GB788712A - Improvements in or relating to distillation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0788712/III/1> <PICT:0788712/III/2> In a distillation apparatus comprising a vortex chamber V having one or more tangential inlets 18 for distilland and a stripper S below and communicating with the vortex chamber, there is provided a separating plate 36 between the stripper and the vortex chamber and having a central opening 37 connected to a riser 38 while the annular space 39 around the riser communicates with the stripper by at least one downcomer duct 43 which passes through the separating plate and is arranged to deliver liquid into the stripper. This arrangement prevents entrainment of liquid flowing into the stripper in the stripper gas and/or vapour rising from the stripper. The diameter of the opening 37 is preferably between 0.4 and 0.7 of the diameter of the stripper. The radially disposed vortex breakers 47 have an upper edge 49 sloping down from the top of the riser to the shell of the vortex chamber. Each chamber formed by the vortex breakers may have its own downcomer to the stripper or the lower edge 48 terminates above the plate 36 so that each chamber communicates with the downcomer 43. If the vortex chamber is a flash chamber operated under reduced pressure, flanges 40 and 41 are provided on the riser to prevent liquid creeping up the side. Vapours leave the vortex chamber through the collar 19 and may be led to a conventional rectifying column or a catalytic cracking plant. In an example a topped crude oil was introduced at 390 DEG C. into the chamber V operating at a pressure of 43 mm. of mercury, and for comparative purposes under similar conditions in a similar apparatus having vortex breakers but without a separating plate. In the latter case, vapours leaving the chamber V had 3.2 per cent of the liquid leaving the base of the stripper entrained therein, whereas in the apparatus of the invention the vapours contained only 1.85 per cent of the liquid.