Patent ID: 11878260
Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  C | IPC B  C

Claim 15:
16. A method of separating a third phase component from a hydrocarbon fluid in a distillation column, the method comprising:
directing the hydrocarbon fluid into the distillation column at a feedstock inlet;
directing a liquid phase of the hydrocarbon fluid through a stand pipe at a bottom of the distillation column to a heating assembly;
receiving a heated hydrocarbon fluid via a heating assembly return line from the heating assembly;
directing the heated hydrocarbon fluid along an interior wall of the distillation column using a return conduit attached at the heating assembly return line;
distributing a vapor phase of the heated hydrocarbon fluid around the interior wall of the distillation column using a ring baffle, the ring baffle located along the interior wall of the distillation column and above the return conduit, the ring baffle comprising:
a first top weir and a second top weir extending upward from an inner perimeter of the ring baffle, wherein the first top weir and the second top weir direct the liquid phase of the hydrocarbon fluid to a first top aperture and a second top aperture of the ring baffle; and
at least one bottom weir extending downward from the inner perimeter of the ring baffle, wherein the at least one bottom weir directs a vapor phase of the heated hydrocarbon fluid through a bottom vent of the ring baffle;
wherein the first top aperture and the second top aperture are offset from the bottom vent to minimize interaction between the liquid phase and the vapor phase; and

directing the third phase component that settles in the liquid phase of the hydrocarbon fluid at the bottom of the distillation column to a drain line.