Method for removing dissolved solids from aqueous waste streams

1. A method for removing dissolved solids from waste streams comprising:

evaporating water from the waste stream in a first evaporator under pressure substantially lower than atmospheric pressure and forming a first slurry stream having crystallized solids;

removing dissolved solids in the first slurry stream by evaporating water from the first slurry stream in a second evaporator under pressure substantially lower than the pressure in the first evaporator and forming a second slurry stream having crystallized solids; and

separating at least a portion of the crystallized solids from the second slurry stream and forming a mother liquor and solid cake.

2. The method of claim 1 including evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a temperature of less than 60° C. and at a pressure in the range of approximately 0.1 atm to approximately 0.2 atm; and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a temperature less than 60° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.015 atm to approximately 0.025 atm.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a temperature of approximately 55° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.14 atm; and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a temperature of approximately 55° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.017 atm.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising mixing at least a portion of the first slurry stream with at least a portion of the mother liquor in a mixing tank prior to evaporating water from the first slurry stream in a second evaporator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising separating at least a portion the crystallized solids from the second slurry stream in a centrifuge.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forming a first vapor stream in the first evaporator and condensing at least a portion of the first vapor stream;

heating at least a portion of the first slurry stream with the first vapor stream;

forming a second vapor stream in the second evaporator and condensing at least a portion of the second vapor stream; and

heating at least a portion of the second slurry stream with a heated refrigerant.

7. The method of claim 1 including heating the waste stream to a temperature of approximately 55° C. in the first evaporator and heating the first slurry stream to a temperature of approximately 55° C. in the second evaporator.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a pressure of approximately 0.14 atm and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a pressure of approximately 0.017 atm.

9. The method of claim 1 including:

evaporating water from the waste stream at a temperature less than 60° C. and at a pressure in the range of approximately 0.1 atm to approximately 0.2 atm;

evaporating water from the first slurry stream in a second evaporator at a temperature less than 60° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.015 atm to approximately 0.025 atm;

forming a first vapor stream in the first evaporator and condensing at least a portion of the first vapor stream;

heating at least a portion of the first slurry stream with at least a portion of the first vapor stream;

forming a second vapor stream in the second evaporator and condensing at least a portion of the second vapor stream;

heating at least a portion of the second slurry stream in the heat exchanger with a heated refrigerant.

10. The method of claim 1 including evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a temperature of less than 80° C. and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a temperature of less than 80° C.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising separating crystallized solids from the second slurry stream to form a solid cake and mother liquor, and directing the first slurry stream to a mixing tank and mixing the mother liquor with the first slurry stream in the mixing tank.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising separating at least a portion of the crystallized solids from the second slurry stream in a centrifuge.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a temperature of approximately 55° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.14 atm and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a temperature of approximately 55° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.017 atm.

14. The method of claim 10 including evaporating water from the waste stream in a first evaporator at a temperature of less than 60° C. and at a pressure in the range of approximately 0.1 atm to approximately 0.2 atm; and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a temperature less than 60° C. and at a pressure of approximately 0.015 atm to approximately 0.025 atm.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising heating the waste stream in the first evaporator to a temperature of approximately 55° C. and heating the first slurry stream in the second evaporator to a temperature of approximately 55° C.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a pressure of approximately 0.014 atm and evaporating water from the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a pressure of approximately 0.017 atm.

17. A method for removing dissolved solids from a waste stream comprising:

evaporating water from the waste stream in a first evaporator under pressure substantially lower than atmospheric pressure to form a first vapor stream and concentrating the waste stream causing dissolved solids to precipitate therefrom to form a first slurry stream having crystallized solids;

mechanically compressing at least a portion the first vapor stream;

condensing at least a portion of the mechanically compressed first vapor stream;

heating at least a portion of the first slurry stream with at least a portion of the mechanically compressed first vapor stream;

removing at least a portion of remaining dissolved solids in the first slurry stream by evaporating water from the first slurry stream in a second evaporator under pressure substantially lower than the pressure in the first evaporator to form a second vapor stream and concentrating the first slurry stream causing dissolved solids to precipitate therefrom to form a second slurry stream having crystallized solids;

condensing at least a portion of the second vapor stream;

heating at least a portion of the second slurry stream with a refrigerant; and

separating at least a portion of the crystallized solids from the second slurry stream.

18. A method for removing dissolved solids from a waste stream, comprising:

directing the waste stream to an evaporator;

removing dissolved solids from the waste stream by heating the waste stream in the evaporator to a temperature below 60° C. and at a pressure substantially below atmospheric pressure causing water to be evaporated from the waste stream and concentrating the waste stream causing dissolved solids therein to precipitate therefrom which results in the formation of a slurry stream;

directing the slurry stream to a solids separator; and

separating the solids from the slurry stream.

19. The method of claim 18 further including heating the waste stream and condensing the vapor with a closed cycle heat pump.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising condensing the vapor with a closed cycle heat pump.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising raising the pressure of the vapor with a steam booster and then condensing the vapor with cooling water.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising circulating a working fluid through a closed cycle heat pump, wherein circulating the working fluid through the heat pump includes:

compressing and heating the working fluid in a compressor;

heating the waste stream in the evaporator with the heated working fluid;

cooling the working fluid with cooling water in a heat exchanger; and

condensing at least a portion of the vapor with the cooled working fluid.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising evaporating water from the waste stream in the first evaporator at a pressure in the range of approximately 0.1 atm to approximately 0.2 atm; and evaporating water from in the first slurry stream in the second evaporator at a pressure in the range of approximately 0.015 atm to approximately 0.025 atm.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

directing the first slurry stream to a mixing tank;

separating the second slurry stream into a mother liquor and solids;

mixing the mother liquor with the first slurry stream in the mixing tank; and

directing the mixture of mother liquor and the first slurry steam to the second evaporator.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

heating the second slurry in the second evaporator with a working fluid;

cooling the working fluid in a heat exchanger;

condensing the second vapor stream with the cooled working fluid; and

after condensing the second vapor stream, heating the working fluid by compressing the working fluid in a compressor.

26. A method for removing dissolved solids from a waste stream, comprising:

evaporating water from the waste stream in a first evaporator at a temperature of less than 60° C. and under pressure substantially lower than atmospheric pressure to form a first vapor stream and a first slurry stream;

compressing at least a portion of the first vapor stream;

heating at least a portion of the first slurry stream with at least a portion of the compressed first vapor stream;

evaporating water in the first slurry stream in a second evaporator at a temperature of less than 60° C. and under pressure substantially lower than the pressure in the first evaporator to form a second vapor stream and a second slurry stream; and

heating the second slurry in the second evaporator and condensing the second vapor stream with a closed cycle heat pump.

27. A method for removing dissolved solids from a waste stream comprising:

directing the waste stream to a crystallizer operated below atmospheric pressure;

evaporating water from the waste stream in the crystallizer and forming a slurry stream having crystallized solids;

directing the slurry stream to a separator; and

separating at least a portion of the crystallized solids from the slurry stream and forming a mother liquor and a solid cake.

28. The method of claim 27 including evaporating water from the waste stream in the crystallizer at a temperature less than 80° C.

29. The method of claim 27 including evaporating water from the waste stream in the crystallizer at a temperature of less than 60° C. and at a pressure of less than 0.2 atm.