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US 5,205,909 AGranted
Apparatus for measuring reflux flow in a distillation column
AssigneeUnion Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
InventorGerald L. Smith
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a standpipe mounted in an accumulator outside the operating zone of a distillation column is used in conjunction with a liquid level controller to measure condensate collected in the accumulator and to change the amount of energy provided to the distillation column in response to changes in the level of condensate collected in the accumulator.
Claims6
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a distillation column which comprises:
- a distillation column;
- a condenser mounted on top of and in flow communcation with said distillation column;
- an accumulator associated with said condenser for collecting condensate from said condenser;
- a reflux line from said accumulator to the top stage of said distillation column;
- a standpipe mounted in said accumulator on the outlet from the accumulator to the reflux line, said standpipe having a pattern of openings around the surface thereof for permitting accumulated condensate to flow into the reflux line;
- a liquid level measuring device connected to said accumulator to measure the level of accumulated condensate in said accumulator and to generate a signal;
- and
- a control device in a heat input line to said distillation column operated in response to the generated signal to change the flow of heat to the distillation column.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.