# US 2010/0163397 A1 · Liquid distribution in co-current contacting apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163397 A1 - Document ID: US20100163397A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/391,844 - Filed: 2009-02-24 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Inventors: Zhanping XU; Brian NOWAK - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163397A1 ## CPC - B01D 3/008: {Liquid distribution} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Fluid distribution systems, and particularly those for distributing liquids into apparatuses containing modules used to carry out vapor-liquid contacting, are described. Representative liquid distribution systems comprise an extended trough having a plurality of outlet spouts that are aligned for distribution into a plurality of downcomers. The downcomers may be in non-parallel (e.g., orthogonal) alignment with respect to the trough and/or the number of troughs may be less than the number of downcomers to which fluid is distributed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for performing co-current vapor-liquid contacting, comprising: a) a liquid distribution system comprising at least one extended trough having a plurality of outlet spouts; and b) a contacting stage having at least two contacting modules, each contacting module comprising: i) at least one downcomer having an outlet proximate at least one co-current flow channel; ii) a demister having an inlet surface proximate said co-current flow channel and an outlet surface superior to a receiving pan; and iii) at least one duct having an upper end in fluid communication with said receiving pan, and a lower end, wherein said lower end of each duct is in fluid communication with a separate downcomer of an inferior stage; wherein said outlet spouts are aligned for liquid distribution to said downcomers of said contacting modules and wherein the number of troughs of said distribution system is less than the number of downcomers of said contacting stage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said contacting module is rotated with respect to a contacting module of an immediately inferior stage in said apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said troughs are rotated with respect to said downcomers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said troughs are rotated at an angle of about 90° with respect to said downcomers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid distribution system further comprises pre-distribution piping to distribute a feed stream to said troughs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of troughs is two and the number of downcomers is four. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outlet spouts are proximate expanded chutes in fluid communication with said downcomers, or said troughs are integral with said expanded chutes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid distribution system is positioned above all contacting stages in said apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid distribution system is positioned below a superior contacting stage in said apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said superior contacting stage is superior to a feed inlet to said apparatus and said contacting stage is inferior to said feed inlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said superior contacting stage comprises a plurality of ducts in fluid communication with said downcomers of said contacting stage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said superior contacting stage comprises a plurality of ducts in fluid communication with said at least one extended trough. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the number of ducts of said superior contacting stage is less than the number of ducts of said contacting stage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bottom contacting stage inferior to said contacting stage and having a number of bottom ducts that is less than the number of ducts of said contacting stage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said bottom ducts extend below a bottom vapor inlet. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for performing co-current vapor-liquid contacting, comprising: a liquid distribution system comprising pre-distribution piping in communication with both an external fluid inlet to the apparatus and at least one extended trough having a plurality of outlet spouts, said liquid distribution system being superior to a contacting stage having at least two contacting modules and a plurality of receiving pans, and each of said contacting modules comprising: a) a pair of substantially parallel demisters being spaced apart; and b) a downcomer located between said demisters and defining, with inlet surfaces of said demisters, a pair of co-current flow channels, wherein said inlet surfaces of said demisters are in fluid communication with said co-current flow channels, said downcomer has an outlet in fluid communication with said co-current flow channels, and said demisters have outlet surfaces superior to separate receiving pans of said plurality of receiving pans; wherein said outlet spouts are in fluid communication with said downcomers of said contacting modules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each receiving pan has at least one duct, with each duct of one receiving pan providing fluid communication to a separate downcomer of an inferior stage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said contacting module is in non-parallel alignment with respect to a contacting module of an immediately inferior stage in said apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said troughs are in non-parallel alignment with respect to said downcomers. ### Claim 20 A liquid distribution system comprising at least one extended trough having a plurality of outlet spouts aligned for distribution into a plurality of downcomers in non-parallel alignment with respect to said trough.