US3813890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process of continuous distillation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-14
•
Granted: 1974-06-04
•
Expires: 1991-04-14
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for continuous distillation in which products are removed from the ends of a distillation column and are also removed from an intermediate zone of the column, subjected to a refrigeration cycle and returned at least in part to the column, and reflux and reboiling are provided at more than one zone of the column.
Inventors
- 👤 B Bligh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:41
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/0228; F25J3/0252; B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/007; B01D3/14; C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/04; F25J3/0204; F25J3/0209; F25J3/0219; F25J3/0233; F25J3/0238; F25J3/0242; F25J3/0247; F25J3/0295; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/02; F25J2200/04; F25J2200/08; F25J2200/40; F25J2200/50; F25J2200/72; F25J2200/76; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/02; F25J2210/00; F25J2210/12; F25J2215/00; F25J2215/60; F25J2215/62; F25J2215/64; F25J2235/00; F25J2235/60; F25J2245/00; F25J2245/02; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/02; F25J2270/04; F25J2270/06; F25J2270/88; F25J2270/90; F25J2270/902; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stream of liquid is withdrawn from an intermediate zone below the zone into which the fluid being fractionated is fed and is divided into two further streams one of which, after cooling, is passed through a condenser in the column between the said feed zone and the top of the column causing condensation of vapor and refluxing of the resulting liquid down the column, and the other of which after cooling passes to the main reflux condenser at the top of the column where the condensed liquid formed is returned in part at least to the top of the column as reflux, and both streams after passing through the reflux condensers are warmed near to ambient temperature, are subjected to compression, condensation and further cooling and returned via an expansion valve to the column at a zone just above that from which the original stream leaves, the flash-gas at said expansion valve providing intermediate reboiling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stream of liquid is withdrawn from an intermediate zone below the zone into which the fluid being fractionated is fed, and after cooling is passed to the main reflux condenser which provides reflux to the top of the column, the said stream boils partially in the said main reflux condenser and the vapor and liquid parts of the said stream are separated, the liquid part passing to one or more reflux condensers between the top of the distillation column and the feed zone, the liquid part vaporizing at least partially and then combining with the above vapor part, the recombined streams are warmed near to ambient temperature, are subjected to compression, condensation and further cooling and returned via an expansion valve to the column at a zone just above that from which the original stream leaves, the flash-gas at the said expansion valve providing intermediate reboiling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stream of mainly vapor is withdrawn from a zone between the feed zone and the top of the column and is then warmed near to ambient temperature, compressed, cooled and divided into two parts, one of which is condensed in a heat exchanger in the column below the feed zone in order to provide intermediate reboiling while the other part is cooled and condensed and goes to the main reflux condenser from which top product and top reflux are obtained, after which this part of the stream is warmed near to ambient temperature, compressed and joined with the other compressed vapors, the combined stream being cooled and divided into two parts as mentioned above, one part of which goes through a heat exchanger in the column and re-enters the column near the zone from which the original stream was withdrawn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1 in which there is more than one process fluid introduced by way of more than one feed stream to the fractional distillation column for the purpose of fractionation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid being fractionated is derived from pyrolysis gas and the separated products are mainly hydrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane and propylene.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for carrying out the process of the continuous fractional distillation of a fluid containing one or more substances, at least one of which has a boiling point below ambient temperature, in which the main liquid reflux is provided by condensing at least part of the vapors leaving the top of the distillation column and in which the main reboiling is provided at a zone near the bottom of the distillation column, characterized in that, said apparatus comprises a. means for providing at one or more intermediate zones intermediate reflux and means for providing at one or more other intermediate zones intermediate reboil in addition to the said main reflux and main reboiling; b. means for withdrawing a stream of fluid from an intermediate zone of the column; c. means for putting said stream through a refrigeration cycle including the stages of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, the said cycle providing means for refrigeration by indirect heat exchange at the main reflux condenser and providing means for the said intermediate reflux and intermediate reboil; and d. means for returning at least part of said stream to the column near to said intermediate zone of withdrawal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |