Efficiency of distillation column trays improved - by causing agitation by injecting inert gas into liquid on tray

摘要

In direct contact counter-current mass transfer processes, e.g. distillation, involving =1 gaseous fraction, low in concentration of the most volatile component, and =1 liq. fraction, high in concentration of the volatile component, the efficiency of the process is improved by injecting an inert gas, e.g. nitrogen, into the liq. phase on each tray. The quantity of gas injected is between 1 and 2%, pref. 1.5% of the gaseous phase flow from that tray, the inert gas being at approx. the temp. of the liq. on the tray. At the top of the column the gaseous fraction is condensed, some of the condensate being recycled to the column, the inert agitation gas being separated in the condenser from the gaseous fraction. The process is used in mass transfer operations, e.g. distillation processes for methanolwater, benzene-toluene and ortho-meta-para xylenes. Improves the separation efficiency between liq. and gaseous fractions on each tray.