US3899299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extraction apparatus
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1973-05-21
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1993-05-21
Abstract
Abstract The light phase in a liquid-liquid extraction tower having vertically spaced cross flow trays and seal box means for dividing the intertray spacing into dispersing and settling zones is flowed to a tray dispersing zone. The tray dispersing zone has a seal box including an aperture means and means for automatically varying the effective cross sectional area of the aperture means presented to the light phase substantially in accordance with variations in the level of the light phase beneath the tray. Relatively large variation in average light phase flow rate can then be accommodated as necessary for different feed rates or raffinate yields while maintaining the flow rate of the light phase substantially constant with time for any given operation (i.e., avoidance of undesirable cycling).
Inventors
- 👤 James D Bushnell
- 👤 Robert J Fiocco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:50
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/04; B01D11/0426; B01D11/043; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
IN A VERTICAL SEPARATING TOWER WHEREIN FIRST AND SECOND PARTIALLY IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS OF RELATIVELY HIGH AND LOW DENSITY RESPECTIVELY ARE CHARGED TO THE TOWER AND CONTACTED THEREBY SEPARATING SAID LIQUIDS INTO A RELATIVELY LIGHT RAFFINATE PHASE AND A RELATIVELY HEAVIER EXTRACT PHASE, SAID TOWER HAVING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED TRAYS, A SPACE BETWEEN SAID TRAYS WHEREIN SAID RAFFINATE PHASE SETTLES INTO A LAYER WHICH FLOWS BENEATH A LOWER SURFACE OF SAID TRAYS AND SAID EXTRACT PHASE SETTLES INTO A LAYER WHICH FLOWS ABOVE AN UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TRAYS AND DOWNCOMER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH TRAY FOR PROVIDING A FLOW PATH FOR SAID FIRST LIQUID OR SAID EXTRACT PHASE FROM A LOCATION ABOVE A TRAY TO A LOCATION BENEATH SAID TRAY AND RISER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH TRAY FOR PROVIDING A FLOW PATH FOR SAID SECOND LIQUID OR RAFFINAT PHASE FROM A LOATION BENEATH A TRAY TO A LOCATION ABOVE SAID TRAY, SAID RISER MEANS BEING HORIZONTALLY SPACED APART FROM SAID DOWNCOMER MEANS AND SAID RISER MEANS FURTHER COMPRISING A SEAL BOX MEANS ADAPTED FOR LATERALLY SEPARATING THE SPACE ABOVE A TRAY INTO A
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
IN A VERTICAL SEPARATING TOWER WHEREIN FIRST AND SECOND PARTIALLY IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS OF RELATIVELY HIGH AND LOW DENSITY RESPECTIVELY ARE CHARGED TO THE TOWER AND CONTACTED THEREBY SEPARATING SAID LIQUIDS INTO A RELATIVELY LIGHT RAFFINATE PHASE AND A RELATIVELY HEAVIER EXTRACT PHASE, SAID TOWER HAVING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED TRAYS, A SPACE BETWEEN SAID TRAYS WHEREIN SAID RAFFINATE PHASE SETTLES INTO A LAYER WHICH FLOWS BENEATH A LOWER SURFACE OF SAID TRAYS AND SAID EXTRACT PHASE SETTLES INTO A LAYER WHICH FLOWS ABOVE AN UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TRAYS AND DOWNCOMER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH TRAY FOR PROVIDING A FLOW PATH FOR SAID FIRST LIQUID OR SAID EXTRACT PHASE FROM A LOCATION ABOVE A TRAY TO A LOCATION BENEATH SAID TRAY AND RISER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH TRAY FOR PROVIDING A FLOW PATH FOR SAID SECOND LIQUID OR RAFFINAT PHASE FROM A LOATION BENEATH A TRAY TO A LOCATION ABOVE SAID TRAY, SAID RISER MEANS BEING HORIZONTALLY SPACED APART FROM SAID DOWNCOMER MEANS AND SAID RISER MEANS FURTHER COMPRISING A SEAL BOX MEANS ADAPTED FOR LATERALLY SEPARATING THE SPACE ABOVE A TRAY INTO A
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the improvement further comprising: a. a substantially horizontal downcomer baffle positioned opposite the outlet of said downcomer means for inhibiting agitation of said raffinate phase in said in said seal box means; and b. a substantially vertical baffle positioned between said riser means and said downcomer means and extending upwards from said downcomer baffle to a point near the lower portion of said downcomer means for preventing said light liquid or raffinate phase from going up said downcomer means and for providing a substantially positive seal between said downcomer means and raffinate phase lying beneath the surface of a next upper adjacent tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The separating tower of claim 2 wherein said tower includes a lower plate thereof, and coalescence promoting means positioned below a bottom surface of said lower tray, said coalescence means comprising a vertical array of horizontally extending screens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
In the apparatus of claim 1, the improvement wherein said seal box means includes means for automatically varying the effective cross-sectional area of said aperture means which is presented to the raffinate phase substantially in accordance with variations occurring in the level of said raffinate layer beneath said tray thereby maintaining a substantially constant flow rate of said raffinate phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
In the apparatus of claim 4, the improvement wherein said means for automatically varying the effective cross-sectional area of said aperture means comprises a surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein and an area of generally vertically extending weirs depending from said surface and having depths which increase progressively in the direction of flow of said raffinate phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
In the apparatus of claim 5, the improvement wherein said apertured surface includes an array of rows of aperture holes and said depending cascade weirs are positioned for providing a flow path through more or less rows of said aperture holes as the level of the layer of said second light liquid or raffinate phase changes with the feed rate to the tower and/or the raffinate yield.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
In the apparatus of claim 6, the improvement wherein said seal box means includes a seal pan and a seal box weir which define a space which is separated from the liquids beneath the associated tray and a last one of said array of depending weirs is spaced from a surface Of said seal pan for providing a flow path for said second light liquid or raffinate phase upon overloading of said seal box means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
In the apparatus of claim 7, the improvement including a downcomer extending from said downcomer baffle into said seal box means and terminating near a seal pan of said seal box for conveying heavy phase to said seal box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the apparatus of claim 8, the improvement wherein said vertical baffle comprises an upright segment of said downcomer baffle.
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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) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |