Hinged pressure relief tray
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsArthur R. DiNicolantonio, Humphrey R. Theysen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinged tray, preferably for use in fractionation towers, capable of relieving small but sudden pressure surges caused by the flashing of relatively small amounts of water remaining in the tower feed or in the stripping steam. By hinging the trays distortion and upset normally caused by the flashing which could cause damage to the trays is substantially eliminated, as well as costly shutdown of the towers for tray repair. The hinged portion of the tray is stiffened by means of a frame and a counterweight can be provided to eliminate tray vibration during normal operation.
Claims13
A fractionation tray for a tower for contacting liquid with a vapor and characterized by pressure surges therein during operation, said tray comprising fixed and movable chordal sections disposed in a planar surface during normal operation of said tower, including at least a movable tray section which has a normally closed position, means for supporting said tray in said tower in a substantially horizontal position, said movable tray section being hinged at an end thereof for pivotal upward movement away from said support means in response only to pressure surges of at least a predetermined level in said tower and returning to said normally closed position after said pressure surge has subsided.
A fractionation tray for a tower for contacting liquid with a vapor, said tower being characterized by pressure surges therein during operation, said tray being supported within said tower and comprising fixed and movable chordal tray sections including at least one movable tray section having a normally closed position disposed in the same plane with respect to the remainder of said chordal tray sections during normal operation of said tower, said movable tray section mounted at one end thereof for pivotal movement in a direction away from said tray in response only to pressure surges of at least a predetermined level in said tower, thereby providing pressure relief for said tower and whereby said movable tray section resumes its normal closed position upon dissipation of said pressure surge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.