Fluid distribution and collection system in a multistage column comprising a jet breaker

1. A process for simulated moving bed separation comprising:

providing a device for distributing a fluid to at least one granular bed of a multistage column having a succession of plates, each plate (P) supporting a bed of granular solid and being divided into panels denoted (Pa), said device being applied to each panel (Pa) of a plate (P) equipped with a collecting baffle ( 5 ) located immediately upstream of the device, said device comprising the following three elements disposed from top to bottom in the direction of fluid flow:

i) a solid jet breaker ( 9 ) located approximately in the axis of an outlet opening of the collecting baffle of the panel (Pa) and centered on the axis of said collecting baffle;

ii) an intermediate perforated plate ( 8 ) extending laterally beyond the jet breaker over a width in the range from the width of said jet breaker to a higher value equal to half the width of the panel plus or minus 5 cm wherein said intermediate perforated plate does not extend over this entire section of the panel (Pa), and with a degree of opening in the range 15% to 30%;

c) a distribution plate ( 7 ) extending over the entire section of the panel (P), and with a degree of opening in the range 7% to 15%; and

separating a feed mixture of aromatic compounds containing 7 to 9 carbon atoms by passing said feed mixture through said multistage column.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the feed to be separated is a mixture of normal and iso-paraffins.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the feed to be separated is a mixture of normal and iso-olefins.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the principal fluid passing through said device has a density in the range 600 to 950 kg/m 3 and a viscosity in the range 0.1 to 0.6 cPo.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the distribution plate ( 7 ) is a “Johnson” type screen, the slots of the screen being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the intermediate perforated plate ( 8 ) is a “Johnson” type screen, the slots of said screen being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the solid jet breaker ( 9 ) extends over a length in the range 2 cm to 6 cm.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the distance between the lower end of the collecting baffle ( 5 ) and the upper end of the jet breaker ( 9 ) is in the range 4 mm to 30 mm.

9. A process for simulated moving bed separation comprising: providing an apparatus comprising:

A. multistage column having a succession of support plates, each support plate (P) supporting a bed of granular solid and being divided into panels (Pa) with a collecting baffle each panel (Pa) having an outlet opening, and

B. a fluid distribution device comprising the following three elements disposed from top to bottom in the direction of fluid flow:

i) a solid jet breaker ( 9 ) located approximately in the axis of the outlet opening of a collecting baffle of the panel (Pa) and centered on the axis of said collecting baffle;

ii) an intermediate perforated plate ( 8 ) extending laterally beyond the jet breaker over a width in the range from the width of said jet breaker to a higher value equal to half the width of the panel plus or minus 5 cm, and extending over less than the entire section of the panel (Pa), and with a degree of opening in the range 15% to 30%;

iii) a distribution plate ( 7 ) extending over the entire section of the panel (Pa), and with a degree of opening in the range 7% to 15%, and

wherein said fluid distribution device is applied to each panel (Pa) of a support plate (P) equipped with the collecting baffle ( 5 ) located immediately upstream of the fluid distribution device; and

separating a feed mixture of aromatic compounds containing 7 to 9 carbon atoms by passing said feed mixture through said apparatus.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the feed to be separated is a mixture of normal and iso-paraffins.

11. The process of claim 9 wherein the feed to be separated is a mixture of normal and iso-olefins.

12. The process of claim 9 wherein the principal fluid passing through said apparatus has a density in the range 600 to 950 kg/m 3 and a viscosity in the range 0.1 to 0.6 cPo.

13. The process of claim 9 wherein the distribution plate ( 7 ) is a “Johnson” type screen, the slots of the screen being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel.

14. The process of claim 9 wherein the intermediate perforated plate ( 8 ) is a “Johnson” type screen, the slots of said screen being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel.

15. The process of claim 9 wherein the solid jet breaker ( 9 ) extends over a length in the range 2 cm to 6 cm.

16. The process of claim 9 wherein the distance between the lower end of the collecting baffle ( 5 ) and the upper end of the jet breaker ( 9 ) is in the range 4 mm to 30 mm.

17. A process for simulated moving bed separation comprising:

providing a device for distributing a fluid to at least one granular bed of a multistage column having a succession of plates, each plate (P) supporting a bed of granular solid and being divided into panels denoted (Pa), said device being applied to each panel (Pa) of a plate (P) equipped with a collecting baffle ( 5 ) located immediately upstream of the device, said device comprising the following three elements disposed from top to bottom in the direction of fluid flow:

a) a solid jet breaker ( 9 ) located approximately in the axis of an outlet opening of the collecting baffle of the panel (Pa) and centered on the axis of said collecting baffle;

b) an intermediate perforated plate ( 8 ) extending laterally beyond the jet breaker over a width in the range from the width of said jet breaker to a higher value equal to half the width of the panel plus or minus 5 cm wherein said intermediate perforated plate does not extend over this entire section of the panel (Pa), and with a degree of opening in the range 15% to 40%;

c) a distribution plate ( 7 ) extending over the entire section of the panel (P), and with a degree of opening in the range 5% to 20%; and

separating a feed mixture of aromatic compounds containing 7 to 9 carbon atoms by passing said feed mixture through said multistage column.