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DEPARTMENT
COLUMNS
COLUMNS
Distillation
Distillation is defined as a method of separating mixtures based on differences
in their volatilities in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or
a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction.
COLUMNS
Types of columns:
Sieved Tray Column
Packed Column
JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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There are two types of different internals used to achieve separation in side air
separation plant distillation columns:
The terms "trays" and "plates" are used interchangeably. There are many types
of tray designs, but the most common ones are :
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Valve trays
In valve trays, perforations are covered by liftable caps. Vapor flows
lifts the caps, thus self creating a flow area for the passage of vapor.
The lifting cap directs the vapor to flow horizontally into the liquid, thus
providing better mixing than is possible in sieve trays.
JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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Sieve trays
Sieve trays are simply metal plates with holes in them. Vapour passes
straight upward through the liquid on the plate. The arrangement,
number and size of the holes are design parameters.
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Packing
There has been a move towards the use of structured packing in cryogenic
distillation columns.
The big advantage of packed columns is their low pressure drop and
consequently a low plant power compared to conventional trayed columns.
Because the advantage of low pressure drop is more critical at lower pressures
it is usually the LP and argon columns that are packed with the HP column
staying as a trayed column.
JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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Liquid Distributors:
Liquid distributors are used to give a uniform spread of liquid over the top
surface of the packed bed whilst permitting the passage of vapor through the
distributor.
The quality of liquid distribution is of vital importance and any design and
installation should ensure equal distribution over the whole surface of the
packing.
A distributor is required at every feed and product off take point and in argon
columns between sections of packing.
- chimney type
- channel type
Above each distributor there is a collect header to ensure the liquid is correctly
feed to the distributor
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Downflow Reboiler:-
In a downflow reboiler both the HP nitrogen stream and the LP liqujd oxygen
stream run co-currently down the reboiler rather than counter current as in a
standard thermosyphon reboiler.
JQP TRAINING MATERIAL FOR MECHANICAL SECTION MAINTENANCE
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DownFlowCondenser LOX
- no condenser vessel
PGAN Top of
Pressure column
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In a downflow reboiler both the HP nitrogen stream and the LP liquid oxygen
stream run co-currently down the reboiler rather than counter current as in a
standard thermosyphon reboiler.
This leads to a closer differential temperature and a smaller reboiler than an
equivalent themosyphon.
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enters the reboiler from the top, almost at its saturation temperature. This
means that the need for de-sub-cooling is small and boiling can start
immediately.