Patent ID: 6193849
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
In a fractionator having a fractionation vessel, including a reactor effluent vapors inlet, a vapor feed contacting zone, a baffled contacting section above said vapor feed contacting zone, a top section above said baffled contacting section, a heavy bottoms liquid hold-up section below said vapor feed contacting zone, a bottoms outlet, and a bottoms recycle system having a heat exchanger in which a recycled, cooled bottoms is fed back to said fractionation vessel to said heavy bottoms liquid hold-up pool section and above said vapor feed contacting zone, the improvement which comprises:a separation tray and downpipe for separating hotter vapors from cooler liquid within said fractionation vessel, said separation tray being located above said bottoms liquid hold-up pool and below said vapor feed contacting zone, said downpipe being connected to said separation tray and extending downwardly from said separation tray and into said bottoms liquid hold-up pool as to establish vapor sealing means for preventing said hotter vapors from directly contacting said cooler liquid.