How are the upper and lower columns of a cryogenic distillation column connected?
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Hello everyone, I have a question: I am working on the design of the equipment for a distillation tower located inside a cold box. The design pressure for the upper section of the tower is 0.5 MPa, while that for the lower section is 1.0 MPa. The sheets used for constructing the entire tower are made of aluminum alloy 5083. The upper tower is equipped with an upper head, and the lower tower is mounted on this upper head (see the attached drawings for details). Is this type of structure acceptable? Are there any other better design structures? Thank you!
Based on your description, it seems to be a cryogenic air separation unit. This design is already a common and mature technology. It is recommended to study air separation process diagrams more; understanding the principles of these processes helps one figure out how to make the connections. There are those with direct connections and those with separate connections. But the principle is the same. For reference.
Hello, thank you for the reply. Could you explain it in detail? My two current options are: 1, weld the upper tower cone section directly to the lower tower head ； 2. The upper tower and the lower tower are connected by skirt bolts
It is recommended to first understand the principles of process design before considering structural design. Welding and flange connections must meet the requirements of the medium’s properties in terms of sealing. For example, it doesn’t matter for ordinary media at normal temperatures, but for production media with large temperature differences, flange connections may not be suitable. For reference.