Vertical Heat Exchange Unit for Olefinic Monomer Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional olefinic monomer recovery apparatuses experience fouling and pressure drops due to accumulated polyolefin wax and resin, leading to decreased heat transfer efficiency and increased installation costs and area requirements.
Innovation Solution
A vertical-type heat exchange unit with submerged heat transfer tubes and a directly connected knock-out drum unit, eliminating separate connection tubes to prevent fouling and pressure drops, while allowing for efficient heat exchange and separation of olefinic monomers and polyolefin wax.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If horizontal-type heat exchangers with separate connection tubes are used, then heat exchange function is provided, but fouling occurs on tube walls due to liquid accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal tube arrangement to a vertical configuration. The heat exchange tubes are arranged vertically with the gas-liquid mixture flowing downward under gravity, preventing liquid accumulation on tube walls. This inversion of the flow direction and tube orientation eliminates the fouling mechanism that occurs in horizontal arrangements where liquids settle and accumulate on lower surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal two-dimensional heat exchange arrangement to a vertical three-dimensional configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension and allowing gravity to act on the flowing mixture, the system prevents liquid accumulation that would occur in horizontal planes. The vertical arrangement creates a different flow regime where liquids continuously drain downward rather than accumulating on tube surfaces.
2Area of stationary object
If curved tubes are used to fit installation area constraints, then installation flexibility is improved, but pressure drop increases due to flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of curving tubes horizontally to save space, the patent inverts the arrangement to vertical orientation. This allows the use of straight tubes that extend vertically, maintaining favorable flow conditions with minimal curvature-induced pressure drops while still achieving compact footprint through the vertical dimension rather than horizontal curvature.
3Reliability
If multiple horizontal heat exchangers and knock-out drums are alternately arranged, then separation function is improved, but device complexity and installation area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchange function and the gas-liquid separation function into a single integrated vertical heat exchange unit. The vertical tubes serve both as heat exchange surfaces and as flow channels where gravity-induced phase separation occurs. This eliminates the need for separate horizontal heat exchangers and knock-out drums, reducing the number of components while maintaining both separation and heat exchange functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical heat exchange tubes perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide heat exchange surface area for cooling the gas-liquid mixture, serve as flow channels for the downward-moving mixture, and act as the separation medium where gravity causes liquid to drain from the gas phase. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the system.
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
The solution effectively suppresses fouling and pressure drops, enhances heat transfer efficiency, and reduces installation costs and area requirements, enabling a more compact and efficient olefinic monomer recovery process.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling medium for heat exchange; the olefinic monomer-containing gas is cooled by a cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
the olefinic monomer-containing gas is cooled by a cooling medium, a liquid containing a by-product such as the polyolefin wax, and a polyolefin resin or the like not yet recovered from the high-pressure separator can be separated from the cooled unreacted olefinic monomer-containing gas
Implementation Method 3
a vertical-type heat exchange unit, and a knock-out drum unit... through which a gas containing an olefinic monomer and a polyolefin wax passes... a knock-out separating means for separating an olefinic monomer-containing gas and a polyolefin wax-containing liquid from the gas
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an olefinic monomer recovery device capable of suppressing fouling and pressure drop in the recovery device in a process of separating and recovering unreacted monomers after production of a polyolefin resin. The olefinic monomer recovery device is used for separating and recovering unreacted olefinic monomers after production of a polyolefin resin, the apparatus comprising a vertical-type heat exchange unit, and a knock-out drum unit.