The present invention relates to a column for exchanging heat and/or material between a gas and a liquid. The column comprises at least one collector tray (1), at least one packed bed, and mixing means for a gas flow (7, 8). According to the invention, the mixing means for a gas flow are arranged below the collector tray (1) and above the packing.

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.

Provided is a packed column capable of achieving sufficiently high distillation performance even with the height of its gas-liquid contactors reduced. The packed column is a packed column which includes a gas-liquid contactor 17, 18 inside a tubular body 16 and a liquid distributor 19 in the upper most portion and causes descending liquid and ascending gas to contact each other in the gas-liquid contactor. The operation pressure is in the range of 200 to 1500 kPaG. The relative volatility is in the range of 1.9 to 3.1. The gas-liquid contactor is vertically divided into at least two parts. A gas disperser 20 is provided at at least one position between a lower one of the gas-liquid contactors and an upper one of the gas-liquid contactors, the gas disperser uniformly dispersing the composition of the ascending gas rising from the lower gas-liquid contactor toward the upper gas-liquid contactor.

An exchange device includes a plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of openings extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The top surface receives a liquid which flows in a flow direction over the top surface. A plurality of valves is disposed over the openings. Each valve includes a round lid coupled to the first, second, and third legs. The first leg is upstream of the second and third legs relative to the flow direction. The first leg has a width that is greater than the width of the second and third legs. In particular, a ratio of the width of the first leg to the width of the second leg is in a range of 1.6:1 to 2.6:1.

An apparatus is disclosed for maintaining constant fluid pressure and equalized fluid flow among a plurality of downcomer lines through which liquid from a tower is directed. A substantially annular fluid distribution belt is disposed at the circumference of the tower. The fluid distribution belt collects liquid from the tower. At least two outlets direct liquid from the fluid distribution belt out of the tower and into a corresponding number of downcomer lines disposed external to the tower.

An apparatus is disclosed for maintaining constant fluid pressure and equalized fluid flow among a plurality of downcomer lines through which liquid from a tower is directed. A substantially annular fluid distribution belt is disposed at the circumference of the tower. The fluid distribution belt collects liquid from the tower. At least two outlets direct liquid from the fluid distribution belt out of the tower and into a corresponding number of downcomer lines disposed external to the tower.

A valve accommodated in a separation tray including upper (3) and lower (5) trays, a lock (1) formed between the upper (3) and lower (5) trays. The valve (13) includes a closing element (11) configured such that an orifice (9) in the lower tray (5) is closed by the closing element (11) in a first valve position so that liquid flows from the upper tray (3) into the lock (1), and, in a second valve position, the orifice (9) and an orifice (7) in the upper tray (3) are opened so that gas flows through the lock (1) and liquid on the upper tray (3). The closing element (11) is in the form of a hood including a jacket (23) having orifices (21) positioned in such a way that, in the second valve position, gas flows through the orifices (21) into the liquid on the upper tray (3).

A valve accommodated in a separation tray including upper (3) and lower (5) trays, a lock (1) formed between the upper (3) and lower (5) trays. The valve (13) includes a closing element (11) configured such that an orifice (9) in the lower tray (5) is closed by the closing element (11) in a first valve position so that liquid flows from the upper tray (3) into the lock (1), and, in a second valve position, the orifice (9) and an orifice (7) in the upper tray (3) are opened so that gas flows through the lock (1) and liquid on the upper tray (3). The closing element (11) is in the form of a hood including a jacket (23) having orifices (21) positioned in such a way that, in the second valve position, gas flows through the orifices (21) into the liquid on the upper tray (3).

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 disclosure includes techniques associated with a collector tray assembly for a cryogenic distillation tower disposed below a slurry mix zone and above a lower distillation zone, wherein the collector tray assembly comprises a deck at a lower end of the slurry mix zone, and wherein the deck comprises at least one vapor riser configured to pass the vapor from the lower distillation zone into the slurry mix zone, wherein the vapor riser comprises a substantially vertical heat transfer section configured to pass the vapor substantially upwards through the slurry mix zone, and a vapor outlet section comprising at least one vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet section is below the heat transfer section.