The present disclosure includes a column (1) having a cylindrical, vertical column body (2) forming a column cavity (3), and a mass transfer tray (4) disposed in the column cavity (3) and forming a collecting area (5). The column (1) is characterized by a circulation device (9) having at least one drain orifice (10) formed in the column body (2) above the collecting area (5), a circulation line (11) in fluid connection with the drain orifice (10) and at least one recycling orifice (14; 14-1 to 14-3) which is in fluid connection with the circulation line (11) and is formed in the column body (2) above the collecting area (5). Also disclosed herein is a thermal separating process in which a gas ascends within a column (1) of the present disclosure, and a liquid descends within the column (1), said gas and/or liquid containing (meth)acrylic monomers.

Fractionation systems utilizing a single rectifying column with a stripping column housed in the same vessel and having a uniform diameter are described. Methods of separating feed streams using the fractionation systems are also described.

Fractionation systems utilizing a single rectifying column with a stripping column housed in the same vessel and having a uniform diameter are described. Methods of separating feed streams using the fractionation systems are also described.

A multiple downcomer tray and a tray column comprising the same are provided. The multiple downcomer tray comprises: a tray body; at least one anti-jump plate disposed on the tray body to divide the tray body into at least two sections; and at least two downcomer assemblies disposed corresponding to the at least two sections respectively, in which each of the at least two downcomer assemblies comprises at least one tray floor, at least one downcomer and at least one liquid receiving pan which are disposed parallel to each other, and the liquid receiving pan and the downcomer are positioned at two sides of the tray floor respectively.

Systems and methods are provided for reducing maldistribution of liquids and vapors in packed towers. An exemplary separation system includes a separation tower including at least two packed beds, and a vapor redistribution plate disposed between two sequentially disposed packed beds, wherein the vapor redistribution plate is configured to mix a vapor from a lower packed bed before introducing the vapor into an upper packed bed.

A liquid distributor is provided for receiving and distributing a liquid stream in a mass transfer column. The liquid distributor has a plurality of elongated primary troughs and a plurality of secondary troughs that are positioned adjacent the primary troughs at a location to receive at least some of the individual primary discharge streams from the primary troughs. Splash baffles are spaced a preselected distance from liquid discharge holes in the side walls of the secondary troughs to receive at least some of the individual secondary discharge streams and cause a lateral spreading thereof as the individual second discharge streams descend along the splash baffles and drip from lower edges thereof.

A liquid distributor is provided for receiving and distributing a liquid stream in a mass transfer column. The liquid distributor has a plurality of elongated primary troughs and a plurality of secondary troughs that are positioned adjacent the primary troughs at a location to receive at least some of the individual primary discharge streams from the primary troughs. Splash baffles are spaced a preselected distance from liquid discharge holes in the side walls of the secondary troughs to receive at least some of the individual secondary discharge streams and cause a lateral spreading thereof as the individual second discharge streams descend along the splash baffles and drip from lower edges thereof.

A contact and separation column (1) encasing a stack of one or more contact and separation cells (3). Each cell comprises: a tray (4) with gas flow openings (6) opening into contact and separation units (7); a downcomer (16) defining a liquid discharge; and a liquid supply (17). Each contact and separation unit (7) comprises an upstream contact zone (8, 9) with liquid inlets (12), and one or more downstream separation zones (10) provided with a swirler (13) and a top end with a gas outlet (14). The swirler (13) is located at a distance from the gas inlet of from 50 to 90 % of the total length of the contact and separation zone. Process for treating a gas with such a column.

A contact and separation column (1) encasing a stack of one or more contact and separation cells (3). Each cell comprises: a tray (4) with gas flow openings (6) opening into contact and separation units (7); a downcomer (16) defining a liquid discharge; and a liquid supply (17). Each contact and separation unit (7) comprises an upstream contact zone (8, 9) with liquid inlets (12), and one or more downstream separation zones (10) provided with a swirler (13) and a top end with a gas outlet (14). The swirler (13) is located at a distance from the gas inlet of from 50 to 90 % of the total length of the contact and separation zone. Process for treating a gas with such a column.

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.