Reflux return system

Abstract

The temperature of the reflux fed to a fractionating tower is increased after the reflux enters the tower and before it passes onto the reflux return tray by passing the reflux through an atomizer in the fractionating tower above the reflux return tray to produce a downfalling spray of liquid droplets; collecting the droplets on a reflux pan located between the atomizer and the reflux return tray, the reflux pan being designed to allow the passage of hot vapors rising from the reflux return tray; and passing the collected liquid from the reflux pan onto the reflux return tray. The distance between the reflux pan and the atomizer is such as to allow the downfalling droplets to absorb sufficient heat from the hot rising vapors so that the temperature of the reflux liquid collected on the reflux pan is increased to a desired value. The distance between the atomizing device and the reflux pan necessary to raise the temperature of the reflux to the desired value may be minimized by using a two-condenser, two-drum fractionator overhead system to increase the temperature of the reflux before it is fed to the fractionator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.