A contact tray for use in a mass transfer or heat exchange column and having multiple baffles walls that cause the liquid flowing on an upper surface of a tray deck tray to change its direction of flow and narrow its flow path width and extend the length of the flow path when the liquid flows from an inlet area to an outlet on the tray deck. By narrowing the flow path, the volumetric flow rate of the liquid at any portion of the deck increases and reduces the opportunity for vapor entrainment of the liquid at low liquid flow rates. A downcomer extends downwardly from the outlet to receive liquid when it enters the outlet and then convey it downwardly to a discharge outlet located at a lower end of the downcomer. The downcomer includes an inclined or horizontal portion that causes the discharge outlet to be positioned beneath and in vertical alignment with the inlet area on the tray deck.

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.

A tray deck for use in a vessel and a method of repairing a damaged tray deck. The method includes coupling a tray deck orifice repair device to the damaged tray deck. The tray deck orifice repair device is coupled with a valve.

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 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.

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 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.

A contact tray for use in a mass transfer column and having a tray deck for receiving a liquid stream and a plurality of valves distributed across the tray deck through which vapor ascends for interacting with the liquid stream. Each valve has an opening in the tray deck in the form of a central segment and extensions that extend outwardly from opposite ends of the central segment. The valves each include a valve body with a valve cover positioned in covering relationship above and extending outwardly beyond the opening and legs that are attached to the valve cover at recesses located at opposite ends of the valve cover. The legs extend downwardly through the extensions in the opening and include stops in portions of the legs positioned below the tray deck to permit limited vertical movement of the legs to allow the valve body to move between open and closed positions in response to ascending vapor pressure against an undersurface of the valve cover. Deflectors are positioned at opposite sides of the legs to restrict vapor passage around the legs.

A process for thermal cracking of a feedstock of plastic materials, in particular waste materials, includes the steps of melting the feedstock, conveying melted feedstock in a pyrolysis chamber where the melted feedstock is heated in a substantially oxygen purged environment, to convert it into pyrolysis gases, the process further comprising the steps of: driving pyrolysis gases from the pyrolysis chamber into a tray reflux column comprising a partial condenser at its upper extremity, returning pyrolysis gases condensed in the tray reflux column into the pyrolysis chamber, distilling pyrolysis gases exiting the partial condenser of the reflux column, to provide one or more fuel products.

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.