US1725429A

US1725429A - Fractionation apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1725429A
Application number: US218337A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Robert H Van Schaack
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-09-08
Filing date: 1927-09-08
Publication date: 1929-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1946-08-20

Description

Patented Aug. 20, 929.

ROBERT H. VAN SCHAACK, JR., OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FRACTIONATION APPARATUS.

Application filed September 8, l1927. Serial No. 218,337.

My invention relates to a new and advantageous type of apparatus for bringing a vapor or gas into contact with a liquid. The apparatus is useful, for example, in the Operations of fractionating or practiced in the chemical industry.

` lA purpose of the invention is to provide a tower filling or fractionating ring which is suificiently strong in relation to its overall volume to resist crushing by the weight of rings above it, has a large surface area, and is susceptible to economical manufacture. Further objects will appear from the detailed description which follows.

The fractionating rings of Lessing and Rashig are Well known and widely used. The latter consists of a hollow cylinder of sheet metal, such,"for example, as would be formed by sawing off a l-inch length of ai 1-inch,thin-walled metal pipe. VVhen packed into a fractionating column, the space within the cylinder presents a large passage for Vapor'the maximum distance of which from the liquid film bathing th'e ring is approximately one-half the diameter of the ring. The Lessing ring has a partition connected with one side of the ring and extending part p way' across the ring to the other side. The ring is not closed and consequently is more or less suscept-ible to pressure applied to its side.

I have now invented a ring having a greater ratio of surface to overall volume or .higher resistance to crushing than either of these other rings.

The new ring is illustrated in F igs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 1 gives an end view. Fig. 2 shows the ring in perspective. Fig. 3 shows a section in the plane of the axis and perpendicular to the diametrical partition. The diametrical partition', a, extends entirely across the cylinder and supports each half of 'the Shell, as at b and c. The wall of the cylinder is'thus supported at the two points, L5 b and c, approximately 180 apart whereas the earlier types of ring have no such support at 180 intervals. In addition, the complete partition increases the area of contact, during scrubbing or fractionation, between 0 liquid bathing the walls and vapor or gas.

Finally, the Partition produces two non-communicating chambers and makes sure that no particleof vapor or gas within the cylinder is ever distant from the nearest wall scrubbing as' .the cylinder is by more than one-fourth the diameter of the cylinder.

A detailed description of one method of practising my invention follows. Aluminum tapc or sheet, 0.022 inch thick by 3/8 inch wide, 18 shaped to the form illustrated in the figures, the outside diameter of the cylinder 'bemg substantially equal to the length. This length may be 1/2 inch.

I do not limit myself to this type of niaterial, to this size of cylinder, or to these proportions. I may use other material of construction as, for example, sheet iron, copper, or clay or other siliceous material of the type used. in the ceramic industry. The diameter of the cylinder may be varied. Usually I make the diameter not less than 1z inch and not more than 11/2 inches. The|` length of preferably not greater than twice the diameter. Good results have been obtained when the length is approximately equal t t-he diameter. I,

One convenient method of manufacturing the ring is the following. Aluminum tape is fed into a diametrical slot in a mandrel of outside diameter equal to the desired inside diameter of the cylinder to be turned. The tape is extruded until the length that extends from the slot' equals approximately half the circumference of the inandrel. The tape is then cut at such a point as to leave an equal length extending from the other side of the slot. Rotating lugs then catch the two I' ends of the tape and wrap them around the two halves of the cylindrical mandrel.

The ring is then removed from the machine and is ready for use as a means of bringing a liquid into contact with a gas.

The method of use of these rings in a frac tionating or scrubbing column will be obvious to one skilled in the art. The tower, as, for example, an 18-inch, vertically placed copper pipe 15 feet long is nearly filled with the rings, poured in at random.V The vapor or gas is then passed upward through the packed column, as from a still or boiling pot, and the liquid for scrubbing is allowed to flow downward over the rings, as from'a dephlegmator or condenser above the column.

If the column has a large diameter, say 3 feet, it is often desirable to introduce some device to insure distribution of the liquid and vapor throughout the entire cross section of the column. Otherwise, channeling mag allow vapor or gas to pass upward through certain parts of the column and liquid down- Ward through other Sections and thus decrease the effective surface of contact of liquid and Vapor or gas.

I do not limit the invention to any one method of manufacturing the rings or to any one type of apparatus'into which the rings are placed. A

I claim:

1. A fractionating ring comprising a hollow cylinder of Sheet metal With a diametrical partition extending entirely across the cylinder, said Partition at each side being continuous with a portion of the cylinder Wall.

2. A fractionating ring comprising a hollow cylinder of diameter approximately equal to the length with a diametrical partition extending entirely across the cylinder, said Partition at each side being continuous with a sector of the cylinder wall.

3. A fractionating ring comprising a hollow cylinder of sheet metal with a diametrical partition extending entirely across and being continuous, at each side, with a. portion of the circumferenoe, the diameter of the cylinder and the length being each approximately1/2inch. v

4:. A vfractionating ring of substantially cylindrical form comprising a diametrically disposed web member, and two oppositely curved circumferential members, each continuous With one end of the web member.

5,. A fractionating ring of substantially cylindrical form and having a length approximately equal to the diameter comprising a diametrically disposed web member, and two oppositely Curved circumferential members, each continuous With'one end of the 4D web member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

RIH. VAN sciiAAoK, JR.