GB1005586A - Substance exchange columns - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1005586/C1/1> <PICT:1005586/C1/2> <PICT:1005586/C1/3> <PICT:1005586/C1/4> <PICT:1005586/C1/5> <PICT:1005586/C1/6> Upright substance exchange columns horizontally divided into filled sections separated by unfilled mixing sections, through which a liquid and a gas flow in counter-current, are characterized by the presence of and inclined guide element above each filled section, whereby a lateral flow component is imparted to the rising gas. Each "filled section" may be (a) a group of parallel ducts filled with filler bodies, (b) a group of parallel ducts of smaller diameter affording a large surface area, (film column), (c) a section containing statistically distributed filler bodies or (d) a section filled with layers of gratings. The columns may be applied to enrichment of isotopes, e.g. separation of deuterium and hydrogen, using a chemical exchange reaction. Fig. 2 illustrates a rectification column in which the exchange sections 11, 12, 13 are vertically sub - divided into parallel ducts 11a, 11b, 11c &c., each of which has a grating 18 having inclined guide elements 17 imparting lateral movement to the vapours rising out of the packing. A grating of this kind, suitable for use where the individual ducts adjoin in honeycomb fashion (Fig. 3, not shown) is illustrated in Fig. 3b, and Fig. 3f shows in plan a grating having guide elements 20 (see also Fig. 2) for use at the bottom of the individual ducts. It is stated that liquid may be conducted through the mixing chamber from the ducts to the corresponding underlying ducts by means of small tubes connected centrally to the guide elements. Fig. 3c shows a quadrant of a grating for use at the top of a filled section made up of a plurality of square grating elements analogous to the grating in Fig. 3b and illustrates one way in which the rising vapours may be given rotary motion. Vapour is discharged through pipe 21 to condenser 22 from which part of the condensate is returned to a collecting chamber 26 and distributed as reflux liquid through capilliaries 27a, 27b and 27c while part is withdrawn as product through valve 23. Line 24 is a connecting pipe for a pressure-adjusting system. The mixture to be separated is admitted through valved line 19: if the mixture is a liquid, a system is provided to distribute it to the individual ducts of the bottom exchange section. In Fig. 4 a section of a column is shown in which the exchange sections are not subdivided into separate columns but made up of a series of grids superposed in staggered relationship 30 and having a single deflecting grating 32 with guide elements 31. The lower grating 33 is constructed as shown in Fig. 4b. Fig. 5 (not shown) has similar upper and lower gratings but is packed with graduated particles in place of the grids.