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 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).

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 fill pack includes a first fill sheet defining an air intake edge, an air exit edge and an airflow axis extending between the air intake edge and the air exit edge. The first fill sheet defines a first flute section having a first inlet end, a first outlet end and a first peak extending between the first inlet end and the first outlet end. A second fill sheet defines a second flute section having a second inlet end, a second outlet end and a second peak extending between the second inlet end and the second outlet end. The first peak extends relative to the second peak such that a first flute portion defined by the first and second flute sections has a cross-sectional shape that changes between the first and second inlet ends and the first and second outlet ends.

A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases, in which a structured stream reforming catalyst is used, is proposed. According to the invention, a heat exchanger tube is arranged in the interior of the structured catalyst, with the feed gas stream flowing firstly through the structured catalyst and subsequently in countercurrent through the heat exchanger tube. This improves the heat exchange between the synthesis gas product stream and the structured catalyst and the feed gas stream flowing through it, especially in the radial direction.

A fill pack includes a first fill sheet defining an air intake edge, an air exit edge and an airflow axis extending between the air intake edge and the air exit edge. The first fill sheet defines a first flute section having a first inlet end, a first outlet end and a first peak extending between the first inlet end and the first outlet end. A second fill sheet defines a second flute section having a second inlet end, a second outlet end and a second peak extending between the second inlet end and the second outlet end. The first peak extends relative to the second peak such that a first flute portion defined by the first and second flute sections has a cross-sectional shape that changes between the first and second inlet ends and the first and second outlet ends.

A process for performing a continuous gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction, wherein a gas and a liquid are introduced into a backmixed zone of a reactor and in the backmixed zone the gas is dispersed in the liquid by stirring, injection of gas and/or a liquid jet, a reaction mixture consecutively traverses the backmixed zone and a zone of limited backmixing, and a liquid reaction product is withdrawn at a reaction product outlet of the zone of limited backmixing, wherein the reactor comprises: an interior formed by a cylindrical vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by means of internals into the backmixed zone, the zone of limited backmixing and a cavity, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the backmixed zone, backmixing-preventing second internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing and a third internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and is open at the bottom, wherein the third internal element forms the cavity in which gas bubbles collect and do not escape upwards, thus preventing the volume of the cavity from being occupied by liquid and reducing the reaction volume. The reaction volume of the reactor used in the process can be reversibly reduced in simple fashion. The invention further relates to a process for adapting the reaction volume of a reactor suitable for performing a gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction having an outlet for a liquid reaction product in which an internal element is arranged so as to form a cavity open at the bottom in which gas bubbles collect and do not escape upwards, thus preventing the volume of the cavity from being occupied by liquid and reducing the reaction volume.

A process for performing a continuous gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction, wherein a gas and a liquid are introduced into a backmixed zone of a reactor and in the backmixed zone the gas is dispersed in the liquid by stirring, injection of gas and/or a liquid jet, a reaction mixture consecutively traverses the backmixed zone and a zone of limited backmixing, and a liquid reaction product is withdrawn at a reaction product outlet of the zone of limited backmixing, wherein the reactor comprises: an interior formed by a cylindrical vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by means of internals into the backmixed zone, the zone of limited backmixing and a cavity, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the backmixed zone, backmixing-preventing second internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing and a third internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and is open at the bottom, wherein the third internal element forms the cavity in which gas bubbles collect and do not escape upwards, thus preventing the volume of the cavity from being occupied by liquid and reducing the reaction volume. The reaction volume of the reactor used in the process can be reversibly reduced in simple fashion. The invention further relates to a process for adapting the reaction volume of a reactor suitable for performing a gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction having an outlet for a liquid reaction product in which an internal element is arranged so as to form a cavity open at the bottom in which gas bubbles collect and do not escape upwards, thus preventing the volume of the cavity from being occupied by liquid and reducing the reaction volume.

A packing section intended to be installed in a casing so as to form a gas/liquid separation column comprises a block for treating a fluid that has a generally cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal direction, the treatment block being formed by a stack of plates for treating the fluid along the longitudinal direction, the treatment block having a first disc-shaped face and a second disc-shaped face that each extend in planes parallel to one another, the treatment block having an external face extending over the perimeter of said treatment block between the first disc-shaped face and the second disc-shaped face, the packing section having at least one element for holding the treatment block that extends at least partially around the external face of the treatment block, the holding element having a portion for holding the treatment plates of the treatment block in position.

A packing has a plurality of sheet materials spaced and arranged in parallel, and liquid flows along the flat surface thereof in a standing use state. Each sheet material has at least one member group including a plurality of support members arranged such that the upper end of the uppermost support member corresponds to the upper end of the sheet material and the lower end of the lowermost support member corresponds to the lower end of the sheet material. Each support member has a pair of support walls parallel to the liquid flow direction and perpendicular to the sheet material surface, and a bridging part connecting the support walls. A sandwiching structure is formed that one sheet material is held by at least one support member attached thereto and at least one support member attached to an adjacent sheet material, and it extends linearly through the plurality of sheet materials.