Uop Lcc

Robert J Miller

Daniel R Monkelbaan

Michael R Resetarits

Zhanping Xu

Brian J Nowak

Nicholas F Urbanski

Kevin J Richardson

Kevin A Richardson

Daniel R M0NKELBAAN

The invention involves a spacing element situated between a vapor-liquid contacting tray and a tray support to reduce the dead zone typically caused by the tray supports blocking of the perforations in the vapor-liquid contacting tray directly above the tray support.

Dead zone activation in vapor-liquid contacting apparatus

The invention comprises multiple configurations of downcomers in a parallel flow multiple downcomer tray for vapor-liquid contacting processes such as the separation of chemical compounds via fractional distillation or the removal of a component of a gas stream with a treating liquid. In one embodiment, side downcomers are incorporated into a parallel flow multiple downcomer tray. In another embodiment, the downcomers have an inclined side wall that directs liquid onto the deck below the downcomer. The inclined side wall also provides additional volume above the inferior downcomer inlet to reduce pinching at this inlet without the need for a stilling deck.

Parallel flow fractionation tray

The flooding capacity of a fractionation tray (,) is increased by the addition of at least one layer of low surface area grids (,) above the inlet to the downcomers (,) located on the tray (,). The grids (,) extend upward for a distance equal to one to four times the depth of the downcomers. The grids may rest upon the top edge of the downcomers or on the tray decking between the top portions of the downcomer sidewalls.

Fractionation apparatus with low surface area grid above tray deck

High capacity, low cost fractionation trays are formed from a number of adjacent triangular (v-shaped) downcomer modules. The trays are free of the horizontal perforated decking surface of conventional trays. The downcomer modules have perforations only in a bottom region for liquid passage and in an upper region for vapor passage, with the central portion of the two inclined downcomer sidewalls being imperforate. The difference in elevation between the bottom region and upper region is considerably larger than a ripple tray. A layer of packing material may be provided close to or adjacent the bottom surface of the tray.

V-module fractionation tray

Fractionation tray formed by triangular downcomer modules

High capacity, low cost fractionation trays comprise a flat perforated decking surface sectioned into parallel contacting areas by triangular downcomers. The bottom edges of two inclined sidewalls join together to form V-shaped downcomers having a limited number of perforations in their sidewalls to allow downward liquid passage. An imperforate zone is present in the central region of each sidewall. A layer of packing material may be provided close to or adjacent the bottom surface of the tray. The packing is located in the disengagement zone under the tray but does not extend downward to the next tray below.

Fractionation tray with side discharging triangular downcomers

The capacity of multiple downcomer type fractionation trays is increased by providing imperforate calming decks (6) which extend across the tray deck (2) surface outward from the conventional downcomer inlet opening together with vertical inlet weirs (8) attached to the outer end of the calming decks (6). The inlet weirs (8) may function as 'preweirs' used in addition to the conventional inlet weir formed by the upward extension of the downcomer sidewall (4).

Capacity-enhanced multiple downcomer fractionation trays

The efficiency of multiple downcomer type fractionation trays is increased by increasing the length of the liquid flow path and providing Lewis Case II point to plate efficiency enhancement. Baffles (7) extending axially along the vertical axis of a fractionation column divide the intertray volumes of the column into defined vapor passageways. A pair of inclined liquid deflecting baffles (3) over each downcomer (10) connects the outlets and inlets of vertically adjacent downcomers and provides a crisscrossing liquid flow path. Beds (14) of vapor-liquid contacting material increase tray efficiency.

Packing-enhanced baffled downcomer fractionation tray

The efficiency of multiple downcomer type fractionation trays is increased by increasing the length of the liquid flow path and providing Lewis Case II point to plate efficiency enhancement Baffles (7) extending axially along the vertical axis of a fractionation column divide the intertray volumes of the column into defined vapor passageways. A pair of inclined liquid deflecting baffles (3) over each downcomer (10) connects the outlets and inlets of vertically adjacent downcomers and provides a crisscrossing liquid flow path.

Baffled downcomer fractionation tray

The efficiency of multiple downcomer type fractionation trays is improved by the provision of an individual antipenetration pan located under each set of openings in the bottom of the box-like downcomers. The pans preferably comprise perforated planar sheets and have raised lips along two opposing edges to retard significant liquid runoff along the edges parallel to the downcomer end walls. The pans are parallel to the main tray surface and located intermediate the downcomers and the upper surface of the next lower tray.

Growing community of inventors

Niagara Falls, NY, United States of America

Robert J Miller