Integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot system and process for use thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is an integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot which integrates a condensate collection volume into a thermosiphon reboiler and avoids the need for an external condensate pot or steam trap. Also disclosed are a method for operating the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot, a system including the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot and a method for retrofitting an existing thermosiphon reboiler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot, comprising:
 a. a plurality of tubes having upper ends and lower ends, the tubes configured to contain a process fluid;   b. an upper tubesheet having a plurality of apertures to receive the upper ends of the plurality of tubes;   c. a lower tubesheet having a plurality of apertures to receive the lower ends of the plurality of tubes;   d. a channel head adjacent and attached to the upper tubesheet such that the channel head and the upper tubesheet together define a channel volume in fluid communication with the tubes and having a vapor outlet;   e. a shell defining a shell volume surrounding the plurality of tubes for containing a heating medium and having a heating medium inlet in fluid communication with the shell volume;   f. a floating head cover adjacent and attached to the lower tubesheet such that the floating head cover and the lower tubesheet together define a floating head volume in fluid communication with the tubes;   g. an integrated condensate pot-shell cover attached to the shell wherein the integrated condensate pot-shell cover and lower tubesheet together define a condensate collection volume for collecting heating medium condensate from the shell volume, the integrated condensate pot-shell cover having a condensate outlet in fluid communication with the condensate collection volume and a process fluid inlet in fluid communication with the floating head volume; and   h. a process fluid conduit providing fluid communication between the process fluid inlet and the floating head volume.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated condensate pot-shell cover further comprises fluid detectors in communication with a controller for controlling the condensate level within the condensate collection volume. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot of  claim 1 , wherein the process fluid conduit providing fluid communication between the process fluid inlet and the floating head volume includes an expansion joint or tail pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot is vertically oriented. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot is one of a once-through type reboiler and a recirculating type reboiler. 
     
     
         6 . A method for operating a thermosiphon reboiler comprising:
 a. feeding a process fluid from a distillation column or reactor to the process fluid inlet of the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot of  claim 1 ;   b. operating the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot to heat the process fluid within the plurality of tubes to provide a fluid mixture which results in a desired heat duty delivered to the column or reactor; and   c. delivering the fluid mixture to the distillation column or reactor through the vapor outlet.   
     
     
         7 . A system for supplying heat to a distillation column or reactor, the system comprising:
 a. a distillation column or reactor; and   b. the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot of  claim 1  wherein the process fluid inlet of the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot is in fluid communication with a process fluid stream outlet from the distillation column or reactor and the vapor outlet of the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot is in fluid communication with a process fluid stream inlet to the distillation column or reactor;
 wherein the integrated thermosiphon reboiler-condensate pot is not connected to an external condensate pot or steam trap. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method for retrofitting an existing thermosiphon reboiler having an existing shell cover attached to a shell containing a shell volume and adjacent a lower tubesheet in which the shell cover is connected to an external condensate pot or steam trap, comprising:
 a. disconnecting the external condensate pot or steam trap from the thermosiphon reboiler;   b. disconnecting any lines associated with external condensate pot or steam trap;   c. detaching the existing shell cover from the shell of the thermosiphon reboiler; and   d. attaching an integrated condensate pot-shell cover to the shell adjacent the lower tubesheet such that the integrated condensate pot-shell cover and lower tubesheet together define a condensate collection volume for collecting heating medium condensate from the shell volume wherein the integrated condensate pot-shell cover has a condensate outlet in fluid communication with the condensate collection volume and a process fluid inlet.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the integrated condensate pot-shell cover further comprises fluid detectors in communication with a controller for controlling the condensate level within the condensate collection volume.