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US 4,501,657 AGranted
Preheating of distillation feed
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorMilton H. Nollkamper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The heat to a feed in a distillation operation is controlled in response to the amount of liquid in a liquid condensate collection means.
Claims41
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a preheating means for heating feed;
- (b) a distillation column;
- (c) a feed means for introducing feed heated by said preheating means into said distillation column;
- (d) a liquid condensate collection means positioned above said feed means of said distillation column, for collecting liquid produced by the condensation of vapor in said distillation column;
- (e) a means for measuring the amount of liquid in said liquid condensate collection means;
- and
- (f) a means to control the extent to which feed is heated by said preheating means in response to the amount of liquid in said liquid condensate collection means.
4 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a preheating means for heating feed;
- (b) a distillation column;
- (c) a means for introducing feed heated by said preheating means into said distillation column through a feed inlet in said distillation column;
- (d) a liquid condensate collection means for collecting liquid produced by the condensation, in said distillation column, of vapor;
- (e) a means for removing liquid from said collection means;
- and
- (f) a control means to increase the heat supplied to feed by said preheating means when the amount of liquid in said collection means decreases and to decrease the heat supplied to feed by said preheating means when the amount of liquid in said collection means increases.
4 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a furnace for heating feed;
- (b) a means for introducing fuel into said furnace;
- (c) a distillation column;
- (d) a means for passing feed through said furnace;
- (e) a feed means for introducing feed into said distillation column through a feed inlet in said distillation column;
- (f) a liquid condensate collection means positioned above said feed means of said distillation column, for collecting liquid produced from the condensation of vapor in said distillation column;
- (g) a liquid level controller having (1) means to measure the level of liquid in said liquid condensate collection means and (2) means to transmit a signal representative of said level;
- (h) a means for removing liquid from said liquid condensate collection means;
- (i) a means for sensing the temperature of feed in said means for introducing feed into said distillation column;
- (j) a means to transmit a signal representative of said temperature;
- (k) a temperature controller having means to receive said signal representative of said level and said signal representative of said temperature and to generate a signal in response thereto;
- and
- (l) a means to vary and control the rate at which fuel is introduced into said furnace in response to the signal transmitted from said temperature controller.
10 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a furnace for heating feed;
- (b) a means for introducing fuel into said furnace;
- (c) a distillation column;
- (d) a means for passing feed through said furnace;
- (e) a feed means for introducing feed into said distillation column through a feed inlet in said distillation column;
- (f) a liquid condensate collection means positioned above said feed means of said distillation column, for collecting liquid produced from the condensation of vapor in said distillation column;
- (g) a liquid level controller having (1) means to measure the level of liquid in said liquid condensate collection means and (2) means to transmit a signal representative of said level;
- (h) a conduit for removing liquid from said liquid condensate collection means;
- (i) a means for measuring the flow rate of liquid through said conduit;
- (j) a means to transmit a signal representative of said flow rate;
- (k) a flow controller having means to receive said signal representative of said level and said signal representative of said flow rate, and having means to transmit a signal;
- (l) a means to sense the temperature of feed in said means for introducing feed into said distillation column;
- (m) a means to transmit a signal representative of said temperature;
- (n) a temperature controller having means to receive said signal from said flow controller and said signal representative of said temperature and to generate a signal in response thereto;
- and
- (o) a means to vary and control the rate at which fuel is introduced into said furnace in response to the signal transmitted from said temperature controller.
13 more elements
A process comprising:
- (i) heating a feed in a preheating zone;
- (ii) introducing said feed into a distillation column through a feed inlet;
- (iii) fractionating said feed in said distillation column;
- (iv) collecting liquid in a liquid condensate collection means positioned above said feed inlet of said distillation column;
- said liquid being produced by the condensation of vapor in said distillation column;
- and
- (v) controlling the extent to which said feed is heated in said preheating zone in response to the amount of liquid in said liquid condensate collection means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.