Close-coupling of interreboiling to recovered heat
First Claim
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1. A process for interreboiling a column comprising:
- (a) an interreboiler, connected to the column at draw and return stages in a stripping section of the column, to heat and return a column sidedraw;
(b) locating the draw stage of the interreboiler at least 2 theoretical stages above the return stage; and
(c) interreboiling in the interreboiler during the operation of the column to effect indirect heat transfer from a stream of two or more components to a column stream from the draw stage and passing through the interreboiler.
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Abstract
The present invention is an improvement in distillation column interreboiling. Previously, hot bottoms streams could be used to heat interreboilers, although heat recovery was limited by approach temperatures of a stream losing sensible heat to a stream gaining sensible heat and heat of vaporization. The present invention expands the number of stages between the draw and return stages for an interreboiler, thus increasing the heat recovery from the bottom stream and reducing hot utilities to the reboiler, among other important advantages. The present invention is shown for NGL deethanization.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for interreboiling a column comprising:
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(a) an interreboiler, connected to the column at draw and return stages in a stripping section of the column, to heat and return a column sidedraw; (b) locating the draw stage of the interreboiler at least 2 theoretical stages above the return stage; and (c) interreboiling in the interreboiler during the operation of the column to effect indirect heat transfer from a stream of two or more components to a column stream from the draw stage and passing through the interreboiler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17)
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9. A process for interreboiling a column comprising:
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(a) a plurality of interreboilers, each connected to the column at draw and return stages in a stripping section of the column, wherein each heats and returns a column sidedraw; (b) locating the draw stage of each interreboiler at least 2 theoretical stages above the return stage of that interreboiler; (c) locating the draw and return stages so that no draw or return stage of one interreboiler is between the draw and return stage of any other interreboiler; and (d) interreboiling in the interreboilers during the operation of the column wherein in each interreboiler indirect heat transfer from a stream of two or more components heats a column stream from the draw stage respective to and passing through the interreboiler. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification