Mixing device with tangential inlets for two-phase concurrent vessels

摘要

A mixing device for mixing concurrently-flowing streams of vapor and liquid in a vessel contains flow baffles forming a tangential inlet orifice through which the liquid and vapor streams flow at high flow velocity and in a tangential direction into a swirl box. The high momentum of the streams in the inlet orifice, the tangential direction of the streams, and the large distance between the inlet orifice and the vessel centerline, result in a violent swirling flow and a large number of fluid rotations in the swirl box, thereby thoroughly mixing the streams entering through the inlet orifice. A mixed stream of vapor and liquid exits the mixing device through an outlet opening in the bottom of the mixing device. An impingement plate located below the outlet opening spreads the liquid and decreases the velocity of the mixed stream. The temperature and chemical composition of the mixed stream are equilibrated.

主权项

1. A method for admixing vapor and liquid flowing concurrently in a catalytic reactor between an upper catalyst bed and a lower catalyst bed thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a swirl box comprising a top wall, a side wall and a bottom wall; an outlet opening in the bottom wall; and at least one tangential inlet orifice configured for entry of said vapor and liquid into said swirl box in a tangential direction defined as a direction substantially parallel to said bottom wall; passing said vapor and liquid from a space above said swirl box through said at least one tangential inlet orifice and into said swirl box at a location near said side wall and in a direction close to a flow direction of the swirling vapor and liquid inside the swirl box adjacent the at least one tangential inlet orifice; rotating said vapor and liquid around said outlet opening during a residence time inside said swirl box to provide mixing of said vapor and liquid; and passing said vapor and liquid from said swirl box through said outlet opening to a space below said swirl box.