RE-DIRECTION OF VAPOR FLOW ACROSS TUBULAR CONDENSERS

摘要

Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.

主权项

1. An apparatus for vapor-liquid contacting, comprising
a vertically oriented column having disposed therein a plurality of condenser tubes; an upper section of the vertically oriented column configured for receiving vapor rising upwardly from a lower contacting section of the column; a vapor flow-directing device disposed within the column and having a vapor inlet above at least a co-current contacting section of the tubes and defining a vapor-liquid disengagement volume, wherein the vapor inlet is in fluid communication with the upper section of the column for redirecting at least a portion of the vapor rising in the upper section downwardly through the co-current contacting section of the tubes; a non-condensed vapor outlet external to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume; a condensed liquid outlet internal to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume; and a divider plate extending into the vapor flow-directing device and dividing the co-current contacting section of the tubes, in a contacting volume, from a disengagement section of the tubes, in the vapor-liquid disengagement volume.