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BR-122026002836-A2 - Liquid-to-liquid film contactor for fiber bundles.

BR122026002836A2BR 122026002836 A2BR122026002836 A2BR 122026002836A2BR-122026002836-A2

Abstract

A fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor may comprise: a container comprising: a first inlet; a second inlet; a mixing zone disposed in the container to receive a first liquid from the first inlet and a second liquid from the second inlet, wherein the mixing zone comprises an inductor fluidly coupled to the inlet for the second liquid; and an extraction zone comprising a fiber bundle disposed in the container to receive the first liquid and the second liquid from the mixing zone.

Inventors

  • John Jagger
  • CHAITANYA SATHAIAH VUDUTHA
  • Raj Nagarajan

Assignees

  • MERICHEM COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20190924
Priority Date
20181129

Claims (6)

  1. 1. Fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor (100), characterized in that it comprises: a container (106) comprising: a first inlet (110); a second inlet (112); a mixing zone (102) disposed in the container (106) to receive a first liquid from the first inlet (110) and a second liquid from the second inlet (112), wherein the mixing zone (102) comprises a perforated plate assembly (602) comprising a plate (603), a plurality of openings (618) in the plate (603) and a plurality of chimneys (604) extending from the plate (603) and disposed to allow fluid flow through additional openings (610) in the plate (603); and an extraction zone (104) comprising a fiber bundle (108) disposed in the container (106) to receive the first liquid and the second liquid from the mixing zone (102).
  2. 2. Fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor (100), according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a distributor (700) coupled to the second inlet (112), wherein the distributor (700) comprises a spiral distributor (400) or an arm distributor (500).
  3. 3. Fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor (100), according to claim 2, characterized in that the distributor (700) comprises a plurality of spaced holes (402, 506) and a flow path (408, 508) from the second inlet (112) to the plurality of spaced holes (402, 506).
  4. 4. Fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor (100), according to claim 3, characterized in that at least some of the spaced holes (402, 506) comprise an inductor (200) fluidically coupled to at least some of the spaced holes (402, 506).
  5. 5. Fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor (100), according to claim 4, characterized in that the inductor (200) comprises: a reducer body (206) with a flow path (210) disposed therein and fluidically coupled to the second inlet (112); a first reducer cone (205) disposed in the reducer body (206) such that the flow path (210) disposed in the reducer body (206) extends through the first reducer cone (205); and a second reducer cone (212), wherein the second reducer cone (212) is spaced from an outlet of the first reducer cone (205), and wherein the first liquid enters a space between the first reducer cone (205) and the second reducer cone (212) in an induction zone (208).
  6. 6. Fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor (100), according to claim 5, characterized in that the distributor (700) is disposed within a stationary liquid in the perforated plate or above the stationary liquid in the perforated plate assembly (602).

Description

FUNDAMENTALS [001] Chemical processes often require multiple unit operations to produce a particular product stream. A particular unit operation might be a liquid-liquid contact operation whereby two liquids are brought into intimate contact to effect mass transfer between the liquids, a reaction between components in the liquids, or both. Liquid-liquid contact can be beneficial in some types of chemical reactions where a reactant is miscible in a first liquid but immiscible in a second liquid. An example of such a reaction might be where a first reactant is present in a polar solvent, such as water, and a second reactant is present in a non-polar solvent, such as a hydrocarbon, and the water and hydrocarbon are immiscible. Liquid-liquid contact can have other applications, such as liquid-liquid extraction, whereby a species present in a first liquid is extracted into a second liquid by mass transfer across the liquid-liquid interface. [002] A particular challenge of liquid-liquid contact can be ensuring an adequate contact area between the two liquids so that mass transfer or reactions can occur in an appreciable amount and in an economically viable manner. In general, liquid-liquid contact operations can be performed with immiscible liquids, such as, for example, an aqueous liquid and an organic liquid. The use of two immiscible liquids can allow the liquids to be readily separated after liquid-liquid contact is completed. However, when a liquid-liquid contact operation is performed with immiscible liquids, phase separation may occur before adequate contact between the liquids is achieved. [003] Various liquid-liquid contact vessels and techniques have been developed to intensify the contact area between liquids in a liquid-liquid contact process, including, but not limited to, fiber bundle type liquid-liquid contactors. A fiber bundle type liquid-liquid contactor may generally comprise one or more fiber bundles suspended within a shell and two or more inlets where the two liquids may be introduced into the shell. The fiber bundle may promote contact between the two liquids by allowing a first liquid to flow along individual fibers of the fiber bundles and a second liquid to flow between the individual fibers, thereby increasing the effective contact area between the liquids. The two liquids may flow from an inlet section of the shell to an outlet section of the shell, while maintaining intimate contact so that a reaction, mass transfer, or both may be maintained between the two liquids. [004] There may be challenges with the design and operation of fiber bundle type liquid-liquid contactors due to “entry effects,” where the two liquids come into contact first. The degree to which the two liquids are mixed or in contact before they reach the fiber bundle can determine the effectiveness of the liquid-liquid contact operation, the required fiber length, pressure drop, material cost, and other factors apparent to those skilled in the art. Additionally, when the two liquids flow through the fiber bundle, when oriented vertically, phase separation may begin to occur such that the relatively heavier or denser liquid may begin to migrate toward the center of the fiber bundle while the relatively lighter, or less dense, liquid may begin to migrate to the outside of the fiber bundle. Early phase separation may be a consequence of inadequate distribution of the two liquids before they enter the fiber bundle. SUMMARY [005] In one embodiment, a fiber bundle liquid-liquid contactor may comprise a container comprising: a first inlet; a second inlet; a mixing zone disposed in the container to receive a first liquid from the first inlet and a second liquid from the second inlet, wherein the mixing zone comprises an inductor fluidly coupled to the inlet for the second liquid; and an extraction zone comprising a fiber bundle disposed in the container to receive the first liquid and the second liquid from the mixing zone. In another embodiment, a fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor may comprise: a container comprising: a first inlet; a second inlet; a mixing zone disposed in the container to receive a first liquid from the first inlet and a second liquid from the second inlet, wherein the mixing zone comprises a spiral distributor fluidly coupled to the inlet for the second liquid; and an extraction zone comprising a fiber bundle disposed in the container to receive the first liquid and the second liquid from the mixing zone. In another embodiment, a fiber bundle liquid-liquid film contactor may comprise: a container comprising: a first inlet; a second inlet; a mixing zone disposed in the vessel to receive a first liquid from the first inlet and a second liquid from the second inlet, wherein the mixing zone comprises a perforated plate assembly comprising a plate, a plurality of openings in the plate and a plurality of chimneys extending from the plate and arranged to permit fluid flow through additional openings in t