# US 2021/0275938 A1 · Bubble promoter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275938 A1 - Document ID: US20210275938A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/811,103 - Filed: 2020-03-06 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Applicants: Uop LLC - Inventors: Brian J. Nowak; Zhanping Xu; Peter J. Wantuck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275938A1 ## CPC - B01D 3/18: with horizontal bubble plates - B01D 3/163: {Plates with valves} - B01D 3/22: with horizontal sieve plates or grids; Construction of sieve plates or grids - B01D 3/326: {Tray supports} - 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 Trays having increased capacity and efficiency are described. The trays have a deck, and downcomers extending through the deck. There are a plurality of bubble promoters on the deck. Each bubble promoter defines a zone on the deck, and the zone has an opening in the deck. The opening is positioned adjacent to a solid support for the tray. The bubble promoters provide areas through which vapor can passing, turning blocked areas of the tray into active areas. Mass transfer columns containing the trays are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tray comprising: a deck; at least one downcomer; a plurality of bubble promoters, each bubble promoter defining a zone on the deck, the zone having at least one opening in the deck, the opening being positioned adjacent to a solid support for the tray, a total active open area under the bubble promoter being greater than or equal to a total open area of the bubble promoter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tray of claim 1 wherein the solid support comprises a support ring located around a circumference of a column and wherein the bubble promoters are positioned adjacent to an outer edge of the tray and across at least a portion of the support ring, the opening being positioned adjacent to the support ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tray of claim 1 wherein the solid support comprises a support beam extending across at least a portion of a column, and wherein the bubble promoters are positioned across at least a portion of the deck above the support beam, the opening being positioned adjacent to the support beam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tray of claim 1 wherein at least one bubble promoter comprises a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, a top, and an open bottom. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tray of claim 4 wherein there are perforations in the side walls, the end walls, and the top. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The tray of claim 4 wherein a height of one side is different from a height of the other side, or a height of one end is different from a height of the other end, or both. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The tray of claim 4 wherein the side walls are parallel, or the end walls are parallel, or both. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The tray of claim 4 wherein the side walls are not parallel, or the end walls are not parallel, or both. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tray of claim 1 wherein an open area inside the bubble promoter between a top of the bubble promoter and the deck is greater than or equal to a total open area of a portion of the one bubble promoter directly above the solid support. ### Claim 10 A mass transfer column comprising: a tray comprising: a deck; at least one downcomer; a plurality of bubble promoters, each bubble promoter defining a zone on the deck, the zone having an opening in the deck; a support ring for the tray connected to the inside of the column, the opening in the deck being positioned adjacent to the support ring for the tray; and a clip positioned under the support ring and the deck, the clip securing the deck and the bubble promoter to the support ring with a connector through the clip, the deck, and the bubble promoter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The column of claim 10 wherein the connector is a bolt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The column of claim 10 wherein the plurality of bubble promoters are positioned adjacent to an outer edge of the tray, the opening being positioned adjacent to the support ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The column of claim 10 further comprising a support beam extending across at least a portion of the column, and wherein a second bubble promoter is positioned across at least a portion of the deck above the support beam, the second bubble promoter defining a second zone on the deck, the second zone having a second opening in the deck, the second opening being positioned adjacent to the support beam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The column of claim 10 wherein at least one bubble promoter comprises a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, a top, and an open bottom. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The column of claim 14 wherein there are perforations in the side walls, the end walls, and the top. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The column of claim 10 wherein a total active open area under one bubble promoter is greater than or equal to a total open area of the one bubble promoter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The column of claim 10 wherein an open area inside the bubble promoter between a top of the bubble promoter and the deck is greater than or equal to a total open area of a portion of the one bubble promoter directly above the solid support. ### Claim 18 A tray comprising: a perforated deck; at least one downcomer; a plurality of bubble promoters, each bubble promoter defining a zone on the deck, the zone having at least one opening in the deck, the opening being positioned adjacent to a solid support for the tray, a total active open area under the bubble promoter being greater than or equal to a total open area of the bubble promoter, and an open area inside the bubble promoter between a top of the bubble promoter and the deck being greater than or equal to a total open area of a portion of the one bubble promoter directly above the solid support. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tray of claim 18 wherein the solid support comprises a support ring located around a circumference of a column and wherein the bubble promoters are positioned adjacent to an outer edge of the tray and across at least a portion of the support ring, the opening being positioned adjacent to the support ring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The tray of claim 18 wherein the solid support comprises a support beam extending across at least a portion of a column, and wherein the bubble promoters are positioned across at least a portion of the deck above the support beam, the opening being positioned adjacent to the support beam.