Liquid mixing collector and a method for its use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956500-B2
Application number	US-201414904197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A liquid mixing collector includes first and second sump zones, a first and optionally a second liquid collection region, first and second interspersed sets of spaced apart liquid collection channels positioned in the first liquid collection region, the first and second sets of collection channels being associated with the first and second respective sump zones, wherein adjacent liquid collection channel sets are vertically displaced in parallel horizontal planes. The invention also relates to the process of using the collector within a heat or mass transfer column.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid mixing collector for capturing and mixing liquid descending from an overlying zone in a mass transfer or heat exchange column, the collector comprising:
at least a first and a second sump zone,
at least one discharge outlet positioned in each of said first and second sump zones through which liquid can drain when present in said first and second sump zones;
at least a first and optionally a second liquid collection region, each at least partially bounded by one of said first and second sump zones;
at least a first and a second set of spaced apart liquid collection channels positioned in at least a first liquid collection region; said first set of liquid collection channels embodied such that said liquid collection channels are substantially parallel to and interspersed with said second set of liquid collection channels in the first liquid collection region; drain openings positioned in said liquid collection channels to allow liquid to drain from said liquid collection channels, when present therein, into said first and second sump zones;
said first set of liquid collection channels in the first liquid collection region being associated with said first sump zone so that liquid when present in said first set of liquid collection channels flows into said first sump zone;
said second set of liquid collection channels in the first liquid collection region being associated with said second sump zone so that liquid when present in said second set of liquid collection channels flows into said second sump zone;
ascending vapor flow channels located in a spacing between the liquid collection channels in the liquid collection regions;
wherein adjacent liquid collection channels of the first and second sets of liquid collection channels are vertically displaced from each other in one of at least two to four parallel horizontal planes.

2. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 , wherein the liquid, when present in said first set of liquid collection channels, flows through the drain openings of the first set of liquid collection channels into said first sump zone.

3. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 , wherein the liquid, when present in said second set of liquid collection channels, flows through the drain openings of the second set of liquid collection channels into said second sump zone.

4. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises an annular sump and one or more chordal sumps.

5. The liquid mixing collector of claim 4 , wherein the collector comprises an odd number of chordal sumps,
wherein the first sump zone comprises at least one portion of the annular sump and at least one portion of one chordal sump, wherein the second sump zone comprises at least one portion of the annular sump and at least one portion of one chordal sump.

6. The liquid mixing collector of claim 5 , wherein the collector is suitable for collecting liquid to be discharged by means of one to four discharge outlets per sump zone, and wherein the collector comprises from two to ten chordal sumps.

7. The liquid mixing collector of claim 5 , wherein the collector is suitable for collecting liquid to be distributed to a section of a column located below the collector, and wherein the collector comprises from one to twenty chordal sumps per meter measured over the diameter of the collector in an orientation perpendicular to the chordal sumps.

8. The liquid mixing collector of claim 4 , wherein the collector comprises an even number of chordal sumps,
wherein the first sump zone comprises at least one portion of the annular sump and one portion of one or more chordal sumps,
and wherein the second sump zone comprises at least one portion of the annular sump and one portion of one or more chordal sumps.

9. The liquid mixing collector of claim 8 , wherein the collector is suitable for collecting liquid to be discharged by means of one to four discharge outlets per sump zone, and wherein the collector comprises from two to ten chordal sumps.

10. The liquid mixing collector of claim 8 , wherein the collector is suitable for collecting liquid to be distributed to a section of a column located below the collector, and wherein the collector comprises from one to twenty chordal sumps per meter measured over the diameter of the collector in an orientation perpendicular to the chordal sumps.

11. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 , wherein the collector lacks an annular sump, and the collector comprises at least one divided chordal sump or two chordal sumps, wherein the first liquid collection region, and the second liquid collection region, when present.

12. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 ,
wherein the first sump zone and the second sump zone are separated from each other by means of vertical baffles.

13. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 ,
wherein the height of the collector is less than 2 meters.

14. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid collection channels in each of the two to four parallel horizontal planes are embodied so as to collect a substantially same amount of liquid in each of the horizontal planes.

15. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 , wherein the liquid collection channels are subdivided into subsets of liquid collection channels, wherein each subset consists of one liquid collection channel in each of the horizontal planes, wherein adjacent subsets are in alternating association with the first and second sump zones.

16. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 ,
wherein the second liquid collection region is present and the first and second liquid collection regions are embodied so as to collect a substantially same amount of liquid in each region.

17. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of upwardly extending deflectors having surfaces for directing liquid when descending from an overlying zone into said liquid collection channels are absent from said collector.

18. The liquid mixing collector of claim 1 ,
wherein at least a portion of the liquid when present in said first set of liquid collection channels flows through the drain openings of the first set of liquid collection channels into said first sump zone.

19. The liquid mixing collector of claim 18 ,
wherein at least a portion of the liquid when present in said second set of liquid collection channels flows through the drain openings of the second set of liquid collection channels into said second sump zone.

20. A mass transfer or heat exchange column comprising one or more liquid mixing collectors according to claim 1 .

21. Use of the liquid mixing collector of claim 1 in a mass transfer or heat exchange column for liquid flow rates higher than 10 m 3 /m 2 h.

22. A method for collecting and mixing descending liquid in a mass transfer or heat exchange column, said method comprising the steps of:
collecting descending liquid in at least a first and a second set of liquid collection channels positioned within each of at least a first liquid collection region and an optional second liquid collection region, said first set of liquid collection channels embodied such that said liquid collection channels are substantially parallel to and interspersed with said second set of liquid collection channels in at least said first liquid collection region, and said second liquid collection region if present, wherein adjacent liquid collection channels of the first and second set of liquid collection channels are ver

Assignees

• Sulzer Chemtech Ag

Inventors

• Wehrli Marc
• Bachmann Christian G
• Brack Hans-Peter
• Kehrer Florian

Classifications

• B01D3/24

  with sloping plates or elements mounted stepwise · CPC title

• B01D3/324 Primary

  Tray constructions · CPC title

• B01D3/20 Primary

  Bubble caps; Risers for vapour; Discharge pipes for liquid · CPC title

• B01F3/04468

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F3/04078

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic