Back to results
US 2003/0221818 A1Published application
Reflux condenser system for improved fluids separation
OwnerMatthew C. Gentry, Keith W. Hovisinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved condenser system employing heat exchange tubes that are supported by rod-type baffles. The condenser system can be a reflux condenser positioned at the top of a distillation column and employing a generally upright U-tube bundle for cooling fluids exiting the top of the distillation column.
Claims44
A condenser comprising:
- a main body defining a condensing zone;
- and
- a generally upright U-tube bundle disposed in the condensing zone and comprising
- a plurality of U-tubes and a plurality of rod-type baffles for supporting the U-tubes.
1 more element
A distillation unit comprising:
- an elongated upright distillation column having a lower end and an upper end and defining a fractionation zone extending between the lower and upper ends;
- and
- a reflux condenser positioned above and rigidly coupled to the upper end of the column and defining a condensing zone fluidly communicating with the fractionation zone via a condensing zone inlet,
- said condenser including a heat exchange tube bundle disposed in the condensing zone and comprising a plurality of upright elongated heat exchange tubes and a plurality of rod-type baffles for supporting the heat exchange tubes.
1 more element
An alkylation unit comprising:
- a reactor for contacting an iso-paraffin, an olefin, and an acid catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a reactor effluent comprising an alkylate, propane, and n-butane;
- a depropanizer fluidly communicating with the reactor and operable to substantially separate the propane and the alkylate;
- and
- a rectifier fluidly communicating with the depropanizer and operable to separate at least a portion of the n-butane from the alkylate and return the resulting separated alkylate to the depropanizer,
- said rectifier including an elongated upright distillation column and a reflux condenser,
- said condenser including a main body defining a condensing zone and a heat exchange tube bundle disposed in the condensing zone,
- said heat exchange tube bundle comprising a plurality of elongated heat exchange tubes and a plurality of rod-type baffles for supporting the heat exchange tubes.
4 more elements
A process comprising the steps of:
- (a) fractionating a fluid mixture in an upright distillation column;
- (b) conducting a light fluid component of the fluid mixture to a reflux condenser rigidly coupled to the top of the distillation column, said condenser including a plurality of heat exchange tubes supported by a plurality of rod-type baffles;
- and
- (c) condensing a heavy fluid component of the light fluid component in the condenser, thereby providing a condensed liquid in the condenser.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.