| abstract |
The invention relates to a method for separating components from a fluid. A cooling element is placed in contact with a distal side of one or more thermally conductive surfaces. One or more resistive heating elements are placed in contact with, or incorporated into, a proximal side of said one or more thermally conductive surfaces. A fluid containing one or more secondary components is delivered. The fluid passes through said one or more thermally conductive surfaces, said one or more secondary components undergoing from the fluid a phenomenon of freezing, crystallization, desublimation, deposition, condensation or combinations of these phenomena. Said one or more resistive heating elements are solidified so that said one or more solid secondary components come off and exit through the solids outlet. Said one or more resistive heating elements are disengaged, thereby restarting the production of said one or more solid secondary components. |