Vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process with cross contacting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904262-B2
Application number	US-201815940832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A high capacity and high efficiency co-current and cross-flow vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process is useful in distillation columns and other vapor-liquid contacting processes. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement of contacting modules and perforated receiving pans in horizontal stages. The modules define a co-current contacting volume and in an exemplary configuration the modules include a liquid distributor and a demister. Liquid dispensed from the modules on a perforated receiving pan are contacted with upflowing vapor through perforations therein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for performing co-current and cross-flow vapor-liquid contacting, comprising:
a plurality of stages each having at least one contacting module and at least one receiving pan;
the at least one contacting module comprising a liquid distributor having an outlet proximate to a contacting volume and a demister having an inlet surface proximate to the contacting volume and an outlet surface superior to the at least one receiving pan;
the at least one receiving pan having a flat perforated base, the at least one receiving pan of the stage downstream of said outlet surface of the demister for collecting liquid from the demister, wherein there is a liquid flow path though the contacting volume, the demister, and the receiving pan in series, and wherein there is a vapor flow path through the contacting volume in parallel with a vapor flow path through the receiving pan; and
at least one duct in fluid communication with the at least one receiving pan and with an inferior liquid distributor;
wherein the at least one receiving pan includes vertically extending perforated lips around the flat perforated base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one duct is separate from the liquid distributor and the at least one duct having an upper end in fluid communication with the at least one receiving pan, and a lower end, wherein the lower end of each duct is in fluid communication with a separate inferior liquid distributor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contacting volume is between the demister and the liquid distributor and said outlet of the liquid distributor is in fluid communication with the contacting volume and the inlet surface of the demister is in fluid communication with the contacting volume.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein vapor enters the at least one receiving pan through perforations in the base and liquid exits the at least one receiving pan though the at least one duct.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a weir adjacent to the at least one duct extending above the base of the at least one receiving pan for holding up liquid on the at least one receiving pan.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an area around the at least one duct in the at least one receiving pan that is imperforate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of demisters being spaced apart and said liquid distributor located between said pair of demisters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one receiving pan is located downstream of the at least one contacting module for liquid flow on a stage.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one contacting module of at least one of said stages is rotated with respect to the at least one contacting module of another one of said stages.

10. An apparatus for performing co-current and cross flow vapor-liquid contacting, comprising:
a plurality of stages, having at least one contacting module and a receiving pan, the at least one contacting module comprising:
a demister;
a liquid distributor located adjacent the demister and providing a contacting volume therebetween and the liquid distributor having an outlet in fluid communication with the contacting volume; and
the demister having an inlet surface in fluid communication with the contacting volume and an outlet surface upstream of the receiving pan of the stage for collecting liquid from the demister, wherein there is a liquid flow path though the contacting volume, the demister, and the receiving pan in series, and wherein there is a vapor flow path through the contacting volume in parallel with a vapor flow path through the receiving pan; and
the receiving pan located adjacent the at least one contacting module, the receiving pan comprising a flat perforate base and having at least one duct in fluid communication with an inferior liquid distributor;
wherein the receiving pan includes vertically extending perforated lips around the flat perforated base.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the receiving pan is located downstream of the at least one contacting module for liquid flow on a stage.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the liquid distributor, the demister and the receiving pan each extend substantially along the length of the at least one contacting module.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a weir adjacent to the at least one duct to retain liquid on the receiving pan.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein vapor enters the receiving pan through perforations in the base and liquid exits the receiving pan though the at least one duct.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising at least one of:
a processor;
a memory storing computer-executable instructions;
a monitoring component positioned at a location to sense at least one parameter; and
a receiver configured to receive data from the monitoring component.

Assignees

• Uop Llc

Inventors

• Xu Zhanping

Classifications

• B01D3/324 Primary

  Tray constructions · CPC title

• B01D1/305 Primary

  Demister (vapour-liquid separation) · CPC title

• B01D3/28 Primary

  Fractionating columns with surface contact and vertical guides, e.g. film action · CPC title

• B01J19/32

  Packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit or module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer · CPC title

• B01J2219/322

  Basic shape of the elements · CPC title