Combined collector and distributor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457291-B2
Application number	US-201514642884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A combined collector and distributor for a distillation column that includes a collector portion connected to a distributor portion. The distributor portion includes a channel-like distributor to distribute liquid into an underlying packing. The collector portion has spaced rows of collection elements that cover the open spaces and distribution elements of the distributor portion and one or more rectangular sumps into which descending liquid drains from the collection elements. The liquid in turn drains from the rectangular sump or sumps into a pre-distribution box located within a header of the distributor portion. The collection elements that cover the open spaces are set at higher positions than the collection elements covering the distribution elements to form chimneys to allow the ascending vapor to escape from the collector portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combined collector and distributor for collecting a descending liquid from an overlying packing bed within a distillation column and distributing the descending liquid to an underlying packing bed within the distillation column, the combined collector and distributor comprising:
at least two arrays of a plurality of spaced-apart distribution channels, the plurality of distribution channels having an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall to distribute the descending liquid to the underlying packing bed within the distillation column, the at least two arrays of distribution channels defining open spaces between adjacent distribution channels for passage of an ascending vapor from the underlying packing bed within the distillation column;
one or more headers connected to and disposed between the adjacent arrays of distribution channels, the one or more header having an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall and configured to feed the descending liquid to the plurality of distribution channels in the at least two arrays;
at least one pre-distribution box having an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall disposed, the at least one pre-distribution box disposed adjacent to the one or more headers and configured to distribute the descending liquid to the one or more headers;
a plurality of collection elements configured to collect the descending liquid from the overlying packing bed within the distillation column, the plurality of collection elements covering the open spaces between adjacent distribution channels and the open top portions of the distribution channels,
the plurality of collection elements having an open end and further configured to direct the collected descending liquid from the open end to a sump region, the sump region having a bottom opening to discharge the descending liquid into the at least one pre-distribution box; and
wherein the collection elements are further disposed in a staggered orientation wherein some of the collection elements are disposed at higher positions above the open spaces or above the open top portions of the distribution channels and some of the collection elements are disposed at lower positions above the open spaces or above the open top portions of the distribution channels to enable ascending vapor flow through the combined collector and distributor.

2. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , wherein the combined collector and distributor is connected to a shell or sidewall of the distillation column, at its inner surface thereof and the arrangement of the collection elements have outer regions that follow the inner curvature of the shell or sidewall of the distillation column.

3. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , wherein the distribution channels in each of the at least two arrays have an ever increasing length, reaching a maximum length proximate a midpoint of each array and a minimum length proximate the ends of each of the arrays.

4. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , further comprising a wiper band comprising:
a plate-like element, at its outer periphery, in contact with a shell or sidewall of the distillation column to collect the descending liquid flowing downwardly along the shell or sidewall of the distillation column and, at is inner surface, situated between the collection elements in the higher positions and the lower positions;
inner tab-like elements located at the periphery of the plate-like element and beneath the collection elements in the higher positions to define openings in registry with the collection elements located at the lower positions to so that the descending liquid collected on the plate-like element is directed only into the collection elements located at the lower positions and is prevented from flowing below the collection elements located at the upper positions; and
the plate-like element has two opposed end sections adjacent the outermost of the collection elements of the two rows of collection elements.

5. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , wherein the collection elements disposed at higher positions are disposed above the open spaces and the collection elements disposed at lower positions are disposed above the open top portions of the distribution channels.

6. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , wherein the collection elements disposed at lower positions are disposed above the open spaces and the collection elements disposed at higher positions are disposed above the open top portions of the distribution channels.

7. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , wherein the at least two arrays of the plurality of spaced-apart distribution channels further comprises two equally sized, opposed arrays of spaced apart, parallel distribution channels connected to a single rectangular header disposed between the two opposed arrays of distribution channels.

8. The combined collector and distributor of claim 1 , wherein the at least two arrays of the plurality of spaced-apart distribution channels further comprises three arrays of a plurality of spaced-apart distribution channels connected to two headers disposed between the adjacent arrays of distribution channels.

9. A method for collecting a descending liquid from an overlying packing bed within a distillation column and distributing the descending liquid to an underlying packing bed within the distillation column, the method comprising the steps of:
collecting a descending liquid from the overlying packing bed within the distillation column in a plurality of collection elements,
directing the collected descending liquid from the plurality of collection elements to a sump region;
discharging the descending liquid from a bottom opening in the sump region into at least one pre-distribution box, the at least one pre-distribution box having an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall;
distributing the descending liquid from the perforated bottom wall of at least one pre-distribution box to one or more headers via an open top portion of one or more headers;
feeding the descending liquid from the one or more headers to a plurality of distribution channels arranged in at least two arrays of distribution channels and defining open spaces between adjacent distribution channels for passage of an ascending vapor from the underlying packing bed within the distillation column, the distribution channels having an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall;
distributing the descending liquid through the perforated bottom walls of the plurality of distribution channels to the underlying packing bed within the distillation column;
wherein the one or more headers are connected to and disposed between the adjacent arrays of distribution channels, the one or more header having an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall and wherein the at least one pre-distribution box has an open top portion in fluid communication with the sump region and a perforated bottom wall disposed adjacent to or within the one or more headers and configured to distribute the descending liquid to the one or more headers; and
wherein the plurality of collection elements are arranged so as to cover the open spaces between adjacent distribution channels and the open top portions of the distribution channels and further arranged in a staggered orientation wherein some of the collection elements are disposed at higher positions above the open spaces or the open top portions of the distribution channels and some of the collection elements are disposed at lower positions above the open spaces or the open top portions of the distribution channels to enable ascending vapor flow through the combined collector and distributor.

Assignees

• Brown Steven C
• Ricotta John P
• Dybdahl Andrew P
• Chen Guang X
• Praxair Technology Inc

Inventors

• Brown Steven C
• Ricotta John P
• Dybdahl Andrew P
• Chen Guang X

Classifications

• B01D3/00

  Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping ({evaporation in general, e.g. of liquids for gas phase reactions B01B1/005;} gas chromatography B01D15/08; destructive distillation C10B; preparation of alcoholic beverages by distillation C12H6/02) · CPC title

• B01D3/008 Primary

  Liquid distribution · CPC title

• B01F3/04007

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F3/04078

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F23/214

  using a gas-liquid mixing column or tower · CPC title