US 2004/0104493 A1 · VAPOR/LIQUID CONTACTING CYCLONE WITH SECONDARY VANES

Abstract

This invention is directed to a cyclonic vapor/liquid contacting device and distillation or related mass transfer or heat transfer processes employing its use, such as fluid catalytic cracking. Liquid feed is introduced near the floor of the cyclone via downcorner or plenum. Vapor enters through sieve holes in the bottom of the cyclonic device. Near the floor are angled tabs or vanes that impart a spin to the vapor rising up through the floor. The tabs or vanes mix the liquid and vapor. The liquid is then thrown toward the cyclone wall, where it exits through slots in the wall. A second set of tabs or vanes, located about in the middle of the cyclone, imparts additional spin to the vapor and entrained liquid rising through the cyclone. This improves liquid collection by the cyclone, especially in cases where a heavy liquid load dampens the spin action of the vapor in the base of the cyclone. In another embodiment, there is a non-spinning zone at the floor of the cyclone barrel which permits improved heat transfer between the liquid and vapor. If a non-spinning zone is used, the two sets of vanes or tabs are located at higher elevations within the barrel.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A series of cyclonic devices suitable for use in the contacting of vapor and liquid in a distillation or fractionation process, wherein each device comprises:

(a) a floor;
(b) a continuous side wall having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end terminating into said floor, said upper end defining an upper cyclonic region which may be adjacent to the floor of another cyclonic device, and said side walls defining a contacting volume above the floor and below the upper cyclonic region;
(c) at least one vapor opening in said floor through which vapors can flow into said contacting volume;
(d) at least one liquid downcorner comprising:
(1) downcorner side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being located in the upper cyclonic region, and said I lower portion extending to a point above the cyclone floor and having a lower portion end;
(2) at least one downcorner port located proximate to the lower portion end of the downcorner, said port defining an opening in said downcorner side walls through which liquid can flow;
(e) at least one liquid outlet located on one side wall, said liquid outlet defining an opening in said side wall through which liquid can flow;
(f) at least two sets of devices to impart spin to the vapor and entrained liquid wherein at least one liquid outlet of (e) is located on the side wall between the first set of spin devices and the second set of spin devices.

5 more elements

In a process for fractionating, distilling, or the like, the improvement comprising:

(a) providing a vertical column having surrounding sidewalls;
(b) feeding a first and a second fluid into the column, wherein the first fluid is in its vapor state and the second fluid is in its liquid state within the column;
(c) directing the first and second fluids to flow through a series of cyclonic devices located within the column, each cyclonic device comprising:
(1) a floor;
(2) a continuous side wall having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end terminating into said floor, said upper end defining an upper cyclonic region which may be adjacent to the floor of another cyclonic device, and said side walls defining a contacting volume above the floor and below the upper cyclonic region;
(3) at least one vapor opening in said floor through which vapors can flow into said contacting volume;
(4) at least one liquid outlet located on one side wall, said liquid outlet defining an opening in said side wall through which liquid can flow;
(5) at least two sets of devices to impart spin to the vapor and entrained liquid, wherein at least one liquid outlet of (4) is located on the side wall between the first set of spin devices and the second set of spin devices;
(d) also directing said fluids to flow through a plurality of liquid downcorners comprising:
(1) downcorner side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being located in the upper cyclonic region, and said lower portion extending to a point above the cyclone floor and having a lower portion end;
(2) at least one downcorner port located proximate to the lower portion end of the downcorner, said port defining an opening in said downcorner side walls through which liquid can flow;
whereby the vapors present within said column flow upward from one cyclonic device to the next through said vapor openings and the liquid present within said column flows downward from one cyclonic device to the next by passing through said liquid outlet and through the downcorners, and whereby the liquid and vapor contact each other in a co-current fashion within the contacting volume of the cyclonic devices.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vapor/liquid contacting cyclone with secondary vanes

Life of this patent

Vapor/liquid contacting cyclone with secondary vanes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10