Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Reboilers
Reboilers
Reboilers
Lecture Objectives
After this lecture, you should:
n Understand the physics behind a thermosyphon.
o Be familiar with the four main types of reboiler
arrangements in use, and their advantages and
disadvantages.
p Be able to perform sizing calculations for a
thermosyphon.
q Be able to select and design the appropriate
reboiler circuit for a given application.
8-2
LECTURE EIGHT
= 4.71 psig
8-4
2.31
LECTURE EIGHT
8-5
If these frictional
losses are less than 4.7
psig, the inlet line does
not run liquid full.
If they are more than
the 4.7 psig, the
reboiler draw-off pan
overflows, and the flow
to the reboiler is
reduced until the
friction losses drop to
the available
thermosyphon force.
PLANT DESIGN - Daniel R. Lewin
p
8-6
Once-through
thermosyphon reboilers
Forced-circulation reboilers
PLANT DESIGN - Daniel R. Lewin
Circulating thermosyphon
reboilers
Kettle or gravity-fed
reboilers
Reboiler Circuit Design
LECTURE EIGHT
q
r
8-7
8-8
LECTURE EIGHT
p
q
8-9
Forced-circulation Reboiler
Similar to a once-through design, but equipped with a
pump to impose circulation.
Advantages:
1. Careful calculation of circuit
P is not critical.
2. Can overcome large Ps in the
reboiler circuit.
Disadvantages: Wastes energy.
Main usages: (a) If the reboiler
is a furnace, where loss of
flow will lead to tube damage,
and the higher P needs to
be overcome; (b) if a number
of distinct heat sources
supply the reboiler duty.
8 - 10
Figure 5.6
LECTURE EIGHT
Kettle Reboiler
In this type of thermosyphon reboiler circuit:
n
o
p
q
r
8 - 11
p
o
n
s
Kettle Reboiler
8 - 12
LECTURE EIGHT
Kettle Reboiler
The level in the tower sump is
the sum of the following:
Nozzle exit losses.
Liquid feed-line P.
The shell-side exchanger
pressure drop, including the
effect of the baffle height.
The vapor-line P, including
the vapor outlet nozzle loss.
n
o
p
Note:
z
z
z
8 - 13
n
p
o
H2
H1
Friction Losses.
p = pd + pe + pr
8 - 14
LECTURE EIGHT
2
H2
1
H1
288p 32
1 2
The density of fluid in riser is:
H1
2 =
W
WL L +WV V
Horizontal Reboilers:
P p = pd + pe + pr
Here H2 = H1 + H3. Thus, the minimum downcomer nozzle elevation is limited to:
288p + 2H3
H1
1 2
8 - 16
LECTURE EIGHT
P p = pd + pe + pr
H1'
However, since H1 + H3 = H2 + H 4 :
H1
288p + 2 (H 4 H3 ) + 3H 4
1 2
288p + 2H3
1 2
Reboiler Circuit Design
H1 = 3 + H2 + H 4
The minimum draw-off nozzle elevation is:
H1
8 - 18
288p 2 (H 4 + 3) + 3H 4
1 2
LECTURE EIGHT
8 - 19
8 - 20
10
LECTURE EIGHT
Example Calculation
Downcomer:
Liquid: 186,850 lb/hr
1 = 36.7 lb/ft3
Riser: (30% vapor)
Liquid: 130,750 lb/hr
L = 36.7 lb/ft3
vapor: 56,100 lb/hr
V = 1.32 lb/ft3
100
2 =
70 30.7 + 30 1.32
= 4.06 lb/ft3
8 - 21
Example Calculation
Available driving force:
P = (1 288 ) ( 1H1 2H2 )
= (1 288 ) (36.7 16 4.06 13)
= 1.86 psi
Frictions losses:
p (psi)
pd
nozzles
pr
0.10
0.10
8
1.13
0.19
10
0.43
nozzles
0.95
0.39
pe
0.35
0.35
2.71
1.46
8 - 22
11
0.19
p (psi)
8
,
9
LECTURE EIGHT
Summary
After reviewing this lecture, you should:
n Understand the physics behind a thermosyphon.
o Be familiar with the four main types of reboiler
arrangements in use, and their advantages and
disadvantages.
p Be able to perform sizing calculations for a
thermosyphon.
q Be able to select and design the appropriate
reboiler circuit for a given application.
8 - 24
12