Can a vacuum pump evacuate 2 towers at the same time?
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Our company has a tower that needs to be modified. I would like to ask: if there is a vacuum pump adjacent to it with sufficient pumping capacity to maintain the required vacuum level for two towers, can that vacuum pump be used to create a vacuum in both towers at the same time? The vacuum level of the two towers is the same, and the operating conditions are also identical.
Sure. The vacuum extraction pipes for the two towers are connected in parallel to the vacuum pump inlet pipe; a valve can be added to each of them, which facilitates switching during operation. A reminder: 1. Are the heights of the vacuum extraction points on the two towers the same? 2. Is the liquid content in the extracted steam high?
It’s possible, but it’s better to use a separate vacuum pump for evacuation. Because when one tower is in operation and another one is brought online, any operational error can not only affect the vacuum level of the plant and cause it to stop operating, but may also trigger the protective devices of the tower that is in operation (such as rupture disks).
Thank you, I’ve learned something new. The heights of the two towers here are not the same; the liquid content in the vapor drawn off is low, but the gas contains naphthalene, so absorption is necessary. What we have in mind is to use a vacuum pump to draw out the non-condensable gases from the absorption tank – this shouldn’t be affected by the height of the vacuum point, right?
Yes, one vacuum pump in our unit can power 3 columns, and the results are very good. But to operate the vacuum pump properly, the main issue is water.
Yes, the oil in the water hose of the vacuum pump has caused emulsification (containing naphthalene); do you have any good methods to deal with this?
Construct a gas buffer tank; the non-condensable gases from the tower enter the middle of the buffer tank, while the top of the tank is connected to the inlet pipeline of the vacuum pump. This should make it easier to operate.
Theoretically, it is feasible; it is best to install control valves on the evacuation pipelines of the two towers to prevent large pressure fluctuations when operating conditions change