Split-shell fractionation columns and associated processes for separating aromatic hydrocarbons

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9517982-B2
Application number	US-201414511812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2014
Priority date	Dec 14, 2012
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

Split-shell fractionation columns and associated processes for separating aromatic hydrocarbons are provided by using, a split-shell fractionation column includes a housing shell having a first height and a partition having a second height and disposed within the housing shell. The partition includes first and second vertically oriented baffles separated by a gap region, a seal plate connecting top ends of the baffles, a first input port formed to extend through the partition for the introduction of a gas into the gap region, and a first output port formed to extend outwardly from a bottom of the gap region and through the housing shell. The partition defines a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone within the housing shell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for separating aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:
introducing a first stream comprising a plurality of aromatic hydrocarbons into a first distillation zone of a split-shell fractionation column;
introducing a second stream comprising a plurality of aromatic hydrocarbons into a second distillation zone of the split-shell fractionation column, the first and second distillation zones being defined by a partition within the split-shell fractionation column, the partition having a gap region therein;
separating the first stream into a first overhead product and a first bottom product, wherein the first bottom product comprises a first liquid that collects at a bottom portion of the first distillation zone;
separating the second stream into a second overhead product and a second bottom product, wherein the second bottom product comprises a second liquid that collects at a bottom portion of the second distillation zone;
draining the first liquid, the second liquid, or a combination thereof in the gap region through a first outlet port.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing nitrogen gas into the gap region.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising maintaining the gap region at a gas pressure that is lower than a pressure of either the first or second distillation zones.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising draining the first bottom product from the bottom portion of the first distillation zone through a second outlet port.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising draining the second bottom product from the bottom portion of the second distillation zone through a third outlet port.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the first and second overhead products through a fourth outlet port located at a top portion of the split-shell fractionation column.

Assignees

• Uop Llc

Inventors

• Corradi Jason T
• Ablin David William

Classifications

• C07C7/04 Primary

  by distillation · CPC title

• B01D3/32

  Other features of fractionating columns {; Constructional details of fractionating columns not provided for in groups B01D3/16 - B01D3/30} · CPC title

• B01D3/141 Primary

  where at least one distillation column contains at least one dividing wall · CPC title