US2802345A - Rectification column - Google Patents

Rectification column Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2802345A
US2802345A US437456A US43745654A US2802345A US 2802345 A US2802345 A US 2802345A US 437456 A US437456 A US 437456A US 43745654 A US43745654 A US 43745654A US 2802345 A US2802345 A US 2802345A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
extensions
heat exchanger
boiling vessel
support
heat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US437456A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jonkers Cornelius Otto
Kohler Jacob Willem Laurens
Ster Johannes Van Der
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
US Philips Corp
North American Philips Co Inc
Original Assignee
US Philips Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by US Philips Corp filed Critical US Philips Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2802345A publication Critical patent/US2802345A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/905—Column
    • Y10S62/906—Packing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/905—Column
    • Y10S62/907—Insulation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a rectification column for separating gaseous mixtures, this column comprising a boiling vessel for the fraction having the highest boiling point, to which boiling vessel heat is supplied by means of a heat exchanger which also withdraws heat from the gaseous mixture to be fractionated.
  • the rectification column has the feature that the heat exchanger comprises a part which is located in the boiling vessel and by means of which heat is supplied to the fraction having the highest boiling point and a further part which is located outside the boiling vessel and which is in thermal contact with the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, these parts being in thermal contact with one another by Way of a support.
  • the heat exchanger hitherto frequently used in rectification columns comprises, in general, a tube located in the boiling vessel through which the gaseous mixture to be fractionated is conducted.
  • a tube located in the boiling vessel through which the gaseous mixture to be fractionated is conducted.
  • any impurities will settle in the part located outside the boiling vessel, so that any cleaning may be carried out in a simpler manner.
  • the part of the support located outside the boiling vessel extends transversely to that wall of the boiling vessel which constitutes the partition between the two parts of the heat exchanger.
  • the part of the support outside the boiling vessel is provided with a plurality of extensions with which the gaseous mixture to be fractionated is in thermal contact, the heat of the extensions being conducted away for at least 20% by conduction through the support to the part of the heat exchanger inside the boiling vessel.
  • the heat exchanger according to the invention used'in a rectification column, may be utilised successfully as an ice separator.
  • it will in general be necessary to purify the medium prior to its supply to the heat exchanger, for example by conducting it through chemical substances binding the impurities.
  • the rectification column according to the invention is then characterized in that a gaseous mixture to be fractionated is conducted through the part of the heat exchanger located outside the boiling vessel, in which one or more components are separated out by cooling, this (these) component(s) precipitating on at least one of the extensions of this part, so that in the proximity of these extensions the composition of the medium is varied and the temperature at which the component(s) can separate out, decreases, whilst by suitable choice of the structural parts of the heat exchanger the meantemperature of each of these extensions, viewed from the hot side of the heat exchanger, is at the most 20 C., preferably at the most 10 C.
  • the mean temperature of the extension at which the separationstarts is at the most 20 C., preferably at the most 10 C. lower than the point of separation of that component of the medium as it is supplied to the extensions. It has been found to be desirable to decrease gradually the temperature of the medium to be cooled, whilst the medium is to be brought into turbulence in a manner such that all particles of the medium contact as frequently as possible with the walls of the heat exchanger. If this were not the case, ice particles could already be formed in the gas, consequently before the medium has come into contact with the extensions; it is diificult for the ice separator to collect all these ice particles, which are carried along by the medium.
  • the support in a further embodiment of the invention has parts of different heat resistance.
  • the heat exchanger according to the invention may be used not only for freezing out impurities but also for further cooling of the medium from which the component(s) has (have) been separated.
  • the heat exchanger has the feature that the support section lying outside the boiling vessel is provided with a plurality of extensions, on which the component(s) separate out and with a plurality of extensions by means of which the medium, from which the component(s) has (have) been separated is further cooled.
  • the part of the support located outside the boiling vessel is provided with at least two groups of extensions, serving for separating out one or more components for the case in which the said part of the heat exchanger is traversed by a gaseous mixture containing a plurality of components to be separated and having different separation ranges; at one group of extensions mainly the component(s) of one separation range and at the other group of extensions mainly the component(s) of the other separation range is (are) separated out.
  • the extensions of one group have in succession a temperature difference of not more than 20 0., preferably not more than 10 C.
  • the desired temperatures of the extensions may be obtained by constructing the support in a manner such that its parts have the required heat resistances.
  • This heat resistance may be obtained by providing the desired dimensions, for example thicknesses or lengths for" the may have relatively different heat resistances.
  • the support or by constructing the support from a special material.
  • the heat resistance of the support need not fulfil particular requirements.
  • the heat exchanger may be constructed in various ways.
  • the part of the support located outside the boiling vessel is provided with extensions, constructed in the form of transverse partitions, bounding spaces between the hot side of the heat exchanger and the cold side thereof, these spaces communicating with one another through apertures, so that the medium can flow through these apertures from the spaces of the hot side of the exchanger to the cold side thereof.
  • the apertures it is desirable for the apertures to be such that the medium traversing this part of the heat exchanger is set turbulating, so that the medium contacts frequently and intensively with the extenstarts.
  • the desired turbulence may be obtained by providing the part of the heat exchanger outside the boiling vessel with a wall at a certain distance from the support, the support being provided with extensions in the form of transverse partitions apertures being left, between these partitions and the wall.
  • part of the heat exchanger which is located outside the boiling vessel is constituted by a support and a wall spaced apart therefrom by a certain distance, the support being provided with transverse partitions extending up to the wall, apertures being provided in these transverse partitions.
  • the apertures in each transverse partition are preferably located at least partly opposite a wall portion of theadjacent transverse partitions. In this manner, in particular, an intensive turbulence of the medium is ensured.
  • the part of the heat exchanger located outside the boiling vessel is also in thermal contact with at least one of the vapour fractions conducted away from the rectification column.
  • This may for example be the fraction having the lowest boiling point.
  • At least part of the vapour fraction conducted away from the collumn having the highest boiling point will, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, be in thermal contact with the part of the heat exchanger located outside the boiling vessel.
  • the support is constituted by a tube open at both ends and taken through the bottom of the boiling vessel, that end of the tube which is located in the boiling vessel projecting over the normal liquid level.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 show a gas fractionating system, provided with a rectification column.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 shows part of the heat exchanger used with the rectification column, the support thereof being surrounded by a wall, apertures being left between the extensions and the wall.
  • the system shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rectification column 1; this column has a filling 2 of for example so-called Raschig rings.
  • a boiling vessel 3 containing a quantity of the fraction having the highest boiling point in the liquid state.
  • the boiling vessel 3 has a bottom 4, through which a tubular support 5 is taken.
  • This support is secured in thermally conductive manner to the bottom of the boiling vessel.
  • the support has wall portions 6, 7 and 8 of different thicknesses and both on the inner side and on the outer side the support is provided with extensions, for example vanes.
  • the inner side is provided with extensions 9, provided with apertures 10 and 11, as is evident from Fig. 2.
  • the outside of the wall portion 6 of the support is provided with extensions 12; the wall portion 7 has the extensions 13 and the wall portion 8 has the extensions 14. All these extensions are provided with apertures 15, which are in staggered positions in successive extensions.
  • the bottom of the boiling vessel is provided with extensions arranged concentrically about the support 16.
  • the support 5 communicates at the lower side with a duct 17 and on the top side the support extends in the boiling vessel to such an extent that it projects over the normal liquid level in this vessel.
  • the part of the support located outside the boiling vessel is surrounded by a wall 18, having heat-insulating properties.
  • This wall is provided with two supply ports 19, communicating with a duct 2t and with an exit port 21, communicating with a duct 22, which communicates with the gas fractionating portion of the column.
  • the duct 20 comprises a pump 23.
  • the column communicates through a duct 24 with a cold-gas refrigerator 25, which communicates moreover through a duct 26 with the column.
  • the coldgas refrigerator has an outlet duct 27 and is driven by an electric motor 28.
  • the system operates as follows.
  • the medium for example air to be fractionated is supplied with the aid of the pump 23 through the duct 20 in succession to the spaces between the extensions 14, 13 and 12. Owing to the frequent contact of the medium with the extensions 14 the water vapour contained in the air is frozen out on these extensions.
  • the separation range extends to about C.
  • the temperature of the medium is further decreased to about -'140 C. and in the part 12 the air is cooled from 140 C. to for example l82 C.
  • the carbon acid then precipitates on the extensions 12.
  • the extensions of the parts 14 and 12 are spaced apart by a comparatively great distance and between the successive extensions of each group prevails a comparatively small temperature difference of for example 8 C. This temperature ditference is obtained by constructing the support from parts having different heat resistances.
  • the air which is purified and the temperature of which is decreased is supplied through the duct 22 to the column I.
  • This column is constructed, for example in the form of a so-called single column and operates under atmospheric or substantially atmospheric pressure.
  • the air is fractionated.
  • the boiling vessel 3 of the column is produced a substantially constant quantity of the liquid fraction having the highest boiling point, in this case oxygen.
  • Liquid oxygen flows from the'column and evaporates in the boiling vessel. Part of the vapour rises upwards in the column and a further part is conducted away through the tubular support 5 and the duct 17. Inside the support 5 the latter part of the vapourous oxygen is in thermal contact with the air to be fractionated rising upwards outside the support. In this embodiment about 70% of the cold withdrawn from the air Will serve to heat this oxygen, whilst 30% is supplied through the support to the oxygen in the boiling vessel, the oxygen thus evaporating.
  • the nitrogen is in the vapour state.
  • the vapour is conducted through the duct 24 to a cold-gas refrigerator 25.
  • the nitrogen is condensed and the condensate is supplied, partly as m caw-s reflux,-through vthe duct 26 to the column and partly collected through the duct 27.
  • the coldgas refrigerating machine described above may, asan alternative, be termed a refrigerating machine operating on the reversed hot-gas engine principle. By meansof such a machine, described for example in Dutch patent application N0. .1 60,452, very low temperature, for example of 200 C. and even lower temperature may be obtained in one step.
  • the heat exchanger described above in which the medium to be cooled and to be fractionated doesnot traverse the boiling vessel, may be used also with columns of different kind, for example with the so-called double columns.
  • the ice may be removed in a simple manner by scraping after removal of the sheath 18.
  • the ice may be removed by heating the heat exchanger.
  • the part of the heat exchanger located outside the boiling vessel comprises a support 30, provided with annular extensions 31. These extensions are surrounded by a wall 32, having heat-insulating properties. The extensions 31 do not extend entirely up to the wall 32, so that apertures 33 are left.
  • the medium to be cooled is supplied from below through the port 34 and the cooled medium can be conducted away from below through the duct 35.
  • the support 30 communicates with the boiling vessel of a rectification column. Heat is conducted away from the medium flowing along the extensions through the extensions and the support to this boiling vessel.
  • vanes 36 On the inner side of the support 30 provision is made of vanes 36, with which the gaseous fraction having the highest boiling point and flowing from the boiling vessel is in thermal contact. This heat exchanger operates in a manner completely similar to that of the heat exchanger described above.
  • Fig. 4 shows a heat exchanger in which the extensions have relatively different heat resistances.
  • a support 40 has constant heat conductivity and the heat exchanger comprises two parts, i. e. part 41 having extensions 42 and part 43 having extensions 44.
  • the part having the extensions 42 serves for separating out a component and the part having the extensions 44 is only used for further cooling of the medium.
  • the extensions 42 and 44 are provided with apertures 45 and 46 respectively and with parts 47 and 48 respectively having each a definite heat resistance. This heat resistance is such that the relative temperature difierence of the extensions 42 are comparatively small.
  • the parts 47 and 48 are located in a layer of heat-insulating material applied to the support 40.
  • the extensions are surrounded by a sheath 50 having heat-insulating properties.
  • the medium to be cooled and purified is supplied through the apertures 51 to the heat exchanger and is conducted away through the duct 52.
  • a rectification column for separating gaseous mixtures comprising a boiling vessel for the fraction having the highest boiling point, a heat exchanger for supplying heat to the liquid in said boiling vessel from the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said heat exchanger having a hollow support member, and said heat exchanger being provided with a first part located in said boiling vessel through which heat is supplied to the fraction having the highest boiling point, and a second part including a plurality of extensions extending substantially transversely to the flow of said gaseous mixture located outside of said boiling vessel and in thermal contact with the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said first and second parts being connected with one another and passing through the bottom of said boiling vessel.
  • a rectification column as set forth in claim 1 fur ther comprising a partition wall separating the first and second parts of said heat exchanger, and said support member being positioned substantiallytransversely to said partition wall.
  • a rectification column for separating gaseous mix comprising a boiling vessel for the fraction having the highest boiling point, a heat exchanger for supplying heat to the liquid in said boiling vessel from the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said heat exchanger having a hollow support member, and said heat exchanger, being provided with a first part located in said boiling vessel through which heat is supplied to the fraction having the highest boiling point, and a second part located outside of said boiling vessel and in thermal contact with the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said first and second parts being integral with one another and passing through the bottom of said boiling vessel, both the first and second parts of said heat exchanger being provided with extensions, the gaseous mixture to be fractionated being conducted along the extensions of said second part and having at least one of said components being separated out by cooling, the mean temperature of each of said extensions being at the most 20 C. higher than the successive extension as viewed from the hot side of said heat exchanger while in the normal operation of the heat exchanger the mean temperature of one of said extensions is not more than 20 C. lower than the
  • a rectification column for separating gaseous mixtures comprising a boiling vessel for the fraction having the highest boiling point, a heat exchanger for supplying heat to the liquid in said boiling vessel from the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said heat exchanger having a hollow support member, and said heat exchanger being provided with a first part located in said boiling vessel through which heat is supplied to the fraction having the highest boiling point, and a second part located outside of said boiling vessel and in thermal contact with the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said first and second parts being integral with one another and passing through the bottom of said boiling vessel, said support member having a portion located outside said boiling vessel being provided with a first plurality of extensions on which at least one of the components of said gaseous mixture is separated out, and a second plurality of extensions by means of which said component which has been separated out is further cooled.
  • a rectification column as set forth in claim 6 wherein said portion of said support member located outside said boiling vessel is traversed by said gaseous mixture containing a plurality of components having difierent separation ranges, at least two groups of extensions scoured to said support member for separating out at least two components whereby the components of one separa tion range are separated out on one of said groups of extensions and the components of another separation range are separated out on another group of extensions.
  • a rectification column as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a third group of extensions for cooling said gaseous mixture, said third group being located between said other two groups of extensions.
  • a rectification column for separating gaseous mixtures comprising a boiling vessel for the fraction having the highest boiling point, a heat exchanger for supplying heat to liquid in said boiling vessel from the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said heat exchanger having the gaseous mixture to be fractionated, said first and 20 second parts being integral with one another and passing through the bottom of said boiling vessel, said second part of the heat exchanger being provided with a wall spaced apart from said support member, and said support member being provided with extensions constructed in the form' ofstransverse partitions whereby a plurality of openings remain between said partitions and saidwall.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
US437456A 1953-06-18 1954-06-17 Rectification column Expired - Lifetime US2802345A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL329516X 1953-06-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2802345A true US2802345A (en) 1957-08-13

Family

ID=19784294

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US437456A Expired - Lifetime US2802345A (en) 1953-06-18 1954-06-17 Rectification column

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US2802345A (en:Method)
CH (1) CH329516A (en:Method)
NL (2) NL179230A (en:Method)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2966341A (en) * 1958-05-14 1960-12-27 Friedrich H Reder Nitrogen traps for molecular resonance devices
US3129082A (en) * 1960-05-07 1964-04-14 Philips Corp Column for fractionating gas mixture

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US773927A (en) * 1901-10-17 1904-11-01 Charles A Cleveland Hot-water heater.
US1132617A (en) * 1914-08-11 1915-03-23 Rector Engine Corp Steam-generator.
US1163423A (en) * 1911-10-13 1915-12-07 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Method of separating gas mixtures.
US2494304A (en) * 1946-06-05 1950-01-10 Little Inc A Differential boiler

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US773927A (en) * 1901-10-17 1904-11-01 Charles A Cleveland Hot-water heater.
US1163423A (en) * 1911-10-13 1915-12-07 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Method of separating gas mixtures.
US1132617A (en) * 1914-08-11 1915-03-23 Rector Engine Corp Steam-generator.
US2494304A (en) * 1946-06-05 1950-01-10 Little Inc A Differential boiler

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2966341A (en) * 1958-05-14 1960-12-27 Friedrich H Reder Nitrogen traps for molecular resonance devices
US3129082A (en) * 1960-05-07 1964-04-14 Philips Corp Column for fractionating gas mixture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH329516A (de) 1958-04-30
NL94709C (en:Method)
NL179230A (en:Method)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3326280A (en) Heat exchanger with baffle structure
US3992168A (en) Heat exchanger with rectification effect
US2944966A (en) Method for separation of fluid mixtures
US3899023A (en) Equipment for drying gas, in particular air, by refrigeration
US2591658A (en) Process and apparatus for the separation of coke-oven gas
US2690060A (en) Fractional distillation
JP2005520670A (ja) 混合流体の分離のための小型精留ユニットおよびそのような混合流体の分離のための精留プロセス
US2492788A (en) Regenerator
US3158010A (en) Two phase fluid heat exchanger
US2897655A (en) System comprising a cold-gas refrigerator and a heat exchanger
US4574007A (en) Fractionating apparatus
US2802345A (en) Rectification column
US2384413A (en) Cooler or evaporator
US2947152A (en) Heat exchanger for separating out constituents from a gas by cooling
US2760351A (en) Fractionating apparatus
US3316961A (en) Heat exchanger for the transfer of sensible heat and heat of condensation from a gasto a heat-absorbing fluid
US2919556A (en) Gas-fractionating system
US2292350A (en) Heat exchange apparatus
US3410335A (en) Coolers for mixtures of gases and solid particles
US2915883A (en) Gas-fractionating column
US3264832A (en) Gas-fractionating column with a gauze filter
US2502251A (en) Apparatus for the separation of gaseous mixtures
US2867985A (en) Gas-separating apparatus
CN216320039U (zh) 基于多个管道的蒸馏分离设备
US6024842A (en) Distillation column device