Gas-liquid contacting
AssigneeMerix Corporation
InventorThomas W. Mix
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Gas-liquid contacting system featuring, in an SO.sub.2 scrubbing embodiment, reduced liquid entrainment which, in various aspects, eliminates the need for liquid recirculation, and permits spray regime operation increasing the ratio of SO.sub.2 absorption to sulfite oxidation. In various embodiments the entrainment is reduced by closely spaced vertical baffles above the tray, or a perforated plate or porous mesh beneath the tray.
Claims22
In an SO.sub.2 scrubbing process comprising supplying gas to be scrubbed through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and scrubbing liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising
- reducing liquid entrainment by providing a multiplicity of spaced, generally vertical baffles above said tray, said baffles extending generally in the direction of liquid flow across said tray and being sufficiently close together to substantially reduce the amplitude of vertical oscillations in said dispersion having a wavelength which is small relative to the width of said tray,
- reducing the rate of liquid flow along said tray sufficiently to permit carrying out said process without the need for liquid recirculation at said stage, and
- carrying out said process without said recirculation.
In a gas-liquid contacting process of the type in which it is desired to have a high gas phase mass transfer rate and a low liquid phase mass transfer rate, comprising supplying gas through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising,
- reducing liquid entrainment sufficiently below the rate of liquid supply to said tray to enable efficient operation in the spray regime, and
- carrying out said process with said dispersion in the spray regime.
In an SO.sub.2 scrubbing process comprising supplying gas to be scrubbed through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and scrubbing liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising
- reducing liquid entrainment by providing an impingement type separator mounted above said tray in the path of vapor passing to the stage above, said separator having its major surfaces tilted at 45.degree. -75.degree. to the horizontal and extending generally parallel to the direction of liquid flow along the tray,
- reducing the rate of liquid flow along said tray sufficiently to permit carrying out said process without the need for liquid recirculation at said stage, and
- carrying out said process without said recirculation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.