Concept for collection and distribution channels for a simulated moving bed separation process using N-columns in series

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12458907-B2
Application number	US-201815951671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

The present invention describes a device for supplying or collecting from a column forming part of an assembly of columns in series, for use in a simulated moving bed separation process. The present device can be used to very substantially reduce the non-selective volumes in each column.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A device for the distribution or collection of a fluid in a bed of granular solid ( 6 ) contained in a column for carrying out a separation into a plurality of components, wherein the bed of granular solid ( 6 ) has a bottom and the column has a bottom and a top and a center in each horizontal plane between the bottom and the top of the column, in which:
incoming fluid is distributed by a distribution channel ( 3 ) with a variable section in which the fluid flows at a constant velocity V channel of between 0.1 and 5 m/s, wherein the distribution channel ( 3 ) does not contain a porous material and wherein the constant velocity V channel is ensured by the shape of the distribution channel ( 3 ) not containing a porous material, outgoing fluid is collected by a collection channel ( 8 ) with a variable section in which the fluid flows at the constant velocity V channel ; and (A)
the distribution channel ( 3 ) is delimited by a first screen ( 5 ) on top of the bed of granular solid ( 6 ) and a wall ( 4 ) at a distance h sup (r) above said first screen ( 5 ), which h sup (r) has a profile along a radial coordinate r, which r from the center of the column in a horizontal plane is a distance along R, which R is the radius of the column, defined by the following formula:

h
sup

(
r
)

=

1
2

⁢

V
SL

V
channel

⁢

R
2

-

r
2

r

the collection channel ( 8 ) is delimited by a second screen ( 7 ) at the bottom of the bed of granular solid ( 6 ) and a wall ( 9 ) at a distance h inf (r) below said second screen, which h inf (r) has a profile along the radial coordinate r, defined by the following formula:

h
inf

(
r
)

=

h
sup

(
r
)

⁢

r
2

R
2

-

r
2

in which V SL is the superficial velocity of fluid in the bed of granular solid ( 6 ), defined as a ratio of volume flow rate to a cross sectional area;

or
(B)
the distribution channel ( 3 ) is delimited by a first screen ( 5 ) in a shape of a tube centered in the column present vertically through the bed of granular solid ( 6 ), which bed of granular solid ( 6 ) surrounds said tube, and a wall ( 4 ) inside said tube, wherein the wall ( 4 ) has a radial profile taken from the axis of the column r distrib (z) along an axial coordinate z, which z is taken from the inlet for the fluid into the column, defined by the following formula:

r
distrib

(
z
)

=

r
distrib

(
0
)

-

2
⁢

V
SL

V
channel

⁢

r
distrib

(
0
)

⁢

(

H
bed

-
z

)

the collection channel ( 8 ) is delimited by a second screen ( 7 ) in the shape of a tube centered in the column present vertically surrounding the bed of granular solid ( 6 ) and a wall ( 9 ) having a radial profile r collect (z) along the axial coordinate z, defined by the following formula:

r
collect

(
z
)

=

(

r
distrib

(
0
)

+

E
bed

)

2

+

z

H
bed

-
z

⁢

(

r
distrib

(
0
)

2

-

r
distrib

Assignees

• Ifp Energies Now

Inventors

• Augier Frederic
• Royon-Lebeaud Aude
• Leinekugel Le Cocq Damien
• Vonner Alexandre

Classifications

• C07C15/02

  Monocyclic hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B01D2257/7027

  Aromatic hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B01D2256/24

  Hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B01D15/22

  relating to the construction of the column · CPC title

• G01N30/6017

  Fluid distributors · CPC title