Distillation: apparatus – Apparatus – Systems
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-28
2004-08-03
Manoharan, Virginia (Department: 1764)
Distillation: apparatus
Apparatus
Systems
C196S111000, C196S115000, C196S137000, C202S270000, C422S243000, C159S027200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06770173
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Our present invention relates to a partition for a column of the type used in physical separations of flowable materials and, or effecting chemical reactions.
The invention also relates to a column equipped with the improved partition of the invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the separation of feed stocks into two or more fractions, in order to limit the cost of the apparatus used, it has been proposed to employ columns with vapor or liquid lateral outlet fittings.
The products discharged from the side are, as a rule, not usually pure, i.e. the products are generally contaminated with other components because of incomplete separation of the components of the feeding stock. To produce side-discharged products in a somewhat more pure form, partitioned columns are used.
It is known, for example, to provide a partition in such a column to thereby subdivide the interior of the column into an inlet region and a discharge region. For example, EP 0 122 367 subdivides the interior of a distillation column into inlet and outlet compartments and provides at side of the compartment outlets for the components to be separated above and/or below the inlet fitting for the feed stock. The partition in this system serves to prevent transverse mixing of liquid and/or vapor streams over a limited height of the column. The apparatus reduces the number of distillation columns required for the separation of multicomponent feed stocks.
The partitions can extend between opposite walls of the column and can have heights which, as a rule, can be greater than the column diameter and can be at least equal to the spacing between individual horizontal bottoms of the column.
The use of continuous partitions has, however, a number of drawbacks and these drawbacks are the more serious the greater the diameter of the column.
The incorporation of a one-piece partition in the column is difficult because of its weight and the need for a close fit of the partition in the column. From a certain size, the dimensions of such partitions ensures that they can only be handled with mechanical assistance which can lead to additional costs. Furthermore, with increasing weight, the partitions can pose a greater danger for the workers who are necessary for installation of the partition. It has been found in practice that the partition can easily become canted during installation in the column and can thereby damage the inner wall of the column or result in poor sealing between the column and the partition. Irregularities in the shape of the column can also limit the sealing effectiveness. Since possible nonsealing regions may then have to be sealed up by additional acts, the costs of the column and the partition can be prohibitive.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a partition for a separating or reaction column of the type described, whereby the aforementioned drawbacks are eliminated or significantly reduced.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved partition for the purposes described which can be installed more readily in the column in an economical manner and without the need for machine assistance.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved partition for the purposes described whereby, on installation and removal, the risk of injury is substantially reduced.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealing structure, in particular for the sealing of a partition with respect to the walls of the column.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These objects and others are attained, in accordance with the invention, with a partition for a separating or reactor column wherein the partition or separator is comprised of two or more wall elements and the wall elements are mutually parallel and preferably coplanar and one of the elements is provided with a connecting device forming a plug or clamp connector along an edge of one of the wall elements so that the other wall element can fit into this connector and more specifically into the slot formed along that edge.
The wall elements of the partition can lie preferably in the same plane and are located one above the other or one alongside the other.
The partition of the invention has the advantage that the partition, rather than being in one piece, can be installed from a multiplicity of loosely assembled wall elements, thereby enabling the partition to be matched individually to the dimensions of the column.
The installation of the partition in the column is simplified and the individual wall elements of the partition, because of their relatively small dimensions, can be comparatively light. The partition can be assembled exclusively by manual effort, i.e. without the need for machines, manipulations or hoists, thereby reducing the cost and the risk of injury to the workers involved in installing the partition.
With this type of assembly in place within the column, it is possible to avoid damage to the partition surfaces as well as to the inner wall surfaces of the column. The light weight of the individual parts of the wall assemblies and the relatively small dimensions of the wall elements by comparison with the inner diameter of the column, enables installation without canting of the wall elements or engagement of the corners thereof with the wall so that there is a better match between the partition and the column wall and hence an improved sealing between the column wall and the partition. Furthermore, the individual partition elements can enable the partition to be accommodated to different widths and heights and thus to permit any optional width or height of the partition to be achieved.
The plug and/or clamping connection enables simple assembly of the individual wall elements since the connection forms a slot into which the second wall element can be inserted, e.g. from above or from the side. Since one of the wall elements is always formed with at least one plug and/or clamping connection, a fixed reliable junction can be provided between the wall elements and, indeed, the configuration of the connection can be such as to enable the wall elements to seal against one another.
According to a feature of the invention the plug and/or clamp connection is mounted adjustably at least on one side of the wall elements of the partition, thereby enabling the partition wall elements to be assembled to any optional width and height. The adjustment of the plug and/or clamp connection can allow small variations in the height or width of the assembled partition to be accomplished. Any conceivable dimensions of the partition can be obtained by appropriate interconnection of the wall elements and any small adjustments required for matching the partition to the interior of the column can be accomplished by utilizing the variability or adjustability of the plug and/or clamp connection.
Advantageously, the plug and/or clamp connection is formed by at least one strip extending parallel to the edge of one of the wall elements but laterally thereof. The strip can form with this edge of the first wall element a gap or slot receiving the edge of the neighboring or second wall element. The strip is affixed to a lateral or broad face of the first wall element.
In another relatively simple construction of the plug and/or clamp connection, the edge of the first wall element is flanked by a pair of strips which extend in the direction of the second wall element and define the slot in which the second wall element is received so that the strips also overlap the second wall element. The lengths of the strips can correspond to the full width of the wall elements or the strips can terminate inwardly of the ends of the edge straddled by these strips.
In still another construction of the connector, a first strip is provided parallel to the edge of the first wall element and a second strip serves as a spacer between this first strip and the surface of the first wall element to which that strip is connected. Because of the presence of the spacer, the strip can form
Jansen Helmut
Leben Jochen
Rietfort Thomas
Zich Egon
Dubno Herbert
Julius Montz GmbH
Manoharan Virginia
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