Three phase vapor distributor
AssigneeStone & Webster Process Technology, Inc.
InventorsSabah A. Kurukchi, Joseph M. Gondolfe, John A. Stippick, Kenneth J. Fewel, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass and/or heat transfer column is provided with a multiphase vapor distributor with distributes a vapor stream about the inner periphery of the column.
Claims32
A multiphase vapor distributor for separation of a mixed vapor phase, said multiphase vapor distributor located within a column comprising a sump and an inlet feed passage, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is generally annular in construction and has a generally vertical center axis, said multiphase vapor distributor comprising at least a top section, a bottom section and an internal wall connecting said top section and said bottom section;
- wherein said bottom section comprises at least one opening to said sump, said internal wall comprises at least one opening into an interior space of the annular distributor and said top section comprises at least one opening into an upper region of said column;
- wherein at least one chamber is formed between an exterior wall of said column, said internal wall, said top section and said bottom section of said multiphase vapor distributor, and wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is adapted to accommodate passage of said multiphase vapor from said inlet feed into said chamber.
A multiphase vapor distributor for a mass transfer and/or a heat exchange column comprising:
- a column comprising an open internal shell and having a generally vertical center axis;
- at least one vapor inlet nozzle extending through said column shell for directing a multiphase vapor stream in a generally circumferential direction into a generally annularly-shaped multiphase vapor distributor within said column;
- said multiphase vapor distributor comprising an annular upright interior deflecting surface spaced radially inwardly from said vapor inlet nozzle and a ceiling and a floor extending between said internal deflecting wall and said column shell to substantially close the top and bottom of the distributor;
- wherein said ceiling comprises at least one opening;
- said floor comprises at least one opening and said interior wall comprises at least one opening.
A method of separating and distributing a multiphase vapor stream comprising vapors, liquids and solids, said method comprising feeding said multiphase vapor stream into a column comprising an open internal shell and having a generally vertical center axis;
- wherein at least one vapor inlet nozzle extends through said column shell directing a multiphase vapor stream in a generally circumferential direction into a generally annularly-shaped multiphase vapor distributor within said column;
- wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises a generally annular upright interior deflecting surface spaced radially inwardly from said vapor inlet nozzle and a ceiling and a floor extending between said internal deflecting wall and said column shell substantially closing said top and said bottom of said distributor;
- wherein said ceiling comprises at least one opening for removing and distributing a portion of said vapor to a portion of said column above said distributor;
- said floor comprises at least one opening for removing a portion of said solids and a portion of said liquids to a portion of said column below said distributor and said interior wall comprises at least one opening for removing a portion of said vapor and a portion of said liquid into a portion of the column located within the annular section of the distributor.
A process for separating a multi phase stream into solids, liquids and vapors, said process compromising:
- a) feeding a multi phase vapor stream into a separation column comprising a vapor phase distributor;
- b) radially moving said multi phase vapor stream around a chamber of said vapor phase distributor until said multiphase vapor stream contacts a end portion of said vapor phase distributor chamber;
- c) back mixing of said multi phase vapor phase upon contact with said end portion of said vapor phase distributor chamber;
- d) removing said vapor phase from said distributor through at least one chimney opening in a ceiling of said multi phase distributor and/or a top portion of at least one window in said side wall of said vapor phase distributor;
- e) removing said liquid phase from a bottom portion of at least one window in said side wall of said distributor and through at least one opening in a floor of said distributor;
- and
- f) removing said solid phase through openings in the floor of said multi phase distributor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.