US2652239A - Fractionation and distillation tray structure - Google Patents

Description

fsept. 15, 1953 FRACTIONATION A ND DISTILLATION TRAY STRUCTURE Filed March 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l "16 61B) I 1'4) (7 l '32 3 35 25 31a "25 f 26 12 s1 Fr 6&5

James m .Qfialle rzger qZrzvqibor 6 10. Clbbornegs .1. M. BALLENGER 2,652,239

Sept- 5, 1953 J. M. BALLENGER 5 3 FRACTIONATION AND DISTILLATION TRAY STRUCTURE 'Filed March 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 James HZ, efiallenger elrlv erzbor' dimer-neg Patented Sept. 15,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,652,239 FRACTIONATION AND DISTILLATION TRAY STRUCT Millington, Oil Development Company, a corpo- James M. Ballenger,

Standard ration of Delaware URE N. J assignor to Application March 29, 1952, Serial N 0. 279,300 7 Claims. Cl. 261114) The present invention relates to an improved fractionation and distillation means. The invention is particularly concerned with the construction of the individual trays such as perforated tray.

It is an object of the fractionation tray of relatively light weight and mum number of individual parts and to accomplish a maximum strength in the assembled ing drawing. in which:

Fig. 1 is a. horizontal section through a fractionation tower or other vessel of the character supporting structure for the tray,

g. 2 is a partial, enlarged vertical section Fi through stantially along the line II-II Fig. 3 is of Fig. 1, and a vertical section through a portion of a tray structure as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 means of an annular ring member 4. The truss and purlin structure are supported, in the tower in any conventional fashion such as by means of angular supports 5, which may be welded to the inner wall surface of the shell I.

relation to the tray next below. conventionally, the lower end of bafile portion 1 is disposed at port structure to which applied.

The upper plate elements l3, while similar to the lower plate elements 8, are provided with peripheral edge portions Ba. and 13b of which the portions I 3a are provided for juncture with gases pass upwardly through the tower by way of the plate chimney openings.

When operation of the tower is initiated, liquid is introduced at an upper level in the tower at a rate substantially as required to flood the several trays in succession. At this stage the space between plate elements of the trays may fill with liquid and liquid may spill through the lower plate chimney elements. But upon initiating upward flow of gaseous materials through the tower, the liquid which may originally be trapped between the plate elements is forced out and upwardly into the layer of liquid flowing across the trays.

In any tower of the character contemplated and described. the liquid flowing across the trays is usually agitated violently by the gaseous materials passed through the trays. In a typical bubble cap tray, in which the gaseous material issues more or less laterally from notched bubble caps, the agitation effect may be such as to cause considerable spray and froth to be thrown upwardly toward the tray above, and consequently to cause entrainment whereby the liquid is carried upwardly through the plate next above with the gaseous materials, and resulting in undesired and uncontrolled liquid reflux or recycling. Such excessive agitation also tends to interfere with suitable liquid flow characteristics, increasing holdup time on the trays, and also resulting in surging and otherwise to interfere with uniform operation.

In a tray structure according to the present invention, initial agitation occurs well below the surface of the tray liquid, and in the substantially confined zone of the downwardly extended, upper plate chimney elements, and a considerable part of the gas velocity is dissipated before it reaches the tray liquid surface. Consequently, excessive agitation and liquid entrainment will be reduced, and liquid flow characteristics become more uniform.

It is contemplated that the plate elements may be made of comparatively light weight, thin gauge metals, and preferably not more than shown may be formed by die punching in deep drawing dies such that the punch will first draw and deform the metal and then rupture it to provide the jagged or serrated peripheral edge portions at the end of each chimney. Although the serrated edge thus formed may not be uniform, normal variations will not greatly affect the overall length of the chimney element nor its operating characteristics. If greater uniformity is required, the punch or mandrel element employed may be provided with a series of radially disposed ridges designed to induce rupture of the metal along predetermined lines. Alternatively the sheet may be scored before drawing and punching to obtain the same result. In a typical tray structure according to this invention, the chimney elements should have an overall height or length substantially equal to the diameter thereof at the serrated end. In one preferred form of the apparatus, these dimensions would be about one and one half inches, or two inches. The opposite end of the chimney element is preferably formed with a smoothly curved, expanded opening through the plate, of slightly grater diameter than the serrated end.

What is claimed is:

1. A fractionating tray structure comprising upper and lower plate members disposed in opposed parallel spaced relation one to another, a plurality of tubular chimney elements opening through each plate member, each leaving a peripherally serrated end edge portion, the chimney elements of one member being offset with relation to those of the other member and extending into surface contact with the opposite plate member, and means for joining said members rigidly one to another.

2. A tray structure according to claim 1 in which the chimney elements of each member are arranged in parallel rows and in a square pitch relationship, the rows of one member being intermediate the rows of the opposite member, and with the individual elements of one plate member in offset relation to those of the other member longitudinally of said rows, whereby said elements are disposed in a triangular pitch relationship from plate member to plate member.

3. A tray structure according to claim 1, in which said plate members comprise a plurality of sectional elements of which the elements of one member are individually secured to a supporting structure for said tray, and the elements of the other member are joined one to another and to said individually supported elements.

4. A tray structure according to claim 1, in which said upper and lower plate members comprise a plurality of sectional elements individual upper and lower elements are joined one to another in substantially fluid-tight relation to form a plurality of unitary tray sections, said sections being secured into supporting structure in edgewise relation to form said tray.

5. A tray structure according to claim 4, in which the supporting structure is provided with a parallel series of baffle plate elements extending upwardly therefrom between edge portions of adjoining tray sections carried thereon.

6. A tray structure according to claim 5, in which said tray sections are secured to said baffle elements along parallel adjoining section edge portions.

7. A tray structure for fractionation towers and the like, comprising a pair of individual plate members joined together spaced relation one to another, a plurality of tubular chimney elements of substantially equal length associated with each plate member joined at one end to a plate member surface and opening therethrough, the other end of each element terminating in a peripherally serrated, end edge portion, said elements disposed in peripherally spaced relation one to another over said plate members providing a substantially continuous, flat, intermediate plate surface portion between and surrounding each element, the chimney elements of one plate member being oifset radially with respect to those of the other member in said pair, and means for rigidly uniting said plate members, the serrated edge portions of the chimney elements of at least one member in said pair engaging the intermediate surface portions of the other member and spacing said members from one another by substantially the length of said elements.

JAMES M. BAILENGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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