Patent · US Active

Reflux condenser method

US10471371B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
31References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 2017
Grant dateNov 12, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC07C31/20
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.