US1670743A - Distillation apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 22,1928.

J. SCHNEIBLE I DIS'iILLATION APPARATUS I Filed Nov; 12, 1923 4 she-ts sheet 1 n m M an M w 0 M a a a. m E w M 6 n W6 6 W 5 P a #m w a ununnzuun w n; a .m H L 0 S F w a 6 a w a T. 7 W m7 J A m 5 0 7 V m Uh u w i w l i i W m v 2 5 www. 6 6

w w w M m 7 u u a z m May 22, 1928.. v

J. SCHNEIBLE DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed Nqv. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet EUZUEEEEUB EDDJEHUEDDUU 0 E J 6 Z w M u v PM in NM m M w v. w

Ma zz'. 192$. 1,670,743

J. SCHNEIBLE DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed NOV- 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 22, 192 8.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; BEATRICE SCHNEIBLE INGRAM. ADMIN- ISTRATRIX OF SAID JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO CLAUDE D. SCHNEIBLE, K. F. SCHREIER, AND BENJAMIN B. SCHNEIDER, TRUSTEES UNDER THE NAME OF THE SCHNEIBLE TRUST. 3

ms'rnta'non arrana'rus.

Application filed November 12, 1923. Serial No. 674,285.

The present invention relates ,to improvements in the art of distillation, and more particularly to distillations in which the distillation and rectification processes are carried out in a single unitary column device. It will be more fully understood from the followin description, illustrated in the accompanyin'g drawings, in which: c

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a. preferred form of construction of the units making up the stripping and condenser portions of the column; 7

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a condenser unit on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; I v

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through a stripping unit on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2;,-

Fi 5 is a sectional view through a collecting and discharge cock; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modilied and somewhat simplified form of condenser section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a column made.

up of superimposed units, of which the lowermost'is a heater unit, designatedby the numeral 11, to which steam is supplied through the pipe 12 controlled by'valve 13.

A preferred construction of theheater unit is shown in my, co-pending application Serial No. 674,287 filed of even date here with. Above the heater unit 11 are superimposed a number of distilling units 14 and strippingunits 15 of similar construction, those higher in the column being preferably shorter in height than the lower ones to compensate for the diminution in volume'of the vapors. At an intermediate point in the column, the material to be distilled is fed in through a valved pipe 16, the point of admission preferably corresponding approximately to that pointin the column at which the reflux has a composition the same.

as that of the infed material. Above the distilling and stripping units are mounted the condensing and rectifying units 17. A suitable cooling mcdlum, which may be, for

example, water or brine, i's'fed into the *uppermost of the condenser'units 17 through 433,376, file'd Dec. 27, 1920, the sections of.

the various units forming the column are so constructed as to permit a substantially free passage of the vapors and reflux therethrough, and to impart a positive rotary motion to the vapors and reflux, thereby effecting a very complete heat interchange between them.

In my preferred form of constructiom'the several units are made up with circular walls terminating in flanges 22 of generally tri-' angular cross section and having shoulders 23 into which the lower end of the wall of l the next section above fits.-. This construction ismore fully set forth in my Patent No. 1,366,955 granted Feb. 1, 1921.

Each of the units, 14 and 15 making up the distilling and stripping sections is provided internally with an annular shelfor baflle 25 having a slight downward pitch and extending from the wall to a central circular opening 26. From this opening a cy-.

lindrical skirt 27 extends downwardly, and this skirt is provided around its entire circumference with large openings 28, the skirt being formed at these openings to provide inwardly directed vanes 29 resembling the vanes of a turbine rotor. Above the ring 25 in each unit is provided a deflector 30, preferably of conical form with a slight downward pitch'and having its apex substantially at the center of the unit. The deflector 30 extends outwardly, leaving a vapor passage between it and the interior wall of the unit. From the outer margin of the deflector 30 a cylindrical skirt 31 extends downwardly nearly to the upper surface of the annular ring 25 and is supported on the latter. The skirt 31 is provided with openings 32 and is also provided at these openings with vanes 33 extending outwardly from its circumference. These vanes also resemble the vanes of a turbine rotor. It

given a positive rotary movement by the vanes 29 and 32. It will'be noted from the drawings that some of the units are deeper than others, and that varying numbers of openings and vanes are provided-therein. In view of the similarity in structure, these units of varying size have .not been separately described, the differences in size being due to the varying volumes of vapors to be acted upon in the different parts of the column.

; Atw asuitable point in the column, a section is interposed, -into which the material to be distilled is brought through pi 16. This pi e is provided approximatey centrally wit in the column with a downwardly directed portion 16?, through which the material to be distilled isdlschar ed substantially above the center of tlPe de ector 30 of the-next lqwer section. 1

Above the stripping section of the still ,there are provided a suitable number of condenser unlts, each of which may be, as shown "in Fig. 2, constructed in two parts,- a.col-

lector unit 36 and a superimposed cooling unit 37. In each of the cooling units 37 there .is mounted a plurality of coils 38, opening at .one' end at'the to of the unit into an inlet manifold 3 9, an at the other end in the lower part of the unit into an outlet manii'fold 40. These coils 38 are 'so disposed as to 7 leave an-open innercentral space, in which is arranged a downwardly depending cylindrical skirt 41, which is secured to and depends from the inner rim of the baflle plate 42 of the collecting section next above. The

- depending cylindrical skirt41 is provided with openings 43 and vanes 44 directed inwardly in a. manner similar to the depending skirts 27 of the distilling and stripping units 14 and 15, and functioning ina similar manner. 1

Each of the collecting units 36 is provided near its top with a collecting-deflector plate 45, having an outer ring portion 45 of con-.

ical from with a slight downward pitch and an inner inverted conical portion 45". This inverted conical portion is of 'substantlally the "same diameter as the skirt 41 depending from the next colle ctor; unit above, andis' directlythereunder, "seas to receive and 001- lect refluxed liquid therefrom. The down- ",Qwa'rdly itched conical ring portion 45' is beliiw t e condenserjeoils-BSj-of the ..next

higher cooling unit, andreoeivee reflux ther from. At. its outer rim the deflecting col- .lecting ring 45 is wardly depending s irt 46 having openings 47 and outwardly direc ed vanes 48 functioning in a manner similar 'to the correrovided with a downsponding partsoi the skirts 31 depending from the deflectors 30 of the stripping and distilling units. The depending skirt 46 ex tends substantially to the baflle ring 42, which extends from the wall of the section toward the interior ofthe still. A marginal ring port-ion 42 of this bafile ring is substantially level and without itch and the inner ring portion 42 has a ownward pitch. To the inner rim of-this baflie ring the skirt 41 is secured, as already described, except in the case of the lowermost collector umt, ,which,

as shown in Fig. 2 discharges directly upon the deflector plate 30 of the topmost stripping unit 15.

Reflux collected in the central inverted .conical portion 45? of the deflector-collector plates 45 isconducted through a discharge pipe 49 to a controlled discharge cock 50, the structure of which is 'bestshown in' Fig. 5 in a detailed sectional view. This cock is formed with an externalycylindrical casing 51, suitably secured in the wallof the collector unit 3e and opening 51 on its underside. Within t rovided with a discharge casing 51 is'rotatably fitted a cylindrical member 52 provided with a'stem 53 which extends out through the stuffing box 54 formed in the end of the cash; 51, the stem 53 being provided with a suite leehandle 55 for they rotation" of the internal cylindrical valve member. The valve member 52 may projectjiiwardly for a short distance and reflux from the conical collector '45 is supplied to it through the pipe 49.. The valve, member 52 is provided within the unit 36 with a. discharge opening 56, and it is provided'with a second discharge opening 52 angularly displaced with respect to the discharge opening 51! and arranged so that, on

rotation of the valve member 52 it may be.

brought into alignment with the discharge o emn 51*. A transverse bafile 57 is provlded'm the-valve member 52 beyond the opening 51. In its normal operating posi-- .tion, the valve member 52"is so placed that the opening 56 is directed downwardly, the 1 opening 5 2 being then sealed by thecaslng 51 and the transverse bafile 57 impeding the flow, of liquid. Under these cond tlons, liquid entering the valve through the pipe 49 is discharged immediately through the opening 56' upon the-flat portion 42 of the baflle f-ring 42 below the valve. By rotation of thevalve 52 until the opening 52 comesinto alignment with the discharge opening 51, 1.11119, {opening 56 is moved to a position on of the valve, and liquid entering the to valve through the vp I I through the valve casing 52, the d scharge ipe .49 is discharged 30- opening 51 and pipe '50. It is thus readily apparent that the valves may be employed to discharge reflux outside of the system, or may be so operated as to discharge it within the system for further action therein.

The general operation of the column will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 1. The material to be distilled, after passing through a preheater 58, in which it is heated by heat exchange with the residue issuing from the column, passes through valved pipe 7 16 into the unit 35 of the column, which is arranged at an intermediate point thereof, preferably approximately where the descending refluxin the balanced column has the composition of the infed material as regards volatile constituents. The infed material descends through the distilling units 14 to the heater 11 in countercurre'nt to the rising vapors. Steam is fed into the heater through the pipe 12 and condensed water and used steam are drawn off through the pipe 59. Residue is drawn off through pipe 60 and forced by pump 61 to the preheater 58. .The vapors rising in the column pass upwardly through the distilling units 14, the stripping units 15 and the condenser units 17, in which both condensation and rectification takes place. In these various units the bailles form a circuitous vapor andreflux passage, through which they travel without substantial obstruction. There is a collection of reflux in each of the condenser units, and reflux of the desired composition may be drawn off through any one of the valve discharge cocks 50, passing through the selected discharge pipes 62 and 63 to receiving boxes (34, test boxes 65 and into the receiving tank 66. Vapors uncondensed in the column pass out from the dome 67 through the vapor line 67 -to a condenser 68, front which vapors and condensed liquids pass into receiving tank 69. From the latter a 'vapor line. 70 leads to the vacuum pump 71, which is provided with a-suitable control valve 72 for control of the vacuum produced. The cooling medium for the condenser, which may be water or brine or any other suitable material, enters the uppermost condenser unit through pipe 18, passes from one unit to another in succession through the pipes 19 after traveling through the coils in each unit, and makes its exit through the pipe 20 provided with control valve 21. Temperature conditions within the column are controlled from an intermediate point 73 (the thermal f center), the temperature of which, when the column, one control line 74 is brought for the control of the valve 13 on the pipe 12 supplying steam to the heater and another control line 75 is brought for the control of the valve 21 on the exit pipe 20 for the cooling medium from the condensers.

The column is preferably operated under vacuum, which enables the production, in the case of materials such as alcohol which form constant boilin -point mixtures with Water, of products of higher concentration than those normally procurable at atmospheric pressure. case of alcohol by operating under pressures of 75 millimeters absolute or'lower, alcohol of 198 to 199 proof may be readily secured. Pressure conditions at various points of the column are observed by means of a number For example, in the of barometric indicators 76 supplied from a common mercury reservoir and controlled by lines 77 leading to various points in the column. The column is preferably operated with a maximum pressure difference from the heater to the top of the column of approximately one-half inch of mercury, although this may be varied, according to the condition and nature of the material being handled, and may' in,some cases reach as high as one inch.

Within the column in the distilling and stripping sections, the vapors are forced to travel a circuitous course by means of the bafile rings 25 and deflectors 30. The vapors are thereby forced to pass through the peripheral openings in the depending skirt- s 27 and 31, the descending reflux being in part guided downward by the skirts. The

vanes formed in these skirts givethe rising ment, acting in a manner analogous to the vanes of a turbine rotor.' The vapors, whirled about in this manner, break up the particles of reflux into an exceedingly tine mist, thereby providing a very large surfacefor heat interchange. As a result of this action, a substantial heat equilibrium is maintained at all points in the column between reflux and rising vapors.

In the condenser units, the rising vapors are guided and positively rotated or whirled in a similar manner by the b-ifile rings 42, the collecting-deflector plates 45 and the vanes provided in the ,perforated skirts 41 and 46 depending respectively therefrom. In the condenser units it will be noted, that the rising whirling vapors first contact intimately with the surfaces of the cooling coils 38 surrounding the cylindrical skirt 41 depending from .the baflle rings 42. Reflux given up by the vapors on contact with the condenser coils drop tothe downwardly which ,the cooling and collecting pipes 19.

pitched portion of the collecting deflector ring :15 and are uided by them in such a -manne'r as to be roken up and intimately contacted with the rising vapors, and vaport ized portions ofthis reflux passupwardly with the vapo's. Unvaporized portions pass downwardly and are guided by the baffle rings 42 into the inner portion of the skirt 41 depending therefrom. Here the reflux is broken up and intimately contacted with .the'va ors entering through the openings 43 after aving been contacted with the condenser coils -38. In the cylindrical space within the skirt 41, unvaporized reflux is collected by the central collecting area 45 of the collecting-deflector plate 45. The reflux passes through ipes 49 tothe discharge valve 50, by whic in operation without draw-off, it is discharged directly upon the W horizontal portion 42 of the baflle ring 42, by which it is spreadnut, and together withreflux descending from the condensing coils of the condenser un1t above, agaln acted u on by va ors 1n the manner already de- 25 scribed. W ere the reflux has the composition desired in the final product, the valve 50 is so operated that the reflux is discharged through one of the pipes 62 and collected outside of the column. It will be 30 clear from the above description that the reflux so drawn 'olf from any given section is the reflux from the next higher section which has been subjected to the action of the cooled vapors of the sections from which the reflux is withdrawn, but is not intermixed with reflux resulting from the cooling ac-' tion in the latter section.

' .In Fig. 6 there is shown in section a modified construction of the condenser units, in ortions 'are com ined into a single unit. e units are designated by numeral 17. In each 4 unit is a. coolin coil connected-with an inlet manifold 6 and an outlet manifold 5 77, the coil being arranged to leave a central space, in which is disposed the skirt 7 8 depending'from the inner rim of a bafile ring 9 secured tothe wall of the unit. The skirt 78 is provided with openings 80 and inwardly directed vanes 81, as in the first form of construction described. Above the bafile ring 79 is mounted a collectingdeflector plate 82 having a central collectn outer downwardly" pitched deflecting portion 82 disposed below its outer rim to the baflle plate 79 below'and reats ther'aupon. ;The skirt 83 is provided with open ngs 84 and outwardl' "directed vanes 85 at the openings, as in t e' firstdescribed construction; The cooling medium passes from one coil 75' to the next by From the center of the collecting portion 82 of the collecting-deflector plate $2 a pipe 86 is carried to and through thefwall of the unit, terminating in a discharge cock 87;. The reflux from the next higher section, after contact with vapors cooled by the. cooling coils, collect in the collecting portion 82 of plate 82, and, if discharged cock 87 is closed; overflows the plate and is broken up .and whirled aboutby the vapors rising through the openings in the skirt '83. Whileon the plate 82 the reflux is subjected to the heating action of the vapors risin from below. When the discharge cock 87 s open the reflux collected passes to the exterior of the column.

I claim:

1. In combination, a distilling system including superimposed heating, distilling and condensing sections. providing a vapor passage therethrough, said sections constituting a column, means for feeding liquid into the column at an intermediate point in the distilling section, means for supplying a heat-vv ing medium-to the heating section,;,means for supplying a cooling medium for the condensing section, and means adapted to be actuated by the temperature at an intermediate point in the distilling section above the point of feed of fresh material, for controlling the supply supply of cooling medium.

2. In combination, a distillin s stem including superimposed heating, distilling and condensing sections providing a vapor passage therethrough, said section's constituting a column, 'means for feeding liquid into the, column at an intermediate point in the distilling section, means for supplying a heating medium to the heating section, means for supplying a cooling. medium to the conv of heating medium and'the densing section, and means adapted to be' actuated by the temperature at an intermediate point in the distilling section for controlling the supply of heating medium and the supply of cooling medium.

3. A unitary column construction having superimposed heating, distilling, stripping and condensing sections, the condensing" sections-being made up of superimposed units, means in each condenser unit for collecting reflux-from the next, higher unit substantially free from reflux formed in the unit in. which collection is made, means for supplying the. collected reflux to the next loner condenser unit: and controllable means in connection. with each condenser unit for withdrawing the collected reflux therefrom.

Ill

4. A unitary column construction-having superimposed heating, distilling, stripping and condensing section's providmg'a vapor passage therethrough' the condensing section being made up df superimposed units,

each ggov ded withmeans for collecting rem the next higher unit substantially and means free from reflux formed in the unit in which collection is made, and meansfor supplying the collected reflux to the next lower condenser unit, controllable means in connection with each condenser unit for withdrawing collected reflux therefrom, means for feeding liquid into the column at an intermediate point in the distilling section, means for supplying a'cooling. medium to the condensing section, means for supplying a heating medium to the heating unit, and means adapted to be vactuated by the temperature at an intermediate point in the distilling column for controlling the supply of heating medium to the heating. section and of cooling medium to the condensersection.

5. In a condenser, a plurality of superimposed condenser units forming a unitary construction, means in each unit for collectdelivered at each plane from reflux delivered thereto from the cooling means above it.

I 7. In a condenser, a plurality of superimposed condenser unitsfforming a unitary contruction, means in each unit for collecting reflux delivered by the next section above substantially free" from reflux formed in the unit in which collection is made and for contacting said reflux with vapor before its collection, and means for dischargin the collected reflux into the next section be ow. Y

8. In a condenser, superimposed condenser units forming aunita'ry construction, means in each unit for collecting reflux delivered by the next section above substantially free from reflux formed in the unit itself, and means for discharging the collected reflux into the next sectionbelow.

'9. In a condenser construction, super imposedrunitsforming'a unitary construc- "tion,' fneans in each unit for collecting reflux delivered by the nextfs'ection above substanitself and means for discharging the collected reflux into the next section below, said means being controllable to discharge said reflux outside of the. condenser.

10. In a ondenseni-superimpgsei units forming a unitary construction having a substantially free vapor passage therethrough, cooling means in each unit, means for delivering reflux condensed by said coolin" means in each unit to the next lower unlt and collecting it therein substantially free from reflux formed in .said next lower unit, said means providing for exerting the heating effect of vapors rising from below upon the collected reflux, and means for delivering the collected reflux to the next lower unit.-'

' 11. In a vertical condenser unit, a baflie ring extending from the wall of the'unit inwardly through an open central space, a cylindrical'skirt depending from the inner rim of said ring, peripheral openings insaid skirt,-van es at each of said openings for imparting rotary movement to vapors pass-' ing therethrough, and cooling. coils surrounding the cylindrical skirt and below the baflie ring.

4 12. In a vertical condenser unit, coils disposed toleave a central space, abaflle ring above the coils extending from the wall of the unit over the condenser coil-s, a centrally disposed plate below the coils and having a I central collecting portion, and means for guiding reflux from the baflle rings to the central collecting portion of the central plate and preventing condensate formed below said baflie rings from passing into said collecting portion and for intimately contacting vapor therewith.

13. In a verticalcondenser construction,

a unit having a central deflector plate providin an open space between its outer rim and t e wall of the unit, a cylindrical skirt depending from the outer rim of said deflector'plate, said cylindrical skirt being provided with peripheral o nings and vanes at each of said openings or imparting rotary movement to vapors passing therethrough,

and cooling coils positioned above said defiector plate.

14. In ayertica-l condenser construction, a unit havlng a central deflector plate, an

open space between its outer rim-andthe or wall of the unit, said deflector plate having a central collecting portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from the outer rim of said deflector plate, said cylindrical skirt being provided with' peripheral openin rotarymovement to v'a ors passing therethrough, a cooling coil a ove the deflector plate, and means for guiding reflux from above to the central collecting portion of the deflector plate. Q

' 7 JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE.

' ,and. A yanes ateach of sai d openings formnparttially free from refliix formed in the unit mg

Images