Liquid-continuous column distillation

Abstract

Bubble columns fractionate with vapor-liquid mass transfer efficiencies approaching that of distillation towers when vapor velocities in excess of 50% of jet flood are used. If the vapor velocities are pushed above about 70% of jet flood then the distillation performance of a given column packing becomes similar for both liquid continuous operation (bubble column mode) and vapor continuous operation (ordinary distillation tower mode).

1 . An improvement in the distillation of liquid mixtures comprising contacting a fractionatable liquid mixture in a distillation zone, said fractionation zone containing a solid component under conditions of temperature and pressure to fractionate said liquid mixture to produce liquid and vapor wherein the improvement comprises maintaining said distillation zone as liquid continuous and maintaining said vapor at a rate of greater than 50% of jet flood to less than 100% of jet flood.  
   
   
       2 . The distillation according to  claim 1  wherein said vapor rate is at least 70% of jet flood.  
   
   
       3 . The distillation according to  claim 1  wherein said liquid mixture comprises organic compounds.  
   
   
       4 . The distillation according to  claim 3  wherein said liquid mixture comprises hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       5 . The process of fractionating a liquid mixture comprising placing a liquid mixture in a fractionation zone, said fractionation zone containing a solid component under conditions of temperature and pressure to fractionate said liquid mixture to produce a vapor, maintaining a continuous liquid phase in said fractionation zone said vapor having a rate through said fractionation zone of greater than 70% of jet flood to less than 100% of jet flood.  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein said solid component comprises particulate material.  
   
   
       8 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein said particulate material comprises inert materials.  
   
   
       9 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein said particulate material comprises a catalyst and components of said mixture are reactive alone or with said vapor.  
   
   
       10 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein said catalyst comprises a slurry.  
   
   
       11 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein said catalyst comprises a fluidized bed.  
   
   
       12 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein said catalyst comprises a distillation structure.  
   
   
       13 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein said solid component comprises a plurality of distillation structures.  
   
   
       14 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein said solid component comprises a plurality of trays.  
   
   
       15 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein said catalyst comprises a slurry in combination with a packing.  
   
   
       16 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein said solid component comprises packing structures.  
   
   
       17 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein said solid component comprises heat exchanger bundles.  
   
   
       18 . The process according to  claim 17  wherein a slurry is present.  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The distillation according to  claim 9  wherein said liquid mixture comprises organic compounds.  
   
   
       21 . The distillation according to  claim 20  wherein said liquid mixture comprises hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 - 25 . (canceled)