Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Distillation pressure control

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6501749

This patent describes an apparatus comprising: a fractional distillation column; means for providing a feed mixture to be fractionated to the column; means for withdrawing an overhead vapor stream from the column; means for condensing at least a portion of the overhead vapor stream; an accumulator; means for passing the resulting at least partially condensed overhead stream into the accumulator; means for withdrawing condensate from the accumulator and for passing a first portion of the thus withdrawn condensate into an upper portion of the column as an external reflux therefore and for passing a second portion of the thus withdrawn condensate as an overhead liquid product stream; means for withdrawing a first vapor stream from the accumulator and for passing a first portion of the thus withdrawn vapor through a first control valve to a vapor recovery unit and for passing a second portion of the thus withdrawn vapor stream through a second control valve to a waste gas disposal unit; means for providing a second vapor stream from an external source to the column through a third control valve wherein the second vapor stream is compatible with the first vapor stream.

Assignee:
Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK
Patent Number(s):
US 4769056
OSTI ID:
6501749
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English