Abstract

A continuous integral forced circulation cooling crystallizer for the processing of fluids which comprises, in vertical disposition:A. an upper fluid holding chamber having an inlet and outlet for the fluid to be processed and having a partition means vertically disposed therein to provide an inlet section and an outlet section, the partition means being positioned so as to permit fluid flow between the sections at the lower region;B. a heat exchange chamber comprising a multiplicity of separate vertically disposed tubular elements a fluid inlet and outlet to permit the flow of a heat exchange fluid through the extra-tubular portion of the chamber, and a multiplicity of horizontally disposed baffles adapted to direct the flowof the heat exchange fluid through the extra-tubular portion of the heat exchange chamber; and flow ofC. a lower pump chamber, vertically partitioned to provide an intake section and a discharge section and having a pump means disposed therein to provide forced circulation 36 section of the fluid to be processed between the intake section and the discharge section.A first portion of the tubular elements provides direct fluid communication between the inlet section of the holding chamber and the intake section of the pump chamber; and a second portion of the tubular elements provides direct fluid communication between the discharge section of the pump chamber and the outlet section of the holding chamber.In response to the pump means, a fluid to be processed circulates, in sequence, from the inlet section of the holding chamber, downward through the first portion of the tubular elements, through the intake and discharge sections of the pump chamber, then upward through the second portion of the tubular elements, to the outlet section of the holding chamber.