# US 2014/0197556 A1 · System and method for liquid distribution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197556 A1 - Document ID: US20140197556A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/209,347 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-04 - Assignees: GTC Technology US LLC - Applicants: GTC Technology US LLC - Inventors: Jae-Man Cho; Namsun Ku; Michael J. Binkley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197556A1 ## 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 A liquid flow distributor for positioning above one or more packing sections in a packed exchange tower includes a plurality of troughs. At least one trough in the plurality of troughs has along a side thereto a deflecting member The deflecting member is angulated to generally follow a shape of the at least one trough. A diffuser side of the deflecting member is positioned to deposit the liquid into a discharge region. A plurality of break bars are disposed on the diffuser side of the deflecting member. A deflector side of the deflecting member is positioned for deflecting ascending vapor away from the discharge region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A packed exchange tower, the packed exchange tower being of a type wherein vapor is injected therein for ascension therethrough and liquid is dispersed therethrough for downward flow, the packed exchange tower comprising: one or more packing sections disposed in the tower; one or more liquid flow distributors positioned above the one or more packing sections, the one or more liquid flow distributors comprising: a plurality of troughs for dispersing the liquid thereacross, at least one trough having disposed along a first side at least one deflecting member, the at least one deflecting member having a deflector side facing outwardly of the at least one trough and a diffuser side facing the at least one trough, the at least one deflecting member being angulated to generally follow a shape of the at least one trough; and at least one break bar disposed on the diffuser side of the at least one deflecting member, the at least one break bar inducing the liquid to flow along the diffuser side of the at least one deflecting member in a continuous sheet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packed exchange tower of claim 1, comprising a diffuser plate disposed generally perpendicularly to a bottom region of the at least one trough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The packed exchange tower of claim 2, wherein the at least one deflecting member extends along a length of the first side of the at least one trough and is constructed in a generally reverse L-shaped configuration such that a lower region thereof is generally perpendicular to and spaced from the diffuser plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The packed exchange tower of claim 3, wherein the diffuser plate is positioned generally beneath a side of the at least one trough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The packed exchange tower of claim 3, wherein the diffuser plate is positioned generally centrally beneath the at least one trough relative to a horizontal plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The packed exchange tower of claim 2, wherein: a bottom region of the at least one trough is angulated to form a generally V-shaped configuration; and the at least one deflecting member is angled at a lower region thereof to generally follow the generally V-shaped configuration and connect directly to the diffuser plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The packed exchange tower of claim 6, wherein the at least one deflecting member extends along a length of the first side of the at least one trough. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The packed exchange tower of claim 6, wherein the at least one deflecting member extends along a portion of the first side of the at least one trough, the portion including at least the bottom region of the at least one trough. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The packed exchange tower of claim 1, wherein the at least one break bar is continuous. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The packed exchange tower of claim 1, wherein the at least one break bar is curved. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The packed exchange tower of claim 1, wherein the at least one break bar is segmented. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The packed exchange tower of claim 1, wherein the at least one break is oriented generally parallel to an adjacent break bar. ### Claim 13 A packed exchange tower, the packed exchange tower being of a type wherein vapor is injected therein for ascension therethrough and liquid is dispersed therethrough for downward flow, the packed exchange tower comprising: one or more packing sections disposed in the tower; one or more liquid flow distributors positioned above the one or more packing sections, the one or more liquid flow distributors comprising: a plurality of troughs, at least one trough in the plurality of troughs comprising: a curvilinear formation on a first side of a bottom region thereof; and an angulated formation on a second side of the bottom region thereof, the second side being opposite the at least one trough to the first side; a deflecting member along a selected side of the at least one trough, the deflecting member having a deflector side facing outwardly of the at least one trough and a diffuser side facing the at least one trough, the deflecting member being angulated to generally follow the shape of the at least one trough; the deflector side of the deflecting member being positioned for deflecting ascending vapor away from downward flow of the liquid on the diffuser side; and at least one break bar disposed on the diffuser side of the deflecting member, the at least one break bar inducing the liquid to flow along the diffuser side of the deflecting member in a continuous sheet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The packed exchange tower of claim 13, comprising a diffuser plate is disposed generally perpendicularly to a bottom region of the at least one trough. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The packed exchange tower of claim 14, wherein the deflecting member extends along a length of the selected side of the at least one trough and is constructed in a generally reverse L-shaped configuration such that a lower region thereof is generally perpendicular to and spaced from the diffuser plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The packed exchange tower of claim 14, wherein: a bottom region of the at least one trough is angulated to form a generally V-shaped configuration; and the deflecting member is angled at a lower region thereof to generally follow the generally V-shaped configuration and connect directly to the diffuser plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The packed exchange tower of claim 13, wherein the at least one break bar is continuous. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The packed exchange tower of claim 13, wherein the at least one break bar is curved. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The packed exchange tower of claim 13, wherein the at least one break bar is segmented. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The packed exchange tower of claim 13, wherein the at least one break bar is oriented generally parallel to an adjacent break bar. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The packed exchange tower of claim 1, wherein the at least one deflecting member is a tube. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The packed exchange tower of claim 13, wherein the deflecting member is a tube.