Uop Lcc

Raymond E Tucker

Steven P Lankton

Phillip F Daly

Zhanping Xu

Trung S Pham

James W Althoff

Stephanie Fuyue Li

Heat exchangers (also referred to as exchangers herein) are provided that fit within a bottom sump of a distillation column. These heat exchangers may be at least partially submerged in the bottoms fluid of the distillation column so that the exterior surface of the heat exchanger can contribute to the total area of the heat exchanger. The internal configuration of the exchanger allows for annular coaxial flow of the hot fluid (condensing vapor stream) and eliminates the need for top and bottom channel heads.

Vapor distribution system in a concentric reboiler

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.

Re-direction of vapor flow across tubular condensers

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.

Growing community of inventors

Derby, NY, United States of America

Raymond E Tucker