Folded fractionation column and process
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsBrian J. Nowak, Kevin J. Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process doubles the number of trays in a single fractionation column. A dividing wall is used to isolate a first side from a second side and fractionation on trays on each side is independent of the other. A transition vapor stream is ducted from a top of a first side to the bottom of the second side, and a transition liquid stream is ducted from a bottom of the second side to the top of the first side.
Claims20
A fractionation system for fractionating a first material from a feed stream of the first material and a second material, the system comprising:
- a column comprising a top, a bottom and a sidewall extending therebetween;
- a dividing wall extending between the top and the bottom and between sides of the sidewall so as to divide a first side of the column from a second side of the column;
- a feed inlet in the sidewall for introducing the feed stream into the column;
- a vapor discharge at the top of the column in the first side, a vapor duct having a first end at said vapor discharge, a second end of said vapor duct at a vapor entry at a bottom of the column in the second side;
- a liquid discharge at the bottom of the column in the second side, a liquid duct having a first end at said liquid discharge, a second end of said liquid duct at a liquid inlet at a top of the column in the first side and above the feed inlet in the sidewall;
- a bottoms outlet in the bottom of the column in the first side;
- and
- an overhead outlet in the top of the column in the second side.
A process for fractionating a first material from a feed stream of the first material and a second material, the process comprising:
- feeding the feed stream to a fractionation column;
- passing a transition vapor stream from a top of the first side of the column to a bottom of a second side of the column;
- passing a transition liquid stream from the bottom of the second side of the column to a top of the first side of the column;
- withdrawing an overhead vapor stream from a top of the second side of the column;
- and withdrawing a liquid stream from the bottom of the first side of the column.
A fractionation system for fractionating a first material from a feed stream of the first material and a second material, the system comprising:
- a column comprising a top, a bottom and a sidewall extending therebetween;
- a dividing wall extending all the way from the top to the bottom and between sides of the sidewall so as to divide a first side of the column from a second side of the column, so the first side is not in fluid communication with the second side through the wall;
- a feed inlet in the sidewall for introducing the feed stream into the column;
- a vapor discharge at the top of the column in the first side, a vapor duct having a first end at said vapor discharge, a second end of said vapor duct at a vapor entry at a bottom of the column in the second side, wherein said vapor duct extends through the column;
- a liquid discharge at the bottom of the column in the second side, a liquid duct having a first end at said liquid discharge, a second end of said liquid duct at a liquid inlet at a top of the column in the first side;
- a bottoms outlet in the bottom of the column on the first side;
- and
- an overhead outlet in the top of the column on the second side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.