Gas-liquid separator with heat exchange - comprises shell contg. bundle of tubes having downstream section bent downwards dipping below degassed liq. phase level minimising remixing

摘要

A heat exchange and gas-liq. sepn. appts. consists of a bundle of parallel tubes. The upstream end is connected to a distributing compartment to receive the liq. phase charged with gas. The downstream end is connected to a collecting compartment fitted with a gas outlet at the top and an outlet for degassed liq. at the bottom. The tubes pass through an enclosure fitted with a means of causing a cooling or heating agent to circulate in it. The tubes have a downstream section bent downwards and ending below the level of the free surface of the degassed liq. phase during the operation of the appts. An important application is in installations for producing hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of an aq. soln. generally of potash but the appts. is applicable to a large range of plants operating under press. in which it is necessary to degas a soln. having a tendency to form foams and requiring costly materials of construction. The invention improves the plant described in the parent patent 7822743 in preventing remixing of the liq. and gaseous phases.