Patent Publication Number: US-2019168132-A1

Title: Modular Extraction Column

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of PCT/KR2016/013022, filed Nov. 11, 2016, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0099947, filed Aug. 5, 2016, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a modular extraction column. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An extraction column is used in a variety of chemical plants, as major equipment in an extraction process. The extraction column performs extraction by allowing a heavy phase of higher density to be input into a top head thereof to flow downwards while allowing a light phase of lower density to be input into a bottom head thereof, such that the two phases continuously come into countercurrent contact. Such extraction columns are fabricated in a variety of diameters and heights according to the properties of fluid in processes. Inner structures having a variety of shapes may be added to increase the contact area between fluids as required. 
     As a prior-art document related to extraction column, Korean Patent No. 10-1522771 (patented on May 26, 2015) disclosed a vertical liquid-liquid separation apparatus based on the principle of a mixer-settler apparatus. The disclosed apparatus has superior acid/base resistance, with parts thereof being able to be easily operated. 
     A typical extraction column as disclosed in the prior-art document has an integrated structure, in which the height of the column is determined using a specific standard, such as height of transfer unit (HTU) and number of transfer unit (NTU). Once the extraction column is constructed, it is difficult to disassemble the extraction column into pieces. It is therefore difficult to change the inner structure of the extraction column, replace a damaged structural part of the extraction column, or remove internal contaminants when considering process operations of the extraction column. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Korean Patent No. 10-1522771 (May 26, 2015) 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose a modular extraction column that can be easily fabricated and constructed, and after construction, allows for easy maintenance, such as replacement of a damaged structural part and removal of contaminants. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a modular extraction column may include: end blocks respectively having a flange on one side; a body block including a plurality of column modules stacked on each other, the plurality of column modules being coupled to the flanges of the end blocks in a surface contact manner, each of the plurality of column modules including a first module flange and a second module flange provided on opposite ends and an accommodating portion provided in an inner portion to have a predetermined area, wherein the plurality of column modules are coupled to each other such that the first module flange of one column module among the plurality of column modules faces the second module flange of an adjacent column module among the plurality of column modules; and an inner structure received in the accommodating portions of the plurality of column modules to distribute a fluid. The end blocks and the body block communicate with each other, the accommodating portion of each of the plurality of column modules having a quadrangular cross-section in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof. 
     According to the present invention, the modular extraction column facilitates the assembly and construction thereof, since the modular extraction column includes the end blocks and the body block consisting of the column modules. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, after the construction of the modular extraction column, it is possible to easily change the inner structure or the volume of the extraction column by changing the number of the column modules of the body block, which is advantageous. 
     Furthermore, according to the present invention, the inner structure is provided the shape of a cartridge for each column module and the cover is provided in the open area of the column module. It is therefore easy attach or detach the inner structure to or from the column module, thereby advantageously facilitating maintenance, such as replacement of a damaged portion of the inner structure or removal of contaminants. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, the cross-section of the modular extraction column in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is quadrangular (more particularly, rectangular) instead of being curved, thereby advantageously facilitating fabrication. 
     The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects but the other effects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the specification and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembly view schematically illustrating a modular extraction column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a column module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front elevation view illustrating the column module shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 3B and 3C  are cross-sectional views taken along lines A-A′ and B-B′ in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are front elevation views illustrating the column module and the cover according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5A to 5E  are perspective assembled views schematically illustrating examples of the inner structure according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Descriptions of specific structures and functions disclosed in the following embodiments of the present invention are only provided to render exemplary embodiments according to the concept of the present invention. The embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in a variety of forms. In addition, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and substitution, that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Herein, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the components having substantially the same functions. 
       FIG. 1  is an assembly view schematically illustrating a modular extraction column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a column module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3A  is a front elevation view illustrating the column module shown in  FIG. 2 , and  FIGS. 3B and 3C  are cross-sectional views taken along lines A-A′ and B-B′ in  FIG. 3A . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3C , the modular extraction column includes end blocks  10 , a body block  20 , and inner structures. 
     The end blocks  10  are disposed on both ends of the modular extraction column  1 . Each of the end blocks  10  has a flange on one side, and is coupled to the body block  20 . 
     The body block  20  is a multi-stage structure, with both ends thereof being coupled to the flanges  110  of the end blocks  10  in a surface contact manner. The body block  20  includes column modules  210  and covers  220 . The body block  20  is formed by stacking the column modules  210  having a predetermined length on one another, instead of having an integrated structure. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3A to 3C , each column module  210  includes a first module flange  212  and a second module flange  213 . An accommodating portion  211  having a predetermined area is formed within the column module  210 . In addition, the column module  210  has an open area  214  in one side. The open area  214  is able to communicate with the accommodating portion  211  within the column module  210 . 
     The length of the column module  210  may be adjusted considering the ease of manufacturing, fabrication, and maintenance according to the space of construction. 
     The modular extraction column  1  according to the present embodiment as described above advantageously facilitates the assembly and construction thereof, since the modular extraction column  1  includes the end blocks  10  and the body block  20  consisting of the column modules  210 . 
     In addition, after the construction of the modular extraction column, it is possible to easily change the inner structure or the volume of the extraction column by changing the number of the column modules  210  of the body block  20 , which is advantageous. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are front elevation views illustrating the column module  210  and the cover  220  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the column module  210  further includes the cover  220 . The cover  220  has a shape and size covering the open area  214  formed in one side of the column module  210 , and can be detachably coupled to the side of the column module  210  to open and close the open area  214 . 
     The cover  220  is detachably coupled to one side of the column module  210 , such that a coupling portion thereof forms a flange. The cover  220  is coupled to the column module  210  using bolts. The cover  220  may further include a gasket  40  to prevent leakage in the connecting portion between the column module  210  and the cover  220 . 
     Since the column module  210  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has the cover  220 , it is possible to easily attach or detach an inner structure  310  to or from each column module  210  through the open area  214 . This advantageously facilitates maintenance, such as replacement of a damaged portion of the inner structure  310  or removal of contaminants. 
     The first module flange  212  and the second module flange  213  are provided coaxially on the opposite ends of the column module  210  to face away from each other. The first module flange  212  and the second module flange  213  may be arranged to abut against one or both of the flanges  110  of the end blocks  10  or the second module flange  213  and the first module flange  212  of the adjacent other column modules  210  to be coupled thereto in extended areas. In this case, the dimensions, shape, and size of the first module flange  212  are the same as those of the second module flange  213  and, furthermore, the flange  110 , such that the column module  210  can be disposed without being restricted in the orientation thereof. Shortly, the end blocks  10  and the body block  20  can be coupled to each other using the flanges. 
     The end blocks  10  and the body block  20  may communicate with each other in the longitudinal direction while having quadrangular (more particularly, rectangular) cross-sections in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In addition, the accommodating portion  211  of the body block  20  may have a quadrangular (more particularly, rectangular) cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     The end blocks  10  and the body block  20  according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above have quadrangular (more particularly, rectangular) cross-sections in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Since the quadrangular cross-section does not provide a curved surface, fabrication-involved operations, such as cutting or welding, are facilitated. 
     The end blocks  10  and the body block  20  may be stacked on and coupled to each other via gaskets  40 . The gaskets  40  are provided in connecting portions between the flanges  110  of the end block  10  and the first module flange(s)  212  and the second module flange(s)  213  of the body block  20 , thereby preventing leakage in the connecting portions. 
       FIGS. 5A to 5E  are perspective assembled views schematically illustrating examples of the inner structure  310  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A to 5E , the internal structure  310  may have the shape of a cartridge that is introduced through the open area  214  and is seated in the accommodating portion  211  adjacent to the open area  214 . The internal structure  310  is accommodated in the accommodating portion(s)  211  of the body block(s)  20  and functions to distribute fluid, thereby increasing the contact area between fluids. 
     A first embodiment of the inner structure  310  includes a structural body  320  and a support  330 . The inner structure  310  is provided in each column module  210  of the modular extraction column  1 . The inner structure  310  may be fabricated separately from the column module  210  to be coupled to the latter in order to increase the contact area between fluids. 
     In addition, the inner structure  310  may be fabricated with an outer size that does not form a gap between the inner structure  310  and the inner surface of the column module  210 . Due to the quadrangular cross-sections, the modular extraction column according to the embodiment of the present invention can be easily fabricated, constructed, and assembled without leaving a gap between the inner structure  310  and the column module  210 , differently from common extraction column having circular cross-sections. Consequently, the modular extraction column according to the embodiment of the present invention is able to have higher efficiency. 
     The structural body  320  may be formed by stacking a plurality of structural sections having the same shape on one another in the top-bottom direction to distribute a fluid in order to increase the contact area between fluids. The structural body  320  may be fabricated as one of a structure including perforated plates  321 , a structure including sieve trays  322 , or a structure including baffle trays  323 . 
     The support  330  serves to support the structural body  320 . When the structural body  320  is assembled by stacking the plurality of pieces on one another, the support  330  may be implemented as support legs  331  or support plates  332 . The support legs  331  are coupled to the corners of the structural body  320  to support and fix the structural body  320 . The support plates  332  may be provided as two or more support plates  332  to hold and fix the structural body  320 . More specifically, the support plates  332  may be provided as a plurality of plates such that the edges of the plates are abutted against each other to form a rectangular horizontal cross-section. Alternatively, the support plates  332  may be implemented as a pair of right and left plates forming partitions, by which the structural body  320  is held and fixed. 
     The structural body  320  and the support  330  may be fabricated in a size that allows the structural body  320  and the support  330  to be disposed within the accommodating portion  211  of the column module  210 . The structural body  320  and the support  330  may be coupled to each other using one, selected from among welding, rivets, bolts, and spline fitting, according to different process characteristics and fabrication convenience. 
     A second embodiment of the inner structure  310  may include the support  330  and stuffing  340 . In addition, the second embodiment of the inner structure  310  may further include a stuffing holding film  350 . The support  330  may include a plurality of support plates  332 , the edges of which are coupled to each other to form a rectangular horizontal cross-section, such that a hollow inner area is defined within the support plates  332 . The stuffing  340  may be accommodated in the hollow inner area and may be coupled to the support  330 . 
     The stuffing holding film  350  may be a structure disposed on one or both sides of the support  330 . The stuffing holding film  350  may allow fluids to pass therethrough while supporting stuffing  340  such that the stuffing  340  such is not drained by flows of fluid. Although the stuffing holding film  350  may a mesh structure having a predetermined size, this is not intended to be limiting. 
     The first embodiment and the second embodiment of the inner structure  310  may be determined suitably according to process characteristics. 
     The modular extraction column  1  disclosed with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5E  is not limited to the specific length or shape but is only provided for a better understanding of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. 
     Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 [Description of Reference Numerals] 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                  1: modular extraction column 
                   
               
               
                   
                  10: end block 
                 110: flange 
               
               
                   
                  20: body block 
                 210: module 
               
               
                   
                 211: accommodating portion 
               
               
                   
                 212: first module flange 
               
               
                   
                 213: second module flange 
                 214: open area 
               
               
                   
                 220: cover 
               
               
                   
                 310: cartridge 
                 321: perforated plate 
               
               
                   
                 322: sieve tray 
                 323: baffle tray 
               
               
                   
                 331: support leg 
                 332: support plate 
               
               
                   
                 340: stuffing 
                 350: stuffing holding film 
               
               
                   
                  40: gasket