A multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray for a mass transfer column and method for liquid-vapor contacting in a mass transfer column is provided. The multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray has at least four mass transfer decks configured to provide contact between an ascending vapor passing upward through apertures on the tray surface and a traversing liquid on the tray surface. The tray further includes a central downcomers disposed near a central axis of the tray and two or more peripheral downcomers disposed near the edge of the tray and spaced apart from the central axis, wherein at least two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the peripheral downcomers and two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the central downcomer.

A multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray for a mass transfer column and method for liquid-vapor contacting in a mass transfer column is provided. The multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray has at least four mass transfer decks configured to provide contact between an ascending vapor passing upward through apertures on the tray surface and a traversing liquid on the tray surface. The tray further includes a central downcomers disposed near a central axis of the tray and two or more peripheral downcomers disposed near the edge of the tray and spaced apart from the central axis, wherein at least two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the peripheral downcomers and two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the central downcomer.

The present invention relates to an oil refining equipment comprising a stripping column with packing and the column has a height to diameter ratio from 0.1 to 10, from 0.5 to 5, from 1 to 4.9, from 1.4 to 4.5, from 1.6 to 2.8. It is used for degrading, decomposing or breaking down oxidation products of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and/or fatty acids. A process for refining edible oils is described as well.

The present invention relates to an oil refining equipment comprising a stripping column with packing and the column has a height to diameter ratio from 0.1 to 10, from 0.5 to 5, from 1 to 4.9, from 1.4 to 4.5, from 1.6 to 2.8. It is used for degrading, decomposing or breaking down oxidation products of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and/or fatty acids. A process for refining edible oils is described as well.

A contact tray for use in a mass transfer or heat exchange column and having a tray deck with an inlet area and a remotely positioned outlet for respectively receiving liquid on the tray deck and then removing the liquid after it has flowed across the tray deck and interacted with another fluid on and above the tray deck. A plurality of barriers are positioned between the inlet area and the outlet. The barriers each have spaced-apart pickets and openings in the spacing between adjacent ones of the pickets. The pickets impede the flow of the liquid and increase the upstream liquid loading on the tray deck as the liquid flows from the inlet area, through the openings, and then into the outlet. At low liquid flow rates, this increase in the liquid loading may significantly increase the vapor handling capacity of the tray.

Systems and methods are provided for block operation during lubricant and/or fuels production from deasphalted oil. During block operation, a deasphalted oil and/or the hydroprocessed effluent from an initial processing stage can be split into a plurality of fractions. The fractions can correspond, for example, to feed fractions suitable for forming a light neutral fraction, a heavy neutral fraction, and a bright stock fraction, or the plurality of fractions can correspond to any other convenient split into separate fractions. The plurality of separate fractions can then be processed separately in the process train (or in the sweet portion of the process train) for forming fuels and/or lubricant base stocks. This can allow for formation of unexpected base stock compositions.

A method of separating an organic solvent which may easily separate and recover an organic solvent from a mixed solution containing the organic solvent, and an organic solvent separation system capable of performing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method includes introducing a first mixed solution into a first distillation column to recover an organic solvent and discharge a first fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound A to a bottom of the column, introducing a second mixed solution into a second distillation column to recover organic solvent and discharge a second fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound B, and introducing the first fraction and the second fraction into a third distillation column to recover an organic solvent-rich fraction and a high boiling point compound-rich fraction.

A method of separating an organic solvent which may easily separate and recover an organic solvent from a mixed solution containing the organic solvent, and an organic solvent separation system capable of performing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method includes introducing a first mixed solution into a first distillation column to recover an organic solvent and discharge a first fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound A to a bottom of the column, introducing a second mixed solution into a second distillation column to recover organic solvent and discharge a second fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound B, and introducing the first fraction and the second fraction into a third distillation column to recover an organic solvent-rich fraction and a high boiling point compound-rich fraction.

Systems and processes are provided for upgrading a crude oil. In some examples, a heated crude oil can be introduced into an atmospheric distillation column where an overhead gas product comprising C.sub.4 hydrocarbons can be recovered and recycled back to the atmospheric distillation column to decrease the partial pressure of the C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons in the distillation column allowing higher boiling point fractions of crude oil to be vaporized and recovered.

A counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange device is operated by directing flows of two fluids into a heat and mass exchange device at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal. At least one of the following state variables in the fluids is measured: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic state of the two fluid streams at the points of entry to and exit from the device. The mass flow rate of at least one of the two fluids is changed such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through the device are brought closer to being equal.