De-entrainment tray and method of operation

Claim 2

A de-entrainment device for use at a point adjacent to a flash zone in a separation column, for separating an entrained liquid from a vapor stream, comprising: (a) a de-entrainment tray having a tray deck that has an upper and a lower surface; (b) a plurality of risers, at least a portion of which extend vertically up from the upper surface of the tray deck, each of the risers being defined by riser walls that terminate in a riser wall lip and having a lower riser opening and an upper riser opening, the upper riser opening being defined by the riser wall lip and located vertically above the upper surface of the tray deck; (c) a plurality of liquid downcomers, each downcomer having an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is located above the tray deck and has an upper opening in liquid flow communication with the upper riser opening, and wherein the lower portion extends through and below the lower surface of the tray deck and terminates in a downcomer end located in a flash zone; and (d) means for imparting rotational flow to a fluid stream comprising entrained liquid and a vapor stream that enters the lower opening of the risers such that the fluid stream is directed against the riser walls in an upward rotational direction sufficient to cause the entrained liquid to separate from the vapor stream, wherein both the vapor stream and the separated liquid flow through the upper riser opening and the separated liquid flows out over the riser wall lip and into the liquid downcomer.

Claim 3

The de-entrainment device of claim 1 wherein the rotational flow means is located at a point proximate to the lower opening of the riser.

Claim 4

The de-entrainment device of claim 1 wherein the lower opening of the riser is located at a point vertically below the lower surface of the tray deck.

Claim 5

The de-entrainment device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of the liquid downcomers are constructed such that the upper portion of the liquid downcomer above the tray deck comprises an inner and an outer downcomer wall and wherein the inner downcomer wall is defined by the riser walls.

Claim 6

The de-entrainment device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of riser hats located vertically above the upper riser opening for preventing the flow of a wash liquid originating above the upper riser opening down into the upper riser opening.

Claim 7

The de-entrainment device of claim 5 wherein the upper opening of the liquid downcomers are located vertically beneath the riser hats.

Claim 8

The de-entrainment device of claim 1 wherein the riser walls are at least substantially cylindrical.

Claim 9

A de-entrainment device for use at a point adjacent to a flash zone in a separation column for separating an entrained liquid from a vapor stream, comprising: (a) a de-entrainment tray having a tray deck having an upper and a lower surface separated by a liquid conduit; (b) a plurality of risers, at least a portion of which extend vertically up from the upper surface of the tray deck, the risers being defined by riser walls and having a lower riser opening and an upper riser opening that is located vertically above the upper surface of the tray deck; (c) a plurality of upper liquid downcomers located above the upper surface of the tray deck having an upper opening in liquid flow communication with the upper riser opening, the upper liquid downcomer extending downward around the riser walls to the liquid conduit and being in liquid flow communication with the liquid conduit; (d) a plurality of lower liquid downcomers extending from the liquid conduit to below the lower surface of the tray deck and terminating in a lower liquid downcomer end located within a flash zone, the lower liquid downcomer being in liquid flow communication with the liquid conduit; and (e) means for imparting rotational flow to a fluid stream comprising liquid entrained within a vapor stream that enters the lower opening of the riser such that the fluid stream is directed against the riser walls in an upward rotational direction sufficient to cause the entrained liquid within the fluid stream to separate from the vapor stream and to flow through the upper riser opening and into the liquid downcomer.

Claim 10

A de-entrainment device for use at a point adjacent to a flash zone in a separation column for separating an entrained liquid from a vapor stream, comprising: (a) a de-entrainment tray having a tray deck having an upper and a lower surface separated by a liquid conduit; (b) a plurality of risers, at least a portion of which extend vertically up from the upper surface of the tray deck, the risers being defined by riser walls and having a lower riser opening and an upper riser opening that is located vertically above the upper surface of the tray deck; (c) a plurality of upper liquid downcomers located above the upper surface of the tray deck having an upper opening in liquid flow communication with the upper riser opening, the upper liquid downcomer extending downward around the riser walls to the liquid conduit and being in liquid flow communication with the liquid conduit; (d) a plurality of lower liquid downcomers extending from the liquid conduit to below the lower surface of the tray deck and terminating in a lower liquid downcomer end located within a flash zone, the lower liquid downcomer being in liquid flow communication with the liquid conduit; and (e) means for imparting rotational flow to a fluid stream comprising liquid entrained within a vapor stream that enters the lower opening of the riser such that the fluid stream is directed against the riser walls in an upward rotational direction sufficient to cause the entrained liquid within the fluid stream to separate from the vapor stream and to flow through the upper riser opening and into the liquid downcomer.

Claim 11

The de-entrainment device of claim 8 wherein the rotational flow means is located at a point proximate to the lower opening of the riser.

Claim 12

The de-entrainment device of claim 8 wherein the lower opening of the riser is located at a point vertically below the lower surface of the tray deck.

Claim 13

The de-entrainment device of claim 8 wherein a plurality of the liquid downcomers are constructed such that the upper liquid downcomer above the tray deck comprises an inner and an outer downcomer wall and wherein the inner downcomer wall is defined by the riser walls.

Claim 14

The de-entrainment device of claim 8 wherein the riser walls are at least substantially cylindrical.

Claim 15

The de-entrainment device of claim 8 wherein the ratio of risers to lower liquid downcomers is greater than 1:1.

Claim 16

The de-entrainment device of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of riser hats located vertically above the upper riser opening for preventing the flow of a wash liquid originating above the upper riser opening down into the upper riser opening.

Claim 17

The de-entrainment device of claim 14 wherein the upper opening of the liquid downcomers are located vertically beneath the riser hats.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 wherein the rotational movement is imparted to the fluid stream as the fluid stream enters into the riser.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16 wherein the entrained liquid that is separated within the riser flows upward along the walls of the riser in a rotational fashion.

Claim 22

The method of claim 16 wherein the rotational movement is imparted by a rotational vane located at a point proximate to a lower opening in the riser.