Horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant, comprising a bottom with a lowest part, and being configured to receive a gas which comprises solid particles, wherein, during operation, the solid particles at least partially 30 are carried over from the gas phase to a condensate phase, and comprising a drain arrangement located in the lowest part of the bottom of the gas handling equipment, which comprises a drain nozzle comprising an drain opening, and a drainpipe which is in liquid communication with the drain nozzle, the drain opening being configured to drain the condensate out of the gas handling equipment towards the drainpipe, and wherein a collar which at least partially surrounds the 35 drain opening and comprises one or more collar drain openings which are located in a side of the collar opposite to the flow direction of the incoming gas in the gas handling equipment, at least part of the solid particles of the condensate being stopped by the collar, thereby obtaining a remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles which will flow towards the one or more collar drain openings, and subsequently in the nozzle opening and 40 finally in the drainpipe. The present disclosure further relates to a nitric acid production plant comprising an ammonia oxidizer, an absorption tower, and horizontally oriented gas handling equipment. The present disclosure finally relates to a method for handling a gas with solid particles in a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant.

Description

HORIZONTALLY ORIENTED GAS HANDLING EQUIPMENT OF A CHEMICAL PRODUCTION PLANTTechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant, more in particular comprising one or more process pipes and one or more shell and tube heat exchangers, and most in particular in a nitric acid production plant.Background

[0002] In a chemical production plant, gas handling equipment are configured to handle gases present in the chemical production plant. This gas handling equipment in a chemical production plant can comprise process pipes which are pipes which transport fluids (liquids or gases) within a chemical production plant. The gas handling equipment can further comprise heat exchangers which are devices that allow a fluid, such as a liquid or a gas, to be heated or cooled without coming into direct contact with the cooling or heating medium, which is typically another fluid. More in particular, heat exchangers of the shell and tube type are often applied in chemical production plants. These heat exchangers are known for their high efficiency, and their low pressure drop, the latter being the main reason to choose a shell and tube heat exchanger.

[0003] Shell and tube heat exchangers allow a fluid, i.e. a liquid or a gas, to be heated or cooled without coming into direct contact with the cooling or heating medium, which is typically another fluid.

[0004] A shell and tube heat exchanger in general comprises a tube side and a shell side. The tube side of the shell and tube heat exchanger comprises a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes which are configured to heat or cool a tube-side fluid. The tubes can be of different types, i.e. plain, longitudinally finned, etc. The tube-side fluid enters the shell and tube heat exchanger via a tube -side inlet in a front head, which is located between the tube -side inlet and a front tube sheet. The tube-side inlet is typically an opening or a nozzle on one end of the heat exchanger. The front head thus serves as the entry point of the shell and tube heat exchanger for the tube-side fluid. The tube-side fluid is distributed into the different tubes of the tube bundle via a tube inlet of each of the tubes. After flowing through the tubes, the heated or cooled tube-side fluid leaves the tubes via a tube outlet of each of the tubes whereafter it is collected in a rear head (also known as outlet head or return head). The rear head is formed between a rear tube sheet and a tube-side outlet, which is also typically an opening or a nozzle on the other end of the shell and tube heat exchanger opposite the tube-side inlet. The heated or cooled tube-side fluid then leaves the rear head and thus the heat exchanger via the tube -side outlet, which connects to the next stage of the chemical production process or to a discharge system. The rear head is thusthe exit point of the shell and tube heat exchanger for the tube-side fluid. The plurality of tubes is on the one hand supported by baffles, which are plates or guides placed inside the shell to direct the flow of the shell-side fluid. Baffles increase the turbulence of the shell-side fluid, enhancing heat transfer by ensuring that the shell-side fluid flows across the tubes rather than parallel to them. The tubes of the tube bundle are also kept in place by tube sheets, including the front and rear tube sheet. Between the front and the rear tube sheet, a shell which comprises an outer shell, which typically has a cylindrical shape, which encompasses an inner space is present. The front tube sheet physically separates the shell from the front head, while the rear tube sheet physically separates the shell from the rear head. The front and rear tube sheet thus act as a barrier ensuring that the tube-side fluid and the shell-side fluid do not mix while allowing heat transfer to occur. The tube bundle is located in the inner space of the shell. The shell-side of a shell and tube heat exchanger is the space outside the tubes in the outer shell. The shell has a shell-side inlet and a shell-side outlet. The shell-side inlet is the entry point for a shell-side fluid in the shell, while the shell-side outlet is the exit points for the shell-side fluid out of the shell. Between the shell-side inlet and the shell-side outlet, the shell-side fluid flows around the tubes. During the passage of the shell-side fluid through the inner space of the shell, it releases heat from the tube-side fluid flowing in the tubes via the wall of the tubes, in case the tube-side fluid needs to be heated. In case the tube-side fluid however needs to be cooled, the shell-side fluid takes up heat from the tube-side fluid flowing through the tubes. The flow of the tube-side fluid can be arranged in various configurations, such as counterflow (opposite direction to the shell-side fluid), crossflow (perpendicular to the tube bundle) or parallel flow (same direction as the shell-side fluid).

[0005] Shell and tube heat exchangers are types of heat exchangers that are widely used in the industry. They are known for their high efficiency, and their low pressure drop, the latter being the main reason to choose a shell and tube heat exchanger. Shell and tube heat exchangers are very suitable to be used in large chemical processes, such as amongst others nitric acid production. Nitric acid has many industrial applications, but its primary function however is the production of ammonium nitrate, which in its turn is then used in the fertilizer industry. In nitric acid plants, shell and tube heat exchangers, amongst others nitric acid cooler condenser shells (hereafter further called “nitric acid cooler condenser”), are commonly used for different purposes such as preheating feed streams and cooling product streams.

[0006] It is remarked that a tube sheet can also serve as a flange with which different devices can be coupled to each other by means of bolts and screws. In shell and tube heat exchangers used in chemical production plants, the tube-side fluid is typically the fluid to be treated, while the shell-side fluid typically is a cooling or heating medium (fluid) for the tube-side fluid.

[0007] Process pipes as well as shell and tube heat exchangers in chemical production plants commonly comprise one or more drain arrangements located at the lowest point of the gas handling thereof. A drain arrangement typically comprises a drainpipe, a drain nozzle which connects the drainpipe to the gas handling equipment, and one or more closing elements to close the drain opening of the drain nozzle. When gases flow through the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment which carry solid particles, including, but not limited to, dust and rust (typically originating from corroded and / or eroded gas handling equipment due to the aggressive nature of some chemical compounds present in the gas and / or the condensate), minerals or other solid particles for instance originating from outside the gas handling equipment when for instance the chemical production plant is in a very dusty environment, together also called “debris”, such gases can for different reasons, such as the gas handling equipment being exposed to colder ambient temperatures then the dewpoint of the gas flowing through it, or for instance in a shell and tube heat exchanger, leakages of gas flowing through the tubes occur, convert from the gas phase into the liquid phase, or in other words form a condensate. During this condensation process, at least a part of the solid particles will be taken along and finally end up in the condensate. The condensate will collect at the bottom of the gas handling equipment due to gravity and will consequently flow to the one or more drain arrangements which are provided at the bottom of the gas handling equipment. Also at least part of the solid particles carried along with the gas can, depending on the speed with which the gas flows through the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment and the density of the particles in the gas, fall out of the gas and finally drop down out of the gas on the bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment. At least part of these solid particles can fall in the drainpipe, and at least another part of these will also be taken along with the condensate towards the drain arrangement. The problem with this is however that this debris can clog in the drain nozzle and / or the drainpipe of a drain arrangement, and when the clogging further continues, in the worst case block the drain nozzle(s) and / or the drainpipe(s). Regular maintenance, for instance at each revision stop, ensures that the drain remains unobstructed. However, lack of regular maintenance can lead to accumulation of the debris in the drain nozzle(s) and / or drainpipe(s) which amongst others can create problems such as amongst others corrosion thereof.

[0008] In case the chemical production plant is a nitric acid production plant, the process pipe is typically configured to conduct a (hot) process gas through it which amongst others comprise one or more of the following components: nitrogen oxides (NOX), water (H2O) in the form of vapor, and other gaseous components including amongst others as a major part nitrogen (N2) and a minor part oxygen (O2) originating from the ambient air from the air compressor, which is used for oxidation of NH3 to NO, dinitrogen oxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3).

[0009] A nitric acid shell and tube cooler condenser, hereafter called “nitric acid cooler condenser”, comprises a front head, a rear head, and a shell located between the front head and the rear head. The front head is located between a tube-side inlet and a front tube sheet. The rear head is located between a tube-side outlet and a rear tube sheet. The shell is located between the front and the rear tube sheet. The shell comprises an outer shell which encompasses an inner space into which a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes are located. In the nitric acid cooler condenser, hot process gas which is typically coming from an ammonia oxidizer, and which more in particular comprises nitrogen oxides (NOX), water (H2O) in the form of vapour, and other gaseous components including amongst others as a major part nitrogen (N2) and a minor part oxygen (O2) originating from the ambient air from the air compressor which is used for oxidation of NH3 to NO, dinitrogen oxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3), and which needs to be cooled, enters the front head via the tubeside inlet. This hot process gas is then distributed via a tube inlet of each of the tubes over the different tubes. The hot process gas then flows through the tubes. During the movement of the process gas through the tubes, the following chemical reactions take place: oxidation of NO to form NO2, and (in parallel) absorption of the NO2 in H2O forming HNO3. A cooled two-phase fluid will then leave the plurality of tubes via a tube outlet and will be collected in the rear head. The cooled two-phase fluid will subsequently leave the heat exchanger via the tube-side outlet. In order to cool the process gas entered in the tubes, cooling water with a temperature which is lower than the dewpoint of the process gas entered in the tubes is entered in the inner space of the shell via a shell inlet. This cooling water will flow around the tubes and will finally leave the shell in a heated form via a shell outlet. During the passage of the cooling water through the shell inner space, the cooling water thus takes up heat from the process gas in the tubes via the tube walls.

[0010] Although in process pipes of a nitric acid production plant, the temperature of the process gas flowing through the process pipe is relatively constant and stays at a relative high temperature within the process pipe, there still can be fluctuations in the flow rate and the temperature of the process gas flowing through the process pipe, which can lead to condensation of the process gas flowing through the process pipes. Also, a lower ambient temperature of around the process pipe which is lower than the dewpoint of the process gas flowing through it, can cause part of the process gas in the vicinity of the wall of the gas handling equipment to condense. This condensate will then, due to gravity, flow to the bottom of the process pipe towards the one or more drain arrangements located at the lowest part of the process pipe. If the temperature within the process pipe falls below the dewpoint of the process gas, NO2 and N2O4 out of the process gas will be absorbed in the condensate formed out of the vapor present in the process gas, therewith resulting in the formation of liquid HNO3. When the temperature withinthe process pipe increases again due to fresh flowing process gas passing by, the condensed liquid HNOs can re-boil, turning back into gaseous HNO3 potentially corrosion of the drain nozzle(s) and / or the drainpipe(s) of the one or more drain arrangements. This can cause thinning of the drainpipe(s), which in the worst case will result in holes formed therein.

[0011] In the case of a nitric acid cooler condenser, the metal temperature of part of the tubes of the tube bundle is lower than the dewpoint of the process gas flowing through the tubes. The dewpoint is the temperature at which gases in the process gas begin to condense from the gas phase into the liquid phase. Although the temperature of the process gas flowing through the tubes lowers as it transfers heat to the cooling water flowing through the shell side around the tubes, the continuous flow of process gas stays at a relative high temperature within the tubes. Any fluctuations in the flow rate or the temperature of the process gas can cause variations in the temperature of the tubes. For instance, if the flow rate decreases, there might be less heat transfer, leading to a temporary drop in the temperature of the tubes, followed by an increase of the tube temperature as the flow stabilizes again. If the temperature within the tubes drops below the dewpoint of the process gas, NO2 and N2O4 out of the process gas will be absorbed in the condensate formed out of the vapor, through which liquid HNO3 will be formed. If there are leakages between the tubes and the tube sheets, due to gravity, the condensate including liquid nitric acid will flow out the leakages towards the bottom of the front head of the nitric acid cooler condenser, and subsequently towards the one or more drain arrangements located at the lowest part of the front head. When the temperature in the front head increases again, for instance by the (swirling) hot process gas passing by, the condensate which comes into contact again with this hot process gas can reheat and can thus re-boil, turning back into the gaseous phase including gaseous nitric acid, potentially resulting in corrosion of the drain nozzle(s) and / or the drainpipe (s) of the one or more drain arrangements. This can cause thinning of the drainpipe(s), which can lead to loss of containment. Furthermore, there is the risk of recurrent leaking of flanges.

[0012] The goal of the present disclosure is thus to provide a drain arrangement for a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant according to the present disclosure, of which the drain nozzle and / or drainpipe are less vulnerable to clogging or blocking. It is a further goal of the present disclosure to provide such a drain arrangement with a longer lifetime.Summary

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant, wherein the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises a bottom with a lowest part, and wherein the horizontally oriented gashandling equipment is configured to receive a gas with solid particles, wherein the gas flows in a flow direction through the gas handling equipment, and wherein, during operation, the solid particles at least partially are carried over from the gas phase to a condensate, thereby resulting in a condensate with solid particles, wherein a drain arrangement is located in the lowest part of the bottom of the gas handling equipment, the drain arrangement comprisinga drain nozzle comprising a drain opening,a drainpipe, which is in fluid communication with the drain nozzle,wherein the drain opening is configured to drain the condensate with solid particles out of the gas handling equipment towards the drainpipe, and whereina collar which at least partially surrounds the drain opening and comprises one or more collar drain openings,at least part of the solid particles of the condensate are stopped by the collar, thereby obtaining a remaining part of the condensate with a reduced number of solid particles which will flow towards the one or more collar drain openings, and subsequently in the nozzle opening and finally in the drainpipe.

[0014] In some embodiments, the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant as disclosed herein further comprises one or more floating ball liquid traps located downstream of the one or more drain arrangements, each floating ball liquid trap being in liquid communication with one or more of the drainpipes of the one or more drain arrangements, wherein each floating trap is configured to discharge the condensate from the one or more drainpipes. The floating ball as used herein operates on the principle of buoyancy to automatically discharge condensate. Inside the floating ball liquid trap, a ball (float) is provided that rises and lowers again with the level of the condensate present in the trap. When condensate enters the trap, the ball rises due to the increased buoyancy. As the ball rises, it lifts a valve, allowing the condensate to be discharged from the trap. The trap continuously discharges condensate as long as there is condensate present, ensuring efficient removal. This floating ball trap thus has the advantage that any formed condensate comprising amongst others corrosion inducing chemical compounds can be evacuated, thereby avoiding accumulation of such compounds which can lead to (intermitted) re-boiling and condensing of the corrosion inducing chemical compounds, thus avoiding corrosion of the drain nozzle and / or the drainpipe of the drain arrangement.

[0015] The floating ball liquid trap(s) can be installed downstream the respective drain arrangement(s) according in the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment as disclosed herein.

[0016] In a specific embodiment of a gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, a respective one of the one or more floating ball liquid traps is installed further downstream in a respective drainpipe of the drain arrangement(s).

[0017] The one or more floating ball liquid traps can more in particular be configured to discharge condensate out of the drainpipe of the respective drain arrangement(s) every time there is condensate in the respective drainpipe(s). In that way, no condensate with corrosion inducing chemical compounds will stand still in the drain nozzle opening and in the drainpipe, which for instance results in thinning of the drainpipe. This prevents amongst others unplanned shutdowns of the chemical production plant, which are very costly.

[0018] In a particular embodiment of a gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the floating ball liquid trap(s) is (are) installed further downstream in the drainpipe of the respective drain arrangement(s).

[0019] In a specific embodiment of a gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the gas handling equipment comprises an equalizing line which is configured to avoid the accumulation of and to evacuate non-condensables out of the respective floating ball liquid trap(s).

[0020] In an optional embodiment of a gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the gas handling equipment comprises a purge tank or other process equipment which is in liquid communication with the one or more floating ball traps and which is configured to collect the condensate which is discharged out of the respective floating ball trap(s).

[0021] In the light of the present disclosure, with a gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant is understood equipment that is configured to handle gases. They more in particular contain and direct the flow of gases.

[0022] The advantage of having a collar in a drain arrangement of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment for a chemical production plant according to the present disclosure, as described above, is that the debris in the condensate is stopped by the collar, thereby avoiding that the condensate with solid particles can flow over the bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment directly into the drain opening, but still having the ability to fully drain the condensate out the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment. This has the advantage that the one or more drainpipes cannot clog by the solid particles in the condensate, and even in the worst case can block one or more drainpipes. In that way, no condensate with corrosion inducing chemical compounds will stand still in the drain nozzle opening and in the drainpipe, which for instance results in thinning of the drainpipe. This prevents amongst others unplanned shut-downs of the chemical production plant, which are very costly.

[0023] In an optional embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the drain arrangement comprises a cover cap which is configured to be mounted on or over the collar to prevent direct access to the collar from above.

[0024] The advantage of this cover cap is that the collar is closed off from the top, and the drain opening which is at least partially surrounded by the collar is not accessible anymore from the top, thereby preventing solid particles that are carried by the gas would fall out of the gas directly in the collar and subsequently through the drain nozzle in the drainpipe.

[0025] In a particular embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the collar is welded to the lowest part of the bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment.

[0026] The collar more in particular has a circular shape. In a specific embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the collar has a height, and the one or more drain openings are in the form of vertical slits extending at least partially over the height of the collar.

[0027] More in particular, the one or more vertical slits extend over the complete height of the collar.

[0028] In a possible embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the collar is a metal ring with one vertical slit extending over the complete height of the ring.

[0029] In a possible embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises a manhole which is configured to access the inner side of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment in order to take away the debris that is stopped by the collar.

[0030] In an optional embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises a bottom with a lowest part, and is configured to handle a gas which comprises solid particles which, during operation, at least partially are carried over from the gas phase to a condensate, thereby resulting in a condensate, wherein one or more drain arrangements are located at the lowest part of the bottom of the gas handling equipment and each comprisea drain nozzle comprising a drain nozzle opening,a drainpipe, which is in liquid communication with the drain nozzle,wherein the drain opening is configured to drain the condensate out of the gas handling equipment towards the drainpipe, and wherein the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises one or more floating ball liquid traps located downstream the one or more drain arrangements, each floating ball liquid trap being in liquid communication with one or more of the drainpipes of the one or more drain arrangements, wherein each floating ball trap isconfigured to discharge the condensate with solid particles from the one or more drainpipes. A floating ball liquid trap operates on the principle of buoyancy to automatically discharge condensate. Inside the floating ball liquid trap, a ball (float) is provided that rises and lowers again with the level of the condensate present in the trap. When condensate enters the trap, the ball rises due to the increased buoyancy. As the ball rises, it lifts a valve, allowing the condensate to be discharged from the trap. The trap continuously discharges condensate as long as there is condensate present, ensuring efficient removal. This floating ball trap thus has the advantage that any formed condensate comprising amongst others corrosion inducing chemical compounds can be evacuated, thereby avoiding accumulation of such compounds which can lead to (intermitted) re-boiling and condensing of the corrosion inducing chemical compounds, thus avoiding corrosion of the drain nozzle and / or the drainpipe of the drain arrangement.

[0031] In a specific embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the one or more floating ball liquid traps are configured to discharge condensate with solid particles out of the respective drainpipe(s) every time there is condensate with solid particles in the respective drainpipe(s). This has the advantage that the one or more drainpipes cannot clog by the solid particles in the condensate, and even in the worst case can block these one or more drainpipes. In that way, no condensate with corrosion inducing chemical compounds will stand still in the drain nozzle opening and in the drainpipe, which for instance results in thinning of the drainpipe. This prevents amongst others unplanned shut-downs of the chemical production plant, which are very costly.

[0032] In a particular embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the floating ball liquid trap is installed further downstream in the drainpipe.

[0033] In a specific embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises an equalizing line which is configured to avoid the accumulation of and to evacuate noncondensables (inerts).

[0034] In an optional embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises a purge tank or other process equipment which is in liquid communication with the one or more floating ball traps and which is configured to collect the condensate with solid particles which is discharged out of the one or more floating ball traps.

[0035] The horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of the chemical production plant according to the present disclosure can comprise one or more horizontal process pipes which each comprise the bottom with the lowest part with the drain arrangement. In the light of thepresent disclosure, process pipe are pipes which transport fluids (liquids or gases) within a chemical production plant.

[0036] The horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of the chemical production plant according to the present disclosure can comprise one or more shell and tube heat exchangers, which each comprisea front head with a tube -side inlet which is configured to enter a tube -side fluid which needs to be cooled or heated in the heat exchanger, and which is configured to distribute the tube-side fluid from there in the different tubes via the tube inlet of each of the tubes, wherein the front head comprises the bottom and the lowest part with the drain arrangement,a rear head, which is configured to receive the tube-side fluid out of the tubes via the tube outlet of each of the tubes, the rear head comprising a tube-side outlet which is configured to exit the tube-side fluid out of the heat exchanger, anda shell between the front head and the rear head, the shell comprising a shell inner space, the shell being separated from• the front head by means of a front tube sheet located in the inner space of the shell at the tube -side inlet, and• the rear head by means of a rear tube sheet located in the inner space of the shell at the tube-side outlet,wherein the front tube sheet and the rear tube sheet are configured to hold the tubes in place, andwherein the shell comprisesa shell-side inlet which is configured to enter a shell-side fluid in the shell inner space, anda shell-side outlet which is configured to exit shell-side fluid out of the shell inner space,wherein the shell inner space is configured to let the shell -fluid flow through the shell inner space around the tubes, which are located in the shell inner space, between the shellside inlet and the shell-side outlet, therewith releasing heat to the tube-side fluid flowing in the tubes in case the tube-side fluid needs to be heated, or taking up heat from the tubeside fluid flowing in the tubes in case the tube-side fluid needs to be cooled.

[0037] In a particular embodiment of a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure, the chemical production plant is a nitric acid production plant, and the shell and tube heat exchanger(s) is (are) horizontal nitric acid cooler condenser(s), wherein the tube-side fluid is a (hot) process gas which originates from an ammonia oxidizer of a nitric acid production plant, comprising NOX, water vapour, N2, oxygen O2, dinitrogenoxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3), and which needs to be cooled, andthe cooled process gas is a cooled two-phase fluid consisting of a liquid part with a certain amount of HNO3, HNO2, H2O, and N2O4, and a gaseous part with a reduced amount of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and water vapour since there was absorption of the NOXin the condensed vapour, and a reduced amount of O2 in view of the process gas entering the tubes, the same amount of N2, and dinitrogen oxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3),the shell-side fluid is cooling water.

[0038] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a nitric acid production plant is disclosed comprising an ammonia oxidizer, an absorption tower, and horizontally gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure comprising one or more horizontal process pipes and / or one or more horizontal nitric acid cooler condensers as described above.

[0039] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method for handling a gas with solid particles in a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant is disclosed, wherein the method comprises the steps ofcarrying over part of the solid particles of a gas phase to a condensate of the gas, thereby forming a condensate with solid particles,flowing of the condensate towards a drain arrangement comprising a drain nozzle with a drain opening, a collar at least partially surrounding the drain opening, and a drainpipe in fluid communication with the drain nozzle, wherein the drain arrangement is located in a lowest part of a bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment, stopping at least a part of the solid particles of the condensate with solid particles by the collar,flowing of the remaining part of the condensate with a reduced number of solid particles towards the one or more collar drain openings, and subsequently in the nozzle opening and finally in the drainpipe.

[0040] In an optional method according to the present disclosure, the method comprises the further steps of collecting the condensate in a drainpipe of one or more drain arrangements, and subsequently in one or more floating ball liquid traps provided downstream the one or more drain arrangements, more in particular further downstream in the drainpipe, and subsequently discharging the condensate out of a floating ball trap.

[0041] In a specific method according to the present disclosure, the discharge of the condensate out of the drainpipe(s) by the one or more floating ball liquid traps is done every time there is condensate present in the drainpipe(s).

[0042] In an optional method according to the present disclosure, the method comprises the step of venting the floating ball liquid trap using an equalizing line. This has the advantage that non-condensables (inerts) which are taken along with the gas, and consequently with the condensate of the gas, will not accumulate in the floating ball liquid trap, but instead are evacuated back to the process.

[0043] In an optional method according to the present disclosure, the condensate is discharged to a purge tank or other process equipment where the condensate is collected.

[0044] In some embodiments, the method disclosed herein further comprises collecting the condensate in a drainpipe of one or more drain arrangements, and subsequently in one or more floating ball liquid traps provided downstream the one or more drain arrangements, more in particular further downstream in the drainpipe, and discharging the condensate out of a floating ball trap.

[0045] In a further embodiment, the discharge of the condensate out of the drainpipe of the one or more drain arrangement(s) by the respective floating ball liquid trap(s) is done every time there is condensate present in the drainpipe(s).

[0046] In some embodiments, the method comprises the step of venting the floating ball liquid trap using an equalizing line. This has the advantage that non-condensables (= inerts) which are taken along with the gas, and consequently with the condensate of the gas, will not accumulate in the floating ball liquid trap, but instead are evacuated back to the process.

[0047] In a specific embodiment, the method comprises the steps ofcarrying over part of the solid particles of a gas phase to a condensate phase of the gas, thereby forming a condensate with solid particles,flowing of the condensate with the solid particles towards the one or more drain arrangements,stopping at least a part of the solid particles of the condensate with solid particles by the collar (s),flowing of the remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles towards the drain opening of the respective drain arrangement(s), and subsequently in the respective nozzle opening(s) and finally in the respective drainpipe(s).collecting the condensate in the respective drainpipe(s), and consequently in a floating ball liquid trap provided downstream the respective drain arrangement(s), more in particular in further downstream in the respective drainpipe(s),discharging the condensate out of the respective floating ball liquid trap(s), more in particular every time there is condensate present in the respective drainpipe(s).

[0048] In some embodiments, the condensate is discharged to a purge tank or other process equipment where the condensate is collected.Description of the figures

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a principle drawing of a horizontal shell and tube heat exchanger according to the present disclosure comprising a drain arrangement with a collar surrounding a drain nozzle opening of the drain nozzle,

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the drain nozzle opening surrounded by a collar with a vertical slit which is part of the drain arrangement as shown in Figure 1.Detailed description

[0051] A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant according to the present disclosure is an enclosure or housing configured to contain and manage gases during various stages of the chemical production process. The gas which is handled in the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure comprises solid particles which during operation of the chemical production plant at least partially are carried over from the gas phase to a condensate of the gas, thereby resulting in a condensate with solid particles. The gas carrying solid particles therewith flow in a certain flow direction through the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment.

[0052] The horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure comprises a bottom with a lowest part which is provided with one or more drain arrangements. A drain arrangement comprises a drain nozzle with a drain opening which is in fluid communication with a drainpipe. A drain nozzle is the connection between the outer wall of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment and the drainpipe . The drain opening is configured to drain condensate out of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment towards the drainpipe. The drain arrangement comprises a collar which at least partially surrounds the drain opening and comprises one or more collar drain openings. The collar is more in particular welded to the lowest part of the bottom of the gas handling equipment, more in particular by means of a plurality of spot welds, and more in particular has a circular shape. The drain arrangement further optionally comprises a cover cap which is configured to be mounted on or over the collar to prevent direct access to the collar from above. The collar has a certain height. The one or more collar drain openings are more in particular in the form of vertical slits extending at least partially over the height of the collar, and more in particular extend over the complete height of the collar. The collar more in particular is a metal ring with one vertical slit extending over the complete height of the ring.

[0053] During operation of the chemical production plant, a part of the gas with solid particles can be taken along with the gas which condenses. Due to gravity, the condensate, together with the solid particles, will flow to the lowest part of the bottom of the gas handling equipmentwhere the drain arrangement is present. At least part of the solid particles of the condensate will be stopped by the collar, or in other words be blocked from flowing with the condensate to the one or more collar drain openings. The condensate with solid particles will consequently be split into the part of the solid particles that are stopped by the collar, and a remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles, most in favour with as less as possible solid particles, which remaining part of the condensate will flow towards the one or more collar drain openings, and from there in the nozzle opening and finally in the drainpipe.

[0054] In order to be able to remove the debris, which is stopped by the collar, the gas handling case comprises a manhole which is configured to access the inner side thereof. The removal of the debris is done with every maintenance stop of the chemical production plant.

[0055] The horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of the chemical production plant according to the present disclosure can more in particular comprise a horizontal process pipe. As already mentioned above, a process pipe is a pipe which transports fluids (liquids or gases) within a chemical production plant.

[0056] The horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of the chemical production plant according to the present disclosure can more in particular comprise one or more horizontal shell and tube heat exchangers. A shell and tube heat exchanger is a device which transfers heat between two fluids. It consists of a series of tubes (the tube bundle) enclosed within a larger shell. One fluid flows through the tubes, while the other flows around the tubes within the shell, allowing heat exchange between the two. The horizontal shell and heat exchanger more in particular comprises first of all a front head with a tube-side inlet which is configured to enter a tube-side fluid which needs to be cooled or heated in the heat exchanger, and which is configured to distribute the tube-side fluid from there in the different tubes via the tube inlet of each of the tubes, wherein the front head comprises the bottom and the lowest part with the drain arrangement, and further a rear head, which is configured to receive the tube -side fluid out of the tubes via the tube outlet of each of the tubes, the rear head comprising a tube -side outlet which is configured to exit the tube-side fluid out of the heat exchanger. Between the front head and the rear head, a shell is present which comprises a shell inner space, the shell being separated from the front head by means of a front tube sheet located in the inner space of the shell at the tube-side inlet, and the rear head by means of a rear tube sheet located in the inner space of the shell at the tube-side outlet. The front tube sheet and the rear tube sheet are configured to hold the tubes in place. The shell comprises a shell-side inlet which is configured to enter a shell-side fluid in the shell inner space, and a shell-side outlet which is configured to exit shell-side fluid out of the shell inner space . The shell inner space is configured to let the she 11 -fluid flow through the shell inner space around the tubes, which are located in the shell inner space, between the shell-side inlet and the shell-side outlet, therewith releasing heat to the tube-side fluid flowingin the tubes in case the tube-side fluid needs to be heated, or taking up heat from the tube-side fluid flowing in the tubes in case the tube-side fluid needs to be cooled. Examples of such a shell and tube heat exchanger is a cooler condenser in which a process gas is located in the tube side and a liquid is present in the shell side, or a gas-gas heat exchanger in which in the tube side as well as the process side, gas is present.

[0057] In case the horizontal shell and tube heat exchanger is in the form of a horizontal nitric acid cooler condenser, the tube-side fluid is a process gas that needs to be cooled and that originates from an ammonia oxidizer and when entering the tubes comprises N2, O2, NOx, N2O, N2O4, EEO-vapour, HNO2 and HNO3, and when exiting the tubes is a two-phase process gas consisting of a liquid compartment with a certain amount of HNO3, HNO2, H2O, and N2O4 and a gas compartment with a reduced amount of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and vapour since there was absorption of the NOXin the condensed vapour, and O2 in view of the process gas entering the tubes, the same amount ofN2 (is inert), and then further dinitrogen oxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3), and the shell-side fluid is cooling water.

[0058] The gas handling equipment according to the present disclosure is very suitable to be used in a nitric acid production process. The gas handling equipment can for instance comprise one or more shell and tube heat exchangers such as a nitric acid cooler condenser to cool a process gas coming from an ammonia oxidizer. It is remarked that the shell and tube heat exchanger according to the present disclosure can however also be used in other applications in a nitric acid production plant to cool and heat different fluids. The shell and tube heat exchanger according to the present disclosure can also be applied in other chemical production processes than nitric acid production process to heat or cool different fluids.

[0059] A nitric acid production plant according to the present disclosure comprises an ammonia oxidizer, an absorption tower, and horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprising one or more process pipes and / or one or more nitric acid cooler condensers as described above. An ammonia oxidizer is a device configured for converting ammonia (NH3) and oxygen (O2) into process gas which serves as the precursor gases for nitric acid synthesis. An absorption tower is a device configured for mixing cooled process gas comprising nitrogen oxides (NOX) with water to obtain nitric acid and a tail gas.

[0060] In some embodiments, the gas handling equipment further comprises one or more floating ball liquid traps installed downstream the drain arrangement(s), more in particular further down in the drainpipe. Each floating ball liquid trap is configured to discharge the condensate out of one or more of the drainpipes, and more in particular every time when there is condensate present in the drainpipe(s). A floating ball liquid trap will collect the condensate out of the drainpipe with which it is in liquid communication. The condensate will then furtherbe discharged from the floating ball liquid trap towards a purge tank which collects the condensate discharged from the floating ball liquid trap. It is remarked that only liquid can be discharged by a floating ball liquid trap, and no gas.

[0061] The floating ball liquid traps(s) can be installed downstream the respective drain arrangement(s) in the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment.

[0062] The gas handling equipment of the chemical production plant according to the present disclosure can more in particular comprise one or more process pipes which comprise the bottom with the lowest part which is provided with one or more drain arrangements with a floating ball liquid trap arranged downstream of a respective on or the drain arrangements. As already mentioned above, a process pipe is a pipe which transports fluids (liquids or gases) within a chemical production plant.

[0063] In a method for handling a gas with solid particles in a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant according to the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps ofcarrying over part of the solid particles of a gas phase to a liquid phase of the gas, thereby forming a condensate with solid particles,flowing of the condensate towards a drain arrangement located at a lowest part of a bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprising a drain nozzle with a drain opening, a collar at least partially surrounding the drain opening, and a drainpipe in fluid communication with the drain nozzle, wherein the drain arrangement is located in a lowest part of a bottom of the gas handling equipment,stopping at least a part of the solid particles of the condensate with solid particles by the collar,flowing of the remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles towards the one or more collar drain openings, and subsequently in the nozzle opening and finally in the drainpipe.

[0064] The method can optionally further comprise the step of collecting the condensate in a drainpipe of the respective drain arrangement(s), and finally discharging the condensate out of the respective drainpipe(s) by means of one or more floating ball traps with which the drainpipe(s) are in liquid communication with provided further downstream in the drainpipe. The condensate can subsequently be discharged out of the one or more floating ball liquid traps towards a purge tank or other process equipment where the condensate is collected. Optionally, the method can comprise the step of venting the drainpipe of the one or more drain arrangements using an equalizing line in order to remove non-condensables out of the respective drainpipe(s) in case there would be present.

[0065] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to a specific example of a horizontal heat and tube exchanger according to the present disclosure. It should be clear that this is only an example which is not limitative for the scope of the present disclosure.

[0066] A horizontal heat and tube exchanger (1) according to the present disclosure as shown in Figure 1, comprises a front head (2a), also called a front channel, which is located at the left side of a front tube sheet (5). The front head (2a) is configured to enter a process gas to be heated or cooled, which is the tube-side fluid, via a tube-side inlet (21) in the heat exchanger (1), and to distribute the process gas from there to a horizontal tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes (4) via the respective tube inlets (4a) . The front head (2a) comprises a bottom with a lowest part. A rear head (2b) is located at the right side of a rear tube sheet (6). This rear head (2b) is configured to collect the cooled or heated process gas from the plurality of tubes (4) via the respective tube outlets (4b), and to exit the heated or cooled process gas from heat exchanger (1) via a tube-side outlet (22). Between the front tube sheet (5) and the rear tube sheet (6), a shell (3) is present. The shell (3) comprises an inner space (31) in which a horizontal tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes (4) is located. The plurality of tubes (4) are kept in place by the front tube sheet (5) and the rear tube sheet (6) . Each of the tubes (4) of the tube bundle comprises a tube inlet (4a) and a tube outlet (4b). The shell (3) comprises a shell inner space (31), and further comprises a shell-side inlet (32) which is configured to enter a shell-side fluid that needs to be heated or cooled in the shell (3b), and a shell-side outlet (33) which is configured to exit the heated or cooled shell-side fluid out of the shell (3b), wherein the shell inner space (31) is configured to let the shell-side fluid flow around the tubes (3) which are located in the shell inner space (31), thereby taking up heat from or releasing heat to the process gas flowing through the tubes (3). It is remarked that the front tube sheet (5) can also be located at the right side of the inner space (3), resulting in the front head (3a) also being located at the right side of the inner space (3), and the rear tube sheet (6) can also be located at the opposite, right side of the inner space (3), resulting in the rear head (3c) being located at the opposite, left side thereof. At the lowest part of the bottom of the front head (3a), a drain arrangement (7) is provided which comprises as shown in Figure 2, a drain nozzle (71) comprising a drain nozzle opening (72), a drainpipe (73) which is located outside the shell and tube heat exchanger and which is in liquid communication with the drain nozzle (71). The drain nozzle opening (72) is configured to drain the condensate with solid particles out of the shell and tube heat exchanger (1) towards the drainpipe (73). A ring-shaped collar (74) at least partially surrounds the drain opening (72). The collar (74) is welded by means of spot-welds (76) of the lowest part of the bottom of the front head (3a). The collar (74) comprises one vertical extending drain slit (75) which extends over the total height (h) of the collar (74). It is remarked that it would also be possible to providemore than one of such vertically extending drain slits (75) (not shown on Figure 2). The vertically extending drain slit (75) is located in a side of the collar (74) opposite to the flow direction of the incoming gas in the front head of the shell and tube heat exchanger. During operation of the chemical production plant, at least part of the solid particles of the condensate are stopped by the collar (74), thereby obtaining a remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles which will flow towards the vertical extending drain slit (75), and subsequently in the drain nozzle opening (72) and finally in the drainpipe (73). In order to be able to remove the debris which is stopped by the collar (74), a manhole (8) is provided in the shell of the front head (3a). The manhole (8) is also usable to do maintenance or reparations in the inner space (31) of the shell (3). In order to prevent that solid particles in the process gas would fall down directly in the drain nozzle opening (72) and thus in the drainpipe (73), a cover cap (76) can be provided which can be mounted on or over the collar (74). In the drainpipe (73), it is also possible to provide a floating ball liquid trap (9) which during operation discharges condensate out of the drainpipe (73), more in particular every time there is condensate present in the drainpipe (73). A purge tank (10) or other process equipment is provided in which during operation the condensate is collected which is discharged out of the floating ball liquid trap (9). Furthermore, an equalizing line (11) is provided outside the heat exchanger (1). The equalizing line (11) is in fluid communication with the floating ball liquid trap (9) and serves as a venting line to vent the floating ball liquid trap (9) such that no non-condensables would accumulate in the floating ball liquid trap (9).

[0067] Furthermore, in some embodiments, an equalizing line (11) is provided which serves as a venting line to vent the floating ball trap such that any non-condensables which are taken along with the gas and subsequently with the condensate of the gas are removed again out of the floating ball trap in case any of such non-condensables would be present therein.

[0068] In some embodiments, in case the process gas carries solid particles with it which can be taken along during condensation of the process gas, and subsequently will flow with the condensate towards the drain arrangement due to gravity, in order to prevent clogging of the drainpipe (73), and in the worst case blocking thereof, a ring-shaped collar (74) is provided which at least partially surrounds the drain opening (72). The collar (74) is welded by means of spot-welds to the shell of lowest part of the bottom of the shell of the front head (3a). The collar (74) comprises one vertical extending drain slit (75) which extends over the total height (h) of the collar (74). The vertically extending drain slit (75) is located in a side of the collar (74) opposite to the flow direction of the incoming gas in the front head of the shell and tube heat exchanger. During operation of the chemical production plant, at least part of the solid particles of the condensate are stopped by the collar (74), thereby obtaining a remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles which will flow towards the verticalextending drain slit (75), and subsequently in the nozzle drain opening (72) and finally in the drainpipe (73). In order to prevent that solid particles in the process gas would fall down directly in the drain nozzle opening (72) and thus in the drainpipe (73), a cover cap (76) can be provided which can be mounted on or over the collar (74). In order to be able to remove the debris which is stopped by the collar (74), a manhole (8) is provided in the shell of the front head (3a). A manhole (8) is provided in the shell (3) of the shell and tube heat exchanger (1) to be able to enter the inner space (31) of the shell (3), for instance to do maintenance or reparations in the inner space (31), and / or to remove the debris which is stopped by the collar (74), if present.

Claims

1. CLAIM S1. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant, wherein the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises a bottom with a lowest part, and wherein the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment is configured to receive a gas which comprises solid particles, wherein the gas flows in a flow direction through the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment, and wherein, during operation, the solid particles at least partially are carried over from the gas phase to a condensate phase, thereby resulting in a condensate with solid particles, wherein one or more drain arrangements are located in the lowest part of the bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment, each of the drain arrangements comprisinga drain nozzle comprising an drain opening,a drainpipe, which is in fluid communication with the drain nozzle, wherein the drain opening is configured to drain the condensate out of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment towards the drainpipe, anda collar which at least partially surrounds the drain opening and comprises one or more collar drain openings, wherein the collar drain openings are located in a side of the collar opposite to the flow direction of the incoming gas in the gas handling equipment, wherein at least part of the solid particles of the condensate are stopped by the collar, thereby obtaining a remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles which will flow towards the one or more collar drain openings, and subsequently in the nozzle opening and finally in the drainpipe.

2. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the drain arrangement comprises a cover cap which is configured to be mounted on or over the collar to prevent access to the collar from above.

3. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the collar is welded to the lowest part of the bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment.

4. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the collar has a circular shape.

5. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the collar has a height, and the one or more collar drain openings are in the form vertical slits extending at least partially over the height of the collar.

6. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to claim 5, wherein the one or more vertical slits extend over the complete height of the collar.

7. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the collar more in particular is a metal ring with one vertical slit extending over the complete height of the ring.

8. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas handling equipment comprises a manhole which is configured to access the inner side of the gas handling equipment in order to take away the debris which is stopped by the collar.

9. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas handling equipment comprises one or more horizontal process pipes which each have a bottom with the lowest part with the drain arrangement.

10. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprises one or more shell and tube heat exchangers which each comprisea front head with a tube-side inlet which is configured to enter a tube-side fluid which needs to be cooled or heated in the heat exchanger, and which is configured to distribute the tube-side fluid from there in the different tubes via the tube inlet of each of the tubes, wherein the front head comprises the bottom with the lowest part with the drain arrangement,a rear head, which is configured to receive the tube-side fluid out of the tubes via the tube outlet of each of the tubes, the rear head comprising a tube-side outlet which is configured to exit the tube-side fluid out of the heat exchanger, and a shell between the front head and the rear head, the shell comprising a shell inner space, the shell being separated fromthe front head by means of a front tube sheet located in the inner space of the shell at the tube-side inlet, andthe rear head by means of a rear tube sheet located in the inner space of the shell at the tube-side outlet,wherein the front tube sheet and the rear tube sheet are configured to hold the tubes in place, andwherein the shell comprisesa shell-side inlet which is configured to enter a shell-side fluid in the shell inner space, anda shell-side outlet which is configured to exit shell-side fluid out of the shell inner space,wherein the shell inner space is configured to let the shell-fluid flow through the shell inner space around the tubes, which are located in the shell inner space, between the shell-side inlet and the shell-side outlet, therewith releasing heat to the tube-side fluid flowing in the tubes in case the tube-side fluid needs to be heated, or taking up heat from the tube-side fluid flowing in the tubes in case the tube-side fluid needs to be cooled.

11. A horizontally oriented gas handling equipment according to claim 10, wherein the chemical production plant is a nitric acid production plant, and wherein the shell and tube heat exchanger(s) is (are) horizontal nitric acid cooler condenser(s), whereinthe tube-side fluid is a (hot) process gas which originates from an ammonia oxidizer of a nitric acid production plant, comprising NOX, water vapour, N2, oxygen O2, dinitrogen oxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3), and which needs to be cooled, andthe cooled process gas is a cooled two-phase fluid consisting of a liquid part with a certain amount of HNO3, HNO2, H2O, and N2O4, and a gaseous part with a reduced amount of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and water vapour since there was absorption of the NOXin the condensed vapour, and a reduced amount of O2 in view of the process gas entering the tubes, the same amount of N2, and dinitrogen oxide (N2O), dinitrogen tetra oxide (N2O4), nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3), the shell-side fluid is cooling water.

12. A nitric acid production plant comprising an ammonia oxidizer, an absorption tower, and horizontally oriented gas handling equipment comprising one or more horizontal process pipes according to claim 9 and / or one or more horizontal nitric acid cooler condensers according to claim 11.

13. A method for handling a gas with solid particles in a horizontally oriented gas handling equipment of a chemical production plant, wherein the method comprises the steps of carrying over part of the solid particles of a gas phase to a condensate phase of the gas, thereby forming a condensate with solid particles,flowing of the condensate towards one or more drain arrangements which each comprise a drain nozzle with a drain opening, a collar at least partially surrounding the drain opening, and a drainpipe in fluid communication with the drain nozzle, wherein the one or more drain arrangements are located in a lowest part of a bottom of the horizontally oriented gas handling equipment,stopping at least a part of the solid particles of the condensate with solid particles by the collar of the respective drain arrangement(s),flowing of the remaining part of the condensate with a reduced amount of solid particles towards the one or more collar drain openings, and subsequently in the nozzle opening and finally in the drainpipe.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises the further steps of collecting the condensate in the drainpipe of one or more drain arrangements, and consequently in a floating ball liquid trap provided downstream the one or more drain arrangements, more in particular in further downstream in the drainpipe, discharging the condensate out of a floating ball trap, more in particular every time there is condensate present in the drainpipe of the respective drain arrangement(s).

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the condensate is discharged to a purge tank or other process equipment where the condensate is collected.

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