Stripper Bottom Chamber Vortex Breaker Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urea production plants face the challenge of residual gases, particularly ammonia and carbon dioxide, being entrained in the urea solution collected at the bottom of high-pressure (HP) strippers, leading to undesirable gas overload in downstream sections and potential plant upsets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a stripper device with a modified bottom chamber design, featuring a vortex breaker, blocking plate, and guiding plate, which prevents gas bubbles from reaching the liquid outlet by altering the flow dynamics and increasing the distance for gas release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional bottom chamber design is used in the stripper, then the liquid solution can be collected efficiently, but gas bubbles become entrained in the liquid solution and reach the liquid outlet, causing gas overload in downstream sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blocking plate as an intermediary element between the liquid solution and the liquid outlet. This blocking plate prevents gas bubbles from reaching the outlet while allowing liquid to pass through, thus resolving the contradiction between efficient liquid collection and gas bubble removal
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom chamber is segmented into multiple functional zones: an upper cylindrical section for liquid distribution, a lower cylindrical section for liquid collection, and an intermediate section containing the blocking plate and vortex breaker. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function in addressing gas entrainment while maintaining overall productivity
2Reliability
If the liquid level in the bottom chamber is kept low to reduce residence time and avoid urea hydrolysis, then biuret formation is reduced, but gas bubbles can more easily reach the liquid outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking plate serves as a mediator that allows the liquid level to be maintained at an optimal height for preventing hydrolysis and biuret formation, while simultaneously blocking gas bubbles from reaching the liquid outlet regardless of the liquid level
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex breaker extracts and eliminates the harmful vortex flow that would otherwise carry gas bubbles to the outlet. By removing this harmful flow pattern, the system can maintain lower liquid levels for purity while preventing gas entrainment
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 design effectively reduces the amount of gas present in the liquid solution collected from the stripper, minimizing gas overload in downstream processes and enhancing the overall efficiency and stability of urea production.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex breaker comprising a top circular plate parallel with the bottom of the lower cylindrical section, concentric with the liquid outlet and joined to the bottom of lower cylindrical section of the container via one or more vertical plates, wherein the diameter of the top plate is greater than the diameter of the liquid outlet to prevent fluid from falling directly from one or more of the plurality of openings directly into the liquid outlet
Implementation Method 2
a blocking plate for preventing bubbles of gas entrained by fluid falling from the plurality of openings from reaching the liquid outlet
Implementation Method 3
a guiding plate for guiding fluid falling from the walls of the intermediate outwardly section towards the side walls of the lower cylindrical section
Data Source
AI summary
A bottom chamber of a stripper (or bottom liquid holder) including a vortex breaker, a blocking plate and a guiding plate. A stripper, a urea HP stripper, a urea plant, a method for operating a stripper and a method for producing a solid, particulate urea-based composition.