Trays having increased capacity and efficiency are described. The trays have a deck, and downcomers extending through the deck. There are a plurality of bubble promoters on the deck. Each bubble promoter defines a zone on the deck, and the zone has an opening in the deck. The opening is positioned adjacent to a solid support for the tray. The bubble promoters provide areas through which vapor can pass, turning blocked areas of the tray into active areas. Mass transfer columns containing the trays are also described.

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 distillation column including a plurality of alternating plates and spacers stacked in a z-direction is provided. The plates include a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp. The respective descending ramps abut a respective liquid feed location of the plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network. The respective vapor openings of adjacent plates are located on opposite sides of the distillation column and form a continuous S-shaped vapor channel defined by the plurality of alternating plates and spacers, and the respective vapor openings. Systems including such distillation columns and processes of distilling a fluid mixture are also provided.

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 method of separating an organic solvent which may easily separate and recover an organic solvent from a mixed solution containing the organic solvent, and an organic solvent separation system capable of performing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method includes introducing a first mixed solution into a first distillation column to recover an organic solvent and discharge a first fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound A to a bottom of the column, introducing a second mixed solution into a second distillation column to recover organic solvent and discharge a second fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound B, and introducing the first fraction and the second fraction into a third distillation column to recover an organic solvent-rich fraction and a high boiling point compound-rich fraction.

A method of separating an organic solvent which may easily separate and recover an organic solvent from a mixed solution containing the organic solvent, and an organic solvent separation system capable of performing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method includes introducing a first mixed solution into a first distillation column to recover an organic solvent and discharge a first fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound A to a bottom of the column, introducing a second mixed solution into a second distillation column to recover organic solvent and discharge a second fraction containing an unrecovered organic solvent and a high boiling point compound B, and introducing the first fraction and the second fraction into a third distillation column to recover an organic solvent-rich fraction and a high boiling point compound-rich fraction.

A system for producing ethanol comprises a rectifier column that receives a first process stream comprising from about 42% to about 60% ethanol, wherein the rectifier column purifies the first process stream to provide an ethanol product stream that is at least about 90% ethanol, and one or more evaporators configured to evaporate water from a second process stream, wherein the one or more evaporators generate vapor, and wherein at least a portion of the vapor supplies heat energy for separation of ethanol from water in the rectifier column.

A distillation column including a plurality of alternating plates and spacers stacked in a z-direction is provided. The plates include a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp. The respective descending ramps abut a respective liquid feed location of the plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network. The respective vapor openings of adjacent plates are located on opposite sides of the distillation column and form a continuous S-shaped vapor channel defined by the plurality of alternating plates and spacers, and the respective vapor openings. Systems including such distillation columns and processes of distilling a fluid mixture are also provided.

A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.

A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.