Re-direction of vapor flow across tubular condensers

• US 8,910,702 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leo, Leonard R
• Application Number:
  US12/432,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 165/113, 165/114, 165/111, 165/74, 202/158, 202/161, 202/185.1, 202/185.4, 202/189
• 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, said vertically oriented column defining a central axis extending vertically through a center thereof;

an upper section of the vertically oriented column configured for receiving vapor rising upwardly from a lower contacting section of the column;

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, wherein the vapor inlet is in fluid communication with the upper section of the column for redirecting at least a portion of the vapor rising in the upper section downwardly through the co-current contacting section of the tubes and wherein the vapor-liquid disengagement volume is below the tubes;

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

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

a deflector plate below the tubes and within the vapor-liquid disengagement volume, wherein the deflector plate is above the non-condensed vapor outlet and extends horizontally or at an incline,

wherein the condenser tubes extend horizontally, and further wherein the condenser tubes cross the central axis of the vertically oriented column,

wherein the vapor flow-directing device substantially surrounds the co-current contacting section of the tubes on three sides thereof, while allowing the vapor rising to the upper section of the column to pass upwardly between said vapor flow-directing device and the column along said three sides.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tubes have external surfaces comprising one or more surface enhancements.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the surface enhancements comprise shaped recessions, circumferentially extending fins, or a combination thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the circumferentially extending fins have outer edges that include a plurality notches.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portion of the tubes further comprise an internal enhancement in the form of one or more spiral ridges.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portion of the tubes have internal surfaces having a porous metallic matrix bonded thereon.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tubes have a twisted tube geometry.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vapor flow-directing device comprises a shroud positioned within the vertically oriented column, and further wherein said shroud includes at least three side surfaces, a bottom surface, a top surface, and wherein the vapor inlet is defined within the top surface of said shroud.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vapor inlet of the vapor flow-directing device is defined by an opening in a top surface of the vapor flow-directing device.

10. 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 an apparatus for vapor-liquid contacting that includes a vertically oriented column having disposed therein a plurality of condenser tubes, wherein said vertically oriented column define a central axis that extends vertically through a center thereof;

an upper section of the vertically oriented column configured for receiving vapor rising upwardly from a lower contacting section of the column;

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, wherein the vapor inlet is in fluid communication with the upper section of the column for redirecting at least a portion of the vapor rising in the upper section downwardly through the co-current contacting section of the tubes;

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

a condensed liquid outlet internal to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume, wherein the vapor flow-directing device substantially surrounds the co-current contacting section of the tubes on three sides thereof, while allowing the vapor rising to the upper section of the column to pass upwardly between said vapor flow-directing device and the column along said three sides, wherein the condenser tubes extend horizontally, and further wherein the condenser tubes cross the central axis of the vertically oriented column, and

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

11. An apparatus for vapor-liquid contacting, comprising:

a vertically oriented column having disposed therein a plurality of condenser tubes said vertically oriented column defining a central axis extending vertically through a center thereof;

an upper section of the vertically oriented column configured for receiving vapor rising upwardly from a lower contacting section of the column;

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, wherein the vapor inlet is in fluid communication with the upper section of the column for redirecting at least a portion of the vapor rising in the upper section downwardly through the co-current contacting section of the tubes;

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

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

wherein the condenser tubes extend horizontally, and further wherein the condenser tubes cross the central axis of the vertically oriented column,

wherein the vapor flow-directing device substantially surrounds the co-current contacting section of the tubes on three sides thereof, while allowing the vapor rising to the upper section of the column to pass upwardly between said vapor flow-directing device and the column along said three sides;

wherein the vapor inlet of the vapor flow-directing device is defined by an opening in a top surface of the vapor flow-directing device;

wherein the plurality of condenser tubes are arranged in a bundle; and

wherein the area of the opening in the top surface of vapor flow-directing device is less than the area of an adjacent portion of the bundle of condenser tubes, when considered in plan view.