(272d) High Capacity Co-Current Flow Distillation Internals

The SimulFlow? device is a next generation mass transfer device capable of achieving a significant capacity increase while maintaining or improving product purities.

Testing in the UOP 8-foot diameter air-water column has indicated that the SimulFlow device hydraulic capacity is ~235% (constant liquid/vapor ratio) that of a conventional valve tray, at a pressure drop which is significantly lower. Further testing in an F.R.I. 4-foot diameter distillation column with iC4/nC4 at 100 psia (6.9 bar) demonstrated a potential capacity which exceeds the calculated F.R.I. system limit at a low, 16-inch (406-mm) stage spacing. The operating flexibility of the device was established at F.R.I. by consistently achieving a stage efficiency of ~70% across an operating range of more than 2 to 1.

At these test conditions, the SimulFlow device at a 16-inch (406-mm) stage spacing has the same height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) as a tray at a typical 24-inch (640-mm) tray spacing with an efficiency of 105%. Therefore a column containing SimulFlow devices can generate the same number or more theoretical plates in a given height with up to 235% of the flow capacity.

This capacity increase is achieved by co-current liquid and vapor flow against gravity within a contacting channel, followed by efficient vapor/liquid phase separators. Each stage is comprised of individual linear modules of varying horizontal length to accommodate a circular column area. Successive stages are rotated by 90 degrees in order to ensure uniform fluid distribution throughout the column. These features form a unit cell structure, allowing predictable results at various column diameters with high confidence.