Mary R Dean

US Patent:

61289221, Oct 10, 2000

Filed:

May 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/316820

Inventors:

Mary Helen Dean - Elizabeth NJ
Richard W. Potthoff - Scotch Plains NJ
Robert M. Thorogood - New Providence NJ
Ramachandran Krishnamurthy - Chestnut Ridge NY

Assignee:

The BOC Group, Inc. - New Providence NJ

International Classification:

F25J 100

US Classification:

62643

Abstract:

A distillation method and column in which a gaseous mixture is introduced into a bottom region of a packed column having a plurality packed beds using structured packing. The gaseous mixture comprises higher and lower volatility components. The packed column is operated so that the higher and lower volatility components have a relative volatility within the column in a range of between 1. 05 and 1. 8. In order to alleviate the effect of liquid maldistribution in the lowermost bed of such a column, the lowermost bed is sized to be between about 50% and about 80% of the height of the next overlying bed, with 80% being preferred and the total height of the packing within the column is at least about six meters.