Appeal 2007-1801
Application 10/156,917
We affirm.
Appellants’ invention relates to reflux condensers employed at the top
of distillation towers. Specification, p. 1, ll. 5-6. Independent claims 14 and
45 are illustrative of the invention:
14. A distillation unit comprising:
an elongated upright distillation column having a lower end and
an upper end and defining a fractionation zone extending between the lower
and upper ends; and
a reflux condenser positioned above and rigidly coupled to the
upper end of the column and defining a condensing zone fluidly
communicating with the fractionation zone via a condensing zone inlet,
said condenser including a heat exchange tube bundle disposed
in the condensing zone and comprising a plurality of upright elongated heat
exchange tubes and a plurality of rod-type baffles for supporting the heat
exchange tubes.
45. A distillation unit comprising:
an elongated upright distillation column having a lower end and
an upper end and defining a fractionation zone extending between the lower
and upper ends; and
a reflux condenser positioned above and rigidly coupled to the
upper end of the column and defining a condensing zone fluidly
communicating with the fractionation zone via a condensing zone inlet,
said condenser including a U-tube bundle disposed in the
condensing zone and comprising a plurality of upright elongated U-tubes, a
plurality of rod-type baffles for supporting the U-tubes, and a plurality of
vertically spaced baffle rings,
each of said baffle rings being rigidly coupled to a respective baffle
group of said baffles.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013