The present disclosure relates generally to processes for separating an effluent in an acetic acid production unit. Accordingly, one aspect of the disclosure provides a process including transferring at least a portion of a carbonylation reaction effluent to the bottom section of a tank, evaporating at least a portion of the effluent to form a vapour fraction, spraying a spray liquid onto a porous demister surface of a demister section of the tank, collecting and returning a liquid fraction of the effluent from at least one chimney tray in the tank to a fractionation section or the bottom section of the tank, and withdrawing from a top section of the tank at least a portion of the vapour fraction, the vapour fraction comprising acetic acid, the vapour fraction having been passed from the bottom section through the fractionation section, and then through one or more chimneys of the at least one chimney tray, and then through the spray section, and then through the porous demister surface of the demister section.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes for separating an effluent in an acetic acid production unit. Accordingly, one aspect of the disclosure provides a process including transferring at least a portion of a carbonylation reaction effluent to the bottom section of a tank, evaporating at least a portion of the effluent to form a vapour fraction, spraying a spray liquid onto a porous demister surface of a demister section of the tank, collecting and returning a liquid fraction of the effluent from at least one chimney tray in the tank to a fractionation section or the bottom section of the tank, and withdrawing from a top section of the tank at least a portion of the vapour fraction, the vapour fraction comprising acetic acid, the vapour fraction having been passed from the bottom section through the fractionation section, and then through one or more chimneys of the at least one chimney tray, and then through the spray section, and then through the porous demister surface of the demister section.

A distributor tray (100) for a column for contact between a gas (G) and a liquid (L) is provided wherein the distributor tray has a plurality of compartments defined on one face of the tray by secant partitions (104) which are perforated (105) to allow the flow of liquid between adjacent compartments. Each compartment includes at least one passage of the liquid through the tray or a chimney (102) projecting from the tray for the exclusive passage of the gas (G) through the tray. The shape of the chimney is identical to the shape of the compartment containing it, and the chimney has an internal volume at least equal to the volume of the compartment containing it.

A distributor tray (100) for a column for contact between a gas (G) and a liquid (L) is provided wherein the distributor tray has a plurality of compartments defined on one face of the tray by secant partitions (104) which are perforated (105) to allow the flow of liquid between adjacent compartments. Each compartment includes at least one passage of the liquid through the tray or a chimney (102) projecting from the tray for the exclusive passage of the gas (G) through the tray. The shape of the chimney is identical to the shape of the compartment containing it, and the chimney has an internal volume at least equal to the volume of the compartment containing it.

A reactor for the synthesis of urea comprising a vertical shell and perforated baffles or trays (3) arranged to define compartments of the reactor, wherein each baffle comprises an array of individual perforated tiles (10) wherein each tile (101) comprises side walls (101A-101D) and a top face (101F), the side walls having first perforations for the liquid and said top face having second perforations for the gas, wherein said second perforations are smaller than said first perforations, and the tiles are distributed over the baffle with a two-dimensional pattern where adjacent tiles are separated by gaps (17).

Methods and systems for converting ammonium waste streams into certifiably Organic ammonium salts having a variety of uses in greenhouse gas-reducing activities are herein described. The resulting ammonium salt compositions can be used to enhance crop yield.

A process for the preparation of ethylene glycol comprising the steps of: a) supplying a first gas composition comprising ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide to an ethylene oxide absorber and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards through an absorption section; b) supplying a lean absorbent to the top of the absorption section and allowing the lean absorbent to pass downwards through the absorption section; c) intimately contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent on the trays in the absorption section in the presence of one or more catalysts to produce a fat absorbent stream comprising ethylene glycol and ethylene carbonate; d) withdrawing fat absorbent from the absorber; and e) withdrawing a second gas composition from the top of the absorber.

A fluid contact tray (10) for a fractionation column (1), in particular a vapor-liquid contact tray suitable for the use in an offshore fractionation column, comprises: •a tray deck (12) comprising an active mass transfer surface (20) suitable for contacting two fluids (l, g) of different densities, wherein the active mass transfer surface (20) comprises one or more orifices (18) for the passage of a fluid/gas (g), and wherein at least two at least partially radially extending separation walls (22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4) and/or at least one separation weir (42) are arranged on the active mass transfer surface (20), which divides the active mass transfer surface (20) into at least two sections (24-1, 24-2, 24-3, 24-4), •an annular channel (26) suitable for collecting fluids/liquids (l), which is arranged at the peripheral area of the active mass transfer surface (20) and at least partially embraces the mass transfer surface (20), •a central downcomer (34) for collecting and discharging a fluid/liquid (l) from the annular channel (26), wherein the central downcomer (34) has the form of a hollow body with an opening (36) in the bottom section thereof being suitable for the distribution of liquid vertically downwardly, and wherein the central downcomer (34) is non-rotatably fixed at the fluid contact tray (10), and •at least one conducting means (40) for transferring fluid collected in the annular channel (26) from the annular channel (26) to the central downcomer (34). This fluid contact tray (10) is in particular useable for offshore applications, such as for a fractionation column located on a FLNG or FPSO vessel.

A fluid contact tray (10) for a fractionation column (1), in particular a vapor-liquid contact tray suitable for the use in an offshore fractionation column, comprises: •a tray deck (12) comprising an active mass transfer surface (20) suitable for contacting two fluids (l, g) of different densities, wherein the active mass transfer surface (20) comprises one or more orifices (18) for the passage of a fluid/gas (g), and wherein at least two at least partially radially extending separation walls (22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4) and/or at least one separation weir (42) are arranged on the active mass transfer surface (20), which divides the active mass transfer surface (20) into at least two sections (24-1, 24-2, 24-3, 24-4), •an annular channel (26) suitable for collecting fluids/liquids (l), which is arranged at the peripheral area of the active mass transfer surface (20) and at least partially embraces the mass transfer surface (20), •a central downcomer (34) for collecting and discharging a fluid/liquid (l) from the annular channel (26), wherein the central downcomer (34) has the form of a hollow body with an opening (36) in the bottom section thereof being suitable for the distribution of liquid vertically downwardly, and wherein the central downcomer (34) is non-rotatably fixed at the fluid contact tray (10), and •at least one conducting means (40) for transferring fluid collected in the annular channel (26) from the annular channel (26) to the central downcomer (34). This fluid contact tray (10) is in particular useable for offshore applications, such as for a fractionation column located on a FLNG or FPSO vessel.

The present invention discloses a gas distribution structure for a distillation column. Pressure drop adjusting column tray assemblies are arranged in a left mass transfer region and a right mass transfer region along a column height direction. The gas distribution structure includes column trays, gas-rising pipes, downcomers and cover hoods, wherein a gas flow meter is arranged in a pipe of any gas rising pipe; a feeding port and a liquid collecting port are formed in a column wall; a liquid flow meter, an adjusting valve and a circulation pump are arranged on a circulation pipeline between each liquid collecting port and each feeding port; technological parameters are transmitted to a control system; and the circulation pumps and the adjusting valves are controlled by the control system