Patent US4740196A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3712595A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3712595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Upflow distributive trays for fractionating columns and absorption towers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-12
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1991-07-12
Abstract
Abstract The ascending phase, vapor in distillation columns, and vapor or the lighter of a pair of contacting liquids in an absorption tower flows unequally according to a velocity profile at points across the diameter of the vessel. This causes unequal distribution of vapor or rising liquid to the trays with attendant operating difficulties and inefficiency. A stack of perforated baffles or wire mesh discs of different overall diameters, with the largest at the top tapering to the smallest at the bottom, attached underneath each tray interpose a varied hydraulic resistance to counteract the velocity profile and hence equalize vapor or liquid upflow to all areas of each tray.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hirsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/14; B01D3/16; B01D3/22; B01D3/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An upflow uniformizing baffle for fractional distillation columns, absorption towers and similar mass transfer apparatus in which two distinct phases, at least one of them a liquId, are contacted countercurrently, the lighter of said phases ascending said column, stagewise contact between said two phases being provided on substantially horizontal trays spaced at intervals along the height of said column, openings in said trays for ascent of said lighter phase and its contact with the other phase, said uniformizing baffle comprising a stack of plies of substantially rigid sheets secured underneath said trays, strictured openings through said sheets for upflow of the ascending phase through said plies to said trays, said openings in the uppermost of said plies registering at least partially with the said openings in said trays, each said ply in said stack being of different overall diameter, the largest being the top ply placed proximal to said tray, the next to largest ply being placed underneath said top ply, and so on in order of decreasing overall diameter to the ply of smallest overall diameter on the bottom of said stack which arrangement of said plies varies the resistance to upflow through various parts of said tray in a manner to attain uniform distribution of the ascending phase through said column, means for fastening said plies of said stack together and means for affixing said stack underneath said tray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
An upflow uniformizing baffle for fractional distillation columns, absorption towers and similar mass transfer apparatus in which two distinct phases, at least one of them a liquId, are contacted countercurrently, the lighter of said phases ascending said column, stagewise contact between said two phases being provided on substantially horizontal trays spaced at intervals along the height of said column, openings in said trays for ascent of said lighter phase and its contact with the other phase, said uniformizing baffle comprising a stack of plies of substantially rigid sheets secured underneath said trays, strictured openings through said sheets for upflow of the ascending phase through said plies to said trays, said openings in the uppermost of said plies registering at least partially with the said openings in said trays, each said ply in said stack being of different overall diameter, the largest being the top ply placed proximal to said tray, the next to largest ply being placed underneath said top ply, and so on in order of decreasing overall diameter to the ply of smallest overall diameter on the bottom of said stack which arrangement of said plies varies the resistance to upflow through various parts of said tray in a manner to attain uniform distribution of the ascending phase through said column, means for fastening said plies of said stack together and means for affixing said stack underneath said tray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 installed in a fractional distillation column in which the ascending phase is a vapor, said openings on said trays therein being for passage of vapor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 2 in which said openings on said plies are located in the vicinity of said vapor passages of said tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 3 in which said plies are geometrically similar in outline to the mass transfer section of said trays and are symmetrically arranged with respect thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which said plies are perforated plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which said plies are open mesh material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 6 in which said open mesh material is a wire mesh.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which said plies are held together with surfaces in contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which a narrow spacing is allowed between at least two of said plies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which the top ply of said baffle contacts the underside of said tray.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which a narrow spacing is allowed between the top ply of said baffle and the underside of said tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 in which the edge of said top ply is spaced from the shell of said column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 installed in a tower in which a liquid phase descends through downcomers, said top ply of said baffle being spaced from the shell of said tower and from said downcomers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 13 installed in a tower wherein said downcomers terminate in a liquid seal on said trays, said top ply of said baffle being blanked under the position of said liquid seal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The upflow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 installed in towers in which said trays have bubble caps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The flow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 installed in towers in which said trays are perforated plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The flow uniformizing baffle of claim 1 installed in towers in which said trays are open mesh sieves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus comprising at least one upflow distributive baffle mounted in a fractional distillation column, absorption tower or similar mass transfer apparatus in which two distinct phases, at least one of them a liquid, are contacted countercurrently, the lighter of said phases ascending said column, stage-wise contact between said two phases being provided on trays spaced at intervals along said column, said baffle being a single ply of substantially rigid sheet secured underneath at least one of said trays, openings in said baffle for upflow of the ascending phaSe to said at least one tray, and a spacing between the edge of said baffle and the shell of said column sufficiently wide to accommodate flow of the lighter phase around the baffle and through the outermost openings in said tray.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus comprising at least one upflow distributive baffle mounted in a fractional distillation column, absorption tower or similar mass transfer apparatus in which two distinct phases, at least one of them a liquid, are contacted countercurrently, the lighter of said phases ascending said column, stage-wise contact between said two phases being provided on trays spaced at intervals along said column, said baffle being a single ply of substantially rigid sheet secured underneath at least one of said trays, openings in said baffle for upflow of the ascending phaSe to said at least one tray, and a spacing between the edge of said baffle and the shell of said column sufficiently wide to accommodate flow of the lighter phase around the baffle and through the outermost openings in said tray.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The uniformizing upflow distributive baffle of claim 18 in which said column is provided with downcomers and spacing is provided between edges of said rigid sheets and said downcomers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The uniformizing baffle of claim 18 in which said rigid sheet is a perforated plate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The uniformizing baffle of claim 18 in which said rigid sheet is a wire mesh.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3653186A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |