Distillation tray having through holes with different diameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358058-B2
Application number	US-202017608314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2020
Priority date	May 6, 2019
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

One or more trays for use in distillation columns and methods of manufacture of such trays. The trays include a plate having a plurality of through holes that extend between a first surface of the plate and a second surface of the plate. The plurality of through holes include a first set of through holes each having substantially a first diameter and a second set of through holes each having substantially a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. The trays also include a weir coupled to the plate and extending from the first surface. The weir is positioned between the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a tray for use in a distillation column, the method comprising:
forming a first set of through holes extending between a first surface of a plate and a second surface of the plate, the second surface opposite to the first surface, the first set of through holes each having substantially a first diameter;
forming a second set of through holes extending between the first surface and the second surface, the second set of through holes each having substantially a second diameter that is different than the first diameter; and
attaching a weir to the first surface between the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes,

wherein the first diameter of the first set of through holes is such that the first set of through holes are capable of allowing liquid to pass through the first set of through holes in a first direction while at the same time allowing vapor to pass through the first set of through holes in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, and the second diameter of the second set of through holes is such that the second set of through holes are capable of allowing liquid to pass through the second set of through holes in the first direction while substantially blocking vapor from passing through the second set of through holes in the second direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , where forming the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes comprises punching the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes.

3. The method of claim 1 , where forming the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes comprises drilling the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes.

4. The method of claim 1 , where forming the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes comprises etching the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes are formed at least partially concurrently.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the second set of through holes are formed after formation of the first set of through holes.

7. The method of claim 1 , where attaching the weir to the first surface comprises bonding the weir to the first surface.

8. The method of claim 7 , where bonding the weir to the first surface comprises welding the weir to the first surface.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising planarizing the first surface, the second surface, or both.

10. The method of claim 1 , where the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is 4.75 mm to less than 12.5 mm and the second diameter is 19 mm to greater than 12.5 mm.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein diameter of the tray is at least two meters.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tray is a circular tray.

Assignees

• Sabic Global Technologies Bv

Inventors

• Bodas Vijay Dinkar
• Ansari Mohammed Bismillah

Classifications

• B01D3/22 Primary

  with horizontal sieve plates or grids; Construction of sieve plates or grids · CPC title

• B23B35/00 Primary

  Methods for boring or drilling, or for working essentially requiring the use of boring or drilling machines; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods · CPC title