US3873283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vapor-liquid separator
Assignee: Universal Oil Products Co
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Filing: 1973-07-02
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A high degree of separation of entrained liquids from a resulting vapor stream and of entrained gas from a resulting liquid stream is achieved in a spherical vapor-liquid separator containing ring-shaped liquid holding trays which promote horizontal liquid flow. A mixed-phase feed stream is discharged tangential to the separator''s outer wall. Liquid then flows in a circular path to a downcomer on the opposite side of the separator leading to other ring-shaped trays below and finally accumulates in a lower section of the separator from which it is discharged. The resulting slow liquid flow allows entrained gas to escape and pass horizontally thhrough ring-shaped coalescers which form part of a vertical central vapor conduit rising through the center of each ring-shaped tray and which break down liquid containing foam. Vapors from the different trays and the bottom section of the separator pass upward through the vapor conduit to an outlet on an upper section of the separator.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J J Hamblin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:15
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
376 words
A vapor-liquid separation apparatus useful in separating a mixed-phase hydrocarbon conversion process stream which comprises: a. a spherical vessel having an upper section, a middle section, a lower section and a spherical internal volume delineated by the inner surface of said spherical vessel; b. a mixed-phase hydrocarbon stream inlet means, the inlet means being located in the middle section of the vessel and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel; c. at least two substantially horizontal and vertically spaced apart open centered ring-shaped liquid holding trays, the trays being located below said mixed-phase inlet means and having a circular outer edge which adjoins the inner surface of the vessel over the entire circumference of the tray, the trays also having a raised lip surrounding the centrally located circular opening in the trays and delineating a ring-shaped liquid holding area upon the trays; d. liquid downcomer means in each of said trays with the downcomer means of said uppermost tray comprising a weir on an upper surface of said uppermost tray and a vertical conduit extending downward from a perforation in the surface of the uppermost tray located within the weir to a point above a lower second tray, the downcomer means of said uppermost tray being located on the opposite side of the circular opening in the uppermost tray from the mixed-phase inlet means; e. a centrally located cylindrical vapor conduit comprising an imperforate cylindrical wall attached to the inner surface of the vessel in the upper section of the vessel and extending downward to a point above the raised lip of the uppermost of the trays; f. a plurality of cylindrical coalescing means, with a first coalescing means connecting the raised lip on the uppermost of the trays with the imperforate wall of the vapor conduit, and with a second coalescing means connecting a lower surface of the uppermost of the trays to the raised lip of the lower second tray; g. a vapor phase outlet means located in the upper section of the vessel and in communication with the cylindrical vapor conduit; and, h. a liquid phase outlet means located in the lower section of the vessel below all of the trays and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
376 words
A vapor-liquid separation apparatus useful in separating a mixed-phase hydrocarbon conversion process stream which comprises: a. a spherical vessel having an upper section, a middle section, a lower section and a spherical internal volume delineated by the inner surface of said spherical vessel; b. a mixed-phase hydrocarbon stream inlet means, the inlet means being located in the middle section of the vessel and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel; c. at least two substantially horizontal and vertically spaced apart open centered ring-shaped liquid holding trays, the trays being located below said mixed-phase inlet means and having a circular outer edge which adjoins the inner surface of the vessel over the entire circumference of the tray, the trays also having a raised lip surrounding the centrally located circular opening in the trays and delineating a ring-shaped liquid holding area upon the trays; d. liquid downcomer means in each of said trays with the downcomer means of said uppermost tray comprising a weir on an upper surface of said uppermost tray and a vertical conduit extending downward from a perforation in the surface of the uppermost tray located within the weir to a point above a lower second tray, the downcomer means of said uppermost tray being located on the opposite side of the circular opening in the uppermost tray from the mixed-phase inlet means; e. a centrally located cylindrical vapor conduit comprising an imperforate cylindrical wall attached to the inner surface of the vessel in the upper section of the vessel and extending downward to a point above the raised lip of the uppermost of the trays; f. a plurality of cylindrical coalescing means, with a first coalescing means connecting the raised lip on the uppermost of the trays with the imperforate wall of the vapor conduit, and with a second coalescing means connecting a lower surface of the uppermost of the trays to the raised lip of the lower second tray; g. a vapor phase outlet means located in the upper section of the vessel and in communication with the cylindrical vapor conduit; and, h. a liquid phase outlet means located in the lower section of the vessel below all of the trays and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A separating apparatus according to claim 1 including demisting means located in cylindrical vapor conduit at a point above the top of the uppermost coalescing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A separating apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said dimisting means and said coalescing means are made of a woven wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
383 words
A vapor-liquid separation apparatus useful in separating a mixed-phase hydrocarbon conversion process stream which comprises: a. a vertically orientated cylindrical vessel having an upper section, a middle section, a lower section and a cylindrical internal volume delineated in part by the inner surface of said cylindrical vessel b. a mixed-phase hydrocarbon stream inlet means, the inlet means being located in the middle section of the vessel and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel; c. at least two substantially horizontal and vertically spaced apart open centered ring-shaped liquid holding trays, the trays being located below said mixed-phase inlet means and having a circular outer edge which adjoins the cylindrical inner surface of the vessel over the entire circumference of the tray, the trays also having a raised lip surrounding a centrally located circular opening in the trays and delineating the ring-shaped liquid holding area upon the trays; d. liquid downcomer means in each of said trays with the downcomer means of said uppermost tray comprising a weir on an upper surface of said uppermost tray and a vertical conduit extending downward from a perforation in tHe surface of the uppermost tray located within the weir to a point above a lower second tray, the downcomer means of the uppermost tray being located on the opposite side of the circular opening in the uppermost tray from the mixed-phase inlet means; e. a centrally located cylindrical vapor conduit comprising an imperforate cylindrical wall attached to a substantially horizontal inner surface of the vessel in the upper section of the vessel and extending downward to a point above the raised lip of the uppermost of the trays; f. a plurality of cylindrical coalescing means, with a first coalescing means connecting the raised lip on the uppermost of the trays with the imperforate wall of the vapor conduit, and with a second coalescing means connecting a lower surface of the uppermost of the trays to the raised lip of the lower second tray; g. a vapor phase outlet means located in the upper section of the vessel and in communication with the cylindrical vapor conduit; and, h. a liquid phase outlet means located in the lower section of the vessel below all of the trays and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
383 words
A vapor-liquid separation apparatus useful in separating a mixed-phase hydrocarbon conversion process stream which comprises: a. a vertically orientated cylindrical vessel having an upper section, a middle section, a lower section and a cylindrical internal volume delineated in part by the inner surface of said cylindrical vessel b. a mixed-phase hydrocarbon stream inlet means, the inlet means being located in the middle section of the vessel and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel; c. at least two substantially horizontal and vertically spaced apart open centered ring-shaped liquid holding trays, the trays being located below said mixed-phase inlet means and having a circular outer edge which adjoins the cylindrical inner surface of the vessel over the entire circumference of the tray, the trays also having a raised lip surrounding a centrally located circular opening in the trays and delineating the ring-shaped liquid holding area upon the trays; d. liquid downcomer means in each of said trays with the downcomer means of said uppermost tray comprising a weir on an upper surface of said uppermost tray and a vertical conduit extending downward from a perforation in tHe surface of the uppermost tray located within the weir to a point above a lower second tray, the downcomer means of the uppermost tray being located on the opposite side of the circular opening in the uppermost tray from the mixed-phase inlet means; e. a centrally located cylindrical vapor conduit comprising an imperforate cylindrical wall attached to a substantially horizontal inner surface of the vessel in the upper section of the vessel and extending downward to a point above the raised lip of the uppermost of the trays; f. a plurality of cylindrical coalescing means, with a first coalescing means connecting the raised lip on the uppermost of the trays with the imperforate wall of the vapor conduit, and with a second coalescing means connecting a lower surface of the uppermost of the trays to the raised lip of the lower second tray; g. a vapor phase outlet means located in the upper section of the vessel and in communication with the cylindrical vapor conduit; and, h. a liquid phase outlet means located in the lower section of the vessel below all of the trays and in communication with the internal volume of the vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A separating apparatus according to claim 4 including demisting means located in said cylindrical vapor conduit at a point above the top of the upper most coalescing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A separating apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said demisting means and said coalescing means are made of woven wire.
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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) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |