US4311564A — Distillation process and apparatus for a barge-mo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 186 words

A distillation process which comprises: providing a distillation tower having at least one distillation tray divided into a plurality of adjacent individual cup-like cavities, each cavity being adapted in use to receive a quantity of liquid and being defined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion provided with one or more apertures therein for upward passage of vapour therethrough and by peripheral wall means provided with at least one opening therethrough located at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom portion thereby providing each said cavity with respective weir means at the periphery of said cavity and each cavity further being associated with respective downpipe means arranged to receive excess liquid overflowing the corresponding weir means from the cavity and to feed same to the tray below: allowing liquid to flow into each cavity from the tray above so as to maintain a body of liquid therein; passing vapour up the column through the aperture or apertures in the apertured bottom of each cavity into the body of liquid therein; and allowing excess liquid to overflow from each cavity to a tray below.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 186 words

A distillation process which comprises: providing a distillation tower having at least one distillation tray divided into a plurality of adjacent individual cup-like cavities, each cavity being adapted in use to receive a quantity of liquid and being defined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion provided with one or more apertures therein for upward passage of vapour therethrough and by peripheral wall means provided with at least one opening therethrough located at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom portion thereby providing each said cavity with respective weir means at the periphery of said cavity and each cavity further being associated with respective downpipe means arranged to receive excess liquid overflowing the corresponding weir means from the cavity and to feed same to the tray below: allowing liquid to flow into each cavity from the tray above so as to maintain a body of liquid therein; passing vapour up the column through the aperture or apertures in the apertured bottom of each cavity into the body of liquid therein; and allowing excess liquid to overflow from each cavity to a tray below.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 160 words

A distillation column having two or more distillation trays at least one of which is provided with a plurality of cup-like cavities, each cavity being adapted in use to receive a quantity of liquid and being defined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion provided with one or more apertures therein for upward passage of vapour therethrough and by peripheral wall means provided with at least one opening therethrough located at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom portion thereby providing each said cavity with respective weir means at the periphery of said cavity, and each cavity further being associated with respective downpipe means arranged to receive excess liquid overflowing the corresponding weir means from the cavity and to feed same to the tray below, whereby in use a body of liquid can be maintained in each cavity for contact with the upflowing vapour and for providing a liquid seal between stages despite tilting of the tray.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 160 words

A distillation column having two or more distillation trays at least one of which is provided with a plurality of cup-like cavities, each cavity being adapted in use to receive a quantity of liquid and being defined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion provided with one or more apertures therein for upward passage of vapour therethrough and by peripheral wall means provided with at least one opening therethrough located at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom portion thereby providing each said cavity with respective weir means at the periphery of said cavity, and each cavity further being associated with respective downpipe means arranged to receive excess liquid overflowing the corresponding weir means from the cavity and to feed same to the tray below, whereby in use a body of liquid can be maintained in each cavity for contact with the upflowing vapour and for providing a liquid seal between stages despite tilting of the tray.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 118 words

A distillation column having two or more distillation trays at least one of which comprises a lattice structure formed with an array of adjacent open-topped cells, each snugly receiving an insert comprising an apertured bottom having at least one aperture therethrough for upward passage of vapour, upstanding peripheral walls defining together with the bottom plate a cup-like cavity, at least one of the walls being provided with at least one opening therethrough at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom plate thereby providing weir means for overflow of excess liquid from the cavity, and down pipe means mounted below the bottom plate for transferring liquid that has overflowed the weir means to the tray below.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 118 words

A distillation column having two or more distillation trays at least one of which comprises a lattice structure formed with an array of adjacent open-topped cells, each snugly receiving an insert comprising an apertured bottom having at least one aperture therethrough for upward passage of vapour, upstanding peripheral walls defining together with the bottom plate a cup-like cavity, at least one of the walls being provided with at least one opening therethrough at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom plate thereby providing weir means for overflow of excess liquid from the cavity, and down pipe means mounted below the bottom plate for transferring liquid that has overflowed the weir means to the tray below.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 148 words

A distribution tray provided with a plurality of cup-like cavities, each cavity being adapted in use to receive a quantity of liquid and being defined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion provided with one or more apertures therein for upward passage of vapour therethrough and by peripheral wall means provided with at least one opening therethrough located at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom portion thereby providing each said cavity with respective weir means at the periphery of said cavity, and each cavity further being associated with respective downpipe means arranged to receive excess liquid overflowing the corresponding weir means from the cavity and the feed same to the tray below, whereby in use a body of liquid can be maintained in each cavity for contact with the upflowing vapour and for providing a liquid seal between stages despite tilting of the tray.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 148 words

A distribution tray provided with a plurality of cup-like cavities, each cavity being adapted in use to receive a quantity of liquid and being defined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion provided with one or more apertures therein for upward passage of vapour therethrough and by peripheral wall means provided with at least one opening therethrough located at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom portion thereby providing each said cavity with respective weir means at the periphery of said cavity, and each cavity further being associated with respective downpipe means arranged to receive excess liquid overflowing the corresponding weir means from the cavity and the feed same to the tray below, whereby in use a body of liquid can be maintained in each cavity for contact with the upflowing vapour and for providing a liquid seal between stages despite tilting of the tray.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 98 words

An insert for a distillation tray for a multi-tray distillation column comprising an apertured bottom plate having at least one aperture therethrough for upward passage of vapour, upstanding peripheral walls defining together with the bottom plate a cup-like cavity, at least one of the walls being provided with at least one opening therethrough at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom plate thereby providing weir means for overflow of excess liquid from the cavity, and downpipe means mounted below the bottom plate for transferring liquid that has overflowed the weir means to the tray below.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 98 words

An insert for a distillation tray for a multi-tray distillation column comprising an apertured bottom plate having at least one aperture therethrough for upward passage of vapour, upstanding peripheral walls defining together with the bottom plate a cup-like cavity, at least one of the walls being provided with at least one opening therethrough at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom plate thereby providing weir means for overflow of excess liquid from the cavity, and downpipe means mounted below the bottom plate for transferring liquid that has overflowed the weir means to the tray below.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

An insert according to claim 5, in which the insert is provided with a dependent skirt portion below the bottom plate and has the downpipe means mounted thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

An insert according to claim 6, in which the skirt portion flares outwardly.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

An insert according to claim 6, in which the downpipe means comprises a main vertical downpipe connected at or adjacent its upper end to one or more branch pipes mounted to the skirt portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

An insert according to claim 5, in which the bottom plate is perforated and has a plurality of apertures therethrough.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

An insert according to claim 5, in which the bottom plate is provided with one or more nipples and bubble-caps.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

An insert according to claim 5, in which the bottom plate is provided one or more non-return valves.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 106 words

A distillation tray comprising a lattice structure formed with an array of adjacent open-topped cells, snugly receiving an insert comprising an apertured bottom plate having at least one aperture therethrough for upward passage of vapour, upstanding peripheral walls defining together with the bottom plate a cup-like cavity, at least one of the walls being provided with at least one opening therethrough at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom plate thereby providing weir means for overflow of excess liquid from the cavity, and downpipe means mounted below the bottom plate for transferring liquid that has overflowed the weir means to the tray below.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 106 words

A distillation tray comprising a lattice structure formed with an array of adjacent open-topped cells, snugly receiving an insert comprising an apertured bottom plate having at least one aperture therethrough for upward passage of vapour, upstanding peripheral walls defining together with the bottom plate a cup-like cavity, at least one of the walls being provided with at least one opening therethrough at a pre-selected distance above the upper surface of the bottom plate thereby providing weir means for overflow of excess liquid from the cavity, and downpipe means mounted below the bottom plate for transferring liquid that has overflowed the weir means to the tray below.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

A distillation tray according to claim 12, in which each insert is provided with a dependent skirt portion below the bottom plate and has the downpipe means mounted thereto.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

A distillation tray according to claim 13, in which the skirt portion flares outwardly.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

A distillation tray according to claim 13, in which the downpipe means comprises a main vertical downpipe connected at or adjacent its upper end to one or more branch pipes mounted to the skirt portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

A distillation tray according to claim 12, in which the bottom plate of each insert is perforated and has a plurality of apertures therethrough.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

A distillation tray according to claim 12, in which the bottom plate of each insert is provided with one or more nipples and bubble-caps.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

A distillation tray according to claim 12, in which the bottom plate of each insert is provided with one or more non-return valves.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

A distillation tray according to claim 12, in which the cells of the lattice structure each have inwardly turned lip means at their lower ends for support of a corresponding insert.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-01-18	1985-07-20	1986-01-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-01-18	1989-07-20	1990-01-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-01-18	1993-07-20	1994-01-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Distillation process and apparatus for a barge-mounted plant

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