Adjustable vapor transfer pathway for entrochemical stage 1 devices

Abstract

A system for maintaining the depth of injected vapor in an entrochemical system is disclosed. The vapor transfer pathway terminates in the chamber containing high concentration solution underneath the surface of the solution. In one example the vapor transfer pathway is passively adjustable, using a flotation device to maintain the depth of its end. Another example uses an active, actuated system to maintain the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway. The energy for controlling the depth of vapor transfer pathway is minimized by passive methods and derives from the heat of mixing of the vapor and the high concentration solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable vapor transfer pathway in a stage  1  entrochemical device. The stage  1  entrochemical comprises a first chamber containing a relatively low concentration solution, a second chamber containing a relatively high concentration solution, and a vapor transfer pathway which together with the first chamber and the second chamber forms a hermetically sealed structure and which conveys vapor from the first chamber to the second chamber wherein
 i. the adjustable vapor transfer pathway is the vapor transfer pathway of the entrochemical device; 
 ii. the end of the vapor transfer pathway in the second chamber through which at least the majority of the vapor being transferred from the first chamber containing a relatively low concentration solution to the second chamber containing the relatively high concentration solution is located below the surface of the high concentration solution; 
 iii. and wherein the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway can be adjusted so as to maintain the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway in the high concentration solution in response to changes in the solution's volume and depth. 
 
     
     
         2 . The adjustable vapor transfer pathway of  claim 1  further comprising
 i. a first largely vertical member that is stationary with respect to the chamber containing the high concentration solution; 
 ii. a second largely vertical member that is tightly fitted inside or outside of said first largely vertical member and is able to vertically slide freely; 
 iii. one or more flotation members, operationally attached to the second largely vertical member which are buoyant in the high concentration solution; 
 iv. wherein vapor travels through the first largely vertical member and the second largely vertical member, with a majority of the vapor exiting the vapor transfer pathway at the bottom of the second largely vertical member; 
 v. and wherein the bouyancy of the flotation member or members enables them to maintain their depth relative to the top of the high concentration solution, effectively maintaining the depth of the end of the connected second largely vertical member in the high concentration solution. 
 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable vapor transfer pathway of  claim 1  further comprising
 i. a largely vertical member of the vapor transfer pathway that is stationary with respect to the second chamber of the entrochemical device and has one end completely contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device; 
 ii. a second largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical system that is connected to the end of the largely vertical first member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device in a way that allows it to maintain a seal while relatively freely swiveling up and down; 
 iii. a flotation device attached to the end of the second largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway which is not itself connected to the largely vertical member of the vapor transfer pathway; 
 iv. wherein vapor travels through the first largely vertical member and the second largely horizontal member, with a majority of the vapor exiting the vapor transfer pathway at the end of the second largely horizontal member; 
 v. and wherein the flotation device operatively attached to the largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway is arranged so that it maintains flotation in the high concentration solution in such a way that the end of the attached second largely horizontal member maintains its depth underneath the surface of the high concentration solution; 
 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable vapor transfer pathway of  claim 1  further comprising
 i. a largely vertical member of the vapor transfer pathway that is stationary with respect to the second chamber of the entrochemical device and has one end completely contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device; 
 ii. a second largely horizontal member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical system that is connected to the end of the largely vertical first member of the vapor transfer pathway contained within the second chamber of the entrochemical device in a way that allows it to maintain a seal while relatively freely swiveling up and down; 
 iii. an actuator connected to the largely vertical first member of the vapor transfer pathway and to the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway, which can cause the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway to swivel around the connection point of the first and second members of the vapor transfer pathway; 
 iv. a sensor which is capable of determining the depth of the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway under the surface of the high concentration solution; 
 v. a computer connected to the sensor and to the actuator, capable of processing the sensor's signals and producing control signals for the actuator which drive the actuator; 
 vi. wherein vapor travels through the first largely vertical member and the second largely horizontal member, with at least a majority of the vapor exiting the vapor transfer pathway at the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway; 
 vii. wherein vapor exiting the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway exits underneath the surface of the high concentration solution; 
 viii. and wherein the combined system of the sensor, actuator, and computer act in such a way that it maintains a relative depth of the end of the largely horizontal second member of the vapor transfer pathway under the surface of the high concentration solution.