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 for passing cooling fluid therethrough, wherein the condenser tubes extend substantially vertically; an upper section of the vertically oriented column configured for receiving vapor rising upwardly from a lower contacting section of the vertically oriented column; a vapor outlet external to the column and in communication with the upper section of the vertically oriented column; and a plurality of baffles for redirecting the upwardly rising vapor across the condenser tubes such that the vapor passes in a first substantially horizontal direction and then in a second substantially horizontal direction as the vapor travels generally upwardly.