Back to results
US 4,381,974 AGranted
Distillation columns
OwnerIan A. Furzerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plate column filled with downcomerless plates comprises receptacle means between each adjacent pair of upper and lower plates to delay liquid flowing downwards from the upper to lower plate, without interfering in the upward flow of vapor. A number of alternative receptacle means are provided, including laterally spaced staggered channels, perforate wells, and a helical channel.
Claims9
A distillation column fitted with downcomerless plates, said column comprising:
- at least one pair of adjacent downcomerless plates defining an upper plate and a lower plate, each said plate extending over the entire width of said column and including a plurality of drain holes through which gas can normally flow up said column and through which liquid can flow down said column during said periodic interruption of said gas flow;
- delay means for introducing a time delay into the time taken for liquid in said column to flow from said upper plate to said lower plate;
- said delay means comprising receptacle means for receiving substantially all of said liquid passing through said drain holes in said upper plate after said liquid has flowed downward through said drain holes in said upper plate, said receptacle means collecting said liquid and delivering said liquid with a time delay onto said lower plate;
- said delay means being arranged within said column in such a manner that gaseous matter rising up said column does not pass through said liquid collected in said receptacle means and whereby said delay means does not substantially hinder the passage of gaseous matter up said column from said lower plate to said upper plate;
- and means for causing gases to periodically flow up said column so as to carry out a periodic cycling mass transfer operation.
2 more elements
A distillation column fitted with downcomerless plates, said column comprising:
- (A) at least one pair of adjacent downcomerless plates comprising an upper plate and a lower plate, each said plate extending over the entire width of said column and including a plurality of drain holes through which gas can normally flow up said column and through which liquid can flow down said column during said periodic interruption of said gas flow;
- (B) delay means for introducing a time delay into the time taken for liquid in said column to flow from said upper plate to said lower plate, said delay means comprising:
- (1) two rows of substantially level channels extending across said column, said channels being spaced from one another and arranged in such manner that said channels of said upper row are located above said spaces separating said channels of the lower row, so that substantially all of said liquid draining through said drain holes in said upper plate is caught in said rows of channels;
- and
- (2) a well provided with a weir level control arrangement, and at least one drain hole, one end of each said channel being closed and the other end being open and disposed above said well so that liquid flows from each said channel into said well, and then drains from said well through said at least one drain hole in said well;
- said delay means being arranged within the column in such a manner that gaseous matter rising up said column does not pass through said liquid collected in either said channels or said well whereby said delay means does not substantially hinder the passage of gaseous matter up said column from said lower plate to said upper plate;
- and means for causing gases to periodically flow up said column so as to carry out a periodic cycling mass transfer operation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.