Air cooling device for distillation column

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of distillation columns, and one embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air cooling device for a distillation column, which comprises a cooling pipe, an inner part of the cooling pipe is provided with a smoke passing pipe, a cooling assembly is arranged in the inner part of the cooling pipe, and a cooling mounting assembly is arranged outside the cooling pipe; the cooling assembly comprises a smoke dispersing cover, a flow guide pipe is arranged on a heat exchange pipe, and a filter screen is arranged between the smoke passing pipe and the cooling pipe. Through the above technical scheme, the problems of the conventional air cooling equipment in the prior art, such as the common finned tube air cooler, are solved. The conventional air cooling equipment mainly relies on a fan to force air flow, so that the high-temperature gas exchanges heat with the surface of the finned tube, thereby achieving cooling. However, this kind of equipment exposes a series of problems in actual application. Since the gas generated in the distillation process often contains impurities such as tar and dust, these impurities are extremely easy to adhere to the surface of the fin in the long-term operation process, causing the heat dissipation channel to be blocked, and seriously affecting the cooling efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure relate to the field of distillation column technology, and more specifically, to an air cooling device for a distillation column. Background Technology

[0002] In many industries such as chemical, petrochemical, food processing, and pharmaceutical, distillation towers play an indispensable role as key equipment for separating mixtures. Their working principle is based on the difference in volatility of the components in the mixture. Through partial vaporization and condensation processes, different components are effectively separated. During distillation, the gas discharged from the top of the distillation tower is usually at a high temperature. For example, in crude oil distillation in petrochemicals, the temperature of the gas phase at the top of the tower can reach 150-350℃. In alcohol distillation, the temperature of the alcohol vapor produced is also above 78℃ (the boiling point of alcohol). In order to smoothly convert these high-temperature gases into liquid phase to meet the requirements of subsequent processes and achieve energy recovery, efficient cooling devices have become an important part of the distillation tower system.

[0003] Currently, there are two main technical routes for cooling high-temperature gases in distillation towers: water cooling and air cooling. Water cooling systems use water as a cooling medium, utilizing water's high specific heat capacity to absorb heat and cool the gas. However, these systems have significant drawbacks. On the one hand, they consume a huge amount of water. Statistics show that for every ton of steam processed, a water cooling system requires approximately 5-10 tons of circulating water. In the context of increasingly scarce water resources, this undoubtedly poses a challenge to the production and operation costs and sustainable development of enterprises. On the other hand, water cooling systems have complex equipment components. In addition to cooling water pipelines, they also require cooling towers, water pumps, water treatment equipment, etc. This not only significantly increases the initial investment cost, but also makes subsequent maintenance and upkeep extremely cumbersome. Problems such as pipe corrosion and scaling caused by microbial growth frequently occur, further increasing operating costs. Furthermore, the hot water discharged into the environment during the operation of the water cooling system may cause local water temperature increases, disrupting the ecological balance and causing thermal pollution problems.

[0004] Air cooling technology, as another mainstream option, uses air as the cooling medium and has significant advantages such as water saving and environmental protection. In recent years, its application in the field of distillation tower cooling has gradually increased. Traditional air-cooled equipment, such as the common finned tube air cooler, mainly relies on fans to force airflow, so that high-temperature gas can exchange heat with the surface of the finned tube to achieve cooling. However, this type of equipment has exposed a series of problems in practical applications. Since the gas produced in the distillation process often contains impurities such as tar and dust, these impurities are very easy to adhere to the fin surface during long-term operation, causing blockage of heat dissipation channels and seriously affecting cooling efficiency. Related studies have shown that after 6 months of operation, the cooling efficiency may drop by more than 30%. Moreover, due to the influence of equipment structure and uneven airflow distribution, local dead zones often appear inside the air cooler, resulting in large differences in cooling effect in different parts. The temperature difference after gas cooling can reach 20-30℃, which is difficult to meet the process requirements of high cooling uniformity. In addition, traditional air coolers have limited ability to handle high viscosity and easily coking distillation gas phases, and their application range is relatively narrow. When facing some special distillation processes, they cannot operate stably and efficiently. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the embodiments of this disclosure provide an air cooling device for distillation columns, which solves the problem of traditional air cooling equipment in the prior art, such as common finned tube air coolers, which mainly rely on fans to force air flow so that high-temperature gas can exchange heat with the surface of the finned tube to achieve cooling. However, such equipment has exposed a series of problems in practical applications. Since the gas produced in the distillation process often contains impurities such as tar and dust, these impurities are very easy to adhere to the fin surface during long-term operation, causing blockage of heat dissipation channels and seriously affecting cooling efficiency.

[0006] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air cooling device for a distillation column, comprising:

[0007] Cooling pipe, wherein a smoke-passing pipe is provided inside the cooling pipe;

[0008] The cooling component is disposed inside the cooling pipe;

[0009] A cooling mounting assembly, wherein the cooling mounting assembly is disposed outside the cooling pipe;

[0010] The cooling assembly includes a smoke hood, which is mounted on the smoke pipe. A heat exchange pipe is installed at the angle between the smoke pipe and the smoke hood. A gathering cover is installed on the inner wall of the cooling pipe. The heat exchange pipe is installed between the gathering cover and the cooling pipe. A guide pipe is installed on the heat exchange pipe. A filter screen is installed between the smoke pipe and the cooling pipe.

[0011] As a further technical solution, a cross-flow plate is provided between the flue pipe and the cooling pipe, and a fixed mounting frame is provided on the heat exchange pipe, which is fixedly connected to the smoke hood.

[0012] As a further technical solution, the cooling installation assembly includes a screw bolt, which is disposed on the outer wall of the cooling pipe. The end of the screw bolt is provided with a screw handle. A movable piece is fitted on the screw bolt and is threadedly connected to the screw bolt. A push spring is provided on the movable piece, and a push positioning bracket is provided at the end of the push spring.

[0013] As a further technical solution, the screw bolt and the cooling pipe are movably connected by a bearing.

[0014] As a further technical solution, the upper end of the smoke hood is provided with a small number of smoke exhaust ports, and a smoke hood is provided on the small number of smoke exhaust ports, and the side wall of the smoke hood is provided with smoke exhaust holes.

[0015] As a further technical solution, one end of the guide pipe extends out of the cooling pipe, and the guide pipe guides the liquid to circulate inside the heat exchange pipe through a suction pump.

[0016] As a further technical solution, the outer wall of the push positioning frame is an arc-shaped structure, and the number of push positioning frames is several, with the outer contours of the multiple push positioning frames forming a circular structure.

[0017] As a further technical solution, the gap between the gathering hood and the smoke dispersing hood forms a smoke passage, which is located on the inner wall of the heat exchange tube.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein are as follows:

[0019] 1. In this disclosure, an annular flue gas outlet is formed by a smoke hood and a gathering hood, which causes the flue gas to form a spiral turbulence in the heat exchange tube area, thereby enhancing the heat exchange process. Experimental data show that, compared with traditional air coolers, this design can increase the heat exchange per unit area to more than 800W / (m²・K), and the temperature distribution of the cooled gas is more uniform.

[0020] 2. In this disclosure, the cross-flow plate guides the flue gas to form turbulence, reducing the deposition of impurities. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the cooling pipe disclosed herein;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a side view of the heat exchanger tubes disclosed herein;

[0025] Figure 4 Appendix to this disclosure Figure 2 Enlarged view of part A;

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Cooling pipe; 2. Smoke pipe; 3. Cooling assembly; 3-1. Smoke hood; 3-2. Heat exchange pipe; 3-3. Converging hood; 3-4. Guide pipe; 3-5. Filter screen; 3-6. Cross-flow plate; 3-7. Fixed mounting bracket; 4. Cooling installation assembly; 4-1. Tightening bolt; 4-2. Tightening handle; 4-3. Moving plate; 4-4. Push spring; 4-5. Push positioning bracket; 5. Small number of smoke exhaust ports; 6. Smoke hood; 7. Smoke exhaust hole; 8. Smoke outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0028] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0029] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0031] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0032] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] like Figures 1-4 As shown, it illustrates an air cooling device for a distillation column according to the present disclosure, comprising:

[0034] Cooling pipe 1, with a smoke pipe 2 installed inside;

[0035] The cooling component 3 is installed inside the cooling pipe 1;

[0036] Cooling mounting assembly 4 is disposed outside the cooling pipe 1;

[0037] The cooling component 3 includes a smoke hood 3-1, which is installed on the smoke pipe 2. A heat exchange pipe 3-2 is installed at the angle between the smoke pipe 2 and the smoke hood 3-1. A gathering cover 3-3 is installed on the inner wall of the cooling pipe 1. A heat exchange pipe 3-2 is installed between the gathering cover 3-3 and the cooling pipe 1. A guide pipe 3-4 is installed on the heat exchange pipe 3-2. A filter screen 3-5 is installed between the smoke pipe 2 and the cooling pipe 1.

[0038] The cooling mounting assembly 4 includes a screw bolt 4-1, which is installed on the outer wall of the cooling pipe 1. A screw handle 4-2 is provided at the end of the screw bolt 4-1. A movable piece 4-3 is fitted on the screw bolt 4-1. The movable piece 4-3 is threadedly connected to the screw bolt 4-1. A push spring 4-4 ​​is provided on the movable piece 4-3. A push positioning bracket 4-5 is provided at the end of the push spring 4-4.

[0039] In some examples, cooling pipe 1 is the main structure of the device, made of a high-temperature resistant, thermally conductive metal (such as stainless steel or aluminum alloy), and is cylindrical in shape. The flue gas pipe 2 is installed inside cooling pipe 1, coaxial with it, and is mainly used to transport the high-temperature flue gas generated by the distillation column. It is also made of a high-temperature resistant metal, and heat dissipation fins can be added to its outer side to increase the heat dissipation area. A smoke hood 3-1 is installed on top of the flue gas pipe 2, and is conical in shape; its function is to dissipate the high-temperature flue gas. The warm flue gas is evenly dispersed into the cooling pipe 1 to avoid concentrated flow of flue gas and reduced cooling effect. A guide pipe 3-4 is installed on the heat exchange pipe 3-2. One end of the guide pipe 3-4 extends out of the cooling pipe 1 and is connected to the suction pump. The suction pump causes the coolant to circulate in the heat exchange pipe 3-2, thereby realizing heat exchange. The gathering cover 3-3 is fixed on the inner wall of the cooling pipe 1. It is in the shape of an inverted cone and can re-gather the dispersed flue gas, so that the flue gas can fully contact the heat exchange pipe 3-2 and improve the cooling efficiency.

[0040] The filter screen 3-5 is installed between the flue pipe 2 and the cooling pipe 1. It is generally made of stainless steel wire mesh. Its function is to filter particulate impurities in the flue gas and prevent impurities from adhering to the heat exchange tube 3-2 and affecting the heat exchange effect. The fixed mounting bracket 3-7 is used to fix the heat exchange tube 3-2 and ensure the stability of the heat exchange tube 3-2. One end of it is connected to the heat exchange tube 3-2, and the other end is fixedly connected to the smoke hood 3-1.

[0041] The screw bolt 4-1 is movably connected to the outer wall of the cooling pipe 1 via a bearing and is perpendicular to the cooling pipe 1. A screw handle 4-2 is installed at the end of the screw bolt 4-1 to facilitate the operator to rotate the bolt. The movable piece 4-3 is fitted onto the screw bolt 4-1 and is threadedly connected to the screw bolt 4-1. When the screw bolt 4-1 is rotated, the movable piece 4-3 will move along the bolt axis. The push spring 4-4 ​​is installed between the movable piece 4-3 and the push positioning frame 4-5 to play a role in buffering and adjustment. The outer wall of the push positioning frame 4-5 is an arc-shaped structure, and there are several of them. The outer contours of the multiple push positioning frames 4-5 form a circular structure. The push positioning frame 4-5 is used to fix the cooling device at the air outlet of the distillation column. By rotating the screw handle 4-2, the position of the push positioning frame 4-5 can be adjusted so that it is tightly pressed against the inner wall of the air outlet of the distillation column, thereby achieving a stable installation of the cooling device.

[0042] like Figures 1-4 As shown, this embodiment proposes that a cross-flow plate 3-6 be provided between the smoke pipe 2 and the cooling pipe 1, and a fixed mounting bracket 3-7 be provided on the heat exchange pipe 3-2, and the fixed mounting bracket 3-7 be fixedly connected to the smoke hood 3-1.

[0043] In some examples, the cross-flow vanes 3-6 are arranged between the flue pipe 2 and the cooling pipe 1. They are made of thin metal sheets and can change the flow path of the flue gas, making the flue gas turbulent, increasing the contact time between the flue gas and the heat exchange pipe 3-2, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0044] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the screw 4-1 is movably connected to the cooling pipe 1 via a bearing.

[0045] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the upper end of the smoke hood 3-1 is provided with a small number of smoke exhaust ports 5, and a smoke hood 6 is provided on the small number of smoke exhaust ports 5. The side wall of the smoke hood 6 is provided with smoke exhaust holes 7.

[0046] In some examples, the upper end of the smoke hood 3-1 is provided with a small number of smoke vents 5, and a smoke hood 6 is installed on the smoke vents. The side wall of the smoke hood 6 has smoke vent holes 7, which allows some smoke to be discharged through the small holes, further enhancing the dispersion effect of the smoke.

[0047] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, one end of the guide pipe 3-4 extends out of the cooling pipe 1, and the guide pipe 3-4 guides the liquid to circulate inside the heat exchange pipe 3-2 through a suction pump.

[0048] In some examples, the heat exchange tubes 3-2 are arranged in a ring shape and installed at the angle between the smoke pipe 2 and the smoke hood 3-1 and between the gathering hood 3-3 and the cooling tube 1. The heat exchange tubes 3-2 are made of copper or aluminum alloy with excellent thermal conductivity and have coolant circulating inside. The coolant can be water or antifreeze.

[0049] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the outer wall of the push positioning frame 4-5 is an arc-shaped structure, and there are several push positioning frames 4-5. The outer contours of multiple push positioning frames 4-5 form a circular structure.

[0050] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the gap between the gathering hood 3-3 and the smoke dispersing hood 3-1 forms a smoke passage 8, which is located on the inner wall of the heat exchange tube 3-2.

[0051] In some examples, the gap between the gathering hood 3-3 and the smoke dispersing hood 3-1 forms a smoke passage 8, which is located on the inner wall of the heat exchange tube 3-2. This ensures that the flue gas is in full contact with the heat exchange tube 3-2 during the flow process.

[0052] During operation, high-temperature flue gas (typically 150-300℃) exits from the top of the distillation tower and enters the flue gas pipe 2 of the cooling device vertically. As the flue gas flows upward to the top of the flue gas pipe 2, it encounters the smoke hood 3-1 (a conical structure). The smoke hood 3-1 forces the flue gas to change its flow direction, dispersing it evenly in all directions to form an umbrella-shaped airflow distribution. Some of the flue gas enters the smoke hood 6 through a few exhaust ports 5 at the top of the smoke hood 3-1 and is discharged laterally at low speed from the exhaust holes 7 on the side wall, further refining the flue gas distribution. The dispersed flue gas then flows downwards... The flue gas passes through the annular flue gas inlet 8 between the gathering hood 3-3 and the dispersing hood 3-1, and enters the cooling zone composed of spiral heat exchange tubes 3-2. The suction pump drives the coolant (such as cooling water) to enter the heat exchange tubes 3-2 from the guide pipe 3-4. The coolant flows along the spiral path inside the tube and exchanges heat with the high-temperature flue gas outside the tube. When the flue gas encounters the cross-flow plate 3-6 during the flow, it is forced to change its flow direction to form turbulence, prolonging the residence time and increasing the contact area with the heat exchange tubes 3-2. According to tests, this design can improve the heat exchange efficiency by 20%-30%.

[0053] The heat exchange tube 3-2 is divided into two parts: the upper part surrounds the flue tube 2 to absorb the radiant heat of the flue gas; the lower part extends to the inner wall of the cooling tube 1 and between the gathering hood 3-3 to absorb the convective heat of the flue gas. After the guide tube 3-4 introduces the coolant into the heat exchange tube 3-2, the coolant flows through each section of the heat exchange tube 3-2 in series or parallel, and finally returns to the external cooling system (such as a cooling tower) for cooling. The typical coolant flow rate is 1.5-3 m / s to ensure sufficient heat exchange. Before leaving the cooling area, the flue gas needs to pass through the filter screen 3-5 (usually made of 304 stainless steel with a pore size of 0.5-2 mm). The filter screen 3-5 intercepts impurities such as tar and dust in the flue gas to prevent them from scaling on the surface of the heat exchange tube 3-2 (scaling will increase the thermal resistance by more than 50%). The intercepted impurities should be cleaned regularly (recommended weekly) through the slag discharge port at the bottom of the cooling tube 1.

[0054] By rotating the handle 4-2, the screw bolt 4-1 is driven to rotate, causing the moving plate 4-3 to move axially. The moving plate 4-3 compresses the push spring 4-4, and the spring force is transmitted to the push positioning frame 4-5, so that its arc-shaped outer wall fits tightly against the inner wall of the distillation tower outlet. The buffering effect of the spring allows the device to adapt to outlets of different diameters (adjustment range ±15%), while compensating for displacement caused by equipment vibration.

[0055] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this disclosure, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An air cooling device for a distillation column, characterized in that, include: Cooling pipe (1), wherein a smoke pipe (2) is provided inside the cooling pipe (1); The cooling component (3) is disposed inside the cooling pipe (1); A cooling mounting assembly (4) is disposed outside the cooling pipe (1); The cooling component (3) includes a smoke hood (3-1), which is mounted on the smoke pipe (2). A heat exchange pipe (3-2) is mounted at the angle between the smoke pipe (2) and the smoke hood (3-1). A gathering cover (3-3) is mounted on the inner wall of the cooling pipe (1). The heat exchange pipe (3-2) is mounted between the gathering cover (3-3) and the cooling pipe (1). A guide pipe (3-4) is mounted on the heat exchange pipe (3-2). A filter screen (3-5) is mounted between the smoke pipe (2) and the cooling pipe (1).

2. The air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 1, characterized in that, A cross-flow plate (3-6) is provided between the smoke pipe (2) and the cooling pipe (1), and a fixed mounting bracket (3-7) is provided on the heat exchange pipe (3-2). The fixed mounting bracket (3-7) is fixedly connected to the smoke hood (3-1).

3. The air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling mounting assembly (4) includes a screw bolt (4-1) which is mounted on the outer side wall of the cooling pipe (1). The end of the screw bolt (4-1) is provided with a screw handle (4-2). A movable piece (4-3) is fitted on the screw bolt (4-1). The movable piece (4-3) is threadedly connected to the screw bolt (4-1). A push spring (4-4) is provided on the movable piece (4-3). A push positioning bracket (4-5) is provided at the end of the push spring (4-4).

4. The air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 3, characterized in that, The screw bolt (4-1) and the cooling pipe (1) are connected by a bearing.

5. The air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end of the smoke hood (3-1) is provided with a small number of smoke vents (5), and a smoke hood (6) is provided on the small number of smoke vents (5). The side wall of the smoke hood (6) is provided with smoke vents (7).

6. The air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the guide pipe (3-4) extends out of the cooling pipe (1), and the guide pipe (3-4) guides the liquid to circulate inside the heat exchange pipe (3-2) through a suction pump.

7. An air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer wall of the push positioning frame (4-5) is an arc-shaped structure. There are several push positioning frames (4-5), and the outer contours of the multiple push positioning frames (4-5) form a circular structure.

8. The air cooling device for a distillation column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gap between the gathering hood (3-3) and the smoke dispersing hood (3-1) forms a smoke passage (8), which is located on the inner wall of the heat exchange tube (3-2).

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