Floating Valve Sieve Tray for Extraction Column Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sieve tray extraction columns in the anthraquinone process for hydrogen peroxide production face limitations in operation range and stability due to flooding issues and reduced separation performance, particularly with high surface loads and changes in liquid properties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a floating valve sieve tray with a liftable opening member that is weighted to be lifted by the light phase before flooding occurs, allowing for increased flow rates and improved separation performance without negatively affecting hydrogen peroxide extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the surface load is increased to improve productivity, then the throughput increases, but flooding occurs in the downcomer which reduces operational stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a floating valve mechanism that dynamically adjusts the flow distribution in the downcomer based on the actual liquid level and flow conditions. The valve opens or closes automatically in response to changes in liquid head, allowing the system to adapt to varying throughput levels without flooding, thus resolving the contradiction between increased productivity and operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by introducing a controllable valve that can adjust the effective flow area of the downcomer. By varying the valve opening degree in response to liquid level changes, the system maintains optimal flow conditions across different throughput levels, preventing flooding while maximizing productivity.
2Productivity
If the diameter of sieve holes is increased to improve throughput, then the flow rate increases, but separation performance decreases and flow becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The floating valve provides dynamic control over the effective flow area, allowing the system to optimize the balance between flow rate and separation performance in real-time. The valve adjusts automatically based on liquid level and flow conditions, maintaining stable operation even when hole diameters are increased for higher throughput.
3Reliability
If a double downcomer system is used to prevent flooding, then operational stability improves, but the bypass flow does not contribute to mass transfer and increases flooding tendency in the next tray
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flooding prevention function from a separate bypass downcomer system and integrates it into the main downcomer through a floating valve mechanism. This eliminates the need for a second downcomer and ensures that all flow contributes to mass transfer, resolving the contradiction between operational stability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of flow control and flooding prevention into a single integrated floating valve system within the main downcomer. This unified approach ensures that the same flow path that enables mass transfer also prevents flooding, eliminating the separate bypass system and its associated drawbacks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the operational stability and throughput of sieve tray extraction columns, increasing the daily production of hydrogen peroxide while maintaining extraction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a liftable opening member (212) covering a valve hole (211) in the vale sieve tray (130) and can be lifted by the light phase (110) below the sieve tray (130), wherein the liftable opening member (212) has a weight wvt and/or an effective weight wv and the weight wvt and/or the effective weight wv is selected in such a way that the liftable opening member (212) is lifted by the light phase (110) below the sieve tray before the light phase (110) floods the downcomer (132)
Data Source
AI summary
An extraction method and a countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction column extracts a hydrogen peroxide containing oxidized working solution of an anthraquinone process. The extraction column includes a plurality of sieve trays, wherein at least one of said sieve trays is a valve sieve tray including a downcomer and at least one floating valve that includes a liftable opening member covering a valve hole in the valve sieve tray and can be lifted by the light phase below the sieve tray. A more stable operation of sieve tray extraction columns is possible by using a floating valve so that the flow rate of the oxidized working solution of an AO process and the daily production of hydrogen peroxide can be increased.