SUPPORTING COLLECTOR FOR A PACKING COLUMN

Abstract

A supporting collector for supporting a package, comprising: a plurality of collecting trays for receiving a liquid phase falling from the package; a plurality of guide elements arranged above the collecting trays for guiding the falling liquid phase into the collecting trays; and a supporting grid connected to the guide elements for laying the package on the supporting grid. According to the invention the supporting grid, the guide elements, and the collecting trays are formed integrally on one another and form a supporting unit, wherein the supporting grid, the guiding elements, and the collecting trays are formed by 3D printing and are formed integrally on one another by the 3D printing. A corresponding method for producing a supporting collector is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A supporting collector for supporting a packing, comprising: a plurality of collecting trays for receiving a liquid phase falling from the packing; a plurality of guiding elements which are arranged above the collecting trays and which serve for guiding the falling liquid phase into the collecting trays; and a supporting grid which is connected to the guiding elements and which serves for the placement of the packing onto the supporting grid, characterized in that the supporting collector has a central run-off tube which extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the supporting grid, the guiding elements, the collecting trays and the run-off tube are formed integrally on one another and form a supporting unit, wherein the supporting grid, the guiding elements, the collecting trays and the run-off tube are formed by 3D printing and are formed integrally on one another by the 3D printing, and wherein the collecting trays are fluidically connected to the run-off tube and extend in each case from the collecting tube outward in a radial direction to a periphery of the supporting collector, and wherein, proceeding from the run-off tube, the respective collecting tray branches into two collecting tray sections which extend in each case along a radial direction to the periphery of the supporting collector and in the process diverge.

2. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal axis runs perpendicularly to the guiding elements and/or to the collecting trays.

3. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the two collecting tray sections have in each case a side wall, wherein the two side walls are facing one another, and wherein further collecting tray sections branch off from the two side walls in each case, which sections run parallel to one another.

4. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that between every two adjacent collecting tray sections there is formed a gap which serves for allowing the passage of a gaseous phase, such that said phase is able to rise up into a packing that is to be placed onto the supporting grid.

5. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the guiding elements have in each case at least one guiding element section, which is arranged above an assigned gap such that a liquid phase impinging on the respective guiding element section can flow away from the respective guiding element section and pass into at least one of the two collecting tray sections which run on both sides of the gap above which the respective guiding element section is arranged.

6. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the guiding element sections are designed as roof profiles, wherein the guiding element sections have in each case two lower edges which are opposite one another and which are each designed as drip noses.

7. The supporting collector (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the guiding elements are formed integrally on assigned collecting tray sections via webs, wherein between adjacent webs there is formed in each case a passage opening, for allowing the passage of a gaseous phase, such that said phase is able to rise up into a packing that is to be placed onto the supporting grid.

8. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the collecting trays and/or the collecting tray sections have a slope toward the central run-off tube.

9. The supporting collector as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in a region above the run-off tube in which no guiding element sections are arranged, there is arranged a collecting funnel which is set up for collecting a falling liquid phase, wherein the collecting funnel is connected directly, integrally, or indirectly to the run-off tube.

10. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supporting unit is formed integrally from a metal, by 3D printing.

11. The supporting collector as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, during the 3D printing, the supporting unit is built up in layers from a material in powder form, comprising a metal, wherein a plurality of layers of the material are applied in succession, one above the other, wherein each layer, prior to the application of the next layer, is heated by means of a laser beam in a predefined region which corresponds to a cross-sectional region of the unit to be produced, and is in the process fixed on the layer lying thereunder, is fused to this.

12. A method for the production of a supporting collector for supporting a packing, wherein the supporting collector has a plurality of collecting trays for receiving a liquid phase falling from the packing, a plurality of guiding elements which are arranged above the collecting trays and which serve for guiding the falling liquid phase into the collecting trays, a supporting grid which is connected to the guiding elements and which serves for the placement of the packing onto the supporting grid, and also in particular a run-off tube which is fluidically connected to the collecting trays which in particular extend in each case from the collecting tube outward in a radial direction to a periphery of the supporting collector, and wherein the supporting grid, the guiding elements, the collecting trays and also the run-off tube are formed integrally on one another and form a supporting unit, wherein the supporting grid, the guiding elements, the collecting trays and also the run-off tube are formed by 3D printing and are formed integrally on one another by the 3D printing.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that, during the 3D printing, the supporting unit is built up in layers from a material in powder form, comprising a metal, wherein a plurality of layers of the material are applied in succession, one above the other, wherein each layer, prior to the application of the next layer, is heated by means of a laser beam in a predefined region which corresponds to a cross-sectional region of the unit to be produced, and is in the process fixed on the layer lying thereunder, is fused to this.

Description

[0035] The invention described above is explained in detail below against the relevant technical background with reference to the associated drawings, which show preferred refinements and in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a supporting collector according to the invention,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a section along the line A-A of FIG. 1,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view, at an angle from above, of the supporting collector without a grid,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view, at an angle from below, of the supporting collector with a grid, and

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the underside of the supporting collector or of the collecting trays of the supporting collector.

[0041] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a preferred embodiment of a supporting collector 1 according to the invention.

[0042] The supporting collector 1 has a central run-off tube 6 which extends along a longitudinal or cylinder axis 12 which, during operation, coincides with the vertical longitudinal or cylinder axis of a column or packing column in which the supporting collector 1 for supporting a structured packing is to be arranged. Above the run-off tube 6 there is a collecting funnel 15 for catching a liquid phase 16 flowing away from the packing. In particular the liquid phase 16 which falls in the region around the longitudinal or cylinder axis is guided by this collecting funnel 15 into the run-off tube 6. In said region, the collecting funnel 15 replaces the guiding element sections 40 explained further below. A multiplicity of branched collecting trays 3, which open into the run-off tube 6 and are formed integrally thereon, extends, in each case in a radial direction R, from the run-off tube outward to a circular periphery 11 of the supporting collector 1. The collecting trays 3 are preferably designed in the form of troughs and serve for catching a liquid phase 16 falling from the packing. Here, the collecting trays extend in each casewith respect to a supporting collector 1 arranged as intended, which is to be assumed in the following textalong a horizontal plane, and have in this case a slope toward the run-off tube 6. Furthermore, proceeding from the run-off tube 6, the collecting trays 3 branch in each case into two collecting tray sections 30 which extend in each case along a radial direction R to the periphery 11 of the supporting collector 1 and in the process diverge. Here, the two collecting tray sections 30 have in each case a side wall 300, which side walls are facing one another, wherein further collecting tray sections 31 branch off from the two side walls 300 in each case, which sections in particular run parallel to one another and in particular extend in each case along a radial direction R to the periphery 11 of the supporting collector 1. In this way, the collecting trays 3 acquire a tree structure, wherein the liquid phase 16 in the individual collecting tray sections 30, 31, which are fluidically connected to one another, is merged toward the run-off tube 6.

[0043] The collecting trays 3 or collecting tray sections 30, 31 are designed as channels that are open at the top, and have in this case an underside 3a via which the collecting tray sections 30, 31 are able to be laid on a supporting ring 14 at an outer end in order to support the supporting collector. A supporting ring 14 of this type may be provided, for example, on the circumferential inner side of a column such that the supporting collector can be supported via the supporting ring and, at the same time, can extend over the entire column cross section.

[0044] For allowing the passage of a gaseous phase 17 flowing upward in the column, between the collecting tray sections 30, 31 there are gaps 50 which correspondingly extend outward in each case along a radial direction R to the circumference 11 of the supporting collector 1. It is therefore possible for the gaseous phase 17 to rise up into the packing to be mounted on the supporting collector 1, where it can come into contact with a liquid phase 16 wetting the packing.

[0045] In order to deflect a liquid phase 16 falling from the packing to be mounted, the supporting collector has a multiplicity of guiding elements which extend from the run-off tube 6 outward, in each case in a radial direction R, to the periphery 11 of the supporting collector 1, specifically above the collecting trays 3. The guiding elements 4 may likewise branch and have in each case at least one guiding element section 40 which is arranged above an assigned gap 50. The guiding elements 4 or guiding element sections 40 therefore cover the gaps 50 between the collecting tray sections 30, 31 and ensure that a liquid phase 16 trickling down from above is guided into the collecting tray sections 30, 31.

[0046] For this purpose, the guiding element sections 40 are formed so as to be of roof-shaped cross section and have here in each case two run-off surfaces 40a which are arranged at an angle to one another and which drop down on both sides such that the liquid phase 16 flowing along the run-off surfaces 40a falls into the collecting tray sections 30, 31. The lower edges of the guiding elements 4 or guiding element sections 40 are preferably designed as drip noses and thereby prevent liquid 16 flowing away through the passage openings 7 and not passing into the collecting trays 3. In particular, the guiding element sections 40 are formed so as to be preferably of triangular cross section, specifically in particular in the form of an isosceles triangle with an upwardly directed apex, whereby a peaked roof or the respective roof profile is formed. The roof profile may furthermore be a solid profile of triangular cross section.

[0047] The individual guiding element sections 40 are formed integrally on the assigned collecting tray sections 30, 31 via webs 9 running vertically, wherein between every two adjacent webs 9 there is formed in each case a passage opening 7 through which the gaseous phase 17, which enters into the gaps 50 from below, can flow past the guiding elements 4 in order to pass into the packing. For the purpose of supporting the packing, the supporting collector furthermore has a circular supporting grid 5, the upward-facing bearing surface of which is arranged above the collecting trays 3 and guiding elements 4. Here, the supporting grid 5 is formed integrally on the guiding elements 4. The supporting grid 5 serves for supporting a packing which is directly placed onto the bearing surface of the supporting grid 5.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting collector 1 is, according to the invention, built up as an integrally formed unit by 3D printing. Here, the run-off tube 6, the collecting trays 3, the guiding elements 4 and the supporting grid 5 are formed integrally on one another. This may be performed, for example, by means of laser sintering.

[0049] The supporting unit 6, 3, 4, 5 is in this case built up in layers from a material in powder form, in particular comprising a metal, in particular aluminum, wherein a plurality of layers of the material are applied in succession, one above the other, wherein each layer, prior to the application of the next layer, is heated by means of a laser beam 21, which is produced by a laser 20, in a predefined region which corresponds to a cross-sectional region of the unit to be produced, and is in the process fixed on the layer lying thereunder, in particular is fused to this.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0050]

TABLE-US-00001 1 Supporting collector 2 Collecting tray 3a Underside 4 Guiding element 5 Supporting grid 6 Central run-off tube 7 Passage opening 9 Web 11 Periphery 12 Longitudinal axis of cylinder axis 14 Supporting ring 15 Collecting funnel 16 Liquid phase 17 Gaseous phase 20 Laser 21 Laser beam 30, 31 Collecting tray sections 40 Guiding element sections 40a Run-off surfaces 50 Gap 300 Side wall R Radial direction