam permeate including a second concentration of the organic compound is collected, where the second concentration is lower than the first.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A system for producing steam, the system comprising:
a boiler comprising a hot water output capable of delivering heated water under pressure; an inlet configured to add an amine anti-corrosion agent into the boiler; one or more pumps downstream of the boiler, constructed for pumping liquid water; a membrane filtration system in fluid communication with the hot water output, the membrane filtration system comprising a separation membrane constructed to retain the amine anti-corrosion agent; and a steam outlet downstream of the membrane filtration system.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an organic molecule injection line operatively connected to the boiler.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the separation membrane comprises a perfluorinated polymer membrane.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the separation membrane comprises a one or more support layers comprising polyamide, polyimide, polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, PVDF, PTFE, or a combination thereof.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane filtration system comprises a plurality of layers of separation membranes separated by spacers, and wherein the spacers are constructed from polyamide, polyimide, polypropylene, polyethylene, PTFE, PVDF, or a combination thereof.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the separation membrane is constructed to reject at least 90 wt-% of the amine anti-corrosion agent.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the separation membrane does not substantially degrade at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 180° C. and/or at a pressure of above atmospheric pressure and up to about 100 psi.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is in fluid communication with a point of use comprising a sterilizer, a humidifier, or a culinary steam outlet.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system and the point of use are separated by a distance no greater than 10 meters.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the amine anti-corrosion agent is selected from cyclohexylamine, morpholine, diethylethanolamine, diethylaminoethanol (DEAE), and diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA).

11 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a second filtration system comprising a second membrane filter, an adsorbent filter, or both.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hot water output has a capacity of at least about 10 lbs/hour (about 5 kg/h).

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heated pressurized water has a temperature of about 95° C. or greater.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heated pressurized water has a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

15 . A method for producing steam, the method comprising:
directing heated pressurized water comprising a first concentration of an amine anti-corrosion agent to a membrane filter, the heated pressurized water having a temperature of about 100° C. to about 150° C., the membrane filter comprising:
a separation membrane constructed to retain the amine anti-corrosion agent; and
directing a permeate from the membrane filter to a steam outlet, the permeate comprising a second concentration of the amine anti-corrosion agent that is lower than the first concentration.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the amine anti-corrosion agent is selected from cyclohexylamine, morpholine, diethylethanolamine, diethylaminoethanol (DEAE), and diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA).

17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising recovering a retentate comprising the amine anti-corrosion agent and reusing the amine anti-corrosion agent.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising generating the heated pressurized water in a steam boiler and returning the retentate to the steam boiler or boiler feed line.

19 . The method of claim 15 further comprising washing, back flushing, or heating the membrane filter.

20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising passing the permeate through a second membrane filter or an adsorbent filter.

Assignees

• Donaldson Co Inc

Inventors

• Goertz Matthew P
• Parsons Jonathan G

Classifications

• B01D69/1216

  Three or more layers · CPC title

• B01D2311/103

  Heating · CPC title

• B01D15/1885

  placed in parallel · CPC title

• C02F2101/38

  containing nitrogen · CPC title

• B01D2313/143

  on the feed side · CPC title