Evaporative concentrator and associated methods

1. A method of concentrating a liquid waste stream comprising:

a. supplying a first exhaust feed gas to a supply conduit through a first exhaust flow control device;

b. regulating the first exhaust flow control device based on the pressure of the first exhaust feed gas;

c. providing the first exhaust feed gas from the supply conduit to a mixing cavity;

d. introducing a mixing cavity liquid feed into the mixing cavity to form a fluidized gas liquid mixture;

e. conveying the fluidized gas liquid mixture from the mixing cavity to a first cyclonic separation chamber;

f. removing a first liquid portion from the fluidized gas liquid mixture by centrifugal force within the first cyclonic separation chamber;

g. removing a second liquid portion from the fluidized gas liquid mixture by centrifugal force in a second cyclonic separation chamber and introducing the second liquid portion to the first cyclonic separation chamber; and

h. draining a liquid discharge from the first cyclonic separation chamber into a liquid sump.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first exhaust feed gas is a byproduct of the combustion of a biofuel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a gaseous discharge from the second cyclonic separation chamber flows into a gaseous concentrator discharge line.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising conveying a second exhaust feed gas to the gaseous concentrator discharge line to form a combined gaseous discharge, wherein the gaseous discharge from the second cyclonic separation chamber has a relative humidity that is greater than the combined gaseous discharge from the gaseous concentrator discharge line.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the temperature of the first exhaust feed gas is greater than 600° F.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the second exhaust feed gas comprises a biofuel combustion exhaust stream.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the gaseous discharge has a relative humidity that is higher than the relative humidity of the first exhaust feed gas.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing cavity liquid feed is the only substantial source of liquid phase water added to the mixing cavity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid discharge has a volumetric flow rate that is less than 50% of the volumetric flow rate of the mixing cavity liquid feed.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a volume reduction rate is represented by the difference between the mixing cavity liquid feed flow rate and the liquid discharge flow rate and the volume reduction rate is greater than 2% of the mixing cavity liquid feed flow rate.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing cavity liquid feed comprises solids.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing cavity liquid feed is aqueous.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing cavity liquid feed is not potable.

14. A method of concentrating a liquid waste stream comprising:

a. supplying a first exhaust feed gas to a supply conduit through a first exhaust flow control device;

b. regulating the first exhaust flow control device based on the pressure of the first exhaust feed gas;

c. providing the first exhaust feed gas from the supply conduit to a mixing cavity;

d. introducing a mixing cavity liquid feed into the mixing cavity to form a fluidized gas liquid mixture;

e. conveying the fluidized gas liquid mixture from the mixing cavity to a first cyclonic separation chamber;

f. separating a first liquid portion from the fluidized gas liquid mixture by centrifugal force and removing the first liquid portion from the first cyclonic separation chamber;

g. conveying a first exhaust from the first cyclonic separation chamber to a second cyclonic separation chamber,

h. separating a second liquid portion from the first exhaust by centrifugal force and removing the second liquid portion from the second cyclonic separation chamber; and

i. conveying the second liquid portion from the second cyclonic separation chamber to the first cyclonic separation chamber; and

j. draining a liquid discharge from the first cyclonic separation chamber into a liquid sump.

15. An evaporative concentrator comprising:

a. a supply conduit in fluid communication with a source of a combustion heated gas;

b. a mixing cavity in fluid communication with the supply conduit;

c. a venturi in fluid communication with the mixing cavity;

d. a multi-stage cyclonic separator in fluid communication with the venturi;

e. wherein the cyclonic separator comprises a first cyclonic separation chamber and a second cyclonic separation chamber for separation by centrifugal force;

f. a sump;

g. a recycle line arranged and configured to deliver liquid from the sump to the mixing cavity;

h. a gaseous concentrator discharge line;

i. a gaseous flow path connecting the supply conduit, the mixing cavity, the venturi, the first cyclonic separation chamber, the second cyclonic separation chamber, and the gaseous concentrator discharge line respectively;

j. a first cyclonic separation chamber drain fluidly connected to the sump;

k. a second cyclonic separation chamber drain, wherein the second cyclonic separation chamber drain drains to the first cyclonic separation chamber; and

l. wherein the gaseous flow path from the venturi to the first cyclonic separation chamber changes direction at an approximately right angle.

16. The evaporative concentrator of claim 15 , wherein the first cyclonic separation chamber, the second cyclonic separation chamber, the sump and the gaseous concentrator discharge line comprise a single vessel.

17. The evaporative concentrator of claim 16 , wherein the first cyclonic separation chamber, the second cyclonic separation chamber, the sump and the gaseous concentrator discharge line are aligned about a central axis.

18. The evaporative concentrator of claim 17 , wherein the second cyclonic separation chamber drain is configured to pass fluid from the second cyclonic separation chamber through the first cyclonic separation chamber proximate the central axis to the first cyclonic separation chamber drain.