RE-DIRECTION OF VAPOR FLOW ACROSS TUBULAR CONDENSERS

• US 20100276122A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Daly, Phillip F., Tucker, Raymond E., Lankton, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,910,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/111
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0009 Horizontal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0012 Vertical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0063 Reflux condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/009 Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0093 Removing and treatment of non condensable gases
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 1/02 using water or other liquid as the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 9/02 for feeding steam or vapour to condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/06 the conduits having a single U-bend F28D7/10 takes precedenceF28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/08 Tubular elements crimped or corrugated in longitudinal section
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/10 Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses crimped or corrugated elements F28F1/06, F28F1/08
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/14 and extending longitudinally F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/24 and extending transversely F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/36 the means being helically wound fins or wire spirals
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/42 the means being both outside and inside the tubular element
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/422 with outside means integral with the tubular element and inside means integral with the tubular element F28F1/424 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/426 the outside portions and the inside portions forming parts of complementary shape, e.g. concave and convex
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/12 by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation F28F13/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/187 especially adapted for evaporator surfaces or condenser surfaces, e.g. with nucleation sites
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2009/226 Transversal partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2210/06 : having walls comprising obliquely extending corrugations, e.g. in the form of threads
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/22 : Arrangements for directing heat-exchange media into successive compartments, e.g. arrangements of guide plates

Abstract

Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for vapor-liquid contacting, comprising

a vertically oriented column having disposed therein a plurality of condenser tubes;

a vapor flow-directing device disposed within the column and having a vapor inlet above at least a co-current contacting section of the tubes and defining a vapor-liquid disengagement volume;

a non-condensed vapor outlet external to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume; and

a condensed liquid outlet internal to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the condenser tubes extend horizontally.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vapor-liquid disengagement volume is below the tubes.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a deflector plate below the tubes and within the vapor-liquid disengagement volume.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the deflector plate is above the non-condensed vapor outlet and extends horizontally or at an incline.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a divider plate extending into the vapor flow-directing device and dividing the co-current contacting section of the tubes, in a contacting volume, from a disengagement section of the tubes, in the vapor-liquid disengagement volume.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tubes have external surfaces comprising one or more surface enhancements.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the surface enhancements comprise shaped recessions, circumferentially extending fins, or a combination thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the circumferentially extending fins have outer edges that include a plurality notches.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the portion of the tubes further comprise an internal enhancement in the form of one or more spiral ridges.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the portion of the tubes have internal surfaces having a porous metallic matrix bonded thereon.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tubes have a twisted tube geometry.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the condenser tubes extend vertically.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a divider plate extending into the vapor flow-directing device and dividing the co-current contacting section of the tubes, in a contacting volume, from a disengagement section of the tubes, in the vapor-liquid disengagement volume.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tubes have external surfaces comprising one or more surface enhancements.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the surface enhancements comprise shaped recessions, circumferentially extending fins, or a combination thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the shaped recessions provide a fluted profile.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the portion of the tubes further comprise an internal enhancement in the form of one or more spiral ridges.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the portion of the tubes have internal surfaces having a porous metallic matrix bonded thereon.

20. A method of purifying a lower boiling component from an impure mixture by distillation, the method comprising:

(a) condensing a liquid, enriched in the lower boiling component, from a downwardly flowing vapor on the external surfaces of the condenser tubes in the co-current contacting section of the apparatus of claim 1, and

(b) passing a cooling fluid through the condenser tubes.