A method and system of controlling a temperature within a melt tray assembly of a distillation tower. The method may include determining a melt tray fluid composition of a melt tray fluid, determining a melt tray fluid temperature of the melt tray fluid, determining if the melt tray fluid temperature is within an expected melt tray fluid temperature range for the melt tray fluid composition, decreasing the melt tray fluid temperature if the melt tray fluid temperature is greater than an expected melt tray fluid temperature range upper limit, increasing the melt tray fluid temperature if the melt tray fluid temperature is less than an expected melt tray fluid temperature range lower limit, and maintaining the melt tray fluid temperature if the melt tray fluid temperature is within the expected melt tray fluid temperature range.

A system and methods for processing a feed gas in a column are provided herein. A method includes feeding a feed gas into a port of a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the column. The sleeve includes a space between an outer wall of the column and an inner wall of the column. The sleeve releases the feed gas into the column through an opening disposed at an opposite end of the sleeve from the port.

A tray for a mass-transfer column may allow contact between liquid and gas phases. The tray may include a tray inlet via which the tray is supplied with a liquid phase, a tray outlet via which the liquid phase flows out from the tray, first guide mechanism for guiding the liquid phase where the first guide mechanism forms a first flow path along which the liquid phase flows from the tray inlet to the tray outlet, an inlet for a temperature-control fluid, an outlet for the temperature-control fluid, and second guide mechanism for guiding the temperature-control fluid for heat exchange with the liquid phase. The second guide mechanism forms a second flow path that overlaps with the first flow path and leads from the inlet to the outlet. The temperature-control fluid flows along the second flow path in a direction opposite the flow direction of the liquid phase.

A cryogenic distillation tower for separating a feed stream. The tower includes a distillation section. A controlled freeze zone section is situated above the distillation section and forms a solid from the feed stream. The controlled freeze zone section includes a spray assembly in an upper section and a melt tray assembly in a lower section. The melt tray assembly includes at least one vapor stream riser that directs the vapor from the distillation section into liquid retained by the melt tray assembly, and one or more draw-off openings positioned to permit a portion of the liquid to exit the controlled freeze zone section. The portion of the liquid indirectly exchanges heat with a heating fluid. One or more return inlets return the portion of the liquid to the melt tray assembly after it has been heated in the heat exchanger.

A tray for a mass-transfer column permits contact between a liquid phase and a gas phase. The tray may comprise a tray feed via which the tray is charged with the liquid phase, a tray drain via which the liquid phase drains from the tray, and first guide means for guiding the liquid phase where the first guide means forms a first course path along which the liquid phase flows from the tray feed to the tray drain, enabling contact with the gas phase. A second guide means may form a second course path overlapping with the first course path, which leads from an inlet to an outlet. The first guide means may have at least two partial concentric paths. Temperature-control fluid may flow along the second course path in at least one of the at least two partial paths opposite the flow direction of the liquid phase.

A tray for a mass-transfer column may allow contact between liquid and gas phases. The tray may comprises a tray inlet via which the tray is supplied with a liquid phase, a tray outlet via which the liquid phase flows out from the tray, first guide means for guiding the liquid phase where the first guide means forms a first flow path along which the liquid phase flows from the tray inlet to the tray outlet, an inlet for a temperature-control fluid, an outlet for the temperature-control fluid, and second guide means for guiding the temperature-control fluid for heat exchange with the liquid phase. The second guide means forms a second flow path that overlaps with the first flow path and leads from the inlet to the outlet. The temperature-control fluid flows along the second flow path in a direction opposite the flow direction of the liquid phase.

The use transmission/absorbance of visible light to determine accurate separation of distillation products emerging from a condenser is described. Changes in wavelength and intensity of light transmitted through or absorbed by the distillate, post condenser, determine when a new fraction passes through the condenser, and may be directed to an appropriate collection vessel.

Provided is a separation device, including: a gas-liquid contact flow passage having a distillate discharge port formed on one end side and a bottom product discharge port formed on another end side; a raw material liquid introduction port formed between the distillate discharge port and the bottom product discharge port in the gas-liquid contact flow passage; a stripping section, which is provided between the raw material liquid introduction port and the bottom product discharge port and is configured to heat a liquid in the gas-liquid contact flow passage; a rectification section, which is provided between the raw material liquid introduction port and the distillate discharge port and is configured to cool a gas in the gas-liquid contact flow passage; and a porous body arranged in the gas-liquid contact flow passage.

A tray for a mass-transfer column permits contact between a liquid phase and a gas phase. The tray may comprise a tray feed via which the tray is charged with the liquid phase, a tray drain via which the liquid phase drains from the tray, and first guide means for guiding the liquid phase where the first guide means forms a first course path along which the liquid phase flows from the tray feed to the tray drain, enabling contact with the gas phase. A second guide means may form a second course path overlapping with the first course path, which leads from an inlet to an outlet. The first guide means may have at least two partial concentric paths. Temperature-control fluid may flow along the second course path in at least one of the at least two partial paths opposite the flow direction of the liquid phase.

A cryogenic distillation tower for separating a feed stream. The tower includes a distillation section. A controlled freeze zone section is situated above the distillation section and forms a solid from the feed stream. The controlled freeze zone section includes a spray assembly in an upper section and a melt tray assembly in a lower section. The melt tray assembly includes at least one vapor stream riser that directs the vapor from the distillation section into liquid retained by the melt tray assembly, and one or more draw-off openings positioned to permit a portion of the liquid to exit the controlled freeze zone section. The portion of the liquid indirectly exchanges heat with a heating fluid. One or more return inlets return the portion of the liquid to the melt tray assembly after it has been heated in the heat exchanger.