US2810563A - Liquid-gas contact tower - Google Patents

Description

- 1957 E. P. FLEMING ETAL 2,810,563

LIQUID-GAS CONTACT TOWER Filed Dec. 31, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS [ow/m0 I? FLEMING By ROBERT E. MUSE.

ATTORNEY L 1957 E. P. FLEMING EIAL 2,

LIQUID-GAS CONTACT TOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1955 mimimh.

in I WWW, ma w m mflo MM 0 wk Oct; 7 E. P. FLEMING ETAL 2,810,563

LIQUID-GAS coN'rAT TOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 31, 1953 6 N 7%Y ET E mmwn m MH 0 wnam n 1 mm} mam Md w l! m4 w k H 5 0 a H J a a 0, m z Z 1 M LIQUID-GAS CONTACT TOWER Edward P. Fleming, Los Angeles, Theodore C. Fitt, Selby,

and Robert B. Muse, Orinda, Calif., assignors to American Smeiting and Refining Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 31, 1953, Serial No. 401,583 2 Claims. (Cl. 261114) This invention relates to a sectionalized liquid-gas contact tower. More particularly, it relates to a sectionalized tower comprised of lead. I r

In accordance with past practice, liquid-gas contact towers have been used in which the walls were of rigid unitary construction which bore the weight of the tower. Where bubble cap trays were used, such trays were attached to the tower walls and had no function in so far as wall load-bearing purposes were concerned.

In practice, the prior construction has been found to be relatively expensive and to involve rather complicated erection procedure. Moreover, it is necessary that a part or all of the tower proper be constructed of high strength metal in order that the load-bearing parts possess the required mechanical strength. However, the use of such metal in the tower proper has been found to be undesirable when the tower is operating under corrosive conditions.

For example, even when the tower proper was fabristeam of:a'n absorbent ladened with sulfur dioxide, and '4 chlorine or chlorides were present in the'system.

vantages will become apparent from the following, more detailed description of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings, forms thereof which are at present preferred. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are given for purposes of illustration and that the invention is not limited thereto. 7

In thedrawings, Fig. 1, is an elevational view, partly in section, of a liquid-gas contact tower embodying the; invention and which is provided with tray and bubble cap 1 assemblies.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tower of :1 v 1 in the direction of ther taken; along line 2,- -2 of Fig.

arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a tower section used inl assembling a tower.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the details of the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4

taken in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a modified sealing means for the various sections of the tower.

Fig. 7 is a view illustratinganother modified sealing 7 means for the various sections of the tower.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation view of 'a modified.

tower.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view on. the line 9-9-of shown a sectionalized liquid-gas contact tower designated generally bythe. numeral 10, and an open outer framework comprised of the vertical structural members .11

which may be suitably laterally. supported by the mem- .1

bers '12. Disposed within the framework-at vertically spaced, and preferably at uniformly vertically spaced,

intervals are a plurality of tower 'wall sections 14-20.

Applicants have attempted to take advantage of excellent corrosive resistant qualities of lead and lead alloys by using such metal in the prior construction. It was'found that towers, especially towers of the tray and bubble captype, of a practicable size could not be conthe steel, especially 'under the variable temperature conditions existing within .the tower during its operation. Under thesev conditions, the corrosive fluids leaked into the: resulting interstitial. space between the metals, .corroded the: susceptible ferrous metal and resulted in expensive, maintenance repairs and shortened operating periods as well as reduced life of the tower. 1

The principal advantage, as well as the principal ob ject, of the invention is' that it overcomes the abovementioned difiiculties of the prior construction. Another advantage and object is that it permits the construction of liquid-gas contact towers of a practicable size, and

I.t0wer. Each of the wall sections is individually supported within the framework by inwardly projecting supparticularly towersof the tray and bubble cap type, in

which the tower proper is fabricated of lead or lead alloys or of similar soft, low-strength metal. A further advantagezandobject of the'invention is that it provides a relatively simple and cheap method of. constructing liquidgas contact. towers. lThese 'and'other objects. and ad- Each of the wall sections is of unitary construction Each extends around and conforms to the desired lateral perimeter of the tower and forms by itself the vertical walls of the tower for each sections portion of the porting means 22-29 which are attached to the framework at vertically spaced intervals corresponding generally to the position of the wall sections 14-20. For each of the resulting lateral openings which. are peri- 1 metric of the tower between adjacent vertically spaced wall sections, there is provided separate means for sealing'the openings against fluids.

A' pluralityof curtain sections 31-37 are provided,- one for each of the perimetric space portions between immediately adjacent wall sections. =Each curtain sectionextends around the perimetric opening and is supported by one of the two wall sections immediately adjacent each curtain'section in fluid tight relationship to the supportingwall section; Each such curtain section'also extends adjacent to the other ofthe adjacent wall sections and is vertically yieldably sealed therewith against'fiu id s. Each curtain section thereby forms a tower wall extension for p which supports the individually supported wall section the particular curtain section.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, there isshown a circular tray and bubble cap type of tower embodying the invention. I The tower proper is fabricated of a soft; corrosion-resistant metal such as lead or lead-base alloys. ,The open framework formed by the members 11 and 121 is fabricated of a high strength metal such as,:for example, a ferrous metal such as. steel; and inwardly pro.- jecting supports 22-29 are annular angle ringsalso fabri' cated of the same or similar high strength metaL'HThe" a r g m y. beta t hed to the. vertical. membe 1.1a:

Patented Oct. 22, 1957 V in its broader aspects.

" sweet sreesg uieieby :seeraiag s higa ieaeeesenig eaeseicy rer ot me tewer and the vertical-lhgtfifidf the will secctei si- In generaig tlre wail s'e'fctions are abeiiu r asiiaeires thtelh v and th'e'vertical len'gtli oi ea'h' section may be aboiit 4 -12- ine1res and generallyabout 6 ineh h'eir vertie extension. The bottom of each of th =wt'ill sections 1 fi- 20 rest's upon tlie top surface of the-antiular st'ippdrts zz zw respeetivety so that -'eaclidf tli ;wall seen =is individual-1y :supperted in its desired positin the framework.

Eaefi of the intei inediate wall setidtis lsdlfi betvifeen the top wali seetioni'n andxtlie bbttom wan seetien zw have integrally formed therewith a horizontal tray por tion 42/; Each ofthese tray-portions is-provided wit h a plurality of openings 43 adapted to receivw ga's vi -vapor: riser pipes..- The to'p wall section 14 and the bdttom-wall section 20 are provided withtray?portions" f4 and 45 re= spear-rely whihzarie without riser pi e o enings and form top and bottom closures respectivelyfor the tower.- T'h'ehorizontal portions 42;, 44 a'nd 45' are preferably relatively thin as compared to=thethickness of their re sp'eotive' wall sectionsi Generally,:these'horizontal portioni 'each of the wall sections--20 constitutes a horizontal tray having a thick downwardly-depending towerwall-forming Zfla-nge.

Vapor riser pipes 46 'of conventional design m'ay be supported in' the openings' 43"of the interrnediate trays in any.- suitable manner; for example byat-tach'ing therei'n with'welding. The bubble-caps 47,:also olf conventional design; may be supported over the risefpipes in'any suit ablemann'er, for example by welding to"the horizontal tray portions 42. Each-of the intermediate trays is also provided with a-down pipe '48. i

In operation,.vapor or. gases contact liquids ism-e"- tower in'a conventional manner.v Thus, a;liqiiidwhich maybe introduced through the top of thetower through. inlet 49, passesdownwardly-through the towef-from tray to tray throughthe down pipes 48- 'and then-leaves the tower through the outlet 50-. A quantity of'fiuid is re tained omeach 'tray'to-a depth regulated bythe-pos'itiornof the. top'ofeach o'fthe down pipes-'48. Gasor-yap'or m'ay beintroducedthrough inlet 51; passing upwardly: throughthe tower and leaving: the- 'towerthrou'glr outlet 52. In

itsi-upward passage, the'gaspasses fronitray-to-tra'y, ris- 1 ingaupwardly through the' riser-apipes 46-.1- -It then reverses" its direction, I passing downwardly through? the annulus between the riser pipes and-the"buhble-caps-.- it again reverses its direction, passing around the bottom df the bubble cap aan'di then passes upwardly throughthe liquid retained on eaeh of the trays-,:-thusmaking-"a series ofintimate'cont-acts with theliquid as the gasipasses-through r the-tower.

Each of the wallsections-1440may'be prOVidedwith a support grid 53 attached'tothe inside surface of the wall and to the bottom-ofthehorizontal tray portion ofeach wall'section'. Preferably; each grid is integrally formed with theside-wall and tray portionto which itlends support. Preferably also, the grids extend radiallyfrom the center of the tray portionof eachtray, as shown in.--Fig-.- 2. The supporting gridsarean importantfeature in towers fabricated of a-soft material, especially in tray and-bubble captype towers,as-towers oflarger diameter than would otherwise bepossible can be constructed by" their use.

The curtain sections-have substantially no load-bearing 1 functioniother than to' -be able to --ca'rryrtheir-' own weight;- They,-Jtherefore;i;mayr be thin as compared 'to the wall 4. 1" and-4; the curtain-seetions- 3-1-37- dependdownwardly from and are attached to and supported by the top wall section 14 and intermediatewall sections 15-1? respectivelythere being no depending curtain from the lowermost wall section 20. V

As is shown in Figs. 1 aud 4yeach of the wall sections 14-19 may be provided with-anannular recess 54 extending around its lower inside edge. The dimensions of each -si1eh--ree':'e"ss*=riay' besuoli as toreceive the u pper arties of curtaih -wtill with the inside surface of the curtain wallflush'witlrthe'insidesurface of'the waneetion above the recess in the manner 'sh'own particularly in Fig.4. Each-of the curtains maybe attaehedand the'h'otto'm 'of the chrtain' wi'tmwhicli it i s" associated, by

theweldirig' 59. Thelow'e'r edge 'of the'sealing' stiip may be states an aaschea' te me tray" immediately below the curt-ain by' tiie weldingfi'tll For" greatest convenience in assembling. the sectional tower; theseal-ing' s'trips' are disposd mitwaidly of their respective oilr'tiins wifl'l the' bottom edge of the strip 'a'ttach'ed to-the top of the wall' sectioii below the curtain" and adjacent to the-outside perimeter of the latter wall, as illustrated most clearly" in 'Figs. and 5; "the thin strips"; due'fto their arcuate faring-ate vertically yieldable" and provide a yieldable' seal-which; up'on e'Xpa-nsion and contr'ac'tion of the tower;

is not broken; 2

"In the space eneleseuby 'ea'clfof the'sealingstrips there mj'ay be disposed an annular-curtain support ring :61; Each such ring may be attached'to the top-of' the Wall section which is immediatelybelow e'acli cui'tain by the" welding 62; -Each ofi the curtain stipport rings-61*are' disposed, as shown, outwardly of and adjacent tothec'un' tain which the ring' supports; Ea'ch support rin'g extends a vertically "abovftlie l'c'rvv'er edge of -th'e' curtain-with wliieh it is associatedaii'clftlziereby 'liiriits the outward mo'tion of-' tli'e ciirt-ain? In general. theuse of the support rin'gi' tdgetherw'ith the areuate' seating' ring is'" preferred espe prferred construe'ti'on; the' ring fl'may be p'rovided with di'a'in holes 153 which: permit liquid" which may collect in Insteadofusing the ar'cuate 1 sealing strip 58' illirtstrated i in Figs. l, 2; -4 and 5,-fl the' modified forms shown in -Figs. 6 and 7 maybe used, especiallyin smalltowers-to-procation of Fig. 6; the overlappiiigportions of the down-- wardly depending curtains, represented in thisfigure by: the curtain 32; and the support ring-61 sli'dably engage each other 'so-that the support' ring function's bo'tli'as a 7 seal and-support'for the curtain.

the recess. In this modification, each curtain represented by' numeral 32, instead of being attached to, may merely rest upon, the top of the tray (represented by numeral 16), below it.

The present construction may also be used for towers other than the tray and bubble cap type, including packed towers or spray towers. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate such a modification in which the tower is aspray tower. As shown in these figures, the tower is similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the intermediate wall sections, represented by the numerals 70 and 71 in Fig. 8, between the top wall-closure section 14 and the bottom wall-closure section 20 are not provided with the horizontal tray portion 42, the riser pipe 46, the bubble caps 47 or the down pipes 48. These intermediate wall sections may be, and preferably are, provided with support grids 53, especially where the tower is fabricated of a soft metal.

Liquid is introduced at the top of the tower of Fig. 8 through the sprinkler pipes 72 and falls as a free-falling spray to the bottom section 20 from which it is withdrawn from the tower through outlet 50. Gases which are to contact the liquid enter the tower through inlet 51, passing upwardly through the tower and the liquid spray therein and leave through gas outlet 52. In the modified tower, the individual wall sections preferably are also provided with the arcuate sealing strip 58. As illustrated in Fig. 8, curtain support rings need not be used (and this is also true for the tower of Fig. 1) although such rings may be provided if desired. The modification of Figs. 6 and 7 may also be used in the tower of Fig. 8 to seal the perimetric openings between each of the curtain sections and the wall sections immediately above and below each curtain.

As indicated earlier, the invention is most useful for towers composed of metal of low mechanical strength, such as lead or lead base alloys. It is particularly useful for towers of the tray and bubble cap type. For best results, an antimonial lead alloy containing about 6-12% and preferably about 10% of antimony is used for the individually supported wall sections and the grids therefor. Antimonial lead alloys containing antimony in this range are preferred as it has been found that an antimony content below about 6% results in an alloy that is unduly soft, while antimony contents above 12% results in an alloy which is unduly brittle. Antimonial lead alloys containing 6-12% antimony are also preferred for the trays, flanges and grids in a tray and bubble cap type of tower. The rest of the tower, including any one or more of the welding connections, curtain walls, sealing means, support rings for the curtain walls and, where used, bubble caps, riser pipes, or down pipes may also be fabricated of these alloys or other lead alloys including ordinary lead. The open outer framework and the inwardly projecting supports attached thereto may be fabricated of any high strength metal which preferably is a ferrous metal such as steel.

Preparatory to assembling a tower embodying the invention, each of the wall sections 14-20 preferably is individually cast. Where used, the recess 54, the grid 53 and the horizontal tray portion with the vapor riser holes as required, are cast with the wall sections as an integral part of each wall section. The wall section intended to be the lowermost wall and closure section may then have attached to its top a curtain support ring, if such a ring is to be used. As no curtain is suspended from the bottom of this lowermost wall and closure section, no curtain receiving recess need be provided in it. The intermediate wall sections may be individually assembled as illustrated in Fig. 3. As illustrated in this figure, each wall section, represented by the numeral 16, has its curtain section, represented by the numeral 33, suitably attached in the recess 54 by the weldings 55 and 56. A curtain supporting ring 61, where used, is welded to the top of each wall section with the welding 62. The

down pipe 48, vapor riser pipes 46 and the bubble caps 47, also where used are likewise suitably attached by welding. The upper wall and closure section 14 may also be pre-assembled with its curtain 31 suitably attached by welding. No curtain sealing ring need be attached to the top of section 14 regardless of whether or not such rings are used with the other wall sections 15-20.

In assembling the tower, the open outer framework represented by the numerals 11 and 12, is first erected. The wall support 29 may then be attached to the framework, after which the lowermost wall section 20 may then be lowered through the top of the framework until the bottom of this wall section rests upon the support 29. If desired, the support 29 may be attached to the framework after the wall section 20 has been lowered to its intended position .in the framework. Thereafter, if arcuate sealing strips 58 are to be used, the lowermost sealing strip 73 (see Fig. 1), fabricated either as a one-piece ring or a split ring, is lowered through the top of the framework and is allowed to rest loosely on the top of wall section 20. The next support 28 is then lowered through the top of the framework to its desired position therein. The support 28 may then be attached to the framework. The next intermediate wall section 19, assembled as illustrated in Fig. 3, is then lowered through the top of the framework to its position resting upon the support28. During the last stage of its lowering, the lower edge of the curtain 37 which is attached to the wall section 19, is carefully inserted through the upper edge of the sealing strip 73.

The above steps for attaching the other wall supports, sealing rings and intermediate wall section units may be repeated for each of the wall supports 27-22 and the wall section units 18-14 until all of the wall sections are positioned in the framework.' The lower and upper edges of each of the sealing strips may be welded respectively to the top of the wall section and adjacent the bottom of the curtain with which the particular strip is associated, after each section is inserted in the framework or after all of the sections have been inserted. The fluid inlet and outlets may be connected to the tower and the tower is then ready for operation,

It should then be noted that each of the arcuate sealing strips, when they are used, may be multi-sectional in form rather than in the one piece or split ring form. In the multi-sectional form, the sealing rings may be attached in position at any time after the wall section with which a particular ring is associated has been positioned in the tower. This may be accomplished by inserting the individual section of each strip through the open sides of the framework. The wall supports 2229 may likewise be multi-sectional and may or may not extend around the entire perimeter of the tower. Such section supports may also be inserted through the sides of the framework and attached thereto after each wall section has been lowered to its intended position in the framework. In such event, each of the arcuate sealing strips may be welded either to the curtain or the top of the wall section with which the particular curtain is to be associated before the wall section is lowered into the framework. The unattached edge of the sealing strip may then be attached at any time after its particular wall section is in position in the tower.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Thus, for example, instead of being circular in cross-section, the towers may have a rectangular or other polygonal cross-sectional shape. It is, therefore, desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tower for treating corrosive fluids, an open outer tower supporting framework, a plurality of vertically spaced thick wall sections disposed within said framework, each of said wall sections forming the lateral perimeter of ,lthe tower. and the vertical walls of the, towel-"for. the particular. section s portion. of the-.toweninwardly projecting .and vertically. unyieldable support-means attached to said framework-for each :wallsection, the base of. each wall section restingsupon its respective unyieldable support means, whereby the wall sectionsare, supported within said framework in fixed spaced vertical relationship to the framework and to each other with the top of each wall section spaced from the bottom of thewall section immediately above it, the uppermost and lowermost sections including end walls forming top and bottom closures for said tower, said wall sections beingfabricated of antimonial lead containing about 6-12% antimony, separate sealing .means fabricated. of lead for each of the perimetric openings between adjacent wall sections. forming a yieldable seal against fluids for said openings, liquid inlet and outlet means for said tower, andgas inlet and outlet means for said tower, whereby the gasandliquidmay. be brought into intimate contact .in said tower, eachof the wall sections thereby being free to expand and contract independently, and each :wall section being'free of the weight of. adjacent wallsections and the weight of. the rest ofthe tower,-regardless of expansion and contraction of any part of the tower.

2. A tower according to claim. 1, each of said .wall .sections having a supporting grid which is encompassed. by the wall section, each saidgrid also being fabricated. of said antimonial lead, said separate sealing means comprising a thin lead curtain section depending downwardly from and extending around the, inside perimeter of -.t-he uppermost and intermediate-wall sections, each :of .said curtains also extending downwardly and terminating close to but out of contact with the top of the wall section immediately therebelow, each of the said intermediate wall sections and :the lowermost-wall section having on the, top

thereof a,. iurt'ainsupport member fabricated of leadand whichextends. arounduthe top ofthew'all section adjacent the'latters perimeter and which also extends upwardly aboventhe, lower. edge. oi the. curtaindepending from ,the wallvsectioneimmediately thereabove, eachof such curtain support members being"positionedibetween the outside perimetenbf the wall section to which itflis attached and the-.-outside,;surface "of .t-hencurtain with which itis associated, .QIIierebyJimiting theoutward motion of the curtainiwall whenthe latter, is subjected to pressure on its inner 'suriaee and ayieldable leadsealing strip of arcuate fo'rrnri'n Yer'ticaLsection for each. of-said curtains, each suchsealing stripgextending around the curtains perimeter andbeingfdis'posed outwardly. of the-curtain and the associated curtain support, each suchsealing strip being attached at its upper edgejo thecurtainperimeter adjacent the curtainsllbottom edgelbub'abovefthe top of the curtains support, the lower edge of eaqhJsuch sealing strip beinglatta'ched adjacent the.outside perimeter of the wall section which isi-immediatelybelowthe curtain section.

. "ReferencesCited'in "the fileof this patent t'L -NITED .STATES, PATENTS ,-GreataBritain Aug. 30,

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