초록

A mass and/or heat transfer column is provided with a multiphase vapor distributor with distributes a vapor stream about the inner periphery of the column.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A multiphase vapor distributor for separation of a mixed vapor phase, said multiphase vapor distributor located within a column comprising a sump and an inlet feed passage, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is generally annular in construction and has a generally vertical cente

We claim: 1. A multiphase vapor distributor for separation of a mixed vapor phase, said multiphase vapor distributor located within a column comprising a sump and an inlet feed passage, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is generally annular in construction and has a generally vertical center axis, said multiphase vapor distributor comprising at least a top section, a bottom section and an internal wall connecting said top section and said bottom section; wherein said bottom section comprises at least one opening to said sump, said internal wall comprises at least one opening into an interior space of the annular distributor and said top section comprises at least one opening into an upper region of said column; wherein at least one chamber is formed between an exterior wall of said column, said internal wall, said top section and said bottom section of said multiphase vapor distributor, and wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is adapted to accommodate passage of said multiphase vapor from said inlet feed into said chamber. 2. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said internal wall further comprises at least one baffle, which extends perpendicular from said internal wall of said multiphase vapor distributor to said exterior wall of said column. 3. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein the distance between said internal wall of said multiphase vapor distributor and said exterior wall of said column varies. 4. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said internal wall comprises at least one opening for passage of liquid and solid material out of said distributor and at least one opening for passage of vapor out of said distributor. 5. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said opening in said bottom section is conical. 6. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises at least two chambers. 7. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 6, wherein each of said chambers is adapted for receiving a separate inlet feed. 8. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 4, wherein said opening in said internal wall for vapor movement further comprise fixed or movable shutters. 9. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said opening in said top section further comprises vapor chimneys with high hats. 10. A multiphase vapor distributor for a mass transfer and/or a heat exchange column comprising: a column comprising an open internal shell and having a generally vertical center axis; at least one vapor inlet nozzle extending through said column shell for directing a multiphase vapor stream in a generally circumferential direction into a generally annularly-shaped multiphase vapor distributor within said column; said multiphase vapor distributor comprising an annular upright interior deflecting surface spaced radially inwardly from said vapor inlet nozzle and a ceiling and a floor extending between said internal deflecting wall and said column shell to substantially close the top and bottom of the distributor; wherein said ceiling comprises at least one opening; said floor comprises at least one opening and said interior wall comprises at least one opening. 11. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein said deflecting surface is shaped and positioned in relation to said vapor inlet nozzle to direct a vapor stream circumferentially around an outer periphery of the column interior. 12. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 11, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises baffles, which project perpendicular from said deflecting wall. 13. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said deflector plates are positioned within said vapor distributor in spaced relationship from the vapor inlet nozzle. 14. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said interior wall openings comprise windows positioned throughout the internal deflecting wall. 15. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said ceiling openings comprise chimneys positioned throughout said ceiling. 16. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said floor openings comprise conical outlet nozzles located in said floor. 17. A method of separating and distributing a multiphase vapor stream comprising vapors, liquids and solids, said method comprising feeding said multiphase vapor stream into a column comprising an open internal shell and having a generally vertical center axis; wherein at least one vapor inlet nozzle extends through said column shell directing a multiphase vapor stream in a generally circumferential direction into a generally annularly-shaped multiphase vapor distributor within said column; wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises a generally annular upright interior deflecting surface spaced radially inwardly from said vapor inlet nozzle and a ceiling and a floor extending between said internal deflecting wall and said column shell substantially closing said top and said bottom of said distributor; wherein said ceiling comprises at least one opening for removing and distributing a portion of said vapor to a portion of said column above said distributor; said floor comprises at least one opening for removing a portion of said solids and a portion of said liquids to a portion of said column below said distributor and said interior wall comprises at least one opening for removing a portion of said vapor and a portion of said liquid into a portion of the column located within the annular section of the distributor. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said deflecting surface is shaped and positioned in relation to said vapor inlet nozzle directing said vapor stream circumferentially about an outer periphery of the column interior. 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said deflector plate is positioned within said vapor distributor in spaced relationship from said vapor inlet nozzle; wherein said deflector plate directs said multiphase vapor stream along an outer periphery of said column shell until said multiphase vapor stream reaches a rear baffle; upon reaching said rear baffle said vapor stream ceases forward movement, causing said multiphase vapor stream to back mix and exit said distributor. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said openings in said internal deflecting wall, comprise windows adapted for allowing a portion of said vapor to exit said distributor through the top portion of said window and a portion of said liquid to exit said distributor through a bottom portion of said window. 21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising chimneys positioned in said ceiling, said chimneys designed to allow a portion of said vapor to exit said distributor. 22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising conical outlet nozzles located in said floor of said vapor distributor designed to allow a portion of said liquids and a portion of said solids to exit said distributor. 23. A process for separating a multi phase stream into solids, liquids and vapors, said process compromising: a) feeding a multi phase vapor stream into a separation column comprising a vapor phase distributor; b) radially moving said multi phase vapor stream around a chamber of said vapor phase distributor until said multiphase vapor stream contacts a end portion of said vapor phase distributor chamber; c) back mixing of said multi phase vapor phase upon contact with said end portion of said vapor phase distributor chamber; d) removing said vapor phase from said distributor through at least one chimney opening in a ceiling of said multi phase distributor and/or a top portion of at least one window in said side wall of said vapor phase distributor; e) removing said liquid phase from a bottom portion of at least one window in said side wall of said distributor and through at least one opening in a floor of said distributor; and f) removing said solid phase through openings in the floor of said multi phase distributor. 24. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 3, wherein said interior deflector wall is chamfered to reduce turbulence. 25. The method according to claim 17, wherein said interior deflector wall is chamfered to reduce turbulence. 26. A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 3, wherein said chamber is not blocked or divided. 27. A method according to claim 17, wherein said chamber is not blocked or divided. 28. The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein said interior deflector wall is chamfered to reduce turbulence. 29. A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein said chamber is not blocked or divided. 30. A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said openings further comprises a filtration and/or separation element. 31. A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein one or more of said openings further comprises a filtration and/or separation element. 32. A method according to claim 17, wherein one or more of said openings further comprises a filtration and/or separation element.