Residence time kettle reboiler

Kettle reboilers have lower heat-transfer coefficients than the other types, as there is no liquid circulation. They are not suitable for fouling materials, and have a high residence time. They will generally be more expensive than an equivalent thermosyphon type as a larger shell is needed, but if the duty is such that the bundle can be installed in the column base, the cost will be competitive with the other types. They are often used as vaporisers, as a separate vapour-liquid disengagement vessel is not needed. They are suitable for vacuum operation, and for high rates of vaporisation, up to 80 per cent of the feed. 

Figure 3.14. The lower ends of fractionators, (a) Kettle reboiler. The heat source may be on TC of either of the two locations shown or on flow control, or on difference of pressure between key locations in the tower. Because of the built-in weir, no LC is needed. Less head room is needed than with the thermosiphon reboiler, (b) Thermosiphon reboiler. Compared with the kettle, the heat transfer coefficient is greater, the shorter residence time may prevent overheating of thermally sensitive materials, surface fouling will be less, and the smaller holdup of hot liquid is a safety precaution, (c) Forced circulation reboiler. High rate of heat transfer and a short residence time which is desirable with thermally sensitive materials are achieved, (d) Rate of supply of heat transfer medium is controlled by the difference in pressure between two key locations in the tower, (e) With the control valve in the condensate line, the rate of heat transfer is controlled by the amount of unflooded heat transfer surface present at any time, (f) Withdrawal on TC ensures that the product has the correct boiling point and presumably the correct composition. The LC on the steam supply ensures that the specified heat input is being maintained, (g) Cascade control The set point of the FC on the steam supply is adjusted by the TC to ensure constant temperature in the column, (h) Steam flow rate is controlled to ensure specified composition of the PF effluent. The composition may be measured directly or indirectly by measurement of some physical property such as vapor pressure, (i) The three-way valve in the hot oil heating supply prevents buildup of excessive pressure in case the flow to the reboiier is throttled substantially, (j) The three-way valve of case (i) is replaced by a two-way valve and a differential pressure controller. This method is more expensive but avoids use of the possibly troublesome three-way valve.

Kettle reboilers consist of a bundle of tubes in an oversize shell. Submergence of the tubes is assured by an overflow weir, typically 5-15 cm higher than the topmost tubes. An open tube bundle is preferred, with pitch to diameter ratios in the range of 1.5-2. Temperature in the kettle is substantially uniform. Residence time is high so that kettles are not favored for thermally sensitive materials. The large shell diameters make kettles uneconomic for high pressure operation. Deentraining mesh pads often are incorporated. Tube bundles installed directly in the tower bottom are inexpensive but the amount of surface that can be installed is limited. 

The sizing of the vessels around the column is based on allowable residence times. For the reflux drum and reboiler sump the residence these are of 5 to 10 minutes. The choice between kettle and thermosiphon reboilers could be justified by the observation that the last gives less trouble in operation (Kister, 1992). 

Bottom product surge. The liquid draw compartment of kettle reboilers is much smaller than most column bottom sumps, and usually provides less liquid residence time and product surge. It is often impractical to incorporate the desired residence time (Sec. 4.4) in this draw compartment, and one needs to either live with the lower residence time or add a surge drum downstream of the reboiler. 

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