US 2005/0029686 A1Published application

Fluid stream feed device for mass transfer column

AssigneeKoch-Glitsch, LP

InventorsDana Laird, Carol Schnepper, Christoph Ender

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Abstract

A mass transfer column includes a feed device that is used to de-entrain liquid and more uniformly distribute vapor across a horizontal cross section of the column after a vapor or mixed phase stream has been directed into the column through a radially oriented feed nozzle. The feed device includes an annular passageway formed in the spacing between the column shell and an inner wall spaced inwardly from the shell. A deflector with oppositely directed deflecting surfaces is positioned at an inlet from the feed nozzle to the annular passageway and splits the vapor or mixed phase stream into two roughly equal streams that flow in opposite circumferential directions in the annular passageway. At least one pair of turning vanes is spaced on opposite sides of the deflecting surfaces in the annular passageway to create subpassages through which the vapor or mixed phase stream flows. The subpassages reduce the amount of vapor or mixed phase stream flow that impacts against the inner wall of the feed device at the inlet. The turning vanes unexpectedly reduce the pressure drop that occurs as the vapor or mixed phase stream is redirected from its radial entry direction to the circumferential direction in the annular passageway. By reducing the pressure drop, improvements in product yield and vapor distribution can be achieved.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A mass transfer column comprising:

an external upright shell defining an open internal region within the shell;
a feed nozzle surrounding an opening in the shell and extending outwardly from the shell, said feed nozzle having a notional center vertical plane extending along a longitudinal axis of said feed nozzle, said opening having a preselected diameter and defining an inlet passage;
a feed device within said open internal region and positioned in relation to said opening in the shell to deflect a vapor or mixed phase stream entering said open internal region through said feed nozzle, said feed device comprising an inner wall spaced inwardly from said shell and defining an annular passageway in a space between said inner wall and said shell, said annular passageway being in fluid flow communication with said inlet passage;
a pair of upright deflecting surfaces extending from said inner wall toward said opening, each of said deflecting surfaces having an outer end closer to the shell and an opposed inner end closer to the inner wall of the feed device, the deflecting surfaces being generally symmetrically oriented on opposite sides of the center vertical plane of the feed nozzle with the outer ends of the deflecting surfaces being positioned closer to the center vertical plane than the inner ends of the deflecting surfaces;
and
at least a first pair of turning vanes positioned on opposite sides of the center vertical plane of the feed nozzle and spaced from said deflecting surfaces in said annular passageway, each said turning vane having a radially outer end and an opposed radially inner end with said outer end being located closer to said center vertical plane than the inner end.

3 more elements

A mass transfer column comprising:

an external upright shell defining an open internal region within the shell;
a feed nozzle surrounding an opening in the shell and extending outwardly from the shell in radial alignment with a vertical center axis of said shell, said feed nozzle having a notional radially extending center vertical plane, said opening having a preselected diameter and defining an inlet passage;
a feed device within said open internal region and positioned in relation to said opening in the shell to deflect a vapor or mixed phase stream entering said open internal region through said feed nozzle, said feed device comprising an inner wall spaced inwardly from said shell and defining an annular passageway in a space between said inner wall and said shell, said annular passageway being in fluid flow communication with said inlet passage;
a pair of upright deflecting surfaces extending from said inner wall toward said opening, each of said deflecting surfaces having an outer end closer to the shell and an opposed inner end closer to the inner wall of the feed device, the deflecting surfaces being generally symmetrically oriented on opposite sides of the center vertical plane of the feed nozzle with the outer ends of the deflecting surfaces being positioned closer to the center vertical plane than the inner ends of the deflecting surfaces;
and
at least a first pair of turning vanes positioned on opposite sides of the center vertical plane of the feed nozzle and spaced from said deflecting surfaces in said annular passageway, each said turning vane having a radially outer end and an opposed radially inner end with said outer end being located closer to said center vertical plane than the inner end.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.