Liquid redistributor for a fractionating column

• US 3,916,021 A
• Filed: 03/21/1973
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Earl E. Mcreynolds, Eugene J. Krizak, James D. Hajek
• Inventors: Hajek, James D., Krizak, Eugene J., McReynolds, Earl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US05/343,506
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 261/94-98 210/198C,456 202/158 55/223,233,386
• US Class Current: 261/97
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/008 Liquid distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/14 Fractional distillation or use of a fractionation or rectification column
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/24 with sloping plates or elements mounted stepwise

Abstract

The invention consists of a liquid redistribution device for use with a fractionating column to provide for the uniform redistribution of refluxing liquid in equilibrium with vapor, from a column of one diameter to a column of different diameter having a packed section. The novel redistribution device of the invention comprises a plurality of concentric frustoconical members disposed at the intersection of the columns of different diameter, and shows particularly novel advantages when operating in fractionation columns of large size, under reduced pressures, and with low liquid mass flow rates.

Claims

1. IN A FRACTIONATING COLUMN WITH TOW INTERCONNECTING SECTIONS OF DIFFERENT DIAMETER HAVING A LIQUID REDISTRIBUTOR DISPOSED THEREIN AT THE INTERCONNECTION OF SAID SECTIONS, A REFLUX FEED INLET POSITIONED TO FEED REFLUXING LIQUID TO SAID LIQUID RE DISTRIBUTOR, AND PACKING DISPOSED IN THE SECTION OF SAID COLUMN BELOW SAID REDISTRIBUTOR, THEIMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID LIQUID REDISTRIBUTOR COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC FRUSTOCONICAL MEMBERS OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL HEIGHT, THE COMMON AXIS OF SAID MEMBERRS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH THE VERTICAL AXIS OF SAID COLUMN AND THE BASES OF SAID MEMERS BEING COPLANAR AND ORIENTED TOWARDS THE SECTION OF SAID COLUMN HAVING THE LARGER DIAMETER WHEREIN SAID BASES OPEN INTO SAID SECTION, AND THE BASE OF THE OUTERMOST OF SAID FRUSTOCONICAL MEMBERS HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETTER OF SAID COLUMN SECTION HAVING THE SMALLERR DIAMETER AND POSTIONED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PRECLUDE ANY LIQUID FALLING FREELY BETWEEN THE OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE OUERMOST OF SAID FRUSTOCONICAL MEMBERS AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE COLUMN SECTION HAVING THE SMALLER DIAMETER.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which the upper section of said column has a smaller diameter than the lower section and said frustoconical members are in normal disposition.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which the upper section of said column has a larger diameter than the lower section and said frustoconical members are inverted.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which each of said frustoconical members has a polygonal cross section.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which Each of said frustoconical members has a scalloped cross section.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said frustoconical members each are of conical surface projection.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said frustoconical members are serrated on their lower liquid discharging edges.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 in which said serrations are in the same plane of projection as said frustoconical members.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 in which said serrations are disposed in a substantially vertical plane.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 in which said serrations are disposed at alternating opposing angles to the vertical.