TUBULAR CONDENSERS HAVING TUBES WITH EXTERNAL ENHANCEMENTS

• US 20140102134A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• 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., Lankton, Steven P., Tucker, Raymond E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,297,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/617
• 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: F25J 3/02 by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream F25J3/08 takes precedence ; purification of hydrocarbons in general C07C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• 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 1/14 and extending longitudinally F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/24 and extending transversely F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/34 and extending obliquely F28F1/38 takes precedence
• 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 13/187 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 9/22 Arrangements for directing heat-exchange media into successive compartments, e.g. arrangements of guide plates

Abstract

Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, the method comprising condensing the first fluid on external surfaces of a tube bundle for a condenser comprising tubes, wherein at least a portion of the tubes, in an axially extending section, have internal surfaces having a coating comprising a porous metallic matrix bonded thereon, and have external surfaces comprising circumferentially extending fins, and passing the second fluid through the tubes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid is enriched in a lower boiling component that is purified in a distillation column comprising the tubes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the circumferentially extending fins have a height from about 0.76 mm (0.03 inches) to about 3.8 mm (0.15 inches).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the circumferentially extending fins have outer edges that include a plurality notches.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notches are bent at their respective corners outside of the plane of the circumferentially extending fins.

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

(a) contacting a vapor enriched in the lower boiling component on the external surfaces of a plurality of condenser tubes of an apparatus for vapor-liquid contacting, comprising a vertically oriented column having disposed therein the plurality of condenser tubes extending substantially vertically over a section of the column length, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tubes have external surfaces comprising one or more surface enhancements, and

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

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the surface enhancements are selected from the group consisting of shaped recessions, circumferentially extending fins, axially extending fins, an external condensing layer, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the surface enhancements comprise shaped recessions and at least a portion of the shaped recessions extend axially or are aligned in one or more axially extending rows.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the surface enhancements comprise circumferentially extending fins.