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.

A distillation column and tray assembly is disclosed herein. The distillation column includes a removable inner tray assembly with adjustable downcomer tubes. The removable tray assembly enables the user to selectively change distillation plates when so removed. When removed, a distiller or brewer may adjust the downcomer tubes to change the fluid level on the distillation plates, or bypass certain distillation plates completely. Certain embodiments of the invention include a feature of an O-ring recessed around a perimeter of the plates permitting a tight seal and reducing manufacturing costs.

A vapor-liquid contact tray apparatus includes a tray having a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the tray. The apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray. Apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows. The apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row. Centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row. Adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows.

A vapor-liquid contact tray apparatus includes a tray having a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the tray. The apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray. Apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows. The apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row. Centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row. Adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows.

A multi-pass contact tray for use in a mass transfer column has a mixture of fixed valves to movable valves, with the numbers of the respective valves being selected to balance the volumetric flow of vapor through deck segments when the vapor is ascending at volumetric flow rates insufficient to maintain the movable valves in an open position.

A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.

The present disclosure discloses a multi-bubbling region column tray and a corresponding plate column. The multi-bubbling region column tray includes: at least two bubbling regions, provided with first openings for liquid and gas to be mixed and in contact with each other; and at least one non-side downcomer, including at least one hanging downcomer, where the hanging downcomer has a bottom part which includes one or more second openings allowing the liquid to flow toward a lower left side, and one or more third openings allowing the liquid to flow toward a lower right side; and the bottom part of the hanging downcomer is designed to separate the liquid flowing out from the one or more second openings and the liquid flowing out from the one or more third openings.

The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a feed arranged below the middle of the apparatus, a quenching agent inlet arranged above the feed, an outlet arranged below the feed and a draw arranged above the quenching agent inlet, the apparatus having a region provided with one or more packing elements, wherein at least one means which ensures the formation of a liquid layer having a height of at least 1 cm is present between the quenching agent inlet and a packing element present between the quenching agent inlet and feed. The present invention also provides a process for preparing acrylic acid, which includes a step of oxidizing acrolein, wherein the reaction mixture obtained in this oxidation is contacted with water as quenching agent in an inventive apparatus, and a composition obtainable as bottom product in the process according to the invention, comprising acrylic acid and water.

A dual-flow tray for vapor-liquid contacting comprising: higher-relief portions configured to provide first valves; lower-relief portions configured to provide second valves; interconnecting portions that interconnect the higher-relief portions and the lower-relief portions.

The present disclosure relates to a valve tray for use in a chemical process column. The valve tray includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. A plurality of valves are maintained in a spaced relationship relative to individual apertures of the plurality of apertures. An area of the individual apertures is less than an area of individual valves of the plurality of valves.