The invention relates to a crossflow tray for a mass transfer column (27) in which a gas is conducted in countercurrent to a liquid, the crossflow tray (1) having passage orifices (3) for the gas and at least two downcomers (5), the downcomers (5) projecting beyond the top surface of the crossflow tray (1) and a collecting cup (13) being disposed beneath each downcomer (5). The downcomer (5) projects into the collecting cup (13), the minimum horizontal cross-sectional area of the collecting cup (13) is 1.2 to 4 times greater than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the downcomer (5) at the outlet, and the collecting cup (13) has a circumferential wall (15) having an overflow (19). The invention further relates to a mass transfer column comprising the crossflow trays and to a use of the mass transfer column.

A combined fluid collector and redistributor for a process engineering column, including a fluid collector for collecting a first fluid; a fluid redistributor arranged below the fluid collector to define a space between the fluid collector and the fluid redistributor; at least one pipe passing through the space to connect the fluid collector to the fluid redistributor; and at least one conduit extending through the fluid collector to permit a second fluid to flow through the fluid collector. There is at least one deflector in the space, wherein the at least one deflector is set at an angle relative to a central axis of the device whereby flow of the second fluid within the space is displaced angularly around the central axis.

A combined fluid collector and redistributor for a process engineering column, including a fluid collector for collecting a first fluid; a fluid redistributor arranged below the fluid collector to define a space between the fluid collector and the fluid redistributor; at least one pipe passing through the space to connect the fluid collector to the fluid redistributor; and at least one conduit extending through the fluid collector to permit a second fluid to flow through the fluid collector. There is at least one deflector in the space, wherein the at least one deflector is set at an angle relative to a central axis of the device whereby flow of the second fluid within the space is displaced angularly around the central axis.

A bubble cap for a distillation plate is provided. The bubble cap includes a substantially annular plate including an inner surface defining a first opening and substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces through which a plurality of second openings pass. The bubble cap further includes a cap assembly extending upwardly from the substantially annular plate and defining a cavity above the first opening for receiving a distillation plate riser.

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.

A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene comprising steps of: a) supplying a gas composition to an alkylene oxide absorber through a gas inlet, the absorber comprising an absorption section and a sump, and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards; b) supplying a lean absorbent to the top of the absorption section and allowing the lean absorbent to pass downwards; c) intimately contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent in the absorption section in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis; and d) withdrawing fat absorbent from the absorption section and passing the fat absorbent and any liquid condensate through the sump, wherein the sump comprises one or more baffles that define a flow pathway from a sump inlet to a sump outlet between the one or more baffles.

A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene comprising steps of: a) supplying a gas composition to an alkylene oxide absorber through a gas inlet, the absorber comprising an absorption section and a sump, and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards; b) supplying a lean absorbent to the top of the absorption section and allowing the lean absorbent to pass downwards; c) intimately contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent in the absorption section in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis; and d) withdrawing fat absorbent from the absorption section and passing the fat absorbent and any liquid condensate through the sump, wherein the sump comprises one or more baffles that define a flow pathway from a sump inlet to a sump outlet between the one or more baffles.

The present invention relates to a gas-redirecting device presenting an upper plane and a plurality of gas-redirecting tubes comprising an inlet end and an outlet end. For each gas-redirecting tube, the orthogonal projections of the inlet end and the outlet end onto the upper plane have an over-lapping area of at most 50% of the total area of the upper plane covered by the orthogonal projections. Also provided is a liquid-gas contacting column comprising a gas-redirecting device, a floating support comprising a liquid-gas contacting column, at least two packed beds and a method for improving the efficiency of a liquid-gas contacting column which is based on redirecting the gas from a wetted zone of a lower packed bed to a wetted zone of the higher packed bed.

The present invention relates to a gas-redirecting device presenting an upper plane and a plurality of gas-redirecting tubes comprising an inlet end and an outlet end. For each gas-redirecting tube, the orthogonal projections of the inlet end and the outlet end onto the upper plane have an over-lapping area of at most 50% of the total area of the upper plane covered by the orthogonal projections. Also provided is a liquid-gas contacting column comprising a gas-redirecting device, a floating support comprising a liquid-gas contacting column, at least two packed beds and a method for improving the efficiency of a liquid-gas contacting column which is based on redirecting the gas from a wetted zone of a lower packed bed to a wetted zone of the higher packed bed.

The present invention relates to a column for exchanging material and, if appropriate, heat between a gas and a liquid. The column comprises at least one collector tray 1 and a liquid distribution system 5, 6 arranged between two packed beds 7, and gas and liquid separation means 8. The present invention proposes arranging gas and liquid separation means 8 between the collector tray 4 and the liquid distribution means 5, 6.