Method for controlling heat input to the reboiler section of a distillation column
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorR. Gene Fickel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for regulating, or controlling heat input to the reboiler section of a fractionation column. Flow-measuring means, disposed in a substantially liquid-free environment within the confines of the reboiler section, produces a signal which is representative of the quantity of vapor flowing from the reboiler section upwardly into the fractionation section. This signal is transmitted to heat-varying means, whereby fuel input to an external reboiler heater is regulated in response to the quantity of vapor flow.
Claims3
A method for controlling heat input to the reboiler section of a distillation column comprising said reboiler section and a fractionation section, which method comprises the steps of:
- a. withdrawing a single liquid bottoms stream from a partially-partitioned reboiler section;
- b. regulating the quantity of a portion of said bottoms stream removed from said distillation column as a bottoms product, in response to the level of liquid within said reboiler section;
- c. introducing the remaining portion of said bottoms stream into an external reboiler heater;
- d. passing the heated, mixed-phase bottoms stream into a substantially liquid-free area of said partially-partitioned reboiler section and therein disengaging liquid from said heated mixed-phase;
- e. measuring, within said liquid-free area, the quantity of vapor which passes from the partially-partitioned reboiler section into the fractionation section of said distillation column;
- and,
- f. regulating the fuel input to said external reboiler heater in response to a signal representative of the measured quantity of vapor passing into said fractionation section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.